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  1. 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?
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  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

    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.
  7. 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.
  8. anroar53
    Approaching Watford from the south.
     

    On the DC Side. A 1959 Tube set departs from Watford, as a Metropolitan A60 arrives on a service from Baker Street via the Croxley Link.
     

    Alongside the Grand Union canal at Linslade. Northbound Freight.
     

    A Derby Lightweight Single Car DMU waits to leave platform 7 at Harrow & Wealdstone for Stanmore Village.
     

    To the south of Harrow.
     

    Motorail versus Coal. Passing through Harrow.
     

    47 passes 47 at Watford.
     

    Busy period at Harrow.
     

    Out at Linslade.
     

    South of Harrow.
     

    Euston bound. An 87 hauled Express powers through Linslade.
     

    Northbound Express overtakes northbound Freight at Harrow.
     

    To the north of Harrow.
     

    North end at Harrow & Wealdstone.
     

    Green 47 to the rescue. A late running 1A04 0110 off Holyhead thunders south through Harrow.
     

    The Southbound Bullion Special passes through Watford Junction.
     

    A 1959 Tube set arrives in platform three at The Junction.
     

    Southbound Manchester Pullman passes the northbound Liverpool Pullman at Linslade.
     

    The overhead wiring train heading north at Linslade.
     

    Research Department Special heading north at Linslade.
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