young37215

Hi Ian Having just read the thread from start to finish I am feeling rather inadequate this morning, the detail in your planning and the meticulous attention to detail in your work is impressive. Your technical background shines through very clearly and I love your use of older models. I considered using my old 80's/90's Lima and Hornby rolling stock but chose not to because I did'nt feel confident that I could make the upgrades required to get closer to the modern stuff. I will take a look at your stock list to ensure you have the correct bogies on your coaches when I get a spare few minutes, my only question is why no updates since January? regards Rob

My word this lock down has a lot to answer for, I will be dreaming model railways tonight having spent several hours on Garelochead during the day. With lots of paint and plaster involved it is a case of do something and leave it to dry before returning for the next step. Fortunately its been a fabulous day which has helped speed up the drying process. Start of the day I re-glued the wing walls with PVA. My attempt at using superglue yesterday resulted in significant melt of the polystyrene which has been filled with Sculptamold. This enabled a second coat of Sculptamold to fine tune the embankment which was then painted using a cheap burnt umber acyrillic. Once dry, PVA was spread and Woodland Scenics material was added. All in all a productive day, I just need to work out how I am going to paint the subway floor because I cannot reach it from where I can stand! Start of day Second coat of Sculptamold Embankment painted Scenic material added to the embankment, vacum cleaner required! Station Road starts to take shape Close of play, Station Road extended and gaps in scenic material filled in.

Sea wall at Mallaig

Hi Ian No undercoat or sealing, just several layers of paint from a pick and mix of diluted sleeper grime, frame dirt and weathered black. Having watched an Everard Junction video on Youtube I have started using his technique of an old kitchen sponge to dab on the wet paint which helps create a more random/irregular effect. This worked really well on the platform walls and has proved effective with the underpass. Worst case and it is out with a cotton bud and IPA to clean or reduce the mess as is required. Famous last words but I do'nt think you can go far wrong. The before and after pictures above show how effective it is to very quickly and easily turn the clean plastic into something that looks more care worn. I have started the process at Mallaig on a larger piece of plastic and it seems to work equally well on the larger area. regards Rob

Thanks David, kind words but and without intending to offend anyone, WHL4 is a kettle free zone. This is to the extent that the steam hauled Fort William to Mallaig service gets a diesel in substitution. It's not that I dislike steam, I volunteer on a steam railway, just that I grew up with and like diesels. Tom Noble’s The West Highland Mallaig Extension on pages 69 to 72 has pictures which show you to be correct about Maude hauling 3 FO's and Pullman BSK. She only reached Arisaig on 28th May 1984 before being turned back due to late running. Maude finally got to Mallaig on 1/9/84 running double headed with 44767 having spent much of the summer runing a 2 coach daily return service between Fort William and Glenfinnan advertised as 'The Glenfinnan Flyer'. The last few days have been focused on Garelochead’s underpass exit and the construction of the road into the station. This is the far side of the track meaning I am constantly leaning across to work. Apart from a stiff back, it is difficult to see what I am doing and I constantly take pictures from angles that are otherwise impossible to view from. By the end of Saturday the embankment area had been constructed and plastered and today should see the area finished with painting and scenic materials added. Basic outline of the underpass is constructed using Wills coarse stone Stonework is weathered using Railmatch acrylics and station name added Wing walls (note to self, next time remember that supeglue melts polystyrene!) Embankment is constructed from plaster cloth and Sculptamould End of day with Sculptamould drying

Thanks Warren, I had considered something similar to what you suggest. I discounted it because I need several of the lights and I do'nt have the skill, inclination, patience or time to attempt to make my own although I am keen that whatever solution I adopt, the lights must be working ones. The issue caused me to do a some research where I learnt that this lighting style was common on the WHL in the 1970's and 1980's. From Garelochead to Tulloch only Crianlarich did not have this style. I am hopeful therefore of persuading one of the small producers/manufacturers to create a custom offering for me with a view to them adding it to their portfolio as a generic 'WHL platform light'. As the saying goes, watch this space....

I am still no nearer a solution for the platform lights, here is a better picture of what I am after. This appears to be a standard WHL style for the period as the same style of lights can be found at Arrochar and Ardlui.

Yesterday’s efforts were again focused on Garelochead where I wanted to finish the bulk of the station work and create the area where the underpass exits the station and joins Station Road. This area is below the level of the trackbed and required the removal of a 400 x 600 mm piece of baseboard that was well and truly screwed into place. After installing additional framework under the baseboard to support where I was removing, a few minutes with an electric saw created the ‘hole’ that I sought. Next up was fitting the underpass steps that lead away from the platform. These are Peco steps, not a perfect match but close enough for me. The area surrounding the underpass was ballasted and glued to hold the steps in place. Posts and rails will be added to the station ramp once the glue is dry. Next was painting and weathering the platform walls, again these are bog standard Peco concrete where I used a technique borrowed from Everard Junction and was very impressed with the outcome. Railmatch acrylic Frame Dirt was brush painted onto the walls and lightly sponged with a damp sponge before it dried. I was pleased with the results, I only wish I had learnt of this before fixing Crianlarich because it is a lot easier to do with the platform upside down on the workbench. A little touching up of the coping stones followed by adding the white lines to the patform edge and finally I got to the stage where I was happy to fix the station in place. Ballast was poured, glued and by the end of the day Garelochead station was largely complete. Hopefully this morning the glue will be set hard and I can start on the road area and run some trains. Underpass Everard Junction style weathered platform walls The 'hole' for Station Road End of day

3 days in a bleach solution and the gravel shows no sign of becoming any less bright. Test concluded, I will seek to find other ways to tone down the gravel. In between the gravelling work, I ran the last trains of the working day so as to have some fun and test out that what I had done scenically at Garelochead all worked. It did and I can now start the underpass construction which, once complete, will enable me to secure the platform in place. I am still seeking ideas for the platform lights as outlined in my previous post. I cannot find anything remotely similar amongst any of the suppliers I am aware of. Any suggestions will be gratefully received. 37012 departs Crianlarich for Oban 37049 arrives Garelochead with 1520 Corpach to Mossend 37014 arrives Garelochead with the up sleeper

Based upon the various pictures that I have, I also think the Woodland Scenics iron ore ballast I used is a good match for colour. It just looks new/fresh out of the tin whereas in reality having been exposed to all that Scottish sun (and rain) it would likely have faded. It is not easy to be certain because most pictures taken on film in the 1980's have also faded meaning that they are potentially overstating the amount of colour degardation. Hopefully I can find a way to dampen down the vibrancy of the colour. I have no idea which quarry the ballast came from, I have read that the famous red/brown comes from somewhere in Lanarkshire but beyond that I am blissfully ignorant. Fortunately my obsession with the WHL has not yet reached the level of needing to understand this. I attach a link to a picture from Ernie Bracke's Flickr site which shows the gravel colour which, on balance, actually looks pretty close to Woodland Scenics. Perhaps I should concentrate on something else: can anyone suggest where I might get a working lamp to match that in the picture. The twin headed dustpan light, telegraph post style wooden post was typical for the WHL in the 1980's, I need them for Arrochar and Ardlui as well.

Slower progress today as I was thwarted in my efforts to construct the underpass at Garelochead. This leads out to Station Road which in turn drops down into the town. My problem is a flat baseboard which means I need to do some wood cutting if I am to create the underpass. I should have sorted this at the time I installed the baseboards but, as ever, hindsight is a wonderful thing. I used the Mk3 push pull set for guaging the platform and was pleasantly surprised at the lack of tight spots. These need resolving so that I can fix the platform down and finish ballasting. I completed the gravelling of the platform except for the ramp at the southern end that leads to the underpass because I want to be clear on the underpass before I apply the gravel. In an effort to tone down the bright new gravel I left a small amount overnight in a cup with a strong solution of bleach. This morning the bleach solution was bright red; sucess was my initial thought. Surely the gravel cannot give up that much colour and remain bright? Wrong, it can and it did. One further effort tonight in a very strong bleach solution although I am not optimistic.

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!

WTT's crop upon Ebay from time to time, you just need to keep checking. The 1987 WTT shows the following northbound services on the WHL which were much the same with only occassional changes to timings throughout the 1980's. 7Y31 0510 Mossend to Mallaig Junction Yard 7Y33 0952 Mossend to Mallaig Junction Yard 7Y37 1223 Mossend to Corpach 7Y39 1330 Mossend to Oban 6S56 0712 Blyth to Mallaig Junction Yard There were the same number of return workings each day. Trains ran during the daytime with freight and passenger interspersed and passing at the various crossing points along the line. Interestingly Mallaig Junction Yard was still shown as Mallaig Junction Yard in the WTT notwithstanding the RETB introduction which is when I understood the change of name to Fort William Junction occurred. There are several RMWeb threads that cover the consists and the usual freight flows.

I’ve been more productive today than in weeks. The embankment has been dressed and the platform gravel started. I fear that the gravel is too ‘new’ looking but hopefully I can weather and tone this down in situ.

No trains but some progress at Garelochead where the embankment to the eastern side of the station begins to take shape. Construction is layers of polystyrene with a Sculptsmould topping and a few outcrops of rock. Once the paint has dried I will dress the surface with Woodland Scenics coarse turf. Trees and bushes will only get added once the western side is complete so as to avoid damaging them as I reach across.

The evening draws in and 37014 arrives at Crianlarich with the up sleeper where it passes 37012 on the last Glasgow to Oban train of the day. 012 will snooze at Oban overnight before returning with the first train the next morning. To show I am not the train playing wastrel that some might think, a few pictures to show the start of scenic work at Garelochead. The upper level which I now call Glenfinnan Loop has been screened off with 120mm high plywood strips which hide the track bed whilst allowing me to see and reach the trains. Track through the station has been ballasted and scenic material placed as a trial to get a feel for what is achievable. Whilst this means I cannot run trains until the glue drys, by not lifting any baseboards I have kept the possibility of playing trains open! The up sleeper screened off upper section Lots of glue on the ballast, the gap between track and platform will be filled once the station is completed Developing ideas at the northern end of Garelochead

As a life long Leeds fan, Norman's death makes it a sad day. The word legend is over used these days but entirely appropriate for Norman who played over 700 games for Leeds where he was revered. He was a member of the 1966 world cup winning squad and gained 28 international caps. He was also the first recipient of the PFA Players Player of the Year award. A hard man yes but a classy footballer none the less. Whilst playing for Bristol City, Norman lived in North Bristol and played tennis at the club at Almondsbury. One afternoon whilst playing cricket on the adjoining playing field, I took a good catch on the boundary next to the tennis courts. Imagine the delight of a teenage Leeds fan when this northern accent boomed out 'good catch lad'. Norman Hunter was a class act in many respects.

I would not take much persuading to jump back 40 years for another all line railrover or two. The trouble is I would want my current bank balance and Iphone to accompany me.

Yesterdays development work was limited to building servo brackets and fixing servos and micro switches to them. After finishing the dozen or so of these I had exhausted my stock of servos which was before I start on the new Dingo brackets. I had had enough of work for the day and reverted to running trains. The operating day is drawing towards its close, first up is 37049 on the 7D20, the 1520 Corpach to Mossend as it passes through Crianlarich. This is followed in Crianlarich by 37081 on 1T52 the 1755 Oban to Glasgow.

It seems that Mallaig is becoming the modern day GWR branchline must have model! Thanks for your pictures, all of your chamfered edges, platform lights and oil storage facility look a decent representation to me. I would not lose too much sleep over worrying about what others think, it is your layout and you should do what works for you. I make no apology for buying in buildings wherever I can because anything I produce from scratch is unlikely to meet the standard I want hence I why I am currently favouring using Bachmann's oil storage. I am still in the research phase for the oil storage and how best to represent it at this time. Pictures of the oil storage facility are limited, it seems to me that the facility only gets captured on the edge of pictures taken of the platform. SwissIrishErnie's Flickr site again provides a good example, I am trying to find a picture of the facility taken from the opposite side, somewhere by the station building looking south. Yesterday I received several new Dingo servo brackets which, once I work out how to put them together, means I now have what I need to motorise the points in Mallaig Junction Yard and Fort William station. This will require lifting several baseboards to access the points which means little opportunity for any running. Not a bad thing because it eans I should be able to concentrate on getting the servo point motors fitted.

Still searching for some 45 degree strip for the Mallaig platform faces; I could'nt find anything on Squires website although it is the sort of product better purchased 'in the flesh' in a shop or at an exhibition where you can see the exact size and judge what works best for your layout. Just another more reason to despise this dam virus. If anyone is aware of where I might find 45 degree strip, I would be grateful. I am a little clearer on the oil storage tanks which looks a fair match for the Bachmann model which also includes the low surrounding wall. I think these will do for me provided they fit in the space I have available. The 1980 picture below shows the tanks and the track layout that I am trying to achieve albeit in a space constrained area. Again I would like to see the Bachmann model in the flesh but as it is an older model which appears in relatively short supply, I might just have to take an Ebay punt if it is the route I take. In between my faffing with the Mallaig platform walls, trains continued to run. Partly the running is just for fun but also because I am learning about how the WTT works best. I have less storage than would be perfect which requires careful timing of shunting manourves at Fort William to avoid filling and therefore blocking Mallaig Junction storage yard as a through line. 37014 departs Crianlarich with 1B10, 0837 Glasgow to Mallaig 37026 arrives with 1T24, 070 Mallaig to Glasgow.

A quick review of my pictures archive reveals that the platform walls at Garelochead are also concrete! Nevermind, I will find a use for the coarse stone somewhere.

Looking good. Are you representing the rising gradient leaving the station? One thing amongst many that I have become focused on with WHL4 is trying to replicate the gradients at stations which has resulted in large quantities of 3mm cork being inserted at various points under baseboards. It is a fiddly, pain in the arse piece of work but I think it makes a huge difference in getting the right 'feel' for a station.

Hi Andy Thanks for the kind words, I had overlooked the point on the concrete faces! Back to the drawing board with plasticard and section it is then. I have used Plastruct for most of my plasticard requirements but I cannot find any 45 degree section in their catalogue. Whose do/will you use? At least I had not started gluing the platform surface. The only positive is that I have been pondering changing Garelochead to coarse stone and can re-use the strips Mallaig strips there. I have not looked for platform lights as yet, if I find something that looks suitable I will let you know. I will lift the Mallaig baseboard onto my workbench for better access to fit point motors when the servos eventually arrive. At the same time I intend adding the little scenery that I have space for. I am aiming for a low relief of the station building and the oil storage area. I am tempted by the Bachmann fuel storage tanks (their reference 44-016) and the Ratio oil tanks kit (reference 530) but having seen neither in the flesh, I am not sure how good a choice they will be. Do you have any views?

I will be interested to hear how you get on. The noisy fan is only on 1 of my 2 PS101's and it has got progressively louder/worse over the last 12 months. I had thought that a small amount of lubricant might help but I have no idea where I should apply it. In between working on several small projects such as the platform for Mallaig station, I like to keep the trains running. 37022 follows the sleeper north with 7B02, the 0606 Sighthill to Fort William Shortly afterwards 97201 brings the tribometer train in to Crianlarich from the Oban line. I am not sure if the trib ever worked over the west highland line but given the various trials to reduce rail wear on the large number of curves on the WHL, it seems plausible that it could have been used. If not then Rule 1 applies! Mallaig platform walls made from strips cut from Wills coarse stone sheets have been glued together. I need to move the station section to my work bench to fit the platform surface which will have to wait until I have the servos I need to install the point motors at the same time.