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Fort William - Mallaig Diesel Passenger inc Mixed (Mid-Late 1980's) 37 409 (L/L), +6 (B/grey) Mk.2 BFK, Mk.1 SO x2, CK, BSK, SK FW-Mg 21/6/86 37 412 (L/L), +6 (B/grey SRb) Mk.2 BFK, Mk.1 SK x2, (B/grey) SK, (B/grey SRb) BFK, SK FW-Mg 1/8/86 37 402 'Oor Wullie' (L/L), +6 (B/grey) Mk.2 (SRb) BFK, Mk.1 SO, (SRb) SK, BSO, (Teak) GN 807 (?), CR 'Ryl Scot' Saloon (?) FW-Mg 22/5/86 37 412 (L/L) +3 (B/grey) Mk.1 (SRb) TSO, BSOT, Mk.2 (ICSRb) TSO FW-Mg 5/86 37 408 (L/L), +4+3 (B/grey) Mk.2 (ICb) BSK, Mk.1 (SRb) SK, SK, (SRb) SK, (Black) TTA x3 FW-Mg 23/6/86 37 407 'Loch Long' (L/L), +2+2 (B/grey) Mk.1 TSO, BSO, IIB x2 (fish vans) FW-Mg 4/87 37 424 (L/L), +2+1 (B/grey) Mk.2f (ICb) SO, Mk.1 (SRb) TSO, BSO, (Blk) TTA FW-Mg 7/87 37 425 'SRMcA/Concrete Bob' (L/L) +6 (B/grey Mk.2 (SRb) BFK, Mk.1 (SRb) SK, (exFO) SO, SO x3 FW-Mg-FW 14/10/86 37 425 'SRMcA/Concrete Bob' (L/L) +3 (B/grey) Mk.2f (ICb) SO, Mk.1 (SRb) BSK, SK FW-Mg-FW 14/10/86

Hello Rob, I know that I photographed these trains in detail back in the 80's, possibly on prints but most likely on slides, whilst I bought a slide scanner, as with so many other things, I've never got around to doing any (not fond of computers I'm afraid.) I also would love a model of the original Royal Scotsman. Grafar are doing 2 of the Green/Cream coaches this year in N gauge but don't know if they will produce others to make up a 6 coach rake ? Regards, Ian.

Hello John, I'll keep an eye out for these whilst I'm studying photos, you never know. Regards, Ian. (Tom Noble - The WH Mallaig Ext, p.54 ....Mk.1 BSOT ... dog after ScotRail brand (not on door) ...number u/n I'm afraid 31/5/85.) (Tom Noble - p.73 colour photo behind 44767 'George Stephenson' ...SK ? ....25/7/84 ... also p.88/89/91 behind 5407 July and Aug '84 at least 5 coaches + loco with Terriers .... but still no numbers ! ....sorry.)

There were 2 Green and Cream Mk.1 sets used on the Mallaig Extension, one from 1985 and another from 1987 (again there was an overlap) there were differences in the type and painting / branding of these which are discussed in another thread on here. Tom Noble's book details these also. Regards, Ian.

Thanks Rob, with the first detailed post I've sort of taken it up to the introduction of the 37/4's era in 1985, although as you say there is a bit of an overlap. That particular post will get larger but it took me long enough just to work through those as I was reading old magazine articles and trying to pick out the subject matter, I'm currently working my way through Tom Noble's book. I will try not to overload each subject, maybe call it a day when I have approx. 10 representative service trains and some specials or so .....that should be enough for most modellers .....surely ?? Regards, Ian. PS - Have just found my Coaching Stock Recognition (Colin J. Marsden 1983) book in the loft so hopefully I should now get things right ....maybe !

Fort William to Mallaig Diesel Passenger inc Mixed (early-mid 80's) 20 191 (BR Blue), Mk.1 (B/grey) TSO, BFK, TSO FW-Mg 22/06/82 20 148 (BR Blue), Mk.1 (B/grey) BSK, TSO, SK, TTA x2 FW-Mg 03/6/83 27 041 (BR Blue), Mk.1 (B/grey) BSK, SK, Buffet Mg-FW 23/4/80 37 051 (BR Blue), (B/grey) Mk.1 SK, (B/grey ICb) Mk.2 BFK FW-Mg 3/6/81 37 022 (BR Blue), Mk.1 (B/grey) TSO (?), BCK, SK (?) x2 FW-Mg 8/83 37 026 'Loch Awe' (BR Blue), Mk.1 (B/grey) BCK, TSO, SK FW-Mg 8/8/83 37 043 'Loch Lomond' (BR Blue), Mk.1 (B/grey) BFK, SK FW-Mg (u/n) 37 191 'IYY 1985' (L/L), Mk.1 (B/grey SRb) SK x2, BSO (?) Mg-FW 27/5/85 37 112 (BR Blue), (B/grey) Mk.2 BSO, (B/grey SRb) Mk.1 TSO x2 Mg-FW 4/7/85 37 xxx (BR Blue (Y sb hc)), (B/grey) Mk.1 TSO, SK, RMB, SK, BSK Mg-FW u/n pre'85 37 027 'Loch Eil' (L/L), (B/grey SRb) Mk.1 TSO, SK x2, BSO Mg-FW 21/5/85 37 xxx 'u/n' (BR Blue), (B/grey) Mk.1 BSK, SK, TSO, Obs Sal TODM999501 FW-Mg 28/5/84 37 012 'Loch Rannoch' (BR Blue), Mk.1 (B/grey SRb+dog ?) BSOT, (B/grey SRb) SK, Mk.2 (B/grey) BSK, 4 whl bolster, BDA x2 (one with steel plate load) FW-Mg 31/5/85 37 190 (BR Blue), Obs Sal 1998 'Loch Eil', Mk.1 (B/grey) TSO, RMB, SK, BSK, Obs Sal Sc1999 'Lochaber' Mg-FW 9/8/83 37 033 (BR Blue), Mk.1 (G/cream WH/dog/SRb) TSO x2, BSO, TSO x3 FW-Mg-FW 28/5/85 37 011 (L/L) + 37 027 'Loch Eil' (L/L), Royal Train FW-Mallaig-FW (ecs) 6/85 37 111 'LEOB' (L/L) + 37081 'Loch Long' (L/L), Mk.1 (IC) FO, FO IC3132, Buffet IC1667, FO, FO IC3134, (B/grey) RMB, (Pullman) Mk.1 Pullman 1st (?), FK , BFK (Car No.355 ?) SLOA 'The West Highlander' 1/6/85 37 085 (BR Blue), Mk.2 (S/Rail) DBSO, Mk.1 ? (B/grey) x1, (S/Rail) x3 or 4 ? Charter 2/6/85 Other locos of note: 20 049 (27/7/84), 20 097 (26/4/84), 20 117 (7/1/82- Mallaig to Glasgow throughout....brrr !) 25 006 (25/6/80), 25 044 (u/n), 26 029 (11/1/82) 37 014 (21/5/85), 37 175 (29/6/84), 37 039 (28/5/85), 37 114 + Ins Sal DE 902260 (3/6/81), 37 178 (14/7/85), 37 184 (30/6/84), 37 037 (28/5/85), 37 088 (1/6/85) 37 005 (12/8/82), 37 110 (9/2/84), 37 102 (4/85), 37 149 (15/11/82 + 14/8/82), 37 151 (16/7/81 + 11/8/84), 37 179 (2/8/83), 37 296 (23/2/85)

Sorry for the lack of reports to this thread so far, from my perspective this is whilst I decide how best to record these train formations having looked through my rather large file of magazine articles and cut outs, I also have a rather large book collection to wade through. So with a bit of thought I shall try and organise my reports to the thread on a line by line basis, trains by type of traffic and possibly split the decade into early-mid 80's and mid-late 80's. This, I hope, should make the info gathered easier to view and edit by somebody looking to recreate certain trains....including myself ! For my own benefit of trying to get to grips with better carriage identification I'll be starting with the hopefully easier to identify trains of the Mallaig line. Please don't hesitate to correct me as this will be bit of a learning curve and errors are bound to be made but easily corrected. Regards, Ian.

Ordered mine from the Amberley website ..... post free ....well I am a Yorkshireman !

Thanks for the reply Rob, As suggested I've started another thread in Railways of Scotland so as not to detract from your superb modelling theme. I'll have a look at the other threads that you suggest. At £45 a carriage I think that I need to tailor my buying policy to being a bit more specific, hence the request. Regards, Ian.

Hello everybody, I posted a message earlier in young37215's WHL 4 thread regarding his source of information for making up his train formations to work his WHL Working Timetable, as suggested and so as not to detract from his thread I've started this seperate thread for people to report to. I'm afraid that my own ability to correctly identify particularly Mk.1 coaches in a photograph is not particularly good, hence the request but I will contribute where I am confident. Any sources of information would be gratefully received but I'm really looking for info as displayed in the Rail Express Train Formations bookazine such as :- Loco : 37424 BR L/L blue Vehicles : Mk.2f SO, Mk.1 TSO, BSO, TTA Train: Fort William - Mallaig 07/87. Loco : 37012 'Loch Rannoch' BR blue with white stripes Vehicles : OCA x2, OBA, OCA, TTA x9, OBA, OCA, PAB x2. Train : FW - Mossend 07/83 Personally I'm interested in all timelines but will see what reaction comes back before starting other decade specific threads. Regards, Ian.

Hello Young 37215, Just a quick distraction from your modelling but how have you arrived at your carriage formations, please, as in is it observational or have you used a source of information ? I've looked back to p.4 of the thread when you were renumbering coaches and appreciate that you've gone for a 'feel of the time' approach against model availability and practical length, I see from one photo that you have at least 20 B/grey coaches (not including then Mk.3 set) and also from recent 'start of day' pictures which trains you've divided them into. The reason I ask is that I'm just trying to assess my own N gauge coaching stock policy having so far bought some 24 Mk.1's, 5 Mk.2's and a Mk.3 set ....still haven't built a layout yet but hopefully an enforced Caronavirus lay off will remedy that (just been skiing in Italy and have been told to stay at home for a while by work) which will be based on the lower section of line below Crianlarich, ie FW and Oban trains. I'm happy with the Mk.2's and 3's it's the Mk.1's that I'm struggling to sort out and think that it would be easier to put them into rough train formations....and see what's surplus to requirements. Basically I've got: ×2 Sleepers (no issue) ×1 1st (no issue) ×2 Comp (no issue) ×11 2nd's (×4 Opens and ×7 Corridors ...too many ?) ×6 BSK (too many ?) ×2 Buffet (so far I've only found one 1970's photo with a full Buffet coach included, most 1980's trains seem to use RMB's) Nice dilemma to have but my coach identification skills when looking at photos are not fantastic and I'm currently trying to resist buying further unrelated vehicles to the WHL, there is a nice B/grey RU sat in my local model shop which keeps winking at me. One get out may be to set them into time periods, ie a couple of 1970's sets, a couple or so early 80's sets and a couple or so late 80's sets (5 have Scotrail branding.) Any pointers greatly recieved but don't want to hijack your thread....but WHL train formations may also be useful to others. Regards, Ian. PS - I have the Train Formations Bookazine (not much for my passenger trains but great for freight) ....was there anything in the back of the Train Crazy books ?

j.7822 has a very evocative mood about it aswell.

Hello Dave, j.5652 ...Wow ....superb photograph ! Thanks for posting. Regards, Ian.

Excellent Robert, I bought Hemyock Road from Mark Haynes, when he put it up for sale, with the same view that I could make it suit my own purposes. I am just in the process (although dragging it out) of making an alternative end board so that I can use the layout as a NE style branch as well as it's intended WR milk orientated theme (obviously not at the same time !) I hope it (Minsterley) brings you a lot of pleasure, when I found out that John had acquired it I rather hoped that he might have needed a hand in exhibiting it, being a fellow West Riding Group member but alas it was not to be. Please keep the thread going if possible with progress updates and photos as I'm sure that more people will be interested and eventually find it, it's a great advert for the 'Premier Scale.' Regards, Ian.

Hello Robert, Do you have the magazine article ? I can't remember offhand which magazine it featured in but I know that I have the 'stripped' down remnants in my 3mm layout file in my loft. I can retrieve it later today as I will be going up there for another file. I presume that the layout has come via the late John Blenkinsop ? Glad to find that it has found a suitable home as Peter's work was far too could for the tip, I consider myself lucky to own one of his dioramas, Slads End, which I bought from his Son, Martin, which even though being very small it is no less inspirational. Regards, Ian. (Article found - BRM Sept 1995.)

You've raised this subject at just the right time for me as I am just getting to the point of starting to build two multilevel baseboards for an N-gauge layout and have just been pondering how best to go about this. I've probably already decided on trying to use the Woodland Scenics polystyrene gradients to transfer between the levels depending on whether or not they achieve what I want (I already have a set to try) but I'm assuming that I will need to support these with a solid baseboard underneath. As I need at least 3 different levels of flat area (2 for trackwork and 1 for a loch) this is going to test my ability to build a stable framework that will stand the test of time, I would like it to be transportable for exhibition but already suspect that at 4'6" × 30" each they might end up being a little heavy and cumbersome. I think that I may build a scale cardboard mock up to help me move forward. Will follow this thread with interest. Regards, Ian.

Sorry Jack, I'm afraid that I was only particularly aware of these 2 as I have a layout that I bought called Hemyock Road (3mm) and I have since looked into what stock to build for it. I was aware of the coach on the Highbridge branch but only because I bought the Betjamin DVD not so long ago and have watched it several times since .... a great piece of film. Regards, Ian.

Suggestion removed regarding identification of cl.37 on previous page as correct ID appears below.

Hello Jack, Yes, there are photos of W87245E and W87270E at Tiverton Junction c.1963 in the Oakwood Press book which I just happened to have to hand. It states that they were used as the two ex-Barry Railway coaches were having issues with the newly installed Electric lighting dynamos. The two ex-LNER brake 2nd's were used for the winter of 1962-63, there is also, however, a photo above it of an Eastern brake 2nd working the 1.42pm to Hemyock dated 8th June 1961 ! Regards, Ian.

You've managed to capture virtually all of the essential elements that I'm looking to include in my own West Highland based layout in what you've shown us there......but you're a lot closer than I am as you've actually built the elements that make it work. Everything in these photos screams West Highland to me. Marvellous ! Looking forward to seeing further developments, have you considered 'Loch Linnie' as a possible name for the terminus station as it appears on the fishery building ? Regards, Ian.

I prefer the colouring of the Dapol product but I think that the grain size of the GPP is nearer to the mark, particularly in the 2nd GPP photo (hence my vote for this), could you work your airbrush magic on this load if it were PVA'd together ? Regards, Ian.

The driver of 37 191 looks as if it might be Callum MacRaild from The Train Now Departing programme featuring the Mallaig line. Still one of my all time favourite programmes. Regards, Ian.

C for me but I agree with Scott.

No you are not alone !! .....I fell in love with the West Highlands back in the 80's and have been besotted with it ever since, I have drawn up and redrawn layout plans, bought rolling stock in one scale / gauge or another only to decide that it wouldn't 'quite' work...I even bought a 3/4 finished layout to 'Caledonianise' but again couldn't quite make it fit my available space. I currently have a large N gauge collection of WHL stock just waiting to be used.....and all I've physically achieved is 'Nowt !' My problem being that I know too much about the line to a degree and recognise the differences between the different areas be it scenery, trackplans, infrastructure or traffic diagrams. My current thinking is that I need to do something as suggested in the previous post and just go with what my heart desires....whether it is authentic or not, otherwise I may never realise my ambition to go into my room and be transported the 300 miles or so North. So baseboards are about to be built as I can't change the area available and everything else will just have to be what fits in that gives me that feel good factor. So please don't give up....you've already got the basis of a great layout (as have others on this forum) ....you've got some great buildings ....go and capture the Magic that is the West Highlands. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Kind regards, Ian.

I've got a High Level Roadrunner and a couple of Branchlines 2 stage and single stage gearboxes in stock to try out but I need to get some wheels from Andy Shillito and I'll probably try one of the small motors that he sells also. I've a couple of part built small locos (Ruston 165ds and an EE deisel) that require the chassis building so I'll probably try and do all 3 at the same time .....after the J50's and the A5 (for which I realised the 2nd hand chassis I'd bought was 14.2 and not 12mm gauge - oh well, it isn't any more !) Regards, Ian.