Oakbank Oil Microlayout / Diorama

[Dunalastair]

Before I knuckle down to exam marking again, today's printed diorama is a 9mm gauge representation of the Oakbank Oil railway in West Lothian. Industrial electric railways were not as common in the UK as in Europe, but make for interesting prototypes.

 

The system used distinctive overhead line equipment

 

 

The passing loop approach was crossed by the NBR line to the Forth Bridge. An abandoned line to a closed shale pit curves off to the left.

 

  

Full and empty trains cross while a horse looks on

 

 

Some maintenance is needed

 

 

The morning commute - this unlikely looking scene was based on a prototype photograph

 

 

The locos were built on Kato 'tram' chassis - here is the full lineup. The original US built machine has been preserved.