MRDBLUE17

Hi, Alex - I couldn't resist getting a rake of those BP tanks together and picked them up from a couple of retailers at Wigan show who had them at good prices - didn't want to hang about as the green ones sold so fast and I regret not buying them at the time. This year might be the year of wagons from Bachmann as those cement tanks look really good and the MBA's as well! I saw a 66 the other morning with some car carriers as well just as I was coming into Livingston and after seeing those on the Bachmann stand at Wigan will find a way to add a few of those as well! Gary - that is very bad of you to try and tempt me further! LOL! I was captivated last year by Airthey Park at model rail Scotland and my research for Rannoch on line showed a lot of trains in that era on the WHL and it certainly would look very good but - I would get killed if I went down that route! Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the kind comments - progress has been slow of late, not because of any loss of interest but just lack of time to spend getting into the detail I want to - I am working on finishing the last 2 of my BP tanks - 4 were completed a while back with 2 remaining in prgress - I should get these done by the end of the week and will have some photos then. Lewis - I have a few 37's for Rannoch including 37 401 in battered Royal Scotsman livery, 37 422, 37 406 both EWS, 37 411 in Green and WCRC 37676. 37 670 in DB will be joining my fleet at some point soon but sadly no 425 which is a shame as I quite like it in its current condition with yellow patch paint and horns moved to the bonnet top! Being able to run 37's was a factor in building the WHL espically on some interesting freight workings! Gus - the etches were a comission from Pete Harvey - see his advert PH designs that flashes up on the site for his contact details as the etch I got should contain everything you need and he will probably have a file with it all drawn out on so you should be able to get some from him - they really were worth doing and if you want any close up shots let me know and I will take some for you and post on here. Let me know how you get on. Pete - Glad to see you are still following - it might take some time before it is finished - if you ever get up to Scotland you must let me know and come and have a play! ( I mean serious running session of course!) Thanks, Mark

Hi Dave, Hope your well. I can't beleive your photography keeps getting better and better - they are all great shots but the way you captured 50044 with the sunlight and shadow behind the cab is outstanding - a very strong contender for how real are your models! I like your future plans for a class 60 - in sector livery that would look superb on your layout - a nice howes sound chip in it as well would be the finishing touch! Keep up the great work! Mark

Hi Peter, Thanks again for those pictures - your skin head 31 is in the condition I remember the blue machines in best very well done with all the balck oily stains on the bodysides! I would very much like to see your picture of 47 975 if you have it handy as I can't decide how much weathering it will need - want to do the underframe at some point but keep the bodywork clean. Hope your back gets better soon. Mark

Hi Gary, It has been a while since I have been able to catch up on here what with the period of time the site was down and work but it has been really good to catch up with your layout again on here. Your progress has totally put me to shame and the qualtity of your work is superb as always. Really like your layout and you have provided me with a very practicle way of making my roof for Rannoch with your base and sections to create the support shape. Hope you feel better soon - I find a large whisky before bed seems to shift anything like that better than any pills! Keep up the good work! Mark

Hi Peter, Thanks for your comments - you must have been adding that to my thread as I was catching up with yours! New job is going well - still with the same company just in a new store but no longer commute by train over the Forth every day! Mark

Hi Peter, With the site having been down of late just had chance to catch up again, great shots of the layout 31 323 looks just right! I like the Hornby model and will be adding the Reggie 31/4 when it comes out this year - just how I remember them running out from Barrow! Thanks for digging out those photos and adding them on here - that shot at the semophores at Barrow station brings back memories I can remember seeing the very battered banger blue machines sat idling at that end of the station - they use to shudder and jolt about whilst sat there. Travelled as far as Lancaster behind them a few times and they use to sound great when they were opened up along the flat sections around Morecambe Bay! Thanks again, Mark

Hi everyone, I just realised how little I have done on Rannoch of late, side tracked by my project layout and I kind of feel bad for not getting on with it. I had a lot going on in January with changing jobs and having to buy a car but now I am settling back into a normalish routine I have some to time to model again. With no updates for over a month I thought I would share a time warped visiter to Rannoch. I saw a hand painted version of this loco in the Bachmann stand display cases at Wigan show and thought it was a preview of what would be out in the main range this year having not seen this one advertised as a planned limited edition so my suprise when checking their site to find you could directly order from them 47 975 in Dutch livery. I ordered very late on the Thursday evening and it was with by Monday evening in fact it got delivered by DHL at 8:30 pm which makes a nice change as I was in from work to get it! Brilliant service from Bachmann! Anyway I visited the class 47 gallery site and got some pricture of it to aid in fitting the extra parts and have also added the from a Heljan sprue some multiple working sockets painted orange which I did at the same time as the ETH plug under the left hand buffer and I also cut out the buffer beam steps and glued these in place. Couldn't work out how to fit the extra brake connections on the bogies at first but after checking my DRS 57 I found these went on the top at each end with the thinner edge facing outwards and they do make a subtle difference. It is still rather clean at the moment but I may change this in the future. It runs very smoothly and quiet after running in and even with the tight curves on Rannoch is quite happy hauling this very long empty engineers train with 13 x 4 wheelers, a shark and 8 seacows in tow. The view down the layout also gives an idea as to how the scene will look looking towards the footbridge (when I get round to building it) with all the main buildings for the station now well under way or nearly built. 47975 caught in the fading evening light waiting to head North to Fort William from Rannoch With the light fading 47975 starts its heavy train from Rannoch, you can hear the distinctive roar of the big brush shattering the peace for miles on the still evening air Anyway hope you like it so far and I will try and keep the posts coming! Thanks, Mark

HI James, Nice to see an update on your layout - cracking job on the loco and it looks really good in that setting! Mark

Hi James, One thing I always like about your projects is your sketches! They are brilliant and help to create that visual picture of how everything is going to look when built. That shunter will be a nice project in its own right. Looking forward to seeing it! Mark

Pete, This layout is a great idea and I shall enjoy watching this progress as I have with your other work always interesting to follow! Mark

That looks great. I have had my eye on doing a Sentinal from Judith Edge as it can sit on a black beetle bogie so at least I wouldn't have to worry about getting ti to run right but I don't know if I would have the patience to create a loco half as good as yours is coming along! Keep up the good work as it will be great to see this one finished. Mark

Hi Pete, That is a shame but please don't stop the progress on this layout as it would be great to actually be able to see it finished one day at an exhibition! Mark

James, That looks like it is going to be a very good building - I don't know how you found the paitence to cut out those windows with all that detail. I am looking forward to seeing your layout completed already! Keep up the good work - it certainly will be worth it looking at that, Mark

Hi Pete, Those latest photos are brilliant. I really like the shot of 33010 about to couple up. I did a spring mod on my model of 33207 in DRS livery along with the buffers and other bits and pieces to represent the real thing and I think it makes a huge difference to the look of the model as it already has a very good underframe with the tank molds and pipework. It looks workstained like the photos on your southern photo thread on the old site which I enjoyed following! I have not seen a view of the mess building before and it just oozes atmosphere with the open sash window being a very nice detail! Thanks for sharing, Mark

Hi Gary, I have just found a little time to catch up on your progress - you certainly have been very busy. I think your signal box looks brilliant totally captures the right look and the overall atmosphere on your layout is excellent with the subtle signs of rust and decay everywhere and the scenic setting! I like the addition of the oil depot and that black and white shot is so convincing as well. Keep the updates coming. Mark

That detailing work looks superb - really like the greased buffers you have captured that perfectly - I need to have a go at that on my 2 108's at some point! Thanks, Mark

Hi Peter, Hope you had a good christmas and happy new year to you and your family! This might be a strange coincidence but following the last message I left you you said you went to Barrow once behind a 31 and 26. I have a collection of old Rail magazines from 1989 - 92 that were given to me by a friend Ivor who sadly passed away last year. They are great for research shots and I have put markers in to relevant sections for back dating Victory Road and in Rail 135 from November 1990 there is a picture of 31434 being piloted by 26025 in Rail freight grey at Grange Over Sands which is having to reverse over the crossover to work single line over Arnside Viaduct. Could that have been the very train you were on? Great shots of your layout - your old lima 47's look very good with all the detailing added and at least won't suffer from the issues of some Heljan models chassis! Keep the pics coming of your progress. Thanks, Mark

WOW! Those shots are amazing - your layout has come on at a such a pace and the quality is superb - really like the line up of 60's - looking forward to seeing more of this as it takes shape! Mark

Hi Everyone and Happy New Year to you all too! Magic Monkey - the 156 is basically the same old lima model but with Hornbys new motor bogie. It is very responsive and will go faster than anything else I own! It is a bit crude by todays standards - mainly the underframe area but the body shell is pretty good and was always one of Limas better models anyway. Hurst do a conversion kit to detail it to current standards but it seems to be out of stock as I want a couple for my 156's. Have a look about for one as you will probably be able to pick one up for around ??50 brand new. It does need ploughs on the front but the hurst kit does have some cast ones with it so would be worth a look at doing! Mark

Hi Everyone, Have been doing my best to clear up and tidy my train room a bit before christmas - main reason was running out of space on my shelves for new models. I have done the sensible thing and removed quite a lot from my layout as well to stop me from just running trains. This has also allowed me to make progress with the storage roads board. Following my redesign of this to allow more trains to be on the layout at any one time and testing of clearances of these (thats the technical excuse to play!) I have been able to get the base layer of cork down and also add the copper clad sleepers at the ends of the board. I have also prepared the point motors with wires and cut out sleepers and the dropper wires ready for soldering on when I get the chance. Also need to get the holes drilled for the droppers and the holes cut out for the point motors. But this will all be able to be fitted in to my next free day off and then I can focus on the complete wire up for DCC operation! Here are a few quick shots of the progress up to date. I would like to thank you all for your kind comments, support and encouragement with this project so far over the last year and wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, John I have seen your request for info on the DBS 37's but I don't know enough about them except they keep failing except 401 and I saw 425 was back as well but for how long who knows. I will get some photos of my 406 at some point when I get time - it is not finished yet as needs to be weathered and I am also needing to get 1 small westie as the photos I have found on the net show it had one added to one side only in its last year or so of operation. You need to add some extra lamp irons to the nose ends and I will take a look at what I used and share with you. This is a shot I found on Flickr for my research hope it helps you for now. http://flickr.com/photos/rob50037/2726144356/ Dave - those tanks run so smoothly you really should get some they would look awesome on your layout! I'm sorry to hear you are having problems with your neighbour hope you get things sorted. Looking forward to seeing your layout in Model Rail! Gary - those photos are superb - there are some really nice detail shots which will actually help me quite a lot. I just don't have any time to do much and don't worry this layout will get complete - I have already put too many hours and money into it to not to get it finished. I'm sorry you don't like my choice of rolling stock! - I have seen some shots on the net of the LL days and I must say it does tempt me - the variety of freight stock is also good! One day you could always bring your blue machines up for a running session! Thanks, Mark

The weekend has ended up being a bit costly but in a good way. I visited the Trains shop in Morecambe on Friday where I collected my bright red DB 66 152 which Richard had kept for me. This has had a 21 pin decoder fitted and has already been spotted at Rannoch with the Fort William to Mossend Alcan train to add a burst of colour to the landscape! I also went to Wigan show on the Saturday and ended up adding a short rake of 6 black BP bogie tanks to my stock roster. I really like these Bachmann wagons and couldn't resist getting them out for a run round Rannoch - I think my future layout will need to take at least a rake of 12 for one of my 60's to tug! Thought you might like to see them in about to enter the station loop heading south. Will need to get some modelling done but with work being really busy at the moment - the joys of retail at christmas combined with some youths nearly setting the rear of the building alight on Sunday it its nice to come in of an evening and watch a few trains go by! Thanks, Mark

Looking good Pete, looks like you are making really good progress again - it will be a cracking layout once its finished with the viaduct and everything in place. Keep up the great work. Mark

Hi Peter, Been busy so not caught up for a while with your thread - I like your layout as a terminus - sort of reminds me of the old Morecambe station before it closed as the track work for running around trains gives plenty of operational scope. If you were to make it a roundy one - it would be worth retaining several terminus platforms to keep the atmosphere and possibly just have a couple of through tracks or a freight avoiding line as well so you can have the best of both then. The shot of the beach back on page 18 makes me want a holiday in Aus again - the nearest I come to bright reflection on water is seeing the moon on the Forth when I am travelling home from work on the train! I liked the shot of the 33 on the single BG as well it looked very good parked up in the station. The NSE branding on the latest photos is also a nice touch - I remember seeing a short 3 coach set with an NSE branded mark 1 behind a blue 37 at Grange once although most former NSE stock was Mark 2 in the early 90's on the Barrow line. Mark