03060

14 hours ago, uax6 said:

I always thought that those Mk2's in transpennie livery looked really smart. Can it really be that long ago though?

 

Andy G

Afraid so, that was my 18th birthday.....I seem to remember that I had other things on my mind that day other than trains !  

Morning Rob,

Love the work on Garelochhead, do you know when the dock siding was removed, please, as I wasn't aware of it's presence until you started modelling it? I was only aware of the 2 sidings (and turntable) at the other side of the platform.

Regards,

Ian.

Got to start somewhere !!      

The van behind the 25 would be an interesting project in weathering ! 

Evening Grahame,

What do you make the scene base from, please, ie. what all of the individual buildings are sitting on ?

Regards,

Ian.

Morning Rob,

Quick question, do you undercoat the Wills walls before applying the acryllics, if so what with please ? They look very effective.

Regards,

Ian.

On 19/04/2020 at 23:44, Damo666 said:

Did you see Channel 5 tonight (Sunday 19th April)?

Britain's Most Scenic Railway Journey: Minute by Minute.

It was Ben Nevis to Port Mallaig.

https://www.channel5.com/show/britains-most-scenic-railway-journey-minute-by-minute/

 

Thanks for that, I really enjoyed it ....although I must confess that I thought as it started that it was a repeat of the 'minute by minute' programme that was shown at Christmas which had a lot of shots of the passengers sat at their seats, which I didn't particularly enjoy; I nearly turned it off after passing Tom-na-Faire depot but thought I would watch on past Loch Eil .....glad that I did as this was a very different version than I'd seen before with some great shots, particularly from the drone, enjoyed it enough to make me look out for it as a DVD which is my preferred viewing medium.

Regsrds,

Ian.

I have to say that the recent price hikes are certainly making me rethink my future buying policy and I shall definately have to abandon at least 1 out of the 3 'future projects' that I was buying for and sell these items to try to help fund future purchases ..... there is definitely a limit as to what I will go to in regards to what I consider the size/value ratio of N gauge models to be worth....and unfortunately for me we are not far from it now !

Incidentally I am also a 3mm modeller and it was the costs and my situation at the time (mortgage and young family) that partly pushed me in that direction and caused me to sell all of my then N gauge collection.....it is only the dramatic improvement in detailed models that tempted me to start buying N gauge once more.....admittedly I've ended up buying a heck of a lot more than I originally intended to.

Regards,

Ian.

I should add for the sake of this topic that my Video 125 Steam to Mallaig dvd is also watched on a regular basis ! 

On 20/04/2020 at 06:50, young37215 said:

The programme is well worth a watch, the line looks even better in HD.

 

At 1 hour 10 minutes just after the Beasdale bank summit there is ongoing Pway work taking place. I was concerned to see that they had not got the correct ballast, what they are laying is a much lighter, grey colour than the traditional pink/brown. You would think that Network Rail would pay more attention to detail!  

I've also recently picked up on how much the 'classic pink' WHL ballast fades and weathers whilst (yet again) studying the line searching for ideas on the Southern stretch of the line between Garelochhead and Rannoch snow shed. I've spent several happy hours recently watching and rewatching my 'Drivers Eye View' and 'Heavy Metal' dvd's which were filmed in 1993 and 2001 respectively where the ballast appears distinctively brown for large parts except for patches where newly laid.

This has altered my perception of how I intended to model it, there is a photo on the rear cover of the Video 125 'DIV' dvd that illustrates this, I had intended to just use lightened red ballast throughout as I once owned (acquired) an N gauge American layout which I intended to Caledonianise as it used this to good effect throughout. I've added the Channel 5 programme to tonights viewing as I totlly missed it ....along with a new (to me) Telerail dvd that has just arrived today heavily featuring Eastfield Depot in the late 80's.

Regards,

Ian.

Wasn't 08 525 a York engine IIRC ?

Information at the rear of Nick Meskell's Scottish Class 37s Vol.2 (also like 'RHS' to get hold of apparently) mentions the 06.05 7D10 FW to M/end and gives a detailed timing path which also passes 7Y31 at Tyndrum Upper. These are also reportedly taken from the 1987-88 WTT but I don't know how they fit in with the info already given from young37215.

Regards,

Ian.

08 938 wore the Westie when in Railfreight grey livery, there is a photo somewhere of it in the Fort William area on the internet that I have viewed recently but which I now can't find !

Still can't believe that 'They' were allowed to build a bypass over what was the most beautiful bay in the World that I've ever seen, still love the walk down the beach ....but it's not what it was, criminal in my opinion ! 

On 31/03/2020 at 18:01, Rivercider said:

 

 

In addition to the various OWV wooden bodied clayfits that worked to locations across BR some of the clay wagons originally built for export clay via Fowey (TOPS code UCV) also found themselves working to Corpach. The UCVs that worked to the Potteries and elsewhere did not receive the distinctive 'hoods'.

 

cheers

Have just been looking through David Ratcliffe's Freight Train Formations book and found two references to OWV and UCV wagons either destined for or returning from Corpach.

23/9/80 x16 OWV with x4 UCV mixed in along with 15 other wagons and a brake van on the 7M86 St.Blazey - Carlisle.

23/9/80 x8 OWV with x2 UCV and 27 other wagons and brake heading in the return direction to Severn Tunnel Jnc (including another 10 OWV's heading back from other sites) on the 7V30.

Wagon numbers are given.

Regards,

Ian.

I take it back regarding the oversized Minitrix brake van chimney having looked at the above facebook picture .....well it's either the chimney or an ostrich wearing sunglasses looking over the top !!  

22 hours ago, keefer said:

I take it certain locos would be assigned to the line, then just work there and thereabouts until they needed to go for servicing?

I'd thought about posting this earlier but now might be a good time, the following Eastfield passenger loco diagrams are taken from my understanding of the information to be found in 'Loco-Hauled Travel 1985-6' (Metro Publications) and 'Scottish Class 37's' vol's 1 and 2 (Train Crazy.) :-

Dia. 37.12:    09.50*     GQS - FW

                       16.05        FW - Mg

                       18.50        Mg - FW

                       21.05        FW - Mg

Dia. 37.13:   10.05       FW - Mg

                       12.20       Mg - FW

                       14.15*     FW - GQS

Dia. 37.14:    06.50       Mg - FW

                       08.40       FW - GQS

                       16.50 so  GQS - FW

Dia. 37.15:    11.05 sx  GQS - Perth

                        16.50 sx  GQS - FW

Dia. 37.16:     12.20      GQS - Ob

                         18.00      Ob - GQS

Dia. 37.17:      03.07      Mo Yd - FW     (21.00 ex Euston) (Sleeper)

                         14.05      FW - Mg

                         15.50      Mg - FW

                         17.42      FW - GQS        (to Euston (sx)) (Sleeper)

Dia. 37.19:      08.20     GQS - Ob

                         13.00      Ob - GQS

                         18.20      GQS - Ob

Dia. 37.20:      08.00     Ob - GQS

Dia. 37.23:      10.16 Sun   Cowlairs - Ob                (08.55 ex Edinburgh* (Summer only))

                          15.30 Sun  Ob - Cowlairs                (to Edinburgh* (Summer only))

Dia. 37.24:      12.25*Sun  Ob - GQS

                         17.20*Sun  GQS - Ob

Dia. 37.25:      17.50 Sun  GQS - FW

Dia. 37.26:      17.42 Sun  FW - GQS                       (to Euston) (Sleeper)

The Eastfield 1985 loco pool being:-

37 011/2/4/7/8   022/6/7   033/7/9   043   051   081/5   090   108   111/2   124   144/7/8/9   157   171/2/5/8/9  184/8   190/1/2   237   253   265.

By Aug 1986 28 of these had moved on with the arrivals of :-

37 401/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9  410/1/2/3  422/3/4/5.

So as can be see, for the modeller, whilst there is great loco variety (if you like Class 37's) there's also a good excuse for the same locos turning up repeatedly at your station(s) !!

Unfortunately I don't have any info regarding Frieght diagrams, can anybody suggest any printed sources, please ?

Fort William - Mallaig Steam Trains

5407 (LMS Black 5)  (B/grey SRb)  Mk.1 TSO x3, BSO, TSO x2   SLOA 'West Highlander'   FW - Mg - FW  27/5/84

673 'Maude'  (NB Black)    (B/grey) Mk.1 FO x3, (Pullman) BSO       FW - Arisaig - FW      28/5/84

673 'Maude' (NB Black) + 44767 'GS'    (B/grey) Mk.1   BSO x2, TSO x3   SLOA 'Glenfinnan Flyer'  FW -Mg -FW 1/9/84

....to be continued !

Thanks for posting this Phil, it gives a great snapshot of some of the workings on the WHL over a period of several days and how some locos appear and reappear across them.

Regards,

Ian.

Hello Duncan,

Have the replacement Brake Van wheelsets made a difference to running please or is it just a personal preference ?

Regards,

Ian.

7 hours ago, Duncan. said:

Brake Van Progress

Hello, not much further on. New metal (Farish) wheels added. Wire handrails, detail painting and general chassis painting , all over weathering and transfers to do, however below are some comparison photos with an all over bauxite Farish example and the 'air piped' Minitrix repaints- What do you think? I may also try to add the brackets along the solebar as seen on the Farish example.

Cheers

Duncan

 

 

Hello Duncan,

The two things that stood out for me when I compared my Minitix vans to the Farish ones was the missing solebar brackets and the girth of the roof chimney.

I have two 3mm  brake van models on the 'to finish' stockroad which also lack these brackets which I think do make a difference to appearance. I may now try and do these and the Minitrix ones altogether.

Regarding the 'large' chimney, I wanted to check a few more prototype photos before deciding whether to try and replace them with something finer, I think that the shell vents look Ok but also not too sure about the rainstrips which are too noticeable even at a glance....again, I need to double check against prototype photos.

Painting finish is great and will look better once you've picked out the handrails. 

Good stuff as ever, thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Ian.

Thanks w124bob, I did wonder about whether people would recognise these as I wrote them last night (the first 3 are copied straight from the Rail Express 'Train Formations Handbook') and had to look up to see exactly what type of wagons came under OWV, as you say they were 10' 5 plank opens from the big 4 companies plus some BR versions, mostly fitted with roller bearings and BR W irons.

I did add 'fish' descriptions after IIB vans as whilst I knew the vans in question I didn't know the Tops Code.

Most of the others I worked out from photos in Tom Noble's West Highland Mallaig Extension book ....I may not be wholly correct with some of the OBA, OAA, VBA, and VDA identifications due to the distance or angles of the photos but they can be easily edited if I've got them wrong.

Regards,

Ian.

Fort William - Mallaig Diesel Freight inc Engineers  (1980's)

27 111 (BR Blue),   UUV x15, CAO     C/larich L - Cph    06/80

37 112 (BR Blue + Y ends)   VBA, VDA x3, OAA, VDA, OAA x2, VDA, OBA x3 (all Brown)    Cph - Cadder Yd    06/81

37 021 (BR Blue)    OWV x18      Cadder Yd - Cph     06/81

20 114 (BR Blue),   PRA x3 (1 sheeted), OBA (Brown), OCA (Red), OBA (Brown)  (all sheeted)                          Mg Jnc - WT Corpach  8/83

37 188 'Jimmy Shand' (L/L)    CCT (Blue, DB 977222), TTV x3 (Grey, pos 56960/1/2), FA99905 exLMS Bke Tourist (diag.2161/lot1506), FA99906 exGWR Bke (ex diag.K44/PP026A), 99903 exLMS TO (lot.1401 diag.PP023A) (all Red/cream)  - Fisons W/K train*    FW - Mg - FW   31/5/85

37 409 (L/L) + 20 213 (BR Blue),    VGA, VBA      Mg Jnc - WT Cph   14/7/86

20 048 (BR Blue)   VDA (R/g), VDA x2 (Bn), VDA (R/g), VGA x2 (R/s), VDA (R/g), VGA x4 (R/s), VDA (R/g)          WT Cph - Mg Jnc (M/end)     4/8/86

37 402 'Oor Wullie' (L/L)   FW Bogie Tool Van (Yellow)    TNaF - WT Cph    20/5/87

37 425 'SRMcA / C Bob' (L/L)    IIB (I/F Fish) x7     Mg - Mg Jnc     23/5/87

37 407 'Loch Long' (L/L)   Seacow x2 (Green), Bogie flat (?) (Carrying x2 m/c's)    Mg - Mg Jnc  1/7/87

37 401 'MQofS' (IC)    (B/grey SRb)  BSO x2, TSO     FW - Mg - FW    6/9/88

WT Cph Shunter exBR 08 077 (Blue)    5/3/85

(*Fisons Weedkilling Train extra info added after consulting Paul Bartlett's excellent website.)

I wonder if any body can point me in the right direction of a good view of the rear of the original 10 (J23) J50/1 locos, please, with their extended coal rail bunkers as I'm trying to work out the exact shape.

I can find several good side views and one reasonable 3/4 view but no end on views; I can't decide whether or not the upper rails are vertical, angled in a 'V' shape or just flared out at the top.

I've got several sources, Yeadon's register, Locos Illustrated, RCTS, GN Engine Shed 3 and several general books on railways in the West Riding but still can't find a definitive view, the best one is of 68898 at Osset in Railways Around Wakefield and Pontefract but even from this I can't tell properley....the LH side looks angled, whereas the RH side looks vertical which I'm sure that they will both be the same in reality. T'internet's not given me any better pictures as of yet either and I only have drawing's of J50/2's.

Any help greatfully recieved,

Thanks,

Ian.

7 hours ago, Duncan. said:

 

So I guess that the reason is 'make do and mend rather than purchase 'new''. I think the pre-order cost for two was approaching £50- it certainly won't cost that for the changes to the Minitrix  brake vans.

As a Yorkshireman I can appreciate that !   I also found a couple of Minitrix ones in a collection that was passed on to me, I was going to just let them go with along with most of the other stuff but will see how you get on, I'll admit that I've spent more than £50 on B/GF ones recently....but you can never have too many brake vans in my opinion.

Looking forward to the rebuild.

Regards,

Ian.

(Correction....I've just found them both in my retained boxes....so I must have been reasonably impressed with them.)