Waverley47708

Fastleigh - Reflecting 1970s "Blue" Era. By Stan Moug Sorry - no longer available for exhibiting. Can Perth & District Model Railway Club provide a small layout to show at the centenary of Arbroath Railway Station? So said the email and of course, we would be pleased to... but limited to 6 feet long, we did not possess a layout less than 12 feet long. Ah! Stan Moug, a member of our club and a native of Arbroath (well, not since 1981) decided to rise to the challenge and build a layout in only 2 weeks, almost from scratch...well there were two exhibitions to attend as well! It needed to be built fastly!! The baseboard frame already existed, having been built for another forthcoming project, built using mainly 9 mm plywood, another plywood top was fitted. To build a OO gauge layout in such a small space (it had to fit into the waiting room on Platform 2 along with other exhibits!) is tricky and therefore a shunting layout was planned and further interest would be created by incorporating modern digital technology and providing sound and lights on the locomotives. The builder best remembers Arbroath station in the late 1970s, memories of blue diesels and Class 26's shunting the coal yard. Therefore, this era was selected and Fastleigh was born. Time being a constraint, it was decided to use bits from the spares box to build the original layout ; the points were salvaged from a previous layout as were the buildings. The only "new" items were the scenic materials used to create the ground cover. That was the first board....the goods yard. The enthusiasm was kindled and an extension was built to improve the operating flexibility and interest. The ethos remained the same though - building reasonably quickly using as much from the scrap box as possible! An air of dereliction prevails and the limited goods facilities and parcels depot cling on, avoiding closure thus far. Some siding space is now used for carriage storage and the disused shed has been taken over by the Engineers. The signal box has long closed so much of the former through line operates on the "one engine in steam principle" - the sealed tunnel mouth the only indication that this line once went somewhere else but alas Dr Beeching signed its fate. 26027 seen through the goods shed. Although in decline, there is still some significant activity around Fastleigh. The local brewery Abbey Ales generates some van traffic as its products are much in demand throughout the country and domestic coal is still off-loaded in the yard. The remaining sidings in the goods yard are used mainly for storing wagons which are used further along the branch and trains are occasionally sent along simply to re-sort the wagons. Fastleigh never had much in the way of passenger facilities and the terminus end has always been used for handling parcels and mail. The volume of traffic is now much reduced and some of the sidings are now used for passenger stock storage. Such trains can be seen regularly. The former engine shed and coaling dock have been taken over by S&T and various deliveries are made as well as storage of ballast wagons. Track is PECO Code 100 which when painted, ballasted with a mixture of ballast and ash and weathered looks the part and points are operated using SEEP point motors located under the boards. Each board has its own control panel but of course, being DCC, an operator can drive a loco on any section of track. Most of the stock is fitted with Kaydee couplings which allows hands-free uncoupling. The couplings are released by passing over magnets hidden under the tracks at various locations. The DCC control system used is the Gaugemaster Prodigy package which is fairly easy to operate and flexible enough to cope with the requirements of this layout. Some of the locomotives are fitted with sound and combined with working lights the operation is enhanced for both driver and viewer. Operation is deliberately from the front to make it easier to interact with you - the viewer. Please feel free to ask any questions but beware - you may even end up driving the trains! I hope you enjoy FASTleigh. You can view Fastleigh on "Perth MRC TV" in 2 parts. These images were recorded in May 2014 in our club workshops. Go to the playlist after viewing this to see part 2. Awards: The Derrick Burrows Memorial Trophy - St Andrews Exhibition 2012 The Bill Scobie Memorial Quaich - Cupar Exbibition 2013 Best Running Layout at Elgin Modelfair 2013 Fastleigh has been sold and is no longer a available to be exhibited by Perth Model Railway Group.

First night back of the New Year, no doubt we will find out who got what from Santa!! Sadly, Bachmanns elves did nto manage to get the large logo 47 ready for Santa and it looks like I need to hope the Easter Bunny is delivering trains instead of eggs this year

Sadly even though I live very near the former trackbed I have not a lot to add. Nevertheless I am delighted to see a resurgence of this topic. Find it fascinating to see info on what would have been passing my house 50 years ago climbing up the bank from Bridge of Earn. Thanks to all who have contributed.

Spot on, thanks.

Thanks for the info. I think you are correct about it being 1987, I am pretty certain it was not 85-86. I did not take many photos or keep good notes. I did keep going to Waverley beyond 1986, I can't recall exactly when I stopped going, although it shames me to admit I do remember seeing manky (well weathered!) 477s with Scottie Dogs rather than Haymarket Castles, with Mk3s in Intercity rather than ScotRail livery with a ScotRail liveried DBSO at the end. However I can confirm I stopped going before the 158s took over from the 477s...................

That link was sent form a mobile, have tried to copy the link from the desk top version but for some reason I can not paste it into this. Sorry, unless someone else can paste the link, the title to search for is "Film about the railways and it's enthusiasts, 1960s - Film 5869" If you are interested in the Settle & Carlisle it is well worth watching. Regards

Found this interesting film on You Tube about the Settle & Carlisle https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=dstUQjE2TKM Enjoy May be some others gems yet to be discovered at their website Huntly Film Archive. http://www.huntleyarchives.com/film-archive-search.php

A couple of old photos I found today, which I thought I had lost years ago. One of 47 641 at Haymarket, heading South. Looks like a portion train headed to Carstairs. Second photo of said locos nameplate. Probably taken 1986 but could have been later, I found this photo taken by someone else. Fife Region at Carstairs, https://www.flickr.com/photos/57727182@N08/16899233778/in/photostream/ Tempted to think it was the same day but the BG is no longer next to the engine. They did tend to do a few runs with different trains when used on these services. However the roof looks dirtier in my photo.

Always glad to see pictures of Waverley, look forward to seeing them.

After the push pulls my favourite was the portion trains to far flung destinations via Carstairs. 47s with Blue Grey, Intercity or mixed livery rakes. Used to catch either the Dundee to Poole or the Aberdeen to Penzanze from Inverkeithing to Waverley on Saturdays before taking up residence on Pl 14. Below is a screen shot of a spreadsheet I put together. I could not get a Scottish Region Carriage workings document but found one for the Midland region May 1985/1986, this listed trains South of Carstairs, as such was the combined Edinburgh and Glasgow portion. I had omitted the portion from Glasgow for my purposes. This was based on my memories that the buffet coach came from the Edinburgh portion. Have set it out as the train would sit in Waverley viewed from the Mound side looking North across to Princess Street Gardens (as viewed on my layout). Times are for arrival at or departure from Waverley.

Steady on, this is a Sprinter free zone, that 143 is a bit too close for comfort! Mind you although it is a second generation unit, I guess strictly speaking it was not a Sprinter. I remember them appearing on when the Bathgate Line reopened. They were soon replaced by 101s with black window surrounds and Bathgate Link rather than ScotRail on the side. Thanks for posting the numbers, always interested in that kind of info. With only one 47/7 perhaps you were there for 1/2 an hour. Was the 26 on a freight or one of the Fife services when there was a shortage of DMUs.

Certainly does, the only photos I had managed to see before had concrete ramps and possibly a section of concrete, i see the shape of the side changes just in front of the lead car to the shape of the concrete types sides although it appears to be brick shaped. That link then opens up a series of useful photos. Most photos so far of that location tended to be associated with the 26s on the Fife services. The fact it is a 120 rather than the usual 101 may be the reason for this photos. Thanks for that Bachmann, when you going to do a 120 (with a 101 middle car for is mid 80s Scottish Modellers not to picky am I!), each year I vote for a 120 on the poll. Last year I managed to correctly predict one out of three in the Bachmann predictions, predicted the large logo 47, failed on the 120 and on the 101 middle car.

Things were going well until I came across the below black and white photo. Thanks to Ernie (irishswissernie) for agreeing to my using it and the colour photo in this post and despite the minor headaches it gives me, thanks for uploading it, photos like this are invaluable. A couple of modifications are now needed!! Most photos of Waverley seem to have been taken from the station itself, usually from Pl 15/16 the longest one or from Pl 13/14. From that view the partially brick sided platform of 17 is seen, but the sides of 15 and 13 are obscured. I have always been unsure about the sides of 15, 14, 13 and 12. I assumed they probably were partially bricked but had not found any photos to prove this. I had tried to check it using a cab view video arriving into Pl 13 from Glasgow Central but it was not clear. I had completed the platforms sides (or at least thought I had) using brick for part of 17 but not for the others. Although the main thing I saw on the photo was the detail of the ramp on 11/12 I noted a dark stretch on the platform sides of 15 and 13. I was not sure but thought it may mean they were also partially bricked. Fortunately I then found the second colour photo and am now pretty certain that as with 17, 15 and 13 need to be partially bricked. It seems most of the modifications between the 60 and 80s were done to the outer parts of the platforms which is probably why they are bricked at the buffer ends and concrete at the outer ends. Can anyone help with Pl 18? It does not look like it was modified between the 60s and 80s, suggesting it would therefore be bricked, but am sure the few photos I had show concrete. This may have only been at the very outer end. Was mainly 101s in it which I guess were not everyone’s priority for photographing back then. The second thing this invaluable photo showed was the extent of the wooden sides to the platform canopy on 13/14. Again, due to the angle most photos are taken I had never seen the South facing side of this canopy. I had noted that most of the wood was intact in the 80s on the front end and was going to replicate that, but I had no idea and had never even considered whether or not it was also still intact on the South facing edge. As far as I can see from other photos which cover all the sides of the other canopies the wood was absent on them. The third issue this one has thrown up is that there is what I assume was a staff ramp on the South edge of Pl 11 back form the main ramp, I assume this was to access the bothy at end of the loco siding against the South wall or even the old signal box. Have to admit I have totally missed that one even when looking at photos taken form the tunnel. A wee rebuild of Pl 11 is now required to try to incorporate the ramp. Finally I can highly recommend a trawl through Ernie's photos - you never know what you may learn. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157627198783806

Having primed the platform canopy supports last week outside when it was dry I painted them today. Although not exactly the same as the originals on balance I opted to use the Hornby supports and will scratch build the canopies round them. Before After

Despite the winds, rain, floods and road closures we had our annual Christmas night out on Saturday at Pacos in Perth. It was good to have the company of wives and partners again. I can only assume there was not too much train talk last year. Thanks to Stewart and Morag for arranging the meal.

Waverley 85-86. Set at the more interesting end of Waverley (in the mid 80s anyway). As my signature says modelling ScotRail in the mid 80s before Sprinters came to Haymarket and before the 47/7s went to Eastfield. Trying to recapture happy days spent on Pl 14. The scenic section is almost complete, the station area is a work in progress. Photo 1. 47708 Waverley heads towards Waverley. Photo 2. Waverley

Some more progress, the platforms sides are now painted, a light grey weathered concrete mixed with a touch of light brown. Some weathering using washes of dirty black still to be applied. The partially bricked Pl 17 complete with frame dirt/sleeper grime bricks has been fitted. Platform tops sprayed (most of them until I ran out) and now starting to scribe the edges using a compass set at 2ft run along the outside edge. The slabs will then be painted individually, each slightly different shades of grey. A canopy I made a few years ago has been put in place to check heights. Other than the 107 heading to Glasgow Central not a lot of change in the trains occupying Waverley one sunny day in 1985/6 since my last post. The number of buses on the bridge has increased though with me buying another Edinburgh Heritage Tours and a fourth Lothian Regional Transport double decker at the Falkirk show at the weekend. A very nice mans sells them for as his sign says not £29, not £19 but £9.95. His is one of two stalls which are always a must for me at Falkirk first thing on the Saturday, the other being a stall at the front door. This year I got a Bachmann Mk1 RMB for £15 at it. I need to get different adverts for at least one of the double deckers as it looks a bit odd with three of them all advertising Ringtone Tea!

In addition to going to exhibitions with our own layouts we occasionally go to exhibitions or railway events as guests. In the past we have been for a day out to Doncaster and York shows. This year we went on day trips to Crewe Heritage Centre (managed to get on Railcam!), Carlisle for the DRS open day and on the Steam special on the reopened Waverley route in September. Usually means a long day with an early start.

Platforms part 2. I have completed the platforms today, with 13/14 being redone. I am much happier with the shape. When it stops raining, ever faithful Halfords grey primer to be used on them. The eagle eyed will note the green Hornby platform canopies in piles. These are to form part of the scratch built platform shelters on 4 of the 5 platforms. Line up is typical mid 80s at Waverley, from the top in Pl 19 the Talisman awaiting to depart to Aberdeen with a mixed liveries HST. A 101 in Pl 18 for Cowdenbeath. A 27 awaits the next arrival from Dundee in the middle road between Pl 16 and 17 and a DBSO awaiting to depart for Glasgow Queen Street in Pl 14. Could be St Andrew, St Mungo, St Cuthbert, Waverley, Sir Walter Scott, Greyfriars Bobby, Lady Diana Spencer or Grampian Region at the other end.

Next outing for the club is Falkirk at the end of the month, always a good show to go to. Saying that one year I turned up a month to late and found the venue empty!! Another year it was the weekend the big freeze started. We got home OK on the Saturday, but those returning from the Sunday shift ended up taking a few hours to do what normally takes just under an hour. We are taking our DCC Aldbury layout. There is a video of it on our You Tube channel PerthMRC. The club has recently been to Dundee, Greenock and Elgin exhibitions. Sadly I did not make it to any of this this year but i understand we won some trophies for our efforts.

And here is the list according to http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Open+Days Haymarket Depot: Saturday 24th and Sunday 25 August 1985 Exhibits: 37114 Dunrobin Castle, 37401 (unnamed), 40122, 9000 Royal Scots Grey, 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier, 20093, 26010, 31438, 58016, 81008 DMU 107436 (Strathclyde Transport orange) 97250 ETHEL 1 + Mk3 Sleeper, ADB968500 (Snowblower), RM62 Ballast cleaner. Steam: 44767 George Stephenson, NBR 673 Maude, 60009 Union of South Africa, 0-4-0ST Lord Mayor (from KWVR) 47715 was named Haymarket Other locos on depot included: 08764, 08881, 27040, 27052, 47614 Waverley - Depot shuttle: Sprinter 150 001, and 47716 Duke of Edinburgh's Award with 4-coach Push-pull set. 50030 Repulse stabled at depot on Sunday between railtour workings. And a link to some photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/killie65/sets/72157632735387790/

OK, it is bad enough when the I have to look twice at pictures of trains on Waverley West & Haymarket MPD to decide if they are real or not, (after following this forum for a couple of years now I am getting wise to it) now I am being taken in by pictures of buildings. I did not think for one minute these were of the model, I assumed they were reference shot. Are you going to recreate the 1985 Open Day to celebrate completion of the depot? Good excuse to have lot of different motive power on depot. Am sure the list of what was there when 47715 was named Haymarket is out there on the web. As always excellent work.

Platforms. One thing about modelling a real location is you end up noting wee details that you were blissfully unaware of. Between postcards, photos on the web, cab view videos I think I managed to pick up a number of details. The strange shape of Pt 14 is perhaps the most obvious detail, with its of centre canopy. It seems to make sense of it you have to look back to a time when the West end of Waverley was a bit more symmetrical. There used to be three tracks between 14 and 15 as there was between 16 and 17. The buffer end of 14 seems to be in line with what would have been the middle road of the three. The end where the DBSO tended to sit (Mound end) was in line with the original Pt 14. No idea why it was remodelled the way it was. Am sure someone will know. What does this mean, Platform 14 is the trickiest to make and the canopy is not full width. The same remodelling partially explains the track work found in themed 80s. The area between 16 and 17 has kept its three tracks, although there seems to have been some modifications to the Mound end of 16. Although 18/19 and 17/18 are relatively straight with a slight curve at the end of 17, 15/16 the longest and thinnest has a curve over most it length Most of the platforms are concrete sides, however the stretch between the loco holding siding points and the ramp on 17 retains brickwork, the rest being concrete and one of them, Pt 13 has a hole in it! Only picked that one up thanks to a postcard sent by a friend. Anyway the construction, I thought about it for a long time and in the end have gone for Palstruct I bar (approx 15mm) topped with Plasticard. Thought this was more likely to result in level platforms than me cutting strips out of plasticard to form the sides! Was glad to see that Waverley platforms sides were similar to Platruct I bar! Platform are surprisingly lower than most people (myself included) imagine. They are level with the bottom of a buffer on 47 at Waverley, and low enough to see the white piping on the side of the 47/7s. The I bar I planned to use with the plasticard on top was spot on, however I ended up using a very thin piece of palsticard as the base so I could stick the I bar to it and then put the tops (to be removable) on top. This makes them about 1/4 mm too high but when viewed from above it looks fine. The angle it is viewed a emphasises the height of the loco to the platform. I wanted to be able to remove the tops to keep the canopies safe and install signals etc at a alter date. And depending on how they look I may redo them at a later stage if required. It being a lot easier to change tops than the whole things. The good news is that one platform had vertical struts every 4/5 foot, thankfully this is on a North facing platform and can't be seen from the South facing view. 17 has got cables hanging on the underside of the platform, this along with the brick section is a must for 17. I have made the most of the straightest 19,18,17 and 12 and so far so good, having real problems with 14. I have tried the old pencil strapped to a coach trick but it does not seem to give you a close enough line. It is important that the gap is not too big. As always it has to be a Mk3 for testing clearances. It is easier to cut the thinner (base) plasticard especially for curved sections than the top, but am finding by doing the base fist and use that as a template it is coming on OK. Plan at the moment is to scribe the tops to create the slabs along the edge, another good reason for doing removable tops, if it does not work I can redo them. First photo is of 19/18. I was not sure how long to make the ramp, after scanning loads of photos of Waverley on the web, I found one of a 101 adjacent to the ramp on 11/12 and noted when the second wheel on the leading bogie was in line with the end of the ramp, the top of the ramp was in line with a vent just to the front of the Guards section, 8cm looks right to me anyway! Next photos show the construction of 11/12 and the progress so far including the not so good 14.