Greenford in 00 Gauge: Circa 2010-2017 (FGW, Chiltern, LU, Virgin + Plenty of Freight)

[EWS60065]

Nice work on the road layout, I like all the details you plan to add along the side of it. Will look fantastic when finished with trains running along the top of the embankment!

[tjf4375]

I love that worn out and faded billboard sign!

[big jim]

Last time I had to relieve a train in Greenford by road rockware ave was blocked by a load of fridges that had been fly tipped, we’re talking an artic trucks worth! 
 

 

Edited March 5 by big jim

[WCML100]

7 hours ago, big jim said:

Last time I had to relieve a train in Greenford by road rockware ave was blocked by a load of fridges that had been fly tipped, we’re talking an artic trucks worth! 
 

 

 

That sounds about right for the area! Don't worry we will be including plenty of fly tipped fridges on the layout! As well washing machines etc, and some lost shopping trolleys for good measure!

 

[WCML100]

On 04/03/2024 at 18:00, tjf4375 said:

I love that worn out and faded billboard sign!

thanks! I quite like it! The more I look at it, the more I think the outer edge is too thick so may re do it at some point! I have attached the original post below on how I made it up in case it is of interest 🙂

 

 

 

On 01/06/2023 at 17:31, WCML100 said:

One of the little projects I have been working on recently is the billboard advertising hoardings. I recently picked up a few laser cut kits from ebay and then the pack from model railway scenery.

 

I wanted to create one with a sturdy structure so thought a hybrid between the kits might be a good idea! Here is an image of the kits side by side.

 

 

 

The model railway scenery offering is all paper based which I thought may struggle structurally long term, so the hybrid option with the ebay laser cut structures was a nice comprise. Who doesn’t like a bit of kit bashing? So I got to work painting the laser cut kits.

 

 

 

 

Next problem to tackle was the size differences. This is something only I realised as I went to use the scale model scenery backdrops for the adverts on the laser cut kit. The white frame (pre coloured in the laser cut kit) was slightly to tall for the backdrops from the sms offering. Not to worry, I carefully cut diagonally in the corners and shortened the frame slightly. I cut diagonally to emulate a real billboard style frame - i also left a diagonal mark on the top corners too for continuity. 
 

 

 

Originally I was going to use the rear support structure from the laser cut kit but decided on a more modern simple ‘girder’ style post which is common these days. So I found some suitably sized plasticard I had lying around and painted that black also. 
 

 

 

Then I attached the posts on the back and glued the frame, main section and clear channel logo on for the final look. A nice quick easy kit built on the side to break up the other jobs I have beeb doing on the layout… (more on that to come). Please note it is leaning up against a small paint pot until it is permanently in place when the lower embankment and scenery are ready. This is one of several eventually which will be situated on this board. What do we think? 😄

 

 

[WCML100]

So next off the work bench is another vehicle! You may have noticed it lurking in the pictures in a recent post!

 

It is this Scania 94D rigid in TNT livery, by Oxford Diecast. It starts out of the box as a standard issue so plenty of work to be done to bring it in line with the standard previously set by the Ford Transit previously attempted.

 

 

 

First everything was dismantled and given a good coat of Railmatch Matt Varnish to tone everything shiny down, and give the weathering something to cling to! The glazing wouldn't budge and I didn't fancy breaking it so masked up instead!

 

I gave the roof a coat of off white paint as per photos of similar lorry’s I found. This looked miles better than the shiny unrealistic silver finish previously.

 

 

Next up was the fun part! As per the Ford Transit previously attacked, some Ammo wash was used to get into all of the panel lines and grooves etc. This was done on all of the curtain-sides and cab. Once painted on, it was taken back with IPA and cotton buds. This not only takes the glaring contrast away but dulls the remaining areas right down too. I also took this opportunities to use some 'dirtied' cotton buds which still had a good amount of IPA as well as the wash on to streak across and create the streaking across the roof. Again something I had found on numerous lorry roofs during research.
 

 

 

Last but not least was details. I painted up the dash in the interior to give it a dark grey plastic appearance, again as per the generic appeal most cabs have. I added a cut down driver, and some typical lorry driver accessories on the passenger seat with the list of the days job on the dashboard! These were all used again from the same sheet of ‘Litter’ made by modelrailwayscenery.com - great not just for using as litter! I also painted up the wing mirrors too with the same silver used on the Ford Transit.

 

 

All in all a quick, easy and fun little project! Great to add realism to the road scene when we get to that point as it is now ‘ready to plonk’! It certainly an easy way to transform an out of the box item to ‘model worthy’. As Greenford is quite an industrial area, it certainly won’t be the last of the commercial vehicles to be re worked for the layout! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s all for now. More on the way soon!

 

 

Edited March 6 by WCML100

[JackB95]

Oh wow that's impressive! Really caught the real thing well. 

[NickL2008]

It looks like Greenford is shaping up nicely, have you seen the 230 out on test?

 

NL

[WCML100]

17 hours ago, JackB95 said:

Oh wow that's impressive! Really caught the real thing well. 

 

Thanks very much! Im pretty happy with it fro my first go at a large commercial vehicle! 

 

 

16 hours ago, NickL2008 said:

It looks like Greenford is shaping up nicely, have you seen the 230 out on test?

 

NL

 

Thanks, more to come and a long way to go, but steps in the right direction for sure. I feel like not everyone plans out exactly where the non railway features go but when modelling from a real location where you are compromising on space in places to fit everything in - it is key to getting everything to 'look right in the eye'.

 

I have not seen the 230 in person yet, although when I have time I will be going to check it out at some point!

 

[Chris37044]

Another new addition for Greenford, my Bachmann London Transport Livery 20227. Not much needs to be said for this one, painted up for use on London Underground Tours, it was regularly seen during 2017 going to and from the Ruislip Depot just up the way from Greenford. 

 

This is the Bachmann Collectors Club exclusive with factory fitted sound. It’s and absolutely gem of a model and looks the business. I have added all of the bufferbeam details at the cab end and attached the etched plates too. 

 

So enjoy these photos and a video of the chopper passing through Greenford. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WCML100]

Another recent new arrival for my birthday courtesy of @Chris37044, I might add. Is this limited edition Hornby Class 67, 67026 in DB Diamond Jubilee livery. One I have always had my eye on and soft spot for, it fits in well with our narrative for the diverted MOD runs through Greenford. It managed to work the route a fair few times with this livery, and like 67003 in Arriva Trains Wales colours, in a variety of formations too. 

 

A great present and it being a limited edition release too makes it all that bit more special. It is currently DCC fitted with the intention to upgrade to sound at some point as it is will all non sound locos and units on the layout. I look forward to running this along with some MOD rolling stock in tow… for now enjoy some photos of this stunner! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 25 by WCML100

[WCML100]

Following on from the recent purchases... as the weather has started to warm up we have been hard at work making improvements and working on the layout again. One of the side tasks we have worked on is some ballast testing. 

 

With neither of us really having any experience in ballasting before, a few youtube video tutorials were in order. Once we had taken in some tips and tricks, the next question was which ballast? I had some which i have had for years in a cupboard left over from a failed previous project which was sitting unused (some woodland scenics mid grey medium blend) so tested this, along side a recommendation of chinchilla sand. 

 

The chinchilla sand first came to my attention watching one of New Junction's recent videos where he was tackling ballasting. He also tried both the woodland scenics options and the chinchilla sand. He opted for latter. So we got scrap bit of ply wood and laid some track for some test ballasting! Half and half of each ballast type...

 

The chinchilla sand results were very positive with (in our opinion) the colour more realistic and size too. However the woodland scenics option was more robust and held up better once glueing. The Chinchilla sand seemed to 'crack' in places along the ballast shoulder mainly. Over all I think we will progress with the chinchilla sand as it gave a more satisfying look and feel - we will just have to work on compacting the ballast shoulder better to prevent the cracking in future tries. I think using a siv would also be beneficial to get the very few larger pieces out. Oh, and I should also mention the cost is only £4 per bag, with the woodland scenics alternative at more than four times that these days (unlike what the price tag on my 10+ year old tub says!).

 

 

Would love to hear anyones thoughts and feedback on this.. there are some comparison photos below - with the woodland scenics offering the more white / grey colouring and also being larger in scale. Please note that the application was very rough and will be better when applied to the actual layout. The sleepers will also be weathered / painted before ballasting too.

 

 

Woodland scenics to the left and chinchilla sand to the right…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of things nearly complete coming off the workbench soon, and some big jobs being completed on the layout too so stay tuned! 
 

 

Edited March 15 by WCML100

[tjf4375]

I too was very interested to see Richard's results from using the chinchilla sand - it looks just as good, if not better than the WS grey blend. Interesting to see the problem you had with the cracking though - could you go over those areas with another sprinkling of ballast and a bit of diluted pva after it's dried maybe?

 

Let's hope the manufacturers don't catch onto this, or the price might go up! 😂

[WCML100]

Time for a big update on some progress on the layout with plenty of work being done over the last few weeks I will begin with the Upper station level. 

 

I think I may have mentioned previously but we just weren’t happy with the height of this board. When comparing with photos, the top of the locos on the lower level were in line with the height of the rail head on the upper. This was definitely too much when looking over these photos where it was much more mid height of the body side that it should be level with it. So we removed upper section and the struts supporting it. We then cut some new ones which were to the height we thought looked much better on the eye (this took some time that by the time we had decided b&q were almost shut for the day!). This has now all been put back into place and definitely looks better on the eye now. 
 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately during this process we had to rip up the eastbound central line track (the line towards the front of the upper level), as it was directly above the screws holding this board into the old struts. The bay line also sustained a little bit of damage when we were doing some work previously when adding the legs and the board alignment pins and clips. So, after a quick trip up  to AGR model railway store for some new track to replace the old, the sleepers were removed, all the sprue clipped off and thrown away and the sleepers re-attached and spaced correctly. We then re-added the droppers to the bus cable underneath. One thing we never got round to before was doing any of the sprue removal, sleeper spacing or droppers for the westbound track over the back of the board so this was all done at the same time. We also took the opportunity to give the eastbound line a little bend inwards at the west end of the station which is prototypical, and something we missed previously.

 

 

With the height of the upper board and its track now in place and ready to be glued down, our attention then turned to the next board. First to tackle was the bridge section going over the road for the upper section. Previously there was nothing in place for the level here. So we replicated the same height as just made on the station board to carry over. 
 

 

 

 

Next was to then position and glue into place the bay line incline so it could meet the Greenford branch chord under the two Central line bridges at the other end of the layout. With the height now reduced were purchased a 2% woodland scenics incline riser, where we previously had a 4%. This was enabled by the reduction of the height on the upper section and in turn allowed for a more gradual incline on the approach to the station, which over all looks more realistic. We aligned this to where we were happy with the angle and then started to glue this down with a layer of cork too for the track base. Once this was all fixed into place and the glue dried, we then cut the track to fit, with the usual sprue removal and sleeper spacing before soldering the droppers on the underside and drilling holes for these in the baseboard. 

 

 

 

 

On the back of this, I felt like it was time to finally re-tackle the cork on the chord that connects the font lines (NNML) and the Greenford branch and bay. This was ever so slightly out of line since we re-aligned the down main last year. So the old was ripped up and promptly replaced and alignment all tested. The usual base layer of cork was cut followed by the track underlay also.  I went a little further than previously as we have decided on the final alignment where it meets the bay line (more of this to come) - but the main reason for this was get everything together for the bottom of the incline of the bay so all the heights were in keeping. Next job will be to finalise the track laying over these sections. After further research, it looks like the sleeper and chair type was neither the bullhead or flatbottom type that peco produce so we have ordered some code 83 and pandrol chairs which mirror the prototype in this location best. We will also be using this track type east of the junction too. 

 

 

 

One of the other items we looked as was cutting out and lowering a section under the incline of the eastbound central line. After one of our site visits, we noticed the ground level under this incline (where there is arches over the surface) was a fair bit lower under the rest of the track heights around it. So we have cut this out and lowered this. We will revisit this once the arches are in place and use plaster cloth to mould the levels together over the different heights and around the supports for the arches. 

 

 

We recently filmed a video showing @Chris37044’s Class 150 (soon to be a 950) testing out the new incline and freshly laid bay line…

 

 

 

The next things on the agenda will be getting the bridges sorted. The abutments may prove a little of a challenge as they quite individual and not the same as one another, but something we need to do to allow the terrain to added. We will also look to start glueing all the track down on the upper station board now it has been sorted. 

 

We are also looking at getting the signal box custom built along with the semaphores required for the layout. These are key points to really setting this location so we are keen to get these as accurate as possible. If any of you know anyone who can help with these please do let us know. 

 

That is everything covered (I think!) more rolling stock updates on the way soon! 

[Tallpaul69]

On 25/03/2024 at 17:32, WCML100 said:

We are also looking at getting the signal box custom built along with the semaphores required for the layout. These are key points to really setting this location so we are keen to get these as accurate as possible. If any of you know anyone who can help with these please do let us know. 

 

 

Hi There,

Stephen Freeman (who has a topic here on RMWeb), is a specialist in signal construction. He made the GWR signals for my GW&GC layout, and I can highly recommend him.

Don't know about signal boxes, but Stephen may know someone?

Cheers

Paul  

[WCML100]

Another new arrival in the fleet are these amazing Accurascale MK2b coaches in West Coast Maroon colours. These will be used in a secondary West Coast Railtour rake, seperate from the other rake used for Flying Scotsman. 
 

The two coaches are 5747 and 5748. These are most definitely the best coaches I now own. The close coupling is brilliant, with a very small gap between coaches. The detail is wonderful, including the under frame and windows, yet still feels incredibly robust. The lighting is great and the interior finish is the best I have seen in RTR market. Well worth getting some if you can! I certainly will be adding the MK2c’s to match when they arrive.

 

So here, enjoy some nice sun-kissed photos of these amazing models. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chris116]

Those two coaches look great. I just hope they have central door locking or there could be problems ahead!

[westie7]

On 06/03/2024 at 19:04, WCML100 said:

So next off the work bench is another vehicle! You may have noticed it lurking in the pictures in a recent post!

 

It is this Scania 94D rigid in TNT livery, by Oxford Diecast. It starts out of the box as a standard issue so plenty of work to be done to bring it in line with the standard previously set by the Ford Transit previously attempted.

 

 

 

First everything was dismantled and given a good coat of Railmatch Matt Varnish to tone everything shiny down, and give the weathering something to cling to! The glazing wouldn't budge and I didn't fancy breaking it so masked up instead!

 

I gave the roof a coat of off white paint as per photos of similar lorry’s I found. This looked miles better than the shiny unrealistic silver finish previously.

 

 

Next up was the fun part! As per the Ford Transit previously attacked, some Ammo wash was used to get into all of the panel lines and grooves etc. This was done on all of the curtain-sides and cab. Once painted on, it was taken back with IPA and cotton buds. This not only takes the glaring contrast away but dulls the remaining areas right down too. I also took this opportunities to use some 'dirtied' cotton buds which still had a good amount of IPA as well as the wash on to streak across and create the streaking across the roof. Again something I had found on numerous lorry roofs during research.
 

 

 

Last but not least was details. I painted up the dash in the interior to give it a dark grey plastic appearance, again as per the generic appeal most cabs have. I added a cut down driver, and some typical lorry driver accessories on the passenger seat with the list of the days job on the dashboard! These were all used again from the same sheet of ‘Litter’ made by modelrailwayscenery.com - great not just for using as litter! I also painted up the wing mirrors too with the same silver used on the Ford Transit.

 

 

All in all a quick, easy and fun little project! Great to add realism to the road scene when we get to that point as it is now ‘ready to plonk’! It certainly an easy way to transform an out of the box item to ‘model worthy’. As Greenford is quite an industrial area, it certainly won’t be the last of the commercial vehicles to be re worked for the layout! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s all for now. More on the way soon!

 

 

 

That's brilliant!

Just found this while looking for an older style P94 cab for a fire engine conversion 🙌🏻

[Pacific231G]

On 28/11/2023 at 17:06, big jim said:

Not long after I started with chiltern we did a DVT move to Doncaster, the unique white and blue one, and we went Wembley LMD-Neasden Jn-Acton canal wharf (reverse)-Wembley yard (reverse)-Primrose Hill-north london line to incline down to the ECML then onward to Doncaster, Mr Roast was the instructor/conductor of course, can’t remember why I was on it though, possibly DVT training 

 

These might be of interest to you, taken 1st July 2012 on a chiltern diversion into Paddington, I got a conductor at West Ruislip and I sat in the 2nd mans seat to Paddington and back 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and a couple from Christmas Day 2021

 

 

 

I've only just seen these Big Jim but thanks for posting them. The only time I mamaged to travel on that stretch of line was during that same Chiltern Railways diversion in 2012. I got the Central Line from Perivale to W. Ruislip then the Chiltern to Paddington. Since they cut the line approaching OOC, the Greenford Branch has been a lot less interesting though we had some excitement before Easter when the late Adrian Shooters' new battery electrics sets were being tested. How soon they come into service is anyone's guess buit the branch is being used as the test location for these trains that GWR intend to use on most of their shorter branch lines . They are in any case a bit out of era for this layout unless WCML applies rule 1.  

Edited April 20 by Pacific231G

[WCML100]

So finally, a finished project to show you all. Well… a revisited project, now fully finished. 
 

JGA 19232, the lone JGA of this type to make it into DB red, was a repaint I did some time ago - but I did always want to revisit it for weathering. I also made a couple of improvements including adding the hand rails beneath each buffer (not sure on the technical term for these), which was a massive miss on the standard tooling from Bachmann (including a few other minor points!). I used a spare detail pack from one of the original Hornby KFA releases where these hand rails did not come attached to the wagon but within the details bag (they do on the more recent releases of that model!). The slight ridge on these made them a perfect fit with a dab of glue. A very simple cheat code but one well worth it I think! I will be trying to find some further spares of these for the remaining 3 JGA’s within this rake. 
 

The next mod was to add a prototypical looking aggregates load, as I wanted to model this rake loaded. I used the main type within a pack of the Woodland scenics Gravel (Buff fine) that was going cheap in the Hattons clearance sale. Enough to do 5-6 wagons if you fill them out a bit! I added in some spare polystyrene and then some plasticard to top it off and then the load with what I think is a fairly realistic look, with 3 ‘mounds’ over each hopper within the wagon. I am really happy with the appearance based off prototype images of this particular wagon and the rakes it has been in that I am aiming to replicate. The type used, not only replicates the prototype well but is finer than the ballast, giving a different shade, separating it nicely to the ballast at track level. 
 

Lastly, as I wanted to model this not long after it had been repainted, only a light weathering was required. I used a mixture of weathering powders to ‘dust’ the solebar, create patches along the most upper panels (copying a prototype image of where the build ups were), and also getting stuck in on the ends where a lot of debris builds up very quickly. Again all copied loosely from images of this wagon soon after it was deployed back into work after its fresh lick of paint. The hopper doors, chassis and the bogies needs a dusting to take the shine off the glossy looking black too. So a quick spray of my trusty Railmatch Weathered black aerosol did the trick. I then painted the axle boxes in to EWS red (using a brush and Railmatch EWS), again matching the prototype. I also created some faint streak lines where these are welded and seem to show up very quickly! All of this was sealed in with some Railmatch Matt Varnish spray.

So here it is in some natural light, I am very pleased with outcome and look forward to completing some tweaks to my orange RMC JGA’s to go with this. The aim is these will be mixed in with HOA’s (hopefully arriving soon from Revolution) and eventually one or two IIA’s for good measure. All based off the rake that used to work out of Hayes Tarmac. As always, love to hear your thoughts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 18 by WCML100

[tjf4375]

Those Accurascale Mk2s look lovely. The close coupling in particular is most impressive. I've seen a few pics and videos of the WCR ones and can't help wondering if the shade of red may be a bit bright, but it's probably the light! I have a very similar Class 33 in WCR colours :)

[WCML100]

2 hours ago, tjf4375 said:

Those Accurascale Mk2s look lovely. The close coupling in particular is most impressive. I've seen a few pics and videos of the WCR ones and can't help wondering if the shade of red may be a bit bright, but it's probably the light! I have a very similar Class 33 in WCR colours :)

They are wonderful coaches. The maroon is a difficult one - in the natural sunlight they look pretty good to me, however under artificial light not so much, they look too red. It has been discussed at length on the accura mk2b thread, they are no doubt closer than the Bachmann west coast maroon however (more of a brown colour than maroon) so not sure what to do with my bachy ones now! Oh and I do like a grubby 33 with some ploughs! 

[tjf4375]

I hadn't thought to look at the accurascale thread but will take a look. Nevertheless they look like superb coaches with incredible detail! I am glad in a way that I've limited my layout to a particular location otherwise it would be impossible to resist buying a few of these! 😂

[WCML100]

1 hour ago, tjf4375 said:

I hadn't thought to look at the accurascale thread but will take a look. Nevertheless they look like superb coaches with incredible detail! I am glad in a way that I've limited my layout to a particular location otherwise it would be impossible to resist buying a few of these! 😂

 

They get about everywhere! Always an excuse haha!

[tjf4375]

52 minutes ago, WCML100 said:

 

They get about everywhere! Always an excuse haha!

This is true! Rail tours give us reasons to buy all sorts of stuff :) I've managed to resist the temptation so far with these, but so much amazing stuff coming out now - I've got to suppress that FOMO! 😂