SC55015

1982 Seen entering Glentogle with an MGR train are 20223 and 20226. This is a reproducing an image I took many years ago at Dunfermline - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bystuart/27421130251/ In Auchentogle station we have a Class 107 in the branch platform. The origin is a Bachmann 108, it still needs some work doing to it for the transformation. On this version of the Class 108, with the top headcode box, Bachmann never added the handrails between and under the two outer cab windows, also required for a 107. For this model I chose the number SC52019, which did not seem to carry a set number at the time (but was normally part of 107435) and unusually had those warning flashes on the lower cab. https://www.flickr.com/photos/134227013@N08/51713966962/ The 'sky replacement' didn't work to well with this image, but looks better than my kitchen...!

Here's a catch up on recent workbench activities. The Class 116 DMBS was completed, seen on the right. When I painted the yellow on the DMS (left) it crazed in the lower centre cab. Afterwards, when I was making the cab windows for the DMBS I noticed I was holding the body with my finger in thumb in the position it crazed, so for the DMBS before spraying it got a better cleaning, and no crazing this time. Both vehicles have Westhill Wagon Works buffer beam detailing. The (rigid) coupling hook supplied with this pack was fitted to the DMS (left), which just dangles down, something rarely seen on a DMU. DMUs have hooks under the headstock for the coupling to be located when not in use. So for the DMBS I fitted an Accurascale coupling, and although it won't bend backwards to go under the headstock, it can at least be hooked onto the coupling hook and not be dangling down. After the 116 was finished a couple of quick DMU changes were made. I had a Lima blue/grey Class 121 from years ago, no use on a Scottish Layout. But a simple cab dome alteration and number swap would make it into a Class 122 which was good for a ScR layout. I also added a few pieces of paper just above the cantrail before spraying to represent the repairs seen on these vehicles. The yellow cab end is still in it original condition and will probably be tackled later. Next was a Class 101, where this time only the yellow cab was the focus. This was the Lima 101 released by Hornby with the four lamps. It had a number of issues out the box, that line either side of the destination box, the destination box was too small. there was no insides to the two centre lamps: A number of these four-lamp versions ran in Scotland, so the lamps were kept but opened up so there was less plastic rim. The destination box was cut to the correct size, and the first class stripe carefully removed with kitchen cleaner/ cocktail stick, seen part done. The first class totems came off the windows with careful fingernail rubbing. The window frames were sanded down slightly as they were two proud. The cab was the only part requiring spraying: I cut off the glazing from the lamps and filled them with glue 'n' glaze instead, and printed a misaligned destination blind to match the prototype image I was working from. Westhill Wagon Works jumpers / vac pipes and an Accurascale coupling were fitted. I didn't replace the wiper as it is far two chunky, but will look for alternatives. Here is the finished item alongside the untouched other end - a big improvement for minimal effort!

1981 This week's running year was the last full year of the Deltics. This is represented by 55015 seen rolling into Auchentogle station: When the Scottish Region dispensed with its two-car DMUs, sending the DTCL cars south, it received a number of DMCL vehicles many of which were ex-NER vehicles from the early builds with four lamps on the cab front. Here one of these is seen with a Dunblane service in Glentogle station. The vehicle number is higher than normal based on the prototype (https://www.flickr.com/photos/134227013@N08/51715019878/). SC50179 had been a Darlington, Neville Hill, Newton Heath and Chester vehicle before moving to Dundee in Spring 1979 and would stay on the ScR (also allocated to Haymarket and Eastfield) until withdrawal in 1990, its last year being as a sandite / route learner. https://railcar.co.uk/data/vehicle/50197.

Email from Rails today with the Heljan delivery schedule has the Class 104 as Quarter 4 2024, so October - December? Not long now! "Subject to change" of course - as they are still tweaking it, there could still be some slippage and it I'm guessing the date will be firmed up until it enters production.

1980 The 47/7s took over from the 27s on the E&G service the previous year. Here we see one of these sets in Auchentogle station. It's a Bachmann DMBS and Oxford Rail Mark 3s: Note I've also finally made some developments with the station - first time I've been able to make progress since before xmas - with a start to blending in the platform end, and adding some 3D printed station lamps on the left platform. More on their way for the other platform, as are transfers from Railtec to add the station name to them. Looking at images of these lamps there were many variations in styles - continuing my mash up of different Scottish stations these were based on those at Dunfermline Lower (see https://www.flickr.com/photos/bystuart/32027184025/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/108977492@N02/45474022012/). At the other end of the shove set is 47704, a Heljan model renumbered by its previous owner, it really needs a headlamp adding to finish it of: Working the branch is Gloucester Class122 SC55011, seen in Glentogle station. This is a Lima Class 121 with an easy mod changing the headcode to a destination box. I added some roof repairs at gutter level which were common on these vehicles before respraying the roof. Next round of work will be the cab front, still in its factory condition. In 1980 the vehicle was allocated to Dundee and did not have a destination blind fitted.

There is a page on the railcar website about the Preston - Colne service: https://railcar.co.uk/operations/london-midland-region/preston-colne The images there show that the Cravens were the main type until about 1981, after which many different types could be found with the 104s not being uncommon. Here is a Martyn Hilbert image of one at Bamber Bridge:

1979 26028 was an Inverness loco in 1979, looking at flickr there are plenty of images of it working in the Edinburgh area at the time. I found this image https://www.flickr.com/photos/130159849@N03/32516562406/ interesting and copied the coaches behind. The loco needs some snowploughs and dirt to match the image better. In the branch platform we have a Class 116 DMU with Greater Glasgow markings. This was a Lima 117 converted with Worsley Works etched sides:

1978 One exciting event this year was the first new diesel trains in Scotland for many years, with the HSTs being introduced on the ECML. Here a set is seen in Auchentogle. It's a Lima model with the numbers changed to reflect a Craigentinny set, I've also fitted lights and TTS sound. At the end of the year I moved from Fife to a house beside the West Highland Line, a few minutes walk from the former Rhu Halt. Here we have a 27 with Railfreight wagons passing through Glentogle station in what could be a West Highland Line scene:

1977 40159 was a Haymarket loco in 1977 and in July that year it gained the domino headcode. It's seen in Auchentogle station during a crew change on the way back from works. It looks like there's a wonky handrail into the cab that needs seeing to. Our Glentogle view for this year is an 08 shunting some CCTs into the goods shed for unloading. 08375 was never a Scottish loco so needs to be renumbered.

The Class 116 DMS is also now complete. The yellow on the lower front of the cab reacted to the varnish, but I can live with it. I forgot to put the rear buffers in for the images. Just to finish the DMBS now!

1976 25083 was a Scottish Region loco in 1976 allocated to Eastfield and Inverness. Here we see it in Auchentogle station on a passenger service although the headcode was more apt for a freight. Perhaps the driver didn't bother to change it since they were abandoned in 1976? A Bachmann model bought second hand, weathered and detailed by the previous owner. 20057 was a Tinsley loco in 1976 and had somehow strayed into the Scottish Region where we see it in the loop at Glentogle with some mineral wagons. It will head down the branch once the DMU arrives. This was a recent Bachmann purchase as new and fitted with an ESU sound chip. I need to get back to making some videos...

Back to this, after a few weeks travelling... 1975 The DMU fleet has been suffering due to mechanical troubles and a lack of spares for the AEC engines. Most are laid up on the fuel point awaiting attention. Replacing the AECs with Leylands might help availability in the future. The branch has had to resort to a Class 47 and a couple of coaches. This is an old Heljan 47 weathered by its previous owner. The driver has forgotten to change the headcode for this working.

A little more progress with the Class 116. The power cars needed some filler at the end of the brass overlays: When I started the project I had envisaged the set for the early/mid-1970s with the route indicator still in use. However I found some "GG" (Greater Glasgow) logos and I thought they might be great on the 116 instead. They were on a PC Models Pressfix sheet that was about 35 years old, so before I committed an wanted to make sure they were of use. Some decalfix helped. Success, so they were now to modelled on the late 1970s, when some vehicles had the route indicator plated over (as an example https://www.flickr.com/photos/134227013@N08/51715019843/). A piece of paper glued on was suffice for that. Here is one of the power cars with just the yellow end to paint: The centre car progressed faster, as less painting steps were needed. I decided not to do a lot of detailing: door handles, commode handles, door hinges, end handrails etc. are clearly missing in these images, but for my eyesight during normal running I don't notice their omission. Maybe someday... Windows were from a Peco Bullhead point packaging. I fitted NEM sockets and Kadee No.18 couplings, not prototypical but far better than the tension locks. It retains the tiny Lima buffers for now until I source some larger ones

1974 Class 27 Push-pulls had been operating the E&G services since 1971, and here we see one in Auchentogle station, with the stabling point being eerily empty: Our Glentogle view for this year is taken from the goods yard, with a Met-Camm on the branch service in the background. One day I'll get back to progressing the layout itself.

For the Class 116 centre car, none of these had toilets, so the pipes on the roof of the Lima 117 had to be carefully removed. The roof vents are the wrong type, but something I'll live with. The Lima 117s have gangways, which my ScR prototype did not have. First the end detail would be cut off (this is the centre car): Then I made a filler for the gangway holes (this is the DMBS, with the holes for the exhaust): Thinking that no matter how much I filled and sanded the gap between the two layers I would still see a an outline of the doorway, I decided to stick a sheet of paper on the end - thinner and easier to cut the top curve than plastic. I smothered the end in glue then stuck on a bit of paper, ensuring the top was pushed into the roofline: Once set it could be easily trimmed: