Kyle Of Lochwilliam

Well I've finally decided to take the plunge and start a topic on my son and mine's layout, Kyle of Lochwilliam.

The layout was conceived from the fact that Anthony, my son, had grown out of his 6x4 roundy, roundy layout and wanted something a bit more prototypical. After much thought a Scottish terminus was decided on which would cater for both of our love of Class 37's. Also it gave me a chance to start experimenting with DCC. This meant that I could slowly start converting my collection of loco's as finances allowed.

At the moment the stock is mainly 1990's era but eventually I shall convert our present day stock to DCC which means the layout will be able to run in two time periods and any time in between. This will give me an excuse to run my GBRf 66 of which I'm lucky enough to get to drive the real thing as part of my day job.

Traffic on the layout consists of both passenger & freight workings to nearby industry. Namely the Alcan smelter, Corpach Paper Mill and my own fictitious fish traffic. Engineers trains also feature with an engineers holding siding within the station area.

Passenger traffic consists of passenger trains to and from Glasgow and Mallaig as like Fort William there is a junction to the south of the station.

Also there is a twice daily steam service to Mallaig and the occasional charter train. Of course there is the obligatory sleeper service to Euston.

Although at an advanced stage the layout is still very much a work in progress and I will update as often as I can.

Cheers

Marcus

37415 waits to leave Kyle of Lochwilliam with the sleeper service to Glasgow whilst 37025 waits to leave with the last passenger service to Mallaig.

Overview of layout looking towards the station with 37417 and 37025 waiting to depart with their respective services.

37417 arrives with alluminium ingots from the Alcan works. It will then run round in the station area in readiness for its journey back to Mossend.

Hi Marcus,

Great looking layout and the large logo 37s with snowplows really place the era.

Do you have a track plan? I assume you've got a fiddle yards (or yards?) through the tunnels?

Cheers, Steve.

Hi Marcus,

Great looking layout and the large logo 37s with snowplows really place the era.

Do you have a track plan? I assume you've got a fiddle yards (or yards?) through the tunnels?

Cheers, Steve.

Hi Steve

Yes there is a fiddle yard the other side of the tunnels each tunnel runs into four sidings. Eight in total. The longest sidings comfortably hold a five coach train plus a loco.

I do have a track plan somewhere which I will have to dig out.

A further couple of photos are below which show the timber siding and the junction.

Great pics Marcus.

Andy

A further photo of the station area. 20063 & 37417 are stabled in between duties whilst 37038 runs round its train.

The crooked Peco lamps will eventually be replaced by working lamps of some description. The back scene at the moment is also temporary as I have experimented by using my own photos and mashing them together. The views consist of parts of Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton, Mallaig and Snowdon Mountain range. Quite where the last bit came from but it looks right. Once I'm happy I will print it all up on decent quality photo paper.

Good stuff, I have a soft spot for both the WHL and 37s from when I visited in 97,98 and 99.

Needs some nice transrail 37/4s now - ' Loch Awe' was my favourite .

Great pics Marcus.

 

Andy

Thanks Andy. Took some time to get them all in focus and with out using the flash. 

I have taken a lot of inspiration from layouts on here including your own Loch Leven and Glen Roy.

Previous to this layout I had a large tail chaser loft layout which unfortunately never really got to a large level of detail. That's what I want to try and achieve with this layout.

Marcus

Good stuff, I have a soft spot for both the WHL and 37s from when I visited in 97,98 and 99.

 

Needs some nice transrail 37/4s now - ' Loch Awe' was my favourite .

Yes that's one 37/4 livery I haven't got. I have got 672 in Transrail livery so may convert it to a 4 or pick up a ViTrains 37430.

Hi Marcus,

Nice lookin' layout you've got there - good attention to detail! Any chance of a better shot of the timber yard - especially that nifty wee tractor with the hi-ab!

Bill.

Hi Bill

Thanks for the compliment. A picture of the timber yard is below. The tractor and Hi-ab trailer are from the Siku 1:87 series.

The logs are real pine from the trees at the bottom of my garden cut to length with a hack saw blade.

Nice "37s"......... keep the good modeling up!!  

Very nice indeed Marcus. Love the layout and the 37s. It certainly captures the look of the West Highland. To make it even more convincing I'd be tempted to reprint the crimson on the signal box and station building in ScR blue then it would scream West Highland ![/quote

 

Thanks for the compliments legend. Your right about the signal box & station buildings. I might have a go at the signal box this weekend.

Took legends advice, and as I had a day off from work, I had a go at painting the signal box into Scotrail Blue. Having done it, it certainly sets the scene better so will have a go at the station buildings over the coming weeks. 

I shall probably give it another coat to deepen the colour more and probably repaint the cream as well as the Skaledale finish isn't brilliant. 

I'm flattered , think its the first time anyone's taken my advice! But the signal box looks good and more Scottish now. Hope you think it was worth it. Looks really nice.[/quote

 

I'm pretty pleased with it too. Definately worth it. I will crack on with the station buildings when I get time.

 

Marcus

Hi Marcus,

Great looking layout. I like the timber loading area and a nice selection of stock too.

Look forward to seeing it progress.

Thanks

Mark

Hi Marcus,

Great looking layout. I like the timber loading area and a nice selection of stock too.

Look forward to seeing it progress.

Thanks

Mark

Thanks Mark.

Nice timber loading , I'd make it a bit muddier though...!

Will be having a Gbrf 66 down a loch side, with engineers standing about scratching their heads...?

Looking forward to more photos...

Thanks for the pic of the timber yard - I agree with Rob - too tidy! Your signal box looks a lot more at home . With regards to 'deepening' the colour - I added white to the blue to lighten it, so much better.

Bill.

Nice timber loading , I'd make it a bit muddier though...!

Will be having a Gbrf 66 down a loch side, with engineers standing about scratching their heads...?

I've only just bought it so I don't want it plunging off the layout just yet   . Your right it does want muddying up a bit. Also I'm trying to think of a way of simulating the copious amounts of bark that are normal mixed in with the mud.

More piccies. Station now given a liberal coat of blue.

Looking forward to more photos...

 Here we go.......

37239 arriving with Alcan tanks.

37403 & 37423 arrive with empty china clay tanks.

08623 shunts the fuel terminal.

Looking good Marcus. That's a nice layout you're developing there. West Highland atmosphere, large logo 37s, timber traffic. What's not to like? You've certainly fitted in a lot in the space you have available. What size is the layout? I can't see that you've mentioned that. Any chance of a track plan too?

That backscene may be temporary but it looks very promising. You can't beat a good photo backscene that blends in well with a layout.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Dave