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  1. anroar53

    West Coast in N

    By anroar53,

    Have just about finished a 10 year project, although a few minor things need completing, the layout is now in its fully functioning state.
     

    A length of about thirty feet in N Gauge has allowed me to attempt full size stations. Hopefully the station frontage is recognisable (without reading the station name).
    A class 310 calls on a local from Bletchley to Euston.
     

    To the south of the station the actual area has had to be modified from reality, as with only 30 inches of width I had to scale back what could be done.
    A class 40 whistles through on the Down Slow line with a northbound freight from Willesden. An 86 hauled Express about to overtake on the Down Fast Line, while a 1938 tube set heads south for Elephant and Castle.
     

    In a small space at the end of the layout is a representation of canal and railway near Linslade. The canal is at a slightly lower level than the railway. An 85 hauled Freightliner heads north on the Down Slow Line, when Freightliner trains were less colourful..
     

    To the south of Watford a 304 prepares to call at the Junction with a Euston to Birmingham (via Northampton) semi-fast. A 310 accelerates away on the Up Slow Line, next stop Euston. The DC 'New Line' swings away to the left for its loop via Watford High Street.
     

    At the North end of Watford an 84 hauls a long van train (16 on) on the Down Fast Line. On the far left the Depot has managed to survive not being turned into a Car Park.
     

    Just a few images to get started with, hopefully a few more to come.
     
    Andy.
  2. anroar53
    Two 501 sets coast into Harrow on a Euston to Watford local service. A Kenny O to Perth Motorail passes on the Down Fast. On the Slow Lines two eight car 310s pass each other.
     

    304 meets 310 at the south end of Watford. These units were constructed using old style Farish coaches which had the removable window strips. These had been taken out. In the case of the 310 the window section was replaced by solid plasticard. Windows were marked out and then drilled out and filed to shape. In the case of the 304 it has leftover brass sides from a B H Enterprises 4 EPB kit. The ends of both units were created using 2mm plasticard profiled to shape with some fine sandpaper and filing. Windows, destination box, and jumper recesses (310) drilled out and filed.
     

    A 304 sets off from Watford on a Birmingham New Street service (via Northampton). On this occasion it is about to be passed by the Royal Train, double headed by a pair of 40s. A Cravens Diesel Parcel Unit arrives on the Up Slow with tail traffic, one solitary van.
     

    Unfortunately the original images of the construction have been lost over time, and the scans of my remaining hard copy are not that good. However I hope they will show how the units were made. The bottom unit is one of the 310 Driving Trailers. The original coach appears to have been a Network South East Livery example. However some of the large windows with sliding vents have come from a former Western Chocolate/Cream coach. In this case these windows were retained as they had raised ridging for the frames and vents, which the early Farish examples had before fully printed sides came in along with the solid bodyshells. Solid plasticard has been inserted between the large windows, which had the smaller windows marked out and then drilled and filed. The cab front started as a square of 2mm plasticard, and has had the windows and jumper recesses drilled out and filed. The jumper recesses had smaller squares of 1mm plasticard inserted at a shallow angle. The cab roof was sanded/filed down once the coach roof had been fitted, leaving the raised route indicator box. The coach above is the 310 Motor Brake vehicle showing the windows drilled out. The top coach is a 304 Driving Trailer, before I used brass sides from the 4 EPB kit.
     

    Another rather grainy image, this time showing the seating added, and initial body painting. Before glazing and fitting the roof all the window surrounds were painted silver, a very long and fiddly job. The jumper recesses have been fitted.
     

    The completed 310 is seen heading south on the Up Slow Line near Linslade, with an 86 hauled Express for Euston about to pass it. The curved cab windscreens were made from some moulded plastic packaging that I think came from some Peco Point motors? The glazing for the other windows was all done with an application of Humbrol 'Clearfix'.
     

    Showing the 304 that was built with brass sides. These were leftover from the construction of the 501 units. Originally a 4EPB kit only three coaches were required for the 501, leaving one set of coach sides leftover for each of the six 501s I built. The sides were cut and gaps left where I needed to insert the toilets, brake compartment, and cab ends. The bodyside gaps had solid plasticard inserted at window level as with the earlier 310s. Some body filler was spread over the sides so it could be sanded down flush with the brass sides. The windows were then marked out and drilled and filed.
     

    The 304 and 310 Motor Brakes showing how the pantograph well was cut out (with a slitting disc) and some plasticard inserted.
     

    One of the completed 304 Driving Trailers after the brake pipes and jumpers were added (Small electrical wire). The Route Indicator box had a small surround of 1mm plasticard fitted and filed to fit before painting. The numbers were printed on a computer then covered with clear plastic to represent the glazing. The Destination blind has yet to be inserted. Gresley bogies have since been fitted. The tail lights were made from Track pin heads fitted into a small drilled hole. Jumper boxes were just bits of leftover plasticard.
     

    The later version of 304 with the larger windows has also been completed, this time using brass sides from a 116/7 DMU.
     

    One of the 501 Motor Coaches. These have been built using B H Enterprises 4 EPB brass sided kits. The actual construction was the same as for the other EMUs, on early Farish BGs. The coach sides had one compartment removed to shorten them down to a reasonable length. The cab ends were retained, but the jumper detail was filed off and replaced by a revised layout in keeping with a 501. The Destination Blind was also drilled out above the Route Indicator Box (I promise I will replace the hand painted 'B1' with a printed version at some stage ) The shoe beams were etched brass stuck directly to the bogies.
     

    Just to the north of Harrow in the afternoon sun, a 501 bound for Euston is easily outpaced by an AC hauled Express on the Up Fast. In reality, with the position of the shadows, this would actually be sometime in the early morning

    And, finally, as they say, a Clacton 309 makes an appearance on the Down Slow south of Watford. No doubt en route from Ilford to Wolverton, but by this stage lined maroon livery would have been unlikely. I just like these units in their original form, and had to have one.
     

    By this time I was running out of early Farish Coaches to convert, but I still had a few Minitrix Mark 1s that were in the odds and ends box. The 309 was a Worsley Works Brass sided kit. The Minitrix Mark 1s had the entire window section, from just below the roof, to just below the window ledges, sliced out with a slitting disc. The brass sides were then stuck onto the sides, saving a lot of time. In this case a strip of clear plastic was inserted inside the body for the glazing. The bogies were exchanged for some Ultima Commonwealth types, and the redundant Minitrix ones found their way onto some Farish Mark 1s. As I've said before, I never chuck anything away, it all goes into the odds and ends box in case it should become of use again.
     

    I never did get round to fitting the interior, one of those 'never finished' jobs that I must get round to eventually.
     

    309 MBS with 'pan up' at Watford. The St. Albans service is being operated by a Worsley Works Craven 105, but that, as they say, is another story.
     
    I think that ends today's ramblings!
  3. anroar53

    More time for running the trains....

    By anroar53,


    More time for running the trains....
    Passing the Depot at Watford.
     

     
    Southern Cement passing Harrow.
     

     
    Southbound at Harrow.
     

     
    Cabview approaching Harrow on the Down Slow Line.
     

     
    Suburban interlude at Watford.
     

     
    Northbound at Headstone Lane.
     
    Latest video of the layout with non-DCC sound at   
     
  4. anroar53
    A southbound Freightliner hurries towards Linslade Tunnel on the Up Slow Line. Memories of Summertime canalside walks of the 1970s.
     

     
    A northbound Express thunders through Watford on the Down Fast Line, as a southbound Freightliner passes through on the Up Slow Line. No doubt the passengers are wondering if this will delay their service for London ?
     

     
    A class 6 Parcels working for Hemel Hempstead rattles through Watford on the Down Slow Line.
     

     
    A pair of 47s head south at Linslade with a loaded MGR working. In the background an Express for Wolverhampton dashes past.
     

     
    At Harrow & Wealdstone. An Overnight Sleeper service bound for Euston sweeps through on the Up Fast Line, as a Freight slowly trundles through on the Up Slow Line.
     

     
    Approaching Watford from the south, passing the Power Signal Box. Bakerloo Tubes pass in the background as a Northbound Express overtakes a stopping service for Bletchley.
     

     
    A pair of 501s arrive from Euston into platform 1 at 'The Junction'.
     

     
    The sun catches some ripples on the Canal as a pair of 310s head north at Linslade.
     

     
    The southbound Flasks from Sellafield head towards Willesden as a northbound Empty Wagon working rattles north. An Express passes on the Down Fast Line as another DC working from Euston arrives in Platform 4.
     

     
    A 25 rolls the Tring to Kings Cross Cement working through Harrow on the Up Slow Line.
     

     
    A Euston bound Express thunders through Harrow, as the northbound 'Liverpool Pullman' heads in the opposite direction. A 1972 Bakerloo Tube sets off towards Watford.
     
     
     
     
  5. anroar53
    My quest to build some Underground stock started off as a gimmick, one un-motorised set between some match wagons being hauled round by a 47. It didn't stay a gimmick for long when the set was motorised by a couple of Arnold N Kof shunting locos, made into a simple chassis.
     

    A once timeless scene, a 1938 Tube set sits in the Up 'New Line' Platform at Harrow, about to set off for Elephant & Castle. By carefully looking at the front of the set you might see that it has Northern Line type Destination panels. The first set I made was intended for a small layout based on Mill Hill the Hale, a section of the uncompleted Northern Line. Although it was just about finished on two boards of 3 feet by 2 feet it was overtaken by my more ambitious WCML adventure.
     
    The tube sets started life as just a moulded coach roof which were scratchbuilding items from Ultima and B H Enterprises. The sides were made from 1mm plasticard, and the ends in 2mm plasticard. These were assembled as a solid box shape glued to the roof section. The windows and doors had all been marked out in pencil. I spent a lot of time carefully drilling out the windows with a very small drill, and needle filing them to finish. This was a very delicate job as it was very easy to split the plasticard if you weren't steady of hand. I did do a few sides and cut the windows out with a sharp knife, but found that the windows were more prone to splitting round the edges, so I reverted to the drill and file method.
     

    A rather poor image of the tube bodies under construction. I'm afraid the original images have been lost and I had to scan a hard copy I had available. This one was a 1938 set. At the cab ends the coach roof had been removed before fitting. A small piece of plasticard was fitted flat across the cab end bodysides, then body filler added over this, so that the sloping roof over the cab could be sanded to shape later. The door sections were cut out of the bodyside and into the roof with a fine edge slitting disc. (Steady hand required again.) A piece of 1mm plasticard, just slightly wider than the door opening was cut out. The end which was required to bend into the roofline was warmed on a radiator and then carefully rolled round a small paintbrush handle. After the doors had been glued in place, and left for a while, the windows in the doors were drilled out.
     

    This shows how the bogies were fitted. The actual bogies were old Lima ones which I hadn't disposed of (I am a consummate hoarder who throws nothing away, always saying that 'It might come in handy one day') These had about 2mm cut from round the top of the frames. They were fixed by putting a cross member of plasticard at each end of the body with a hole drilled centrally so the bogies just clip in. The non motorised coaches had the sides re-enforced with some clear plastic sheet at the doorways.
     

    An almost finished non motorised coach. The windows were all glazed with Humbrol 'Clearfix'. A small screwdriver dipped into the jar and then run round the window edges quickly and withdraw the screwdriver. Leave to dry, and windows done.
     

    Although the 'Kof' units gave many years of service on other layouts I have begun a programme of replacing them with Tomytec units. The seven coach sets have the middle coach as the motorised unit, and will quite happily pull and push the three coaches at each end without any problem.
     

    One of the last sets to be built was the 1972 set, seen here sitting in platform 1 at the Junction waiting to leave for Central London.
     

    The 1972 set under construction. Similar methods employed as with the other stock, just needed a bit more profiling to get the shape right.
     

    1938 and 1972 set at the Junction. A 501 in platform 4 ready for a local service to Euston, and two main line services pass on the Fast Lines.
     

    In my reality the Croxley Link had gone ahead in the 1960s, and as a result the Metropolitan Line has been diverted into the Junction. As a result an A60 set is seen departing for Baker Street. These sets were built from early Farish 101 DMUs. These had the early style removable window strips. These were replaced with solid plasticard, and then the windows and doors marked out and made in the same way as the other Tube sets.
     

    The A60 under construction, showing the replacement ends to the Farish 101 DMU bodyshells made from thick plasticard.
     

    From a different angle showing the bodyshell almost finished.
     

    Between Harrow and Headstone Lane. Two 1938 sets pass on the DC Lines, while the Widnes to North Wembley BOC tankers head south along the Up Slow Line.
     

    At the south end of Watford a 1938 set sits in the DC Siding awaiting a platform for its next trip. This set has 10306 in it, the 'Porthole' or 'Sunshine' car as it was sometimes known.
     

    Close up of 10306. An experiment to make station signs more visible to standing passengers. I remember travelling in this vehicle while it was on the Northern Line. The rain strips over the doors are bits of fine fuse wire.
     

    Showing the last of the five Tube sets, in this case a 1959 set, similar in construction to the 1938 ones, but slightly easier to build with a flat front end.
     

    Sarah Siddons on Railtour duty. This loco came about as I had acquired a Swiss Loco chassis that was too short for an AC Loco, so I cobbled together No.12 instead!
     
    This probably went on a lot longer than I intended, so I hope I didn't bore too many of you. Will be digging out the EMU folder next with the 304, 310, 501, and even a Clacton 309! Will post that when I have had a break for a bit.
     
    Andy.
  6. anroar53
    Part of the Control set up. One of five panels, this one looking after Harrow.

    When I began my West Coast project I wanted to use Track occupation and four aspect signals. Fortunately, about twenty five years ago I had run a large scale experiment with N Gauge in the garden. (Railway Modeller April/August 1995). This consisted of about a run of 250 feet out and back. To keep an eye on things I installed track circuiting throughout and automatic four aspect signals. At this time I bought a lot of Track Circuit units and signal control boards, from a firm called Signal & Telegraph of Edmonton. These units gave stirling service over the life of the outdoor line, and when the outdoor line was decommissioned they were carefully stored away for another day. As these are non DCC compatible I stuck with DC throughout. Also as it was going to be a mainly 'watching the trains go by' type layout I didn't think investing in DCC worthwhile.

    Signal unit left, Track Circuit unit right.

    The units as positioned on the old garden railway set up.

    As the units were set up originally on the garden railway, multitude of wires possibly an understatement. On the current layout these units have been spread out to where the units feed the track or signals.


    Early days commissioning the Watford panel. The Control panel is made in an 'L' shape with 2 x 1 framing with hardboard surfaces. The panel was finished in matt grey undercoat. The track layout was lightly drawn in pencil first. The track diagram was made using 'Trimline' lining tape in multi-colours to denote the track sections. These were much simplified from the prototype to reduce the number of Track Circuit units utilised. Labelling was done on the computer, printed, cut to size, and stuck in place, avoiding places that might be damaged when switch and LED holes were drilled. Before drilling the numerous holes the surface was covered with clear plastic sheet to protect the lining and labels. The holes were then drilled carefully ready for fitting the switches and LEDs, plus the holes for the Controllers.

    The four main line storage sidings (Up Fast, Up Slow, Down Fast, Down Slow) have their own panels.

    The Up Yard panel with the Up Fast and Up Slow. The Yards can be run in 'Auto' via Heathcote SA6 Storage Yard units with IRDOT (Infra red detectors between the rails). This means the trains can operate in sequence from Siding 1 to 10 in succession. There is however a switch so that manual control can be taken via push buttons at individual points.

    The Down Yard panel for the Down Fast and Down Slow, and operates the same as the Up Yard Panel. The routes have bi-colour White/Red LEDs which show the route set, and change to red as the trains arrive/depart. The LED route lights are controlled by a simple relay PCB operated from Auxiliary point motor switches.

    Home made Relay boards. gave me lots of soldering practice.

    Fitting the IRDOT units to the Storage sidings.
    Unfortunately I ran out of the signal units, and had to finish off the signalling by making up some home made relay boards. Why Relays? Well, I must admit I don't understand much about transistors and the like, but Relay and Logic circuits I can work out okay. At least I know what to do if I have a failure of any kind!

    Home made signal boards. One of the main things is to keep a record of what each of the terminals does, seen on my printed record sheet. My Circuit Diagrams are probably not up to much, and Bill Corrigan, who guided me through many Route Relay diagrams, would turn in his grave.

    The fifth and final panel. This one controls Harrow Yard, and can be used if I want to do a bit of shunting while the main lines run themselves.

    The Harrow Main Line Panel almost finished. The panels are attached to the layout by large hook and eye fittings to the main 4 x 2 framing so they can be removed if necessary. They have a lot of multi-pin connectors so they can be unplugged. The main panels have an additional central 4 x 2 leg which can be taken off.
    Back of the Harrow Main Panel with most of the track and signal indicators.
    Bottom part of the panel with the Controllers and switches. Wiring probably not up to standard, but at least it works. Although not visible the Poly Block connectors are marked, but haven't shown up well in the pictures.

    The signals themselves are almost 100% CR Signals. All the route indicators work, along with the Calling on and position light ground signals. The searchlight types on the 'New Line' have been slightly modified by fitting Repeater heads. It was a bit complicated to make them work with the automatic calling on facility, so they function mainly as standard two and three aspect types.


    N Brass Gantry with CR Signal heads and shunt signals. A 25 hauled freight gets a main aspect for the St. Albans Branch, while a DMU gets a shunt signal to visit the Depot for fuel.


    A busy time at Harrow, as the Stanmore DMU gets a position 1 Route Indicator. On this signal the Position 4 Indicator is for crossing to the Up Fast, no indication for returning to the Up Slow Line.


    The 08 gets a shunt aspect to proceed from the Loop platform to the Yard.


    Modified Searchlight signals for the New Line. Dummy Ground signals, not strictly correct as these are SR pattern, it's just that I had a number of these lying around gathering dust.


    New Line and Main Line signals. The Main Line has a position 4 for crossing to the Down Slow, the Position 5 for the Loop Platform.


    Position Light Ground signal. In this case it has a dummy 'smoke blue' stencil Indicator. It is mounted on two track pins, blue paper with plastic covering on a square of plasticard, and some etched brass mess painted black and stuck on. Note the Telephone cabinet alongside with the black and white striped plate. I spent ages fitting Signal Post Telephones.

    Home made Block Instruments. A bit gimmicky, yes. By rights they should be Tokenless Block Types, but I wanted to build the more classical version. They were made up in a box shape with 2mm plasticard, with a bit of Perspex over the recessed pointer/needle. Bits were transferred from some old Triang Hornby ones that were around many years ago. The Triang Hornby ones no longer worked. I used the electro magnets and the magnetic pointer, plus the bell unit. However I enlarged the units by about four times to make them more easy to operate. I used some new rotary switches, and the bell tapper was made from a small push button switch which is depressed by pushing down on a piece of brass tube with a wooden draw knob. The instruments are connected to work the Stanmore and St. Albans branches.


    I'm usually assisted by Ralph the 'Cat Controller'. In this case he is working the Watford panel, and is keeping an eye out for a loco coming off shed onto the headshunt.

    Think I've just about covered everything? Next on the list, how the AC Locos were made.

    Andy.
  7. anroar53
    About twenty years ago I was faced with the problem of how to try and model the West Coast Main Line in N, but with only the Farish 87, and the Lima 86 available? The only solution was to try and fill the gaps by scratch building all the missing items. This had started as a project to run them on the exhibition layout 'Kings Park'. The first three attempts were at class 85s built round some secondhand Fleischmann continental AC locos. However these were a bit overscale in width, topping out at a scale twelve feet. Something had to be done to produce a more true to size model.

    This was the first attempt to produce an early 81 built around an Arnold continental chassis.


    The basic construction was made up from 1mm plasticard, with the cab front and side windows made from 0.5mm plasticard. The bodyshell was made as a solid box first, with the windows and grill apertures drilled out and filed. (As I had done with the EMUs and Underground stock.) The grills were made from P & D Marsh whitemetal corrugated sheeting. Cut to size and inset into the bodyside.
    The following couple of pictures show the first few production locos under construction. Unfortunately the original images have been lost, and these are reproductions from my remaining hard copy.

    The cab roof was made with a small off cut of carriage roof, with space at the front to insert a lot of body filler which could be sanded down to shape.
    After about five locos were completed on a mixed bag of motorised chassis the next step was to build some locos with some leftover Farish 87 bodyshells, leftover from pinching the chassis to power some Multiple units. After talking to Richard Dockerill at an exhibition he told me he had started building some AC Locos using a Minitrix Class 27 chassis, but with Minitrix Class 42 bogies. I found this to be extremely useful, as I had hoarded my own Minitrix locos and they were still available. In fact I then went around the exhibitions picking up more bargain secondhand Minitrix locos to convert. As the Farish 87 body was too long for the 81-5s I removed a section of the original body, so that it would fit the Minitrix 27/42 combo chassis.


    The Minitix 42 bogies had no side frames, so sticking some other ones (from my leftovers box) on the side was quite easy after filing off a bit of surplus metal to the Coupler pockets.
    Bit of a fuzzy picture in early digital camera days, showing how the Farish 87 body was shortened. I used a small saw at first, but as I got more proficient with a slitting disc, I started using that.

    The shortened body put together with liquid poly glue and allowed to harden, then sanded off. Cab front and windows removed.

    Finished bodyshell with a slightly thicker end of plasticard to allow profiling, and thinner plasticard for the front windows drilled and filed out. Route Indicator box also drilled and filed. The original bodyside detail was infilled with filler and sanded flush.

    The bodyside windows and grills were then done in the same was as the early scratchbuilt version.

    To produce some class 86s, this was before the Dapol 86 was introduced, a simple expedient was to modify the Farish 87 by just altering the front end, with some replacement plasticard windows, and removing the 87 front detail and drilling out the Route Indicator Box.

    At this time I also had some old Lima 86 bodyshells, which were too short to be an 86. So I lengthened the body by cutting it into three bits, and inserting odd bits of plasticard to pad it out. Next photo shows roughly where the body was cut, and the pieces inserted. The length was made to fit a standard Farish 87 chassis, freeing up more 87 bodyshells for conversion to class 81-5s.

    One more item to add was the converted gas turbine loco which became E1000/E2001. This started out as just an Ultima coach roof, with shaped plasticard sides and ends in the same way as the early scratchbuilt locos, but with some etched brass grills.

    The loco was built around a standard Farish Class 47 chassis. Note the buffers have had the outer edges filed down. This was done on the actual loco to fit the London Midland Loading Gauge requirements.



    That about wraps up this little story. Next episode to include building the Mark 2 Manchester/Liverpool Pullman stock.

    Andy.
  8. anroar53

    Experiments in non DCC sound effects

    By anroar53,


    West Coast Main Line in N Gauge.
    A few recent longish Youtube Videos of the layout with some added sound effects for a bit of atmosphere. Still 'a work in progress' as it were.
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X54OMtQ5QuA&t=28s
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHfarBLRn2M&t=104s
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CWDOapePqg&t=12s
  9. anroar53
    Heading south through Harrow. A class 40 on a Tanker working for Ripple Lane as an Express for Euston overtakes.
     

     
    A short Freight heads south at Linslade with a 25 on the front.
     

     
    Looking south from the Bridge at Harrow.
     

     
    At Linslade, heading south.
     

     
    Approaching Harrow from the south. A class 120 Cross Country DMU has found its way onto the Stanmore Branch.
     

     
    Class 40 on a southbound Freight at Linslade.
     

     
    A brief 'green' moment brings a class 26 through Linslade, a bit improbable, but I like to give some of my other Locos a run every so often !
     

     
    At the north end of Watford.
     

     
    A 'Bubble Car' DMU on the Stanmore Branch, passing the disused siding to the former Cabinet/Coffin Factory.
     

     
    Close up of Harrow & Wealdstone station as two Expresses pass on the Fast Lines.
     

     
    Looking north towards Harrow.
  10. anroar53
    The latest selection of pictures from my little slice of 70s West Coast Main Line
     

    To the south of Harrow

    Racing northwards at Linslade

    The Manchester Pullman passes an Inspection Saloon south of Harrow

    Southbound Express raises the dust as it passes Harrow & Wealdstone

    Peeping over the Hoardings at Harrow

    The Widnes to North Wembley BOC Tankers pass Harrow

    Harrow & Wealdstone

    Express Parcels hammers through Harrow

    Harrow overview

    The 'Piggy Bank' Bullion Special passes through Watford

    The southbound Bullion Special passes Linslade

    Shunting into the Yard at Harrow

    Double headed 37s on a Freightliner bound for Stratford L.I.F.T.

    The Wiring Train heads north through Watford

    DMU substitute on the Stanmore Village service. A class 24 and two mark 1s fill in for a non available DMU

    Passing Harrow

    To the south of Harrow. A single car Derby Lightweight DMU works the Stanmore Shuttle

    Busy time at Harrow

    Two 1938 Tube sets in the Reversing Sidings at Harrow, as two 501s pass each side

    Green versus Blue/Grey. Giving the DEMUs a run

    Cement passes Cement at Watford Junction

    The 'Spotters' at Watford can't believe their luck as a 12 car DEMU speeds by on the Up Fast Line (Thump! Thump! Thump!)

    Euston bound Express passes Harrow at speed.

    The Manchester Pullman bursts out of Linslade Tunnel on its run to the north.

    Passing trains at Harrow

    A 1972 Tube set departs from Watford Junction while a 1938 set waits at the signal to enter the station

    A six car 501 departs Watford on an all stations service to Euston, as a northbound Express passes the other way

    Connections at Harrow. The DMU from Stanmore Village has arrived in time to connect with the Bletchley Local

    Passing coal south of Harrow.

    Tunnel vision?
  11. anroar53
    It's been a while since my last entry. Things have been busy. The layout has now appeared in last October's edition of Model Rail, and the two-parter in the N Gauge Journal has just finished. However, the layout looks set to be appearing in Hornby magazine later next year. In the meantime the layout has been up and running, and I have some more photos to share for those that are interested. So here we go.

    Harrow & Wealdstone. two 304s pass on the Slow Lines, while a Cravens 105 DMU sits in platform 7 with the signal cleared for another trip to Stanmore Village.

    An unusual view as this is looking from the back of the layout to the front. Harrow Shunting Frame can't be seen normally as it is hidden by the Goods Shed. This view is looking north.

    At the south end of Harrow.

    The Liverpool Pullman heads south on the last lap to Euston.

    1A20 0812 Manchester to Euston slows to a stop at Watford to 'Set Down Only'.

    Empty Cement working heading north for Tring Cutting. A southbound Express passes while a 1959 and 1972 Tube set pass in the background.

    Previous picture from a different viewpoint. A Derby Lightweight Single car DMU is on the Stanmore Branch working, having been borrowed from Bletchley.

    1A88 'Bletchley Mails' hurries through Watford on the Up Slow Line. A Cravens 105 DMU sits in platform 10 waiting to leave with a St. Albans Abbey working.

    The North Wembley 'BOC' Tankers pass the depot at Watford.

    A class 40 on some loaded Hoppers near Linslade fails to disturb the swans on the Canal.

    A Halewood - Dagenham working heads south through Watford as the Manchester Pullman heads northwards.

    The Manchester Pullman overtakes a 310 at Harrow.

    Rush Hour at Harrow. Two 310s pass on the Slow Lines, as two 1938 Tube sets pass on the DC Lines. A northbound Express passes through the middle.

    The St. Albans Abbey DMU waits to set off from platform 10 while a southbound Freightliner passes two 25s on a lengthy empty wagon working.

    A class 115 DMU makes an unexpected appearance at the Junction, almost as unexpected as the Cravens DPU in platform 11.

    Southbound 'Flasks' on the Up Slow Line at Harrow.

    Southbound Class 8 Freight overtaken by a Euston bound Express.

    1Z16 passing Watford. 1M16 (from Inverness and Fort William) sometimes ran in two portions if one was running late. The late running section ran as 1Z16, and sometimes was worked through to Euston with a class 47.

    Another rare sight (I only ever saw this once in five years) Double-headed 50s pass south through Watford.

    Southbound Cement passing through Harrow on the Up Slow Line.

    Mid-summer's evening. A northbound Sleeper service hurries through Harrow.

    Green liveried 47 with full yellow ends speeds through Watford with a northbound Excursion.
     
    Hope you enjoyed ?
    Andy.
  12. anroar53
    Down the years there has been, and still is, a number of gaps in the availability of Rolling Stock in N Gauge. Fortunately things have been improving of late, but when I began to model the West Coast Main Line nearly twenty years ago it was a case of improvisation and making use of items then available. One of my first projects was the Mark 2 Pullmans for the Manchester and Liverpool Pullman services. There had been a plentiful supply of early Farish Coaches at the time, those that had the window strips as a removable feature. I had a surplus of Mark 3 coaches and decided to use these. It did mean cutting about 20mm out of the middle of the body and then joining the two sections together again.

    With the window strips removed the new window and door droplight gaps were marked out, and fresh pieces of plasticard inset for the new bodyside. Before fixing the roof the interiors were added. Some moulded 1st Class seat interiors were obtained via the N Gauge society shop, and were modified to fit the new window spaces. The seating and tables were then painted. The Central window upright was made from single core wire cut and inserted into position. The Mark 3 roof sections had the roof detail sanded off, then cut down to fit the new bodyshell length.The body was then painted all over in Rail Grey first. The central window section was marked out with masking tape, and then the Rail Blue applied. When dry the doors were marked out with a fine black lining pen. To finish the roof sections were painted mid-grey, and Fox transfers were added to finish. The glazing was made with Humbrol 'Clearfix' applied with a small screwdriver.

    The typical formation of the Pullmans were in sets of four coaches, Pullman Brake, Pullman Parlour, Pullman Kitchen, Pullman Parlour. The Manchester Pullman was two four car sets joined together with the Brake vehicles at the outer ends. The Liverpool Pullman was only part Pullman, consisting of a four coach set, with the remainder of the train usually made up of three mark 2a TSOs, a Mark 1 RMB, and a Mark 2a BSO. The formation was sometimes strengthened with one or two TSOs. The Liverpool Pullman, in this form, lasted until 1975, when it was discontinued.

    Sometimes if a Pullman Kitchen vehicle was stopped for repairs it was sometimes replaced by a Mark 1 RK Full Kitchen. I have modelled this eventuality, the Mark 1 RK was made using TPM window inserts, which could be fitted into the early Farish Coaches.

    The interior was not modelled, as it wouldn't be visible from normal viewing distances. The discolouration seen on the bodyside Grey band is from the liquid poly glue where it bonded with the Farish body uprights. Once the roof was replaced it doesn't show. A number of Mark 1 variants were modelled using the TPM insets, BFK, FK, FO, RKB, BSO, BSK, SLF and SLSTP.

     
    Some of the other items that were slow in arriving were the early Mark 2s in Blue/Grey. Some NSE Livery ones appeared, with some Mark 2ds, all having the removable window strips. Again I replaced them all with TPM insets, which provided a few rakes of early Mark 2s, in the same way as the RK. Later, before the latest Farish Mark 2s arrived, I also made some that were Worsley Works Brass sides, stuck directly to early Farish stock.

    Farish Mark 2 FK, with TPM insets. Next a converted Farish Mark 1 with TPM RU insets. Next Worsley Works Brass sided Mark 2 TSO.

    Close up of the Mark 2 FK conversion. Seating made by cutting up leftover interiors of Farish coaches.

    TPM TSO and BSO insets into Farish Mark 2 early bodyshells.
     
    As I still had a few early Inter-City sets on the go I also made up some insets to model the early Mark 2 FKs which had appeared in lined maroon. These were a bit more fiddly as I hade to go over them in BR coach maroon. But when finished they looked quite smart. These make occasional appearances from time to time.
    Corridor side
    Compartment side.
     
    A later conversion was to repaint some of the Farish Met-Cam Pullmans, turning them into the Blue/Grey FO version.

    Repainted Met-Cam Pullman next to a standard 'Nightcap Bar' version.
     
    Some BHE Brass sides stuck onto Minitrix bodyshells to make up some Sleeper stock long before the farish examples arrived.

     
    A few more oddities.

    Tribometer Test Train. Some Minitrix coaches with Worsley Works brass sides, and a modified Farish Box Van. Headed by an early Silver Fox resin bodied Baby Deltic.

     
    Two more Research Department coaches, one was a Farish Met-Cam repaint as Test coach 'Wren', and a Brass sided Worsley Works Test Coach 'Prometheus' on a Minitrix coach body.

     
    Finally a couple of Tool Vans, Worsley Works brass sides one on a Minitrix body, the other on a Farish body.

     
    Although some of these conversions have been overtaken by commercially produced items I haven't replaced mine with the newer versions. They represent many hours of work over many years. They may not be on the Exhibition circuit any longer, but they will always have a home on my current layout.
     
    Some more stories still to come.
    Andy.
  13. anroar53
    Another selection of pictures from the past two months of running the layout.

    Up and Down Expresses pass at Watford Junction

    In the DC Lines at Watford Junction a line up of trains wait their turn to depart.

    Racing alongside the Grand Union Canal at Linslade, Southbound Express overtakes a Freightliner working.

    Looking north towards Harrow. Freights pass on the Slow Lines as a southbound 501 scoots along on its way to Euston.

    HS4000 heading north on an empty MGR working.

    The Kings Cross to Tring Cement empties heads through Watford.

    Cement workings pass at Harrow & Wealdstone

    Off the beaten track, a Hastings DEMU heads for home on the Up Slow Line at Harrow.

    Northbound through Watford Junction.

    The Research Departments Tribometer Train heads south at Linslade.

    A Railtour produces a pair of Hymeks heading north through Watford on the Down Slow Line.

    A northbound Parcels for Curzon Street passes the Depot at Watford.

    Beast from the East turns up on a diversion at Watford.

    A Derby Lightweight DMU waits in Platform 11 at the Junction with the next service for St. Albans Abbey.

    A Bletchley to Euston 310 is overtaken by an Express at Linslade.

    Turning the clock back to the 1960s and what things used to be. The 1938 Tube set is a timeless link between the periods.

    A green liveried 47 hauling a train of Bogie Hoppers south of Harrow. The Stanmore Branch train arrives in Harrow's No. 7 Platform.

    The Tring Cutting to Kings Cross Cement alongside the Grand Union Canal at Linslade.

    From above the tunnels at Linslade looking north.

    Southbound overnighter with 14 on about to enter the Tunnel at Linslade.

    The Widnes to North Wembley BOC tankers pass Linslade.

    Early Electric Blue 86 on a southbound working at Linslade with a uniform West Coast formation of 12 coaches.

    An 84 on a class 1 working disturbs the tranquillity at Linslade.

    To the south of Watford Junction a flurry of activity.

    All in one direction. The Stanmore Village DMU is paced by a Northampton to Euston 310. While a Euston Express is about to sweep past them all as a 501 sets off with a stopper to Euston.

    A Class 40 turns up on a passenger working for Euston passing the Spotters at the Junction.

    The busy Forecourt at Watford. Plenty of buses.

    Northbound through Linslade.

    Near Headstone Lane.

    Southbound by the Canal.

    North end at the Junction with the Cement empties blasting through on the Down Slow Line.

    Once in a while the Steam Fleet makes a comeback. Nearing Watford northbound.

    When things get busy, Ralph, the Cat Controller, lends a paw.
  14. anroar53
    One of the jobs I have been meaning to do for ages was to add some castellated ornaments above my representation of Linslade Tunnels. As I didn't have enough space to recreate the gap between the Up and Down Fast Lines at the real location I had to settle on a slightly different arrangement, and my Tunnel has four instead of three towers. Hopefully the end result looks something like the real thing?

    Making up the castle towers using leftover bits of cardboard and embossed plasticard.

    Adding some thin plasticard strips on the completed towers, and the joining curtain walls

    Completed sections painted, just requiring some weathering powder to tone down the paint.

    Centre section added over the Up Fast/Down Slow Line portal

    Completed towers and walls added, some extra weathering added to the Tunnels to try and blend the new additions together. Some 'clump' foliage added to hide the gaps with the original scenery

    All finished ! It took about seven hours work spread over four days to complete.
  15. anroar53
    Tube stock passing at Headstone Lane on the 'New Line'.

    Passing the Sports Ground at Headstone Lane.

    'Peak' southbound at Linslade.

    To the south of Watford

    Harrow & Wealdstone. The Stanmore Village DMU waits to leave from Platform 7 after connecting with the Bletchley 'Local'.

    A short Parcels working from Hemel Hempstead paces the Stanmore Village service.

    North end at Harrow. Two 73s thrash south on Diesel power.

    Looking north through Watford as a 304 EMU calls at the Up Slow Platform with a Birmingham New Street to Euston (via Northampton) service.

    A 40 rattles through Harrow on the Up Slow Line with a class 4 Parcels working

    A class 1 on the Down Slow at Watford.

    Crossing to the Down Fast Line from the Down Slow at the north end of Watford.

    View of the north end of Watford looking over the control panel.

    To the south of Harrow the Stanmore Branch Freight approaches with a 25 in charge

    Southbound Motorail swings round the curves at Linslade on the approach to the Tunnels

    Approaching Watford from the south.

    Connecting pause at Harrow. A Cross Country 120 has found its way onto the Stanmore Branch.

    'Off peak' at Harrow. The Stanmore Branch has just a single car Derby Lightweight DMU for the quiet hours

    Double headed Special approaches Linslade Tunnel.

    A 1938 Tube set arrives in Platform 5 at Watford after a run from Elephant & Castle.

    From above the tunnels at Linslade a Euston bound Express hurries past

    All go to the south of Harrow

    As a pair of 310s set off from the Watford stop an 86 hauled Express overtakes

    To the south of Watford all is busy.

    Heading south at Linslade

    1A14 The southbound Manchester Pullman races through Linslade

    On the last 11 miles into Euston the Manchester Pullman continues its southward progress.

    A 25 assists a 40 through Harrow on a freight bound for Willesden.

    A southbound Anglo-Scottish Sleeper disturbs the peace at Linslade.
  17. anroar53
    The Layout will be featuring in Traction magazine, as a two-parter, in the September/October issue, and the November/December Issue.
     

     
    To the south of Harrow. A Derby Lightweight DMU approaches with the shuttle from Stanmore Village. The Tring to Kings Cross cement working heads south. Eagle eyed observers will note a Gresley Buffet Car in the southbound Express. Fortunately I had kept good records of the periods, and at least one example turned up on a Special which came out of Euston and did a trip over the Settle & Carlisle and back.
     

     
    Approaching Watford. The Dagenham to Halewood is overtaken by an Express as they head north.
     

     
    The North Wembley to Widnes BOC Tankers head through Watford on the Down Slow Line with a 47 in charge.
     

     
    Passing the Sports Ground at Headstone Lane. A Toton to Willesden loaded Coal working has a 45 heading it. It will have travelled over the now closed Market Harborough to Northampton route.
     

     
    Watford Junction, passing trains. A three car DMU sits in platform 11 waiting to work the next service to St. Albans Abbey.
     

     
    Looking south through Harrow alongside the Goods Yard. The southbound Manchester Pullman overtakes a loaded Hopper working as a northbound Freight is about to pass between them.
     

     
    Looking over the St. Albans Road bridge north of Watford Junction. The entrance to the Depot. 1A14 catches a 'double yellow' on the Up Fast Line as it gains on 1A13 in front of it.
  18. anroar53
    A class 87 heads a Euston to Wolverhampton Express through Watford, as a 304 EMU sets off for Euston on a service from Birmingham via Northampton.
     

     
    Out at Linslade the Southbound Manchester Pullman overtakes a Western Visitor on some loaded Hoppers.
     

     
    The southbound Flasks pass Linslade on the Up Slow Line.
     

     
    Giving the HST a spin, passing south through Watford on the Up Fast Line.
     

     
    The Up Bletchley Mails pass Linslade as a northbound Express passes in the opposite direction.
     

     
    Passing Expresses at Harrow as a six car 501 heads off for Watford.
     

     
    To the south of Harrow. The Stanmore Village DMU arrives in platform 7 as a class 50 heads north on a Freightliner working.
     

     
    A Euston to Bletchley 'Local' arrives in the Down Slow Line platform at Watford. A Cravens 105 waits to leave platform 10 with the next service to St. Albans Abbey.
     

     
    Northbound at Watford. The North Wembley to Widnes BOC Tankers are overtaken by a Down Express.
     

     
    The North Wembley to Widnes BOC Tankers exit the Tunnel at Linslade as a Euston bound 'Local' heads south.
     

     
    Busy period at Harrow.
     
  19. anroar53
    The Branch Freight from Stanmore arrives in the Yard at Harrow. A Euston bound Express passes a pair of 501s as they brake for the station stop.
     

     
    A Derby Lightweight DMU approaches Harrow after another trip to 'The Village'. An 84 heads a freight south as an early liveried 86 overtakes on the Up Fast Line.
     

     
    A class 4 Parcels rattles through on the Up Slow Line at Harrow while an 08 waits to enter Harrow Yard after a short working along the Stanmore branch.
     

     
    At the north end of Watford an Express parcels service overtakes a 'Peak' hauled freight.
     

     
    Looking south from the road bridge at Harrow. An 8 car 310 EMU sets off from the station next stop Euston. 1L10, the Bullion Special, hurries north along the Down Fast Line.
     

     
    Approaching Linslade Tunnel from the north.
     

     
    It's the 'Off Peak' on the Stanmore Branch as a 'Bubble car' operates the shuttle. Racing south a Freightliner is overtaken by a class 3 Parcels service. A 1972 Tube set departs for Elephant & Castle in the background.
     

     
    Things getting busy at Harrow.
     

     
    Heading south past Linslade.
     

     
    Overview of the station at Harrow looking north.
     
    A pair of 25s on Class 1 duty heading south through Watford, as a freight heads south.
     
    A bit of film taken with a £13.98 mini-cam to give a Driver's eye view with a couple of circuits of the Down Fast Line.
    Another clip of some of the trains running on the layout
     
  20. anroar53
    Southbound Freight passes Watford on the Up Slow Line.
     

     
    Harrow & Wealdstone looking south.
     

     
    Passing the Depot at Watford.
     

     
    North end at Watford looking south.
     

     
    Northbound Sleeper service and Freight exit the tunnels at Linslade.
     

     
    Approaching Harrow from the south. Must be the Peak hour, as the Stanmore Branch DMU is formed by a pair of Cravens 105s.
     

     
    The Widnes to North Wembley BOC Tankers head through Harrow on the Up Slow Line.
     

     
    A green liveried 40 plods south at Linslade.
     

     
    North and southbound Cement traffic passing at Harrow.
     

     
    A busy few moments at Harrow. North and southbound Parcels traffic pass on the Fast Lines while a northbound Freightliner passes a 304 heading south on a Birmingham to Euston (via Northampton) service.
     

     
    A Dagenham to Halewood working heads north alongside the canal at Linslade.
     
     
  21. anroar53
    Re-creating summertime walks by the Grand Union canal in the 1970s

    Busy time to the south of Harrow. A 25 slows for the Yard on the Trip Freight from Stanmore Village.

    A 1938 Tube set emerges from the High Street Loop as it arrives at Watford Junction. This set contains experimental 'sunshine' car no. 10306.

    As a 25 couples up to a failed electric in the Up Fast platform another Express comes round it on the Up Slow Line, and is signalled to cross back to the Up Fast Line.

    if you were fortunate (or unfortunate) to be at Watford Junction on the morning of 27th January 1977, your commute into Euston might have produced this. After an overnight derailment of a Freightliner working in Tring Cutting had trapped all but three EMU sets on the north side of the blockage. To supplement the remaining EMUs on a shuttle service from Hemel Hempstead other sets were pressed into service. This stock had arrived on 1A00 2045 Barrow to Euston, much delayed having been diverted to Birmingham New Street, then diesel hauled via Warwick, High Wycombe, the Greenford Loop, and Willesden. After the sleeping cars had been shunted off the remaining stock (including the TPO, locked out of use) formed the 0725 Euston to Hemel Hempstead, and the return trip to Euston.

    27.01.77. The improvised service sets off for Euston from Watford. The two Full Brakes at the front contained many standing passengers that morning. This set was retired to Willesden after just one trip, as other loco hauled sets had by now been put into service from the Downside Shed at Euston, some even having the Buffet Cars staffed and open !

    South of Harrow. It was surprising just how many freights were diesel hauled 'under the wires'.

    A pair of DMUs head south on the Up Slow Line. There was a daily DMU working into Euston in the 1970s. The 0100 Watford - Euston, and the 0149 Euston - Watford Staff train was a scheduled DMU service. Normally one of the Cravens 105 off the St. Albans Abbey workings. The 0013 Euston - Bletchley on Sunday mornings was also a booked DMU working, which could produce a wide variety of sets, whatever Bletchley had on hand usually. One morning I rode home on a recently refurbished Marylebone 115 which had just been outshopped in Blue/Grey Livery.

    A Metropolitan A60 arrives at the Junction on a service from Baker Street via the Croxley link. A Euston bound 501 disappears round the High Street loop. Southbound Liverpool Pullman passes a northbound parcels working for Rugby via Northampton.

    A Toton - Willesden freight crosses the Colne Viaduct hauled by a 45 plus Brake Tender.

    The Widnes - North Wembley BOC Tankers cross the Colne Viaduct south of Watford.

    South of Harrow. The North Wembley BOC Tankers pass a Rugby Class 6 Parcels working.

    The Halewood - Dagenham coasts through Harrow on the Up Slow Line.

    The Halewood - Dagenham crosses the Colne Viaduct.

    A Northampton to Euston 310 crosses the Colne.

    A Bletchley - Euston 310 calls at Platform 6 at Harrow & Wealdstone. An 84 on a class 1 working for Euston hurries through on the Up Fast Line as a 1972 Tube set arrives in Platform 1 on the 'New Lines'.

    Full House of Tube stock at the Junction.

    'Out in the sticks' near Linslade. Passing Express services, with a northbound freight creeping into shot.
  22. anroar53
    The Up Postal passing Harrow.
     

     
    The southern approaches to Watford.
     

     
    Harrow interlude as the Branch freight arrives from Stanmore.
     

     
    Looking south from the bridge at Harrow.
     

     
    Southbound class 3 Parcels at Linslade.
     

     
    The Widnes to North Wembley BOC Tankers pass Harrow. The Stanmore shuttle approaches platform 7.
     

     
    Northbound through Watford.
     

     
    The Manchester Pullman overtakes a Dagenham to Halewood working approaching Watford.
     

     
    A class 25 heads an Inspection Saloon through Linslade.
     

     
    A Research Department Special heads south through Harrow with the prototype HST Power Cars.
     

     
    Northbound at Linslade.
     

     
    Passing Harrow.
  23. anroar53

    More pictures from Lockdown Loft Junction !!!

    By anroar53,


    More pictures from Lockdown Loft Junction !!!
    A Euston bound Express passes Linslade.
     

     
    A diverted Midland service for Sheffield crosses from the Down Slow to Down Fast Line at the north end at Watford, after providing a connection into the St. Albans Abbey branch.
     

     
    Harrow. Looking south.
     

     
    The southern approaches, outside the Box at Watford.
     

     
    Waiting to leave the Reversing Sidings at Harrow after the southbound Bakerloo service has vacated Platform 2.
     

     
    The first glimmer of light on an overcast November Sunday morning. Passengers await the arrival of the first northbound service at Platform 5 Harrow.
  24. anroar53

    Going into Print

    By anroar53,

    Just a bit of a heads up. My layout will be featuring in the next issue (240-October) of Model Rail magazine. Should be out around 15 September. Just finished a quick look at the proof article and it gives a fairly balanced overview with what could be fitted in over five pages.
     
    Andy.
  25. anroar53

    Keep on running....

    By anroar53,


    More from the loft
    Outside the Box at Watford. A southbound Freight passes a northbound Express. A Bakerloo Tube completes its journey from Elephant & Castle as it arrives in platform 5.
     

     
    Looking north towards Harrow, plenty of activity taking place.
     

     
    Thumping south at Linslade, 1005 heading for home territory.

     
    Looking north along the Harrow section of the layout, with the Watford section along the other side of the loft.
     

     
    Looking north along the Watford section of the layout near the Loft Access hatch.
     
    Another fairly recent clip of video from the layout.
    West Coast Main Line N Gauge Layout (Part 18) - YouTube 
     
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