Glenfinnan Station in O Gauge

[4firstimes]

The camping coach which was stored on the long lower road from the Loading bank was a Pullman camping coach no 51 and was this was case the case in June 1968. Incidentally at the same time there was an additional one with windows on the vestibule ends . Both appear to be former Pullman clestory roof types 

[thegreenhowards]

2 hours ago, 4firstimes said:

The camping coach which was stored on the long lower road from the Loading bank was a Pullman camping coach no 51 and was this was case the case in June 1968. Incidentally at the same time there was an additional one with windows on the vestibule ends . Both appear to be former Pullman clestory roof types 

Thanks. I’ve been doing a bit of extra research myself on these coaches. There is a good picture on p34 of the West Highland Extension by Tom Noble which shows these camping coaches. Pullman Camping Coach 51 was not actually a Pullman car but was a SECR Royal Train coach. A good description of it is here:

 

https://sremg.org.uk/coach/coupe/coupe_se07.pdf

 

I believe that the other coach was Pullman Camping Coach no 45 which was originally Third Class Car No 47, a 12 wheeler. I assume this is the second coach in the photo, but there’s so little of it to see that I can’t be sure. No 51 was at Glenfinnan from ‘63-‘69 and was joined by No 45 from ‘67-‘69 - this coach had previously been at Lochailort and Arisaig.

 

Andy

[03060]

Not sure if this is what you want but I've dug out my old photos which I think were taken in the late 80s or possibly very early 90s.

[03060]

The station building side. My Fiat Tipo in the last photo dates these to between 1989 and 1992.

 

 

Edited October 3, 2022 by 03060
Extra info added.

[03060]

The signal box, waiting room, water tank and siding layout, which from my angle almost looks level across the pointwork.

[thegreenhowards]

Thanks for all those photos. Very useful.

 

The Mk1 1 camping coaches are, I believe, after my timeframe. About 1989 I think,  becoming green and cream later. But that second camping coach photo is very useful for the look of the land between it and the station building - an angle I hadn’t seen before.

 

interesting that they’ve obviously just removed the track and point to the end on siding with the loading dock. The levels are confusing. Sometimes the loading dock track looks almost level, but this photo shows that it is lower than the signal box and your photo shows that as level with the platform tracks.  
 

 

[4firstimes]

I have been following this article on Glenfinnan very closely with in-depth interest. With several years of research of the Mallaig extension and the Station at Glenfinnan I have a wealth of knowledge. The long mileage road from which the Mk One coaches and Camping Coaches were berthed started to drop away after the point for the short loading dock road. The view is slightly confusing for the following reasons network rail from railway data.co.uk , list the following gradient changes, mileage point 14.21miles 17 chains 369 yards as gradient change plus 1:60 for 660.1 meters this is to bridge 50 or bridge 66 as shown on the 1 in 500 plan . From bridge 50 or bridge 66 this in 14.62 miles 50 chains 110 yards gradient change of 1: 260 for 224.91 meters. The footcrossing at Glenfinnan East 14.7 miles 56 chains 1229 yards is the point of datum as after  the footcrossing at Glenfinnan West 14.75 miles 60 chains and 1323 yards is the point in which the gradient changes to 1:50 for 144.45 meters. The enclosed photo of the ground frame at Glenfinnan East, if you look carefully amongst the undergrowth the point of gradient change is apparent.  Also and this is the point all models of Glenfinnan station approach have not modelled the check rails on the points to the loop correctly , observe the the extended check rails.. I have enclosed a copy of 1 :500 plan of Glenfinnan station , this shows the position of the infrastructure features of the area .The copy has been laminated with plastic to preserve the details and being larger than A3 paper size has been mounted on card , hence why there may be a reflection 

Photo_2022-10-07_161635.pdf

[thegreenhowards]

The postman brought a couple of goodies this week. The first was a couple of Interfrigo Van kits, of which more when I’ve made some progress.

 

The other was this delightful signal box commissioned from Ed Hall. 
 

 

 

 

I think he’s done a superb job on this and I’m looking forward to seeing it in position. I didn’t specify the exact period, so it’s possible that I’ll need to repaint it, but first I need to work out what period it represents.

 

In other news I’m painting the three completed baseboards, but as I’m sure you don’t want to see pictures of paint drying, I’ll leave them until there’s something more exciting to show!

 

Andy
 

 

[mallaig1983]

Your postie brings more exciting things than mine does 😀👍

[thegreenhowards]

2 hours ago, mallaig1983 said:

Your postie brings more exciting things than mine does 😀👍

Sadly he also brings the bills!

[5944]

You get post?!

[thegreenhowards]

As mentioned above the other goodie from my postie was a pair of Interfrigo vans.

 

The aim is to be able to recreate this service.

 

This was a trial to restart the Mallaig fish traffic with a service to Grimsby which ran on the back of a passenger train to Fort William. It’s right at the end of my timeframe in 1987 but seems like too interesting a train to miss.

 

The kits are from Skog who advertise on Facebook. They are 3D printed and come like this.

 

As normal with 3D printed kits they have lots of printing lines on the flat sides. I’m slowly winning with filler and Halfords filler primer, but I think I need one more go.

 

 

 

Other than that the kit goes together very nicely. I think it’s a bit too reliant on 3D printing and I’m not sure the fine detail will last, but I’ll see how it goes. 
 

I am struggling with the decals. Steadfast Models are producing a set for me and the mock up looks good.

 

 

However, there is one part we’re stuck on which is the Red Cross on the right hand door as seen in the photos on this link  (kindly restored for me by @Kylestrome).  I can’t find any pictures on which I can read the text beneath the red cross. Does anyone know what it might read?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

I’m making progress with the baseboards and track laying. I’ve now got the three main boards painted in primer/ undercoat/ top coat to protect them and I’m starting laying things out. This is the board for the west end of the platforms. The ESB is cut the the track plan and I’m laying self adhesive closed cell foam as underlay. 

 

 

I’m planning to glue the track down and ballast in one go, so I need the platforms in first. This shows the side bits in place glued with PVA and temporarily held by the offcuts of wood from when I cut the track bed. They are made from 5mm foam board.

 

 

And now with a platform surface, also from the foam board. The land rises behind the platform and I will build that on top of the foam board which is a nice light but firm base.

 

 

I’ve tried to cut an angle into the top surface of the foam board to make the cornice under the platform. It’s a bit rough but hopefully will create an impression. If anyone has a better idea of how to create it then please shout. My plan now is to put coping stones on made from 2mm plasticard. Then the sides and coping stones will be painted in a concrete paint and fine brown ballast used behind for the platform surface..

The important question is how big should the coping stones be? Based on the photos above, I’m thinking 4ftx2ftx4”. Does that sound reasonable?

 

Andy

[RedgateModels]

On 07/10/2022 at 20:01, mallaig1983 said:

Your postie brings more exciting things than mine does 😀👍

 

What's a postman?

[Dunmar]

On 07/10/2022 at 16:54, thegreenhowards said:

The postman brought a couple of goodies this week. The first was a couple of Interfrigo Van kits, of which more when I’ve made some progress.

 

The other was this delightful signal box commissioned from Ed Hall. 
 

 

 

 

I think he’s done a superb job on this and I’m looking forward to seeing it in position. I didn’t specify the exact period, so it’s possible that I’ll need to repaint it, but first I need to work out what period it represents.

 

In other news I’m painting the three completed baseboards, but as I’m sure you don’t want to see pictures of paint drying, I’ll leave them until there’s something more exciting to show!

 

Andy
 

 

Hi Andy,

Been trawling through my laptop but think I might have deleted some of the pics that you might have been looking for. After I completed Glenfinnan I had a clearout. Here is a pic of the box which is in the livery used up to the late 80's.

I think the present colours are somewhat later and were the same colours used for the station building. I have also included pics of both platform shelters, one in model form and the other as is !

[Dunmar]

Hi Andy ,

Nearly forgot. With regards to your thoughts on platform edging , when I did mine I used mounting board of the type you see in art shops. I tended to cut the pieces larger than they really were to give an appearance of area and weight.

Also came across this pic of the water tank, unfortunately would have to had gone back under the cover of darkness to get a pic of the top !!!

[thegreenhowards]

Hi Bill,

 

Many thanks for your photos. I now realise I should have specified the earlier colour scheme for the signal box. Looks like it will need a repaint eventually. It won’t be a priority at this stage though. Did the Gaelic nameboard on the signal box come in with the repaint or was it always there?

 

I haven’t tackled the waiting shelter yet, but I have an Alphagrafix kit which is close, so will probably use that initially. 
 

I have found a photo of the top of the water tank captured as a still from the BBC 1983 video suggested by @mallaig1983. It shows that it was open on the top. A clearer photo would be welcome if anyone has one.

Thanks for the tips on the platform coping. I have made some progress - more later today hopefully.

 

Andy

 

[thegreenhowards]

With regard to the platform you were all too polite to say that my previous attempt was rubbish! But, I knew in my heart if hearts that it wouldn’t do, so I went for plan B. This involved using micro strip to make the shape under the platform edge. I used triangular 90 degree isosceles  triangular section and some 3mmx2.5mm strip to make the edge.
 

 

i started with the 3mmx2.5mm strip along the top and then inserted the triangular section below. It still needs th3 capping stones. I’m now much happier with it.

Comments welcome.

Andy

[mallaig1983]

That’s got the right look to it Andy. I’m just wondering if it perhaps should be a little deeper? When I was studying Mallaig’s platforms it looked like the angle started about a third of the way down from the top edge. Of course depending on the section used this could set the platform wall back to far. I could be optically illuded however and it may look bob on once the capping stones are added. Be interested to see it with a section I’m place. 

[thegreenhowards]

13 minutes ago, mallaig1983 said:

That’s got the right look to it Andy. I’m just wondering if it perhaps should be a little deeper? When I was studying Mallaig’s platforms it looked like the angle started about a third of the way down from the top edge. Of course depending on the section used this could set the platform wall back to far. I could be optically illuded however and it may look bob on once the capping stones are added. Be interested to see it with a section I’m place. 

I agree Andy. Unfortunately I could only get 90/45/45  or equilateral triangular section whereas I’d really like 90/60/30 triangles to give a shallower angle. I could have gone for a bigger triangle (3 or 4mm sides rather than 2) but that would push the platform edge out a long way and I still don’t think it would be right.

[mallaig1983]

You can only work with what’s available and I’d say that you have made a decent representation so a good choice. The capping will make a big difference and also it won’t always be a stark white which is never a good colour for detail photographs. 
 

I’ll certainly be using these sections when I come to incorporate my version on my layout.

[thegreenhowards]

14 hours ago, mallaig1983 said:

You can only work with what’s available and I’d say that you have made a decent representation so a good choice. The capping will make a big difference and also it won’t always be a stark white which is never a good colour for detail photographs. 
 

I’ll certainly be using these sections when I come to incorporate my version on my layout.

Do you think it would be better if I put two strips of the 3x2.5 above the triangular section so making a 5mm flat section at the top and pushing the triangle down by 2.5mm?

[lmsforever]

Not sure on the green on dvd,s and photos I have seen  the colours for buildings are white with blue detail ie  window frames ,stairs doors on signal boxes and buidings white and blue detailing .Hopes this helps have a look at Key Publishing several books on the Highland lines ,hope this helps.

[young37215]

1985 signal box colour scheme,

 

 

something similar for the station building, colours are not my strong point but these look close to your model. Possibly the brightness of your building could be toned down, the good old Scottish weather could always be relied up on to do this to the real thing!

 

 

Edited October 28, 2022 by young37215

[thegreenhowards]

Thanks Rob,

 

The signal box will clearly need a repaint. It seems to have a strange beige coloured timber on the left corner in your photo. Do you think that was a recent replacement? If so, I’ll have to work out when it happened!  The station, as you say, is more or less OK. Although, I wonder if the green for the framing should be darker - like in the signal box.

 

Andy