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

[lmsforever]

This section is looking really good sorry to see the problem but the answer seems to be a good way of curing it ,I had a problem with pony trucks becoming derailed as they turned towards platform.Found that I had not pinned the track and the whole section had moved but have now sorted out it and am happy again. It happens like that an d is a pain but at least it makes you look harder at the layout . I enjoy looking at your layout as this a part of the world that is so beautiful and amazing , my own layout is set north of the border in the south and I feel as though I go abroad everytime I unlock my shed !

[ISW]

13 hours ago, young37215 said:

Something needs to change on the joint but what and how I am less certain. What is frustrating is that I had the joint alignment spot on before ballasting using 3mm strips of cork. Why it has changed I cannot fathom although my suspicion is the horizontal track alignment has been affected by glueing resulting in the ends of the two rails at the joint no longer being horizontal.

Rob,

 

Isn't the problem more one of 'vertical alignment'? These new fangled (?) models don't seem to have 'floating' middle axles on Co-Co bogies (that they used to have on older models ...). Charlie Bishop (Chadwick Model Railway) has noted similar problems. The result being that one of the outer axles on the bogie gets 'lifted' above the railhead on any vertical curves (pivoting on the middle axle).

 

On straight track (with gentle vertical curves) this isn't a problem, as the bogie just 'plops' back onto the rail once on level track. However, if you also have a horizontal curve then there is the risk that the bogie 'plops' down and that axle misses the railhead. Equally, if your vertical alignment is too sharp (low vertical radii) or not 'smooth' (aka has 'some' sharp vertical bits in it) this exaggerates the gap between the outer bogie axle and the railhead, leading to increased derailment risk.

 

Since you don't actually encounter derailments (and based on your photos) the outer axle is not lifting 'too' much. This also implies your horizontal alignment must be quite good as well. Therefore, I'd be looking closely at the vertical alignment over that 'crest' in your alignment. A good set of 'railway curves' would be great for this, like this:

 

These would quickly show up any 'imperfections' in the vertical curve over your crest, and also help you to 'smooth it out' by the strategic insertion of thin shims. However, the glued ballast may have to go first ...

 

Ian

 

[peterm1]

It's not good when you may have to take up track to fix a problem, but I think your scenery is great. Keep the pic's coming.

[young37215]

9 hours ago, ISW said:

Rob,

 

Isn't the problem more one of 'vertical alignment'? These new fangled (?) models don't seem to have 'floating' middle axles on Co-Co bogies (that they used to have on older models ...). Charlie Bishop (Chadwick Model Railway) has noted similar problems. The result being that one of the outer axles on the bogie gets 'lifted' above the railhead on any vertical curves (pivoting on the middle axle).

 

On straight track (with gentle vertical curves) this isn't a problem, as the bogie just 'plops' back onto the rail once on level track. However, if you also have a horizontal curve then there is the risk that the bogie 'plops' down and that axle misses the railhead. Equally, if your vertical alignment is too sharp (low vertical radii) or not 'smooth' (aka has 'some' sharp vertical bits in it) this exaggerates the gap between the outer bogie axle and the railhead, leading to increased derailment risk.

 

Since you don't actually encounter derailments (and based on your photos) the outer axle is not lifting 'too' much. This also implies your horizontal alignment must be quite good as well. Therefore, I'd be looking closely at the vertical alignment over that 'crest' in your alignment. A good set of 'railway curves' would be great for this, like this:

 

These would quickly show up any 'imperfections' in the vertical curve over your crest, and also help you to 'smooth it out' by the strategic insertion of thin shims. However, the glued ballast may have to go first ...

 

Ian

 

 

I agree it is the vertical alignment that is the problem where in an effort to resolve I inserted several 1mm cardboard shims in between layers of glued cork which were opened up using a craft knife. I dont have the necessary rail tools to check the alignment but visually this has reduced the problem and my initial reaction is it appears much improved. I shall run with this for a few days but I am hopeful that I have found the solution without having to rip up the ballasted track. 

 

37085 continues the journey south with 7D12 seen arriving at a very dark Crianlarich. The lights were off to test the various lighting set ups at the station, I rather like the atmosphere created which is a contrast to usual running conditions. The detailing in the illuminated signal box is much more visible, the lever frame and token machines can clearly be seen.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ISW]

13 hours ago, young37215 said:

I dont have the necessary rail tools to check the alignment but visually this has reduced the problem and my initial reaction is it appears much improved.

Rob,

 

If you have a nice 1m ruler (preferably a thin one) you can use that. Weigh it down flat (clamps / bricks / ...) on to the track on one side of the vertical curve where it is a single gradient. On the other side of the vertical curve, gently press the ruler down to the rails. You 'shouldn't' have any large gaps between the underside of the ruler and the rails all the way over the vertical curve. Shine a torch behind to check for gaps.

 

Ian

[young37215]

9 hours ago, ISW said:

Rob,

 

If you have a nice 1m ruler (preferably a thin one) you can use that. Weigh it down flat (clamps / bricks / ...) on to the track on one side of the vertical curve where it is a single gradient. On the other side of the vertical curve, gently press the ruler down to the rails. You 'shouldn't' have any large gaps between the underside of the ruler and the rails all the way over the vertical curve. Shine a torch behind to check for gaps.

 

Ian

I have done something similar which shows good horizontal alignment and acceptable, but not perfect, vertical alignment. The acid tests are how it looks visually with trains passing over and an absence of derailments. So far, so good. Fingers crossed, testing means that I have a good excuse for playing trains!

 

37085 and 7D12 again, this time seen departing Garelochead.

 

 

 

 

 

[Fishplate]

I really like your last picture looking towards the loco and the cutting. Very atmospheric.

 

I also like the 'scotch mist' in the earlier post of 7D12.

[young37215]

So far, so good, the reworked mountaineous section runs well. I will re-start the remaining landscape work in the coming days, there is not a lot to do and I am keen to progress.

 

37017 is allocated to 1B11, 12.54 Glasgow to Oban seen arriving at Ardlui where it passes a southbound engineering working.

 

 

 

 

[03060]

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

 

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

37017 is allocated to 1B11, 12.54 Glasgow to Oban seen arriving at Ardlui where it passes a southbound engineering working.

 

 

 

Complete with an Observation Saloon on the rear for the passengers to enjoy the views back down Loch Awe ... marvellous !

[young37215]

Just some running yesterday, I must pull my finger out and get on with the mountaineous section scenery if I am to complete it this winter as I had planned. A pair of 37's were rostered for 8B20, 14.15 Glasgow Sighthill to Corpach where 37039 and 37011 are seen at Garelochead on their journey north.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[03060]

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

 

 

 

 

Why did 'Thunder in the Mountains' by Toyah just spring into my head ?? LoL

[young37215]

It's just too easy to keep running so I decided I had to break things up. Yesterday I broke down the fixed rakes of passenger stock to weather a number of coaches. All 5 of the BSOT conversions need their roof's weathering and the 2 new ones their chassis. Additionally there are several other coaches where more weathering is required and the same for a number of new wagons. All in all enough work to justify the getting the airbrush out and the cleaning that a session with this entails.

 

Most of the service trains on WHL4 are booked for class 37's so it is an effort at times to utilise the 20's and 27's in the fleet. 27105 did get a recent outing for the CMEE department and is seen on its way south at Ardlui with a rake of Grampus loaded with spoil.   

 

 

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

It's just too easy to keep running so I decided I had to break things up. Yesterday I broke down the fixed rakes of passenger stock to weather a number of coaches. All 5 of the BSOT conversions need their roof's weathering and the 2 new ones their chassis. Additionally there are several other coaches where more weathering is required and the same for a number of new wagons. All in all enough work to justify the getting the airbrush out and the cleaning that a session with this entails.

 

Most of the service trains on WHL4 are booked for class 37's so it is an effort at times to utilise the 20's and 27's in the fleet. 27105 did get a recent outing for the CMEE department and is seen on its way south at Ardlui with a rake of Grampus loaded with spoil.   

 

 

 

 

 

Always nice to see a 27…although I wouldn’t have said that back in the day!

[young37215]

9 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Always nice to see a 27…although I wouldn’t have said that back in the day!

 

I did'nt do many WHL trains for haulage, there were too many easier new engine options in the central belt to cover. However on 5th August 1979 on a Scottish Region rover I had 27019 on 16.38 Glasgow to Mallaig to Dumbarton which was the only 27 I had on a WHL train. Dumbarton was a frequent move for me with the northbound sleeper, I would travel north on 1S19, the Bristol to Glasgow sleeper where a compartment could usually be found for a good nights sleep, for a bleary eyed walk across town to Queen Street to cover the sleeper. If I needed the loco it would be the Dumbarton move for an EMU back into Glasgow and Casy Jones for breakfast!

 

Yesterday was a constructive one where the airbrush helped me complete all of the rolling stock roof painting and a large part of the chassis weathering. There is another few hours of work to go but hopefully I can complete this today. 37049 was captured a few days earlier arriving at Crianlarich with a Glasgow bound train from Oban. By the time 37049 runs again it should have been given a light weathering. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

Tangible progress, the Queen Mary repaint is complete and the wagon returned to its usual place in the yard at Crianlarich. It needs transfers but I dont have any so they will have to wait. The other rolling stock that has been painted is drying out before being put back together, a little patience to allow the paint to harden pays a dividend although I find it hard to wait. 

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

With the passenger rakes in pieces, the only potential for running are freight and engineering trains. 20228 is seen at Crianlarich awaiting the departure of 37049 before it can exit the Pway yard with a short engineering consist.

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

Virtually everything was put back together yesterday, the exception being the last BSOT conversion SC9011 where I still need to fit the internal window covering and cut out the seating bays. 4 of 5 rakes of coaches were set up wth the 5th awaiting the finished SC9011. All in all a productive few days completing a list of jobs that had been outstanding for a while, I really hope to use the momentum this has created to get on with the mountaineous section scenic work.

 

37111 arrives at Garelochead with 1T45 12.45 Mallaig to Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

37043 was allocated for the daily Oban to Sighthill freight where the WTT allows time for picking up wagons at stations south of Crianlarich as required. In addition to crossing 1B14 at Ardlui, 2 loaded OTA's were collected and added to the train. 

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

Some weathering of late, 37027 had Railmatch weathered black airbrushed onto its roof as exhaust. 37178 had its chassis lightly weathered using Railmatch frame dirt and the roof was misted with light coat of Railmatch roof dirt. Thinned weathered black was applied to the radiator grills on both 37111 and 37178 which helps break up the solid blue. I have'nt tried the roof dirt before and really like the addition which softens the new paint look that a model typically comes with. If I can summon up the confidence I shall do the same to several other locos including 37027 which still look too 'out of the box' for my liking. The contrast of 37178 against 37111 is subtle but very noticeable. 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

I returned to the outstanding scenic work yesterday making a start on the area around Arrochar. Whilst waiting for plaster cloth to dry I added cable trunking and point rodding and removed 100mm of the 2 sidings which were cut using a razor saw, cleaned up and painted to blend in with their surrounds. I was not happy with the approach that leads to the yard from the station car park and added more Scultpamold until I was satisfied that this looked more prototypical. 

 

 

Approach road before work

 

 

approach road after work, the lane needs sanding before painting

 

 

By the end of the day I had added and painted about 1000mm of the landscape above Arrochar. If the paint is all dry then I should be able to dress the area today and add more plaster cloth heading south to the natural break at the end of the station platform.  

 

 

[young37215]

Another day of progress at Arrochar with a further 1000mm of the upper area landscape tweaked, plaster clothed and painted. Scenic materials were added to the 2000mm of finished landscape which is always the point where the final appearance takes shape. Trees and bushes need adding along with alot of detailing and tidying up but the station area and surrounds at Arrochar have taken a big step forward. 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 13 by young37215

[billywhizz]

Looking really good Rob. It’s coming together nicely!

[young37215]

Not much done yesterday with glue drying. I did run a couple of engineering trains by way of a test and everything appeared fine. 27041 and the Eastfield breakdown train head south passing 20085 and empty Grampus heading north.   

 

 

 

 

 

[Dunalastair]

Looks good, and I appreciate the constraints of compression, but has the signal cabin ended up just too close to the platform edges? I am possibly sensitised to this issue by my current Banavie PIer station diorama project. Shuffling the cabin just a little back towards the station building, if that is still possible, might help the credibility.

 

https://westhighlandline.org.uk/arrochar-and-tarbet/

 

Of course, it might simply have been 'plonked' for the image and since been moved up the platform.

[young37215]

2 hours ago, Dunalastair said:

Looks good, and I appreciate the constraints of compression, but has the signal cabin ended up just too close to the platform edges? I am possibly sensitised to this issue by my current Banavie PIer station diorama project. Shuffling the cabin just a little back towards the station building, if that is still possible, might help the credibility.

 

https://westhighlandline.org.uk/arrochar-and-tarbet/

 

Of course, it might simply have been 'plonked' for the image and since been moved up the platform.

 

The platform was extended in the late 1980's, the signal box is in its correct place for my early 1980's era although the platform is not as wide as it should be. A second imitation signal box used as a waiting room was built when the station building was pulled down, I am not sure when but think it was into the 2000's.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 14 by young37215