West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout

[young37215]

35 minutes ago, 03060 said:

 

Am enjoying seeing how you are making the cutting come alive, Rob, it's certainly got that West Highland look and feel about it. Also, that is a superb photo by Bruce Galloway that you've found there, it would make a great wall picture or interesting an basis for a painting (if I could paint, that is !)

 

Regards,

Ian.

 

My Background on my PC is this one, an equally spectacular view and a heavily foliage covered rock face to boot. I don't think I'll go for quite that heavy a covering on my rocks, I am not sure I could afford all of the materials required!

 

 

Finishing off the running day yesterday, 37112 is pictured heading south with the 15.30 from Corpach to Mossend on departure from Ardlui. I have added a lot more foliage to the mountain side above Ardlui and Arrochar but it is not obvious to see until I compare an up to date picture against some taken a few days ago. It is also a pleasant surprise that 3 boxes of fine leaf foliage are only half empty after this activity.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

My productivity has been reduced because I keep sitting and watching trains move between Arrochar and Adlui. Trains transit the scenic section appearing and dissappearing into the landscape in true West Highland fashion. Sat at the far end of the loft this is the view from Ardlui looking towards Arrochar which can just be made out in the far left of the picture. It's not quite the scale 8 miles it should be but it does take well over a minute for the journey at low speed. 

 

 

To move further forwards I have decided to do some of the work required to create the scenery aound the platform at Arrochar. This is despite having originally been of the view that this should wait until the upper section scenery gets sorted. However I am still pondering on the upper level and am hoping that the work at Arrochar will inspire a decision about how to do the upper level. The embankment at the front of the station will not prevent me accessing the upper level and the same can be said of installing the mountainside up to the heght of the upper level. I will not fix anything breakable down at this time and risk damaging it when I get around to creating the scenery on the upper level baseboards.

 

To start it was out with the polystyrene and cutter to shape an embankment to the front of the station. A few more pieces of insulation were chopped about to create the mountainside and because it is hard to see how I can do any damage to the mountains which can be fixed in place albeit at lower height than they will ultimately become. Once glued in place I will cover in plaster cloth and use Sculptamold to create and fine tune the landscape in the hope that this will make it clearer how the upper level should look. 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

In addition to Arrochar I also want to finish the rocky cutting to the north of the viaduct. This is largely complete but a few small pieces of detail need finalising where in my haste to get the layout operational, I left a few loose ends. Immediately next to the viaduct the removable section still requires infilling with one or two more rock castings and in both cases the floors of the plywood bases need more paint to deepen their colour. Once this is complete I can fill in the ballast shoulders which are currently inadequate and do not hide/disguise the plywood bases. Easier to explain with some pictures, none of the work is complicated and should be completed with another few hours of attention.

 

 

 

 

 

[03060]

Morning Rob,

 

Not sure if you included this image by Lothian T in one of your posts but it felt 'new' to me and is relevant to your current bit of work in finishing off the viaduct ends. If you expand the photo it shows just how narrow the trackbed is at this point and that it could almost be on a baseboard itself .... beware though, looking closely into the photo can make you feel a bit dizzy !!

 

Photo by Lothian T.

[meanach]

I see the tractor has eyes drawn on it ! Also a cosy compo right behind the loco. 

[young37215]

21 hours ago, 03060 said:

Morning Rob,

 

Not sure if you included this image by Lothian T in one of your posts but it felt 'new' to me and is relevant to your current bit of work in finishing off the viaduct ends. If you expand the photo it shows just how narrow the trackbed is at this point and that it could almost be on a baseboard itself .... beware though, looking closely into the photo can make you feel a bit dizzy !!

 

Photo by Lothian T.

This is a new picture for me, the photographer has spelt the viaduct name slightly differently meaning my searches didn’t pick it up. I can get close with a similar view although it’s clear that I need more trees. 

 

Edited March 24, 2023 by young37215

[03060]

Likewise I've seen many different names given to this viaduct, some clearly wrong such as Craigendoran. I try to refer to it as Creag an Arnain (if I can remember how to spell it !) as this is how it appears on my OS map.

 

Maybe we should just refer to it as WHL bridge 74 as it is marked in Lothian T's photo .... nah ... I think that all of the other names are much more interesting.

 

Regards,

Ian.

[young37215]

Little activity of late, a 'motivation battery recharge' is ongoing. Yesterdays monsoon restricted my activity outside and so I returned to operations in 1983 which was fun. 37085 was photographed approaching Garelochead with 8D10, 0707 Mallaig Junction Yard to Mossend.

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

Carrying on the operating day, 37033 having run around the stock of the inbound 0600 from Glasgow, sets back and prepares to return the 164 miles to Glasgow with the 1245 departure from Mallaig. 37017 awaits departure of the passenger train so that it can use the loop to run around its loaded ballast train.

 

 

 

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

Hi Rob,

 

It’s good to see the ballast train at Mallaig. They must have run on the Mallaig extension, but I’ve never found a picture of one in the ‘37 era’. Do you have any pictures in your vast research portfolio?

 

Regards

 

Andy

[young37215]

Hi Andy

 

There are limited number of 1980's pictures of WHL engineering trains in my experience of my main source, Flickr. When you think about it, the lack of pictures probably reflects the nominal maintenance carried out on the line during this time. The only significant work I can think of on the extension was the rationalisation at Mallaig and move to the 'one train in steam' method of operation in 1982 of which I have never seen any pictures. Other than that I suspect that maintenance was only ad hoc replacement of failed track components, ballast top ups and the occassional tamping.   

 

1985 Mallaig, A Mermaid sneaks into the picture of 37112

 

 

 37403 Arisaig 1988

 

 

1984, engineering consist approaching Glenfinnan 

 

 

37401 1986

 

 

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

Thanks Rob,

 

They’re really useful. I have a couple of Sealions on order from Ellis Clark, so it’s good to see them in some of the trains.

 

Andy

[03060]

16 hours ago, young37215 said:

 

1984, engineering consist approaching Glenfinnan 

 

 

My 'best guess' at this 1984 consist superbly caught by Bill Watson is 37144, ×2 Bass (ex OCA), x3 Bass (ex OBA), x2 Sealion, then 4 more wagons including possibly a Catfish and Dogfish (or two) with a BR 20t Brakevan at the end.

 

A little bit of guess with the rear of the train but hope this is of use.

Ian.

 

PS - the 1st photo that you posted, Rob, has led me to start looking through the work of Petejrogers on Flickr ...and there are some real WHL gems tucked away in his Class 37 album.

Edited April 3, 2023 by 03060
Extra info added.

[meanach]

Very handy (for me ) photo of 403 there Rob, cheers ! I’ve just spent nearly a week behind the former west highland stalwart, riding over highland metals. She’s in fine form and handled load 10 on her own (not planned !) over the highland main line with no problem (plenty of thrash!). 

[thegreenhowards]

Does anyone understand why some of the trains have brake vans and others don’t?

[03060]

40 minutes ago, thegreenhowards said:

Does anyone understand why some of the trains have brake vans and others don’t?

Possibly to carry the workparty to locations not accessible by road ? (Just a guess on my part.)

[young37215]

8 hours ago, 03060 said:

My 'best guess' at this 1984 consist superbly caught by Bill Watson is 37144, ×2 Bass (ex OCA), x3 Bass (ex OBA), x2 Sealion, then 4 more wagons including possibly a Catfish and Dogfish (or two) with a BR 20t Brakevan at the end.

 

A little bit of guess with the rear of the train but hope this is of use.

Ian.

 

PS - the 1st photo that you posted, Rob, has led me to start looking through the work of Petejrogers on Flickr ...and there are some real WHL gems tooked away in his Class 37 album.

 

An eclectic mix of wagons with both vacum and air braked variants in the consist presumably hence the guards van. 

 

37085 departs Garelochead heading south.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rob D2]

Wow, that’s great ! I’d be well pleased with that view 

[young37215]

 

17 hours ago, meanach said:

Very handy (for me ) photo of 403 there Rob, cheers ! I’ve just spent nearly a week behind the former west highland stalwart, riding over highland metals. She’s in fine form and handled load 10 on her own (not planned !) over the highland main line with no problem (plenty of thrash!). 

 

Nice one Ian, I will have to do one of the SRPS tours with 403 when they run on the WHL. 

 

I was pleased to learn that Hornby are doing a re-run of their BSO in blue and grey. Scheduled for delivery this summer, I will be tempted to add another couple of these to WHL4. I might even start thinking about converting them to BSOT micro buffet. Closer to home operations continue, 20085 has charge of a rake of empty Grampus spoil wagons seen arriving and stabling at Crianlarich. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[meanach]

Some of my Grampus run like pigs ! I re wheeled some and they run better , although only after weighting them. I found some of the chassis appear to be slightly twisted. With regards the Hornby BSO, I am thankful too. I’ve been scouring eBay on and off for about 2 years with no luck !

 

S.R.P.S are in the same predicament as many others in that from April 1st Mk1 are banned off the main line unless they have a full history of maintenance and crash pillar worthiness / metal fatigue. C.D.L fitting (although I believe there is an extension for this until next year) and toilet retention tanks fitted. This essentially means most leasing companies have junked their mk1 rakes owing to the cost involved, Ie Riviera.
 

You have probably noticed that many tours are featuring coffins or Mk3. It will be a while until the S.R.P.S are able to use their stock on the main line again. The only compliant mixed set currently belongs to LSL.  

[young37215]

22 hours ago, rob D2 said:

Wow, that’s great ! I’d be well pleased with that view 

 

I like the feel that the view creates although I prefer the opposite direction from the station back towards the cutting. Which ever way you view it I am pleased with the way the area has turned out although, as ever, more trees and bushes would be nice. My preferred view of the section with 37039 in charge of the northbound Alcan hoppers.

 

 

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

8 hours ago, meanach said:

 

You have probably noticed that many tours are featuring coffins or Mk3. It will be a while until the S.R.P.S are able to use their stock on the main line again. The only compliant mixed set currently belongs to LSL.  

What’s doing the Jacobite this year?

[PaulRhB]

On 03/04/2023 at 07:06, young37215 said:

There are limited number of 1980's pictures of WHL engineering trains in my experience of my main source, Flickr. When you think about it, the lack of pictures probably reflects the nominal maintenance carried out on the line during this time.

I’ve got a great photo of a blue 37 pushing a lowmac, with a Massey Ferguson digger, and pulling five four wheel hoppers and a bogie one. Unfortunately I can’t find the original source to credit on here. It came up in a random West Highland search so I don’t know the actual location. 

 

 ©️ Spannerman37025

 

https://flic.kr/p/ctpeN1

edit: to add copyright, thank you Rob

Edited April 7, 2023 by PaulRhB

[meanach]

3 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

What’s doing the Jacobite this year?

West coast appealed but as I understand it their extension runs out mid summer , at the height of tourist season ! They have sent a rake of mk2 a / b / c up . Their solution so far regards toilets is to lock them all out of use !

[thegreenhowards]

15 minutes ago, meanach said:

West coast appealed but as I understand it their extension runs out mid summer , at the height of tourist season ! They have sent a rake of mk2 a / b / c up . Their solution so far regards toilets is to lock them all out of use !

That’s good with a train full of oaps!