Marly51

Whoa there! I didn’t suggest those words.

Boys Brigade: my brother and I joined when we were c11 and c8, because (a) they played football indoors, in the non-conformist church hall, when it was too wet to play outside; and, (b) we understood that membership was a direct route to membership of the Freemasons.

We had no idea what the Freemasons was/were, but we had heard that all the more prosperous tradespeople and councillors in the town belonged, so it seemed like a good idea.

We left after three sessions, not having even got a uniform, when we discovered that it involved church parades and bugles.

My brother loved the Boys Brigade - think it was an escape from all the women folk at home and Dad thought it was a good thing! There was the Girls Guildry in some churches in Edinburgh which was the female equivalent of the BB. I tried the Brownies and lasted only six months - too tame for me I'm afraid, when there were other more exciting things to do elsewhere! My poor mum bought the full Brownie outfit, but think she managed to pass it on to a cousin.

I like your board connector idea, Mike. Look forward to seeing your layout as it evolves.

 

Marlyn

Really enjoying your thread - the historical background research to model railways is fascinating whether highly detailed, as in your case, or more tenuous for some of the fictional interpretations elsewhere on the Forum.

 

Marlyn

Another layout ‘Longdrem and the Pinkhill Branch’ based on Edinburgh operations - the name derived from Longniddry to the east of Edinburgh and Pinkhill in west of the city. Pinkhill Station was the stop for Edinburgh Zoo. In the 1950s/60s a short cut to the Station was through the allotments from Balgreen Road. Nearby was also the ‘sheep field’ where the sheep were held before going to the slaughter house at Slateford.

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/18631-longdrem-the-pinkhill-branch/

 

I sometimes find it is easier to search online for older RMWeb posts - the search option here on the Forum didn’t return a result for this posting?

Okay, I found the file of what I think will be close to the final plan.  Along the back I've just inserted some of the Walthers structures that are in the Anyrail database.  I'm still not sure how I'm going to "frame" the two sides and how the main will get to the cassette fiddle yards.  Currently I'm working with a full size print out (a great feature that Anyrail has) to see how the various track pieces will fit.  I"m also working on assembling various structure kits to see what will fit where and what modifications might need to be made (especially for the low relief structures along the back).  

I'm also experimenting with some different ideas for benchwork (baseboard) construction and haven't yet decided on turnout (point) control.

I’ve found Anyrail a great program to design a couple of heritage layouts and now hoping to plan a few small layouts based on smaller historic stations, mainly Scottish. Looking forward to seeing how your layout evolves!

 

Marlyn

Good luck with your plans Kevin! There’s no shortage of ideas and advice on this forum.

 

Marlyn

If it's any help, selecting the 25inch mapping gives you a wee bit more detail, although the drawing is not always to be relied upon. Should give you a flavour, though:

I thought there was more than just the dairy - timber yard and stoneworks (maybe stone cutters and stone dressing for all the new building work beyond the city centre?) How many times we played in Harrison Park as youngsters! I remember where there were buildings, but the detail is not always there until you see the photos and plans if they exist.

 

Many thanks,

Marlyn

Burnham and District Model Railway Cub produced a limited edition E & D milk tanker!

 

http://www.burnhamanddmrc.org

 

Finally found some photographs of the Edinburgh and Dumfriesshire Dairy Depot at West Bryson Road, when it was owned by Kennerty Farms Dairies (not Murchies as I thought earlier). Unfortunately no images from the railway track side so will need to trawl through aerial photographs again to see if there is any detail which could be used to reconstruct the layout of the buildings, yards and loading bays.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cagiva1994/14459008847 Flickr photos by Steven S

 

Many traditional buildings including the Weston’s Biscuit factory and other small industrial buildings have disappeared over the last two decades to make way for housing schemes. The whole character of Fountainbridge and some areas of Merchiston has changed with university campus buildings replacing the old brewery, the rubber company, the railways - ahh the aroma of yeast, rubber and ‘Auld Reekie’s’ coal fires!

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

 

Hi Peter,

I was given a copy of your book ‘Scratchbuilt Buildings the Kirtley Way’ as I often use textured papers for my models when there is a time restriction on a project. Very impressed with the commissions you have undertaken - lovely work! When I first used downloaded photo textures the photo paper to hand had a silk finish, but I was able to dull it down with a coating of spray matt varnish. I now use a matt photo paper and the detail seams OK, but still have to varnish before doing any careful weathering!

Sorry to read your recent project was not going ahead - disappointing after so much intensive work.

 

Marlyn

The old Angle Park Fire Station (Photo copyright Ian Scott) is an interesting line side building for a possible Merchiston Station layout. I know for a fact there were lovely old plans and elevation drawings on linen in the City Chambers Planning Department, which I copied back in the 1970s for a design project - I assume they are still accessible somewhere?

 

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_STREET/0_street_views_-_angle_park_terrace_-_fire_station_1960s.htm

On checking NLS website found some map detail of the milk depot on West Bryson Road which was serviced by sidings NE of Merchiston Station?

Just had a memory of the Edinburgh & Dumfriesshire Dairy Depot (later run by Murchies?) which was located between the Merchiston and Dalry Road Stations. Another possible feature?

Few records exist for the dairy according to https://oldestscottishcompanies.wikispaces.com/Edinburgh+Dairies+Limited - reference to milk being ‘imported’ by train from Dumfries.

E&D also had a chain of shops - we bought our bread daily from the Polwarth Gardens shop (pan loaf and Edinburgh ‘plain’ loaf), milk was delivered each morning by horse and cart.

That’s quite enough about the trams... now back to the railways. Edinphoto has the only photos of the Merchiston Station Buildings which I could find so far - Copyright George M.Staddon. http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_edin_t/0_edinburgh_transport_railways_gms_merchiston_42269.htm

There are more images of Dalry Road Station including this one by Peter Stubbs

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_edin_t/0_edinburgh_transport_railways_dalry_road_backs_of_travellers.htm

Need to check with CRA archivist to see what station plans and elevations exist. I’ll probably build models of the station buildings first then produce a diorama/mini layout setting with fiddle yard to suit.

Next trip to Edinburgh I’ll check out both locations for reference photos. Merchiston Station was bounded by traditional tenements on the Harrison Gardens side and colonies buildings on the other (Edinburgh Colonies housing has an interesting history of its own).

 

Hi Hayfield

 

Don`t bother with Draper

 

I can recommend Antex products.... used them for years.

 

For 7mm coaches and locos you will need HP 40w and HP 80w and occasionally a little gas blow torch

 

DSC02704.JPG

 

and a selection of fluxes and solders

 

DSC02703.JPG

 

plus a tip cleaner

 

Cheers

 

John

I agree with you about Draper. Bought their soldering station and, as a beginner, found I was struggling plus the cable is so stiff it kept getting in the way. Borrowed my husband’s Antex and now using it all the time.

 

Marlyn

One of the things which prompted this topic was finding the scale models of Edinburgh trams and also the Stenlake Books of old photos which are a good source for building references. The one relating to Merchiston by R.J.S. Wiseman was about the last trams.

 

 

And here I am, aged two and a half,walking alongside the pushchair in Granville Terrace, with my dad, sister and cousin behind us, admiring the trams. Cousin Brian ‘allowed’ me to help him check he had all the pieces in his aeroplane kits - my earliest contact with modelmaking! The photo is dated August 1953.

 

An interesting thread topic. The general area interests me, & have looked at North Leith (Caley) in the past, as a possible 'plank' terminus.

 

I imagine you're already familiar with this website:

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_edin_t/0_edinburgh_transport_-_railways_leith.htm#leith_north_station

 

- Prepare to lose a good few hours of your life if you're not!

Thanks Dave and 'yes' I have browsed this site often. I have also checked out old aerial photographs at the National Collection of Aerial Photography in Edinburgh. It is fascinating comparing the old photos with maps of the period to orientate the routes of the old railway lines. The character of the Edinburgh and Leith tenements, combined with the Union Canal, the docks and the railways provide endless options for creating model dioramas which capture the essence of the different eras of steam.

 

Marlyn

Someon on the e CRA forum is doing Barnton, I beleive.

 

Regards

 

Ian

Thanks Ian - just checked out the topic and I remember the old station buildings at Barnton when they were shops latterly. Last time I passed through Edinburgh, the Barnton Hotel had been razed to the ground. I am a member of CRA but not engaged on their forum yet. Lindsey mentioned researching old photographs and I have also wondered about copyright ownership of railway related images which are being sold online?

Two lovely Leith layouts - I seem to remember a layout based on South Morningside decades ago when Railway Modeller Magazine was black and white? I'll use this topic to research and explore the possibility of small layouts based on some of the old Edinburgh Stations.

Andrew F's amazing Baltic Street Leith layout http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/41309-leith-baltic-street/

Found Bob Rowland's model layout of North Leith Citadel https://www.bradfordmrc.org.uk/images/Layout_database/2005/northLeith.JPG

I grew up in the Merchiston/Polwarth area in 1950s Edinburgh and was wondering if anyone had already modelled some of the old stations in that part of the city? I have just ordered a couple of Oxford N scale Edinburgh Trams with a view to including them in a future layout. I have a number of Stenlake books of old photographs of Edinburgh including one of the last trams and was amazed to see a photograph of myself as a two and a half year old girl in one of the images! I never visited Dalry Road Station but remember there being a door leading to one of the platforms in the Telfer Subway, which was on the route Mum and I took to church every Sunday. I am interested in modelling some of the smaller stations from an historical perspective and keen to see any models which have been created in the past or models which still exist.

Progress still a little slow. Constructed half of a working canal boat from Scalescenes kit (still requires tiller, stove chimney and needs weathering) and cut up one of the cheap seated Chinese figures to create a ‘legging’ boatman to take the canal boat through the tunnel!

 

As well as more up-to-date laptops and devices, I have an old PC with Windows XP and was using Firefox on that? Reading this thread I am wondering if I’ll have the same problems when I next switch it on? This old machine has stand alone Adobe software which is why I have kept it going. Think I’ll just update the security software and not do any browsing on it.