young37215

It seems to suggest just one loco (not T&T), no idea how that would work. Maybe I'm just readng too much into it.

 

I wonder which diagram it will replace the 37 on?

The word on WNXX is that it is T&T 68's which will operate 1 of the 2 current diagrams alongside 1 x 37 and DBSO combo. That is to say starting Carlisle one day, BIF the next. 7600 HP seems excessive for such a big trundle but if it makes people happy so be it. I rather suspect that when TPE rolling stock starts to come on stream, the 68's will be whisked away to do what they were originally bought for! Hopefully DRS spend the time polishing up the old tractors and DBSO's but I am not holding my breath

I have already posted my experiences using Megapoints under the ‘Megapoints Controllers’ thread. This is about the first of 2 Control Panel’s I will use to operate WHL4. The Control Panel is a 1210mm x 200mm piece of 3mm plywood that I had lying around which will be used to control a network of 44 points and semaphores at 4 stations where the distance between the two furthest points is over 20m. A further 30 or so solenoids in the fiddle yard will be controlled from the panel independently of the Megapoints network. I sketched out each of the stations on paper in a way that created sufficient space for the holes for switches and directional LED’s. Using a pencil I divided the plywood into individual sections and transposed the drawings onto the plywood.

Initially I drilled 2mm pilot holes everywhere, these were expanded to 3mm for LED’s and 8mm for switches. The plywood held up pretty well to the drilling of over 120 holes although there are several splits on the underside that needed cleaning up with sandpaper. Crianlarich drilled out:

Crianlarich with switches and partially wired

Next up was locating the Multipanel and extension boards which were screwed into off cuts of plywood glued to the underside of the Panel. Switches were located and screwed into place to secure them. This was followed by a lengthy period of attaching the ‘Plug and Play’ wires for both LED’s and switches. By way of reference and to aid fault finding in the future, each switch is individually numbered to reflect the Multipanel connection it is attached to. All routine, just time consuming.

I ran out of switches (which is why there are some gaps in the pictures) but when connected to power the LED's all worked. Crianlarich looks like 

Unfortunately I then managed to connect power to the wrong connection causing a short causing everything to stop working! Despite this, I am well on the way to completing the Control Panel and hope to have this up and running once Dave Fenton of Megapoints sorts out whatever I have broken. 

 

Regardng your backscene connundrum, we took a load of panoramic digital shots of the surrounding country at Crianlarich, which involved a lot of hiking to find the best vantage points and where one of our number ( who shall remain nameless, stumbled into a bog - right up to his Trossachs....)

 

The intention was to create a photo realistic backscene ala Black Country Blues, however we never got as far as costing it out, so that may be prohibitive. I certainly agree though that backscenes can either make or break a layout - it might be something to look into. Andy Y may be able to help further as I think he had some dealings with the backscene on BCB's.

 

Thanks for the thoughts Andy, as yet I am still uncertain on backscenes. Whilst I would love a customised and screen printed copy of the real thing, there are a number of challenges to be addressed to make this work. My model is not to scale size and I am not familiar with Photoshop or any other similar software that would be required to re-size. I think I will first try and paint something and see how it turns out. If this is unsatisfactory then I might well approach Andy York to see what digital pictures he has. 

regards Rob

It's changed a bit since my spotting days!

 

Patchway 05.jpg

Amazing picture, I grew up in Patchway and spent many a happy hour around the station and the Blue Bridge (the bridge to the rear of the picture) during the 1970's. I can recall the old siding that is to the right of your picture (hidden by the passing train) but was unaware of the trackwork to the left. It looks like there was a third platform, can anyone advise what the trackwork and its purpose comprised ?.

I have been using my 2 servo controllers to control pointwork on my layout ( http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/119560-west-highland-line-v4/page-3&do=findComment&comment=3074604 ) for several months now and have got comfortable with them. The servo controllers are linked to a Multipanel which I have been driving using the pop on switch which can control 2 servo controllers. Now I want to add more servo controllers I need to change how I control them and so my next step is to develop a control panel. Having reviewed the Megapoints videos, I also decided to upgrade my Multipanel to the newer 'plug and play' option. For an electrical dotard like me, the simplicity appears perfect. I bought the various bits from Megapoints and started to build the control panel.

My outline plan, a control panel for 4 stations and a fiddle yard.

Control panel with Megapoints Multipanel with 2 each of the Switch and LED expansion boards which allows switches for 6 Servo Controllers and control of up to 72 servos.

Garelochead station 'drilled' with switches installed

Garelochead again from below

Garelochead with LED's connected

Underside of the control panel with 80% of the required wires installed.

All in all the activity has been straightforward and, once again, just as shown in Megapoints videos on Youtube. There is a lot of wires involved but the 'plug and play' approach made this easy if just a little fiddly. When powered up all of the appropriate LED's lit up but before I could test changing them I made a power connection error and managed to reverse the voltage to one of the expansion boards. The result is that everything has stopped working! I am not sure what damage I have done and have just packaged the expansion boards and Multipanel up to send them back to Dave Fenton for his assessment. Watch this space for further developments.......

Thanks for rotating the pictures, I missed the error when posting. First time posting using my phone. Clearly practice is required!

Catenary reaches Patchway

Sorry if you’ve already covered this but how many feet is the layout? Very curious as you’re covering a lot of locations ! I was going to do Bridge of Orchy myself but bottled it at the last minute !

The room is about 14m by 3m with baseboards between 800mm and 1000mm wide running around the edge of the walls. In an effort to keep it all manageable in my mind, I break the layout up into sections with each section comprising a station or a yard typically joined by a fiddle yard type space. My full plan has 9 sections; I have started the 5 that make up the lower level and am determined (famous last words) to finish these before starting the 4 on the upper level. Crianlarich is about the largest individual section at just over 5m in length although at present Arrochar to Ardlui on the opposite side of the room is one long run from one end to the other. I have not got the scenery clear in my mind for these 2 sections yet, Whilst I like the longer run this allows, my desire to run the working timetables as best I can means it may be I need a hidden break between the two stations.  

I still plan to have 6 stations, Fort William and Glenfinnan along with Fort William depot and Mallaig junction yard will be on the upper level when it gets built. It may sound contrite given I have a great space already but again for operating purposes, I would like a further intermediate station between Crianlarich and Fort William (ideally Bridge of Orchy since it was one of the busier crossing points). The trouble with this is that I can not find the space to fit it in without losing any of the existing plan!  

Personally I am of the opinion that authentic backscenes are the single most important factor in creating the impression of the highlands. At this time I do not have a clear picture of how to achieve this on WHL4 which is a bit of a worry. However from what I have seen of Meanach I don't think you have any cause for concern about doing an actual WHL station should you choose.

Nothing tangible to show for the last few weeks efforts which have all been focused on layout control. Some months ago I installed a Megapoints system to drive servos for the pointwork at Crianlarich which has worked well. On the back of my experience I have 'invested' in additional Megapoints servo controllers for the pointwork at Garelochead, Arrochar and Ardlui. In time these will also operate the semaphores.

I want a central control point and having decided on Megapoints 'plug and play' multipanel, I need something to operate the multipanel. This will be a mimic panel to use Megapoints terminology, which I have not built before. First step was to construct a trial board for Crianlarich which are the only motorised points at this time.

Basic but it seemed adequate for my trial purpose. I then drilled additional holes for the LEDS that will provide directional guidance for the points which trashed the test panel!

Clearly I needed a larger baseboard to accommodate the number of holes required for switches and LEDs. As a first step to determine the required size of test panel 2, I took a more scientific approach to decide on the spacing of switches and LED's. A useful learning exercise although it looks a bit like someone has machine gunned the panel!

In the light of this learning my next step is to build test mimic panel version 2. However the battery on the drill expired before I could start, it had been well used, and so in the spirit of engineering work I ran a few engineers trains.

20184 rests at Arrochar (it will be 20184 when I finally get around to re-numbering) with an train of discharged mermaids

27032 sits at Ardlui waiting to collect grampus loaded with spoil and plank wagons loaded with other waste

You are overlooking the use of red and cream in the mid 1980s.

 

Paul

Further researching of the RCTS website states that red and cream was applied around 1981/82 following a company name change. Given this is my chosen era combined with the later livery that Invicta have chosen for their coaches and the absence of a BR Gloucester RC&W DTC, my planned weedkilling train has withered away!  

Rob,

 

Have you seen a copy of Ian Futer’s two books on modelling Scottish Railways, which also feature articles printed in the Railway Modeller?

I have them both somewhere and can list the West Highland based layouts if that’s a help?

 

Marlyn

 

03644DA7-A318-4C0D-96BA-C9E5FE6AEA3D.jpeg

Thanks Marlyn

Yes, I have both books and very good they are too. If anyone is modelling Scotland then these are a first class reference guide.    

regards Rob

My original objective was to create a definitive list of the wandering articles as a reference guide for myself and anyone else who is interested. With thanks to Paul in filling the gaps, the list reads:

No. 1 Arrochar & Tarbert + Upper Tyndrum - July 2000

No.2  Fort William : March 2003, page 148

No.3  Arisaig & Glenfinnan - July 2003

No 4. Rannoch: November 2003

No 5. Mallaig : March 2004, page 153

No 6. Bridge of Orchy: March 2005

No 7. Ardlui: July 2005

No 8. Crianlarich: November 2005

No 9. Tulloch: November 2006

No. 10 Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge: March 2007

No. 11 Garelochhead: July 2007

No 12. Corrour: April 2008

Further delving into the RCTS informative website reveals that the coaches were converted for weedkilling purposes in 1975. The usual Fisons weedkiling train of that time comprised 3 or 4 coaches (of which Invicta are producing 2) made up of 3 ex LMS porthole stock and a BR Gloucester RC&W DTC ex 56315. Initially they were liveried in yellow and green before they became the property of Schering Agrochemicals Ltd and were painted into that companies livery of green with a white stripe as will be produced by Invicta during the winter of 1987/88. Coaches were withdrawn in 1989.

Conclusion is that they ran in the Invicta livery for about 3 years in the late 80's which is not quite the era I was hoping for! Looks like a re-spray required to cheaper Bachmann LMS porthole coaches is required to re-create the yellow and green I want. A shame for me because I had hoped that Invicta would produce an off the shelf solution for my requirements.

Hi Ian.

 

I too am struggling with the shape of the West Highland roof.

The rest of the building looks good especially if it was your first effort. I think the tiles look very effective. Can I ask which ones you used for this roof.

If either of you are struggling for detail of the chalet style building, you will find plans including the roofs and further detail on the buildings construction available on pages 150 and 151 of March 2004 Railway Modeller. The plans are across the 2 pages and will not scan very well so you really need the original article. If you do not have back copies then I suggest that you have a look on Ebay where there are usually plenty of old RM's to be found.

As I suspect you both know, I took the easy route and sub contracted the building of my station buildings as they are way beyond my level of capability.  

I would have thought these should serve as a good starting point for any roof construction.  

I looked again at Invicta's website and noticed that delivery for the two coaches is scheduled for late 2018.  

Can anyone put an era to these coaches? I had originally thought that they were 70'/80's but I am now having second thoughts. Pictures that I have found suggest that the coaches pre-date the 70's.

Now available to pre-order 

 

http://www.invictamodelrail.com/39-000q-fisons-weedkilling-coach-pack-pre-order-9999-18671-p.asp

Nothing like a quick follow up to the tankers then, I recall buying the wagons years ago. Still at least the coaches appear on the horizon but I will not be holding my breath waiting for their arrival!

Wow, what a comprehensive reply; thank you.

I must confess that the thought of building MSE signal kits fills me with trepidation. I managed to buy several of their ready made LNER lattice signals a few years back where the excellent standard of the construction simply compounded my fears. Nevertheless I guess I need to have a go, the worst I can do is trash a kit! 

Virtually all of the signals I need for my WHL4 layout are tall ones where I have spent many hours pondering how to measure the height without any success. Your comment on counting the lattices is a simple and obvious solution (provided I can find sufficiently detailed pictures!) 

Thanks again, I really appreciate the time and effort taken to explain what you have done. 

Beautiful signals . Look spot on ! If I could build them that well I'd not have put RETB boards up!

I share Meanach's view on the quality of the semaphores as I too am struggling to find a way to construct the variety that I require for my WHL layout. I feel confident that I can automate them using servos and my Megapoints system but I am a long way away from working out how to source the actual semaphores and what size they need to be. Please share a little more detail about your signals, I am guessing they are MSE's but that is as far as I can work out.

Rob

A little more digging off of my own back reveals the following updated list of articles, I am uncertain about no's 1, 3 and 4. I think 3 is Rannoch. I have found the later articles and confirmed the RM issue at magazineexchange.co.uk

Anyone care to fill in the gaps please?

No. 1 ? : July 2000
No.2  Fort William : March 2003, page 148
No.3 ? Rannoch: July 2003
No 4. ?
No 5. Mallaig : March 2004, page 153
No 6. Bridge of Orchy: March 2005
No 7. Ardlui: July 2005
No 8. Crianlarich: November 2005
No 9. Tulloch: November 2006
No. 10 Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge: March 2007
No. 11 Garelochhead: July 2007
No 12. Corrour: April 2008

Fantastic, thanks for the quick and comprehensive response. Unfortunately I am not quite certain of your sorting order, No 5 is definitely Mallaig from March 2004 as I have a copy in front of me so I have inferred that Bridge of Orchy is probably No 4 from November 2003. Numbers 1 and 7 appear blank so I assume you do not have details of these? Please could you check and confirm my interpretation as below?

Thanks again, it will be really good to get a comprehensive list of these articles.

regards Rob

No. 1  : July 2000
No.2  Fort William : March 2003, page 148
No.3 Rannoch: July 2003
No 4. Bridge of Orchy: November 2003?
No 5. Mallaig : March 2004, page 153
No 6. Ardlui: July 2005
No 7. ?
No 8. Crianlarich: November 2005
No 9. Tulloch: November 2006
No. 10 Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge: March 2007
No. 11 Garelochhead: July 2007
No 12. Corrour: April 2008

The title refers to a series of articles written by Ian Futers for Railway Modeller. For my personal use and reference, as a first step I am attempting to capture details of all of the articles. If anyone can add to the list below I would be grateful. 

My second step will be to get a copy of each article, either as a copy of RM or as an electronic document. I have underlined the articles that I already have, can/will anyone help in filling the gaps?

regards Rob

No. 1 ? : July 2000
No.2  Fort William : March 2003, page 148
No.3
No 4.
No 5. Mallaig : March 2004, page 153
No 6.
No 7.
No 8.
No 9.
No. 10 Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge: March 2007
No. 11 Garelochhead: July 2007
No 12. Corrour: April 2008

Running the 1982 WTT on WHL continues and it is pleasing to record that the track laid to date all seems fine. Derailments are minimal and there are no noticeable drops in power supply. The track on the two lines from the fiddle yard to the crossing at the north end of Crianlarich has been weathered. Next steps at Crianlarich are further track weathering, fine tuning of the platform edges to avoid contact with trains and the start of constructing the surrounding hillsides. I want these all sorted before I move onto ballasting.

Looking at several other WHL layouts with recent updates on RMWeb has caused me to review my plans for backscenes. I had intended hand painting mountains onto the walls but the standard of some of the printed backscenes are such that I am considering a similar approach.  

37014 arrives at Crianlarich with a Glasgow bound service from Oban

37049 approaches Crianlarich with the 1230 Corpach to Mossend

37049 arrives at Crianlarich and passes 37264 on a northbound freight working

37049 and 37264 await their respective departures from Crianlarich

The last few weeks have been spent running to test the track combined with adding further droppers to the power BUS. Electrical work is something I endure rather than enjoy but it's a necessary evil and I am determined that running will not be compromised by scrimping on the electrical work which means 2 droppers connected to each and every piece of track. To maintain some interest and to test the recently re-profiled wheels of my ETHEL, the sleeper service is currently running with mark 3 and ETHEL.  

37026 arrives at Crianlarich with the London bound sleeper

37026 arrives at Arrochar with the same service

and awaits departure

 

Why don't they just get a grip with any reliability issues that were prevalent with the class 37s, over this line and for whatever reason, it's not like the class 37s have ever been renowned for their unreliability under any circumstances.

The issues that cause delays are far wider than just problems with the 37's. For example

Northern crew are unfamiliar with and don't like loco hauled operation making them prone to calling failures for marginal problems 

the rolling stock is also dated and prone to fail, particularly the DBSO's

the cumbrian line is in need of repairs and upgrading

I am sure there are other less well publicised issues. Put them all together and you end up with a problematic service 

Your pictures really create a strong feeling of the western highlands, the scenic work in particular is first class. If I can get close to this with my WHL based layout I will be chuffed to bits.  

Several excellent looking WHL layouts have been putting in an appearance on RMWeb of late and the standards bar is clearly being raised!   

I managed a little more development at Crianlarich today with the bridge railing added and polystyrene laid out at the southern end as the first step to forming the surrounding hills. I also fixed down the baseboard and rails to both routes to the north of the station making the area much more stable. One or two more droppers are required and then I can start to weather the track prior to ballasting. In addition I am spending as much time running trains as practical to test that it all functions. To date my only problem is the protruding piano wire from my servo driven point motors which I have learnt needs to be kept as low as possible to avoid fouling rolling stock.

37022 takes the northbound bulk alumina hoppers out of Crianlarich and on to the bridge

37022 crossing the bridge

Pway are working today, the OWB arrives from the north into Crianlarich

The OWB stables in Crianlarich yard

37026 arrives and departs Arrochar with the 07.00 Mallaig to Glasgow