Waverley West

Nice and neat that Mark! Looks like you've been busy. Looking forward to watching your progress. Cheers Dave

Thanks CR! 60009 is my go-to loco for steam-hauled railtours, and my favourite steam loco of all in fact too (despite my otherwise GW steam leanings) after a private viewing of the loco many moons ago in Markinch goods shed. I now also have a J36 but this struggles to pull a reasonably prototypical (short) rake around the layout, so 60009 still does most of the honours. Here she is on my photographic plank outside...

Hi again folks, I've spent my spare time this week working on a few quick-win projects, always good for the modelling mojo. 47500 has had its centre axle modified in my normal way, to give the wheelset some play. I find this reduces the frequency of derailments which I find a problem with Bachmann Co-Co's sometimes due to the rigidity of the centre wheelset. Another Mk 2f TSO has been released from the works, to replace the FO in the push-pull rake, which was commandeered for the sleeper rake. 150283 has also been undergoing repairs, as it's coupling had been damaged at some point. Fortunately, I had a spare end from my conversion of 150 001 left over, so I could just cut off the old end of the frame and graft on a new one. Finally, I have weathered a couple of wagons.... Firstl up, a Heljan Cargowaggon van, which has had its couplings moved from the chassis to the bogies, as this greatly reduces derailments. I have found these unusable without this modification. This was a pristine model before, which just didn't look right to my eyes. It's been weathered to give it that overall brown look with the data panels partially cleaned (and then weathered again)... Finally for now, I have also weathered a Dapol JIA, as this was pristine too. It has now been weathered in much the same way as the Cargowaggon van, but with streaks of china clay slurry down the side. The data panels have been cleaned but have then weathered again. Next project? I really must get round to doing those station walls! Cheers for now, Dave

Thanks Mark. It's been very frustrating to have missed Glasgow for the past couple of years. Hopefully, half-term won't clash with the show next year and we won't be away, so I'll be able to make it. It was never a problem until recently, when they set half-term to the same week in February as Glasgow. Typical! It's scary to think that we only have two more years left with children at school anyway. Where did the time go? Hope to catch up with you sometime later in the year. Cheers Dave

Thanks Pete! Yep, that's my layout. And a Heljan 47 to the right (47510 if I remember rightly). I actually took the photo before I ballasted the track, so a bit of smoke and mirrors was necessary. Cheers, Dave

"You can probably justify a class 46 once Heljan or Bachmann release a sealed beam version." Yep, there's another new model I'm keeping an eye on. There are far too many at the moment. So much for me trying to reduce my modelling budget! I already have 45144 (shown below parked in the sunshine at Haymarket), but a 46 and maybe another 45/0 and/or 45/1 wouldn't go amiss...

To alleviate any duff fatigue people may have, this object of beauty arrived in the post the other day... After weathering, it will spend much of its time parked in the East Yard at Haymarket, representing the old steam crane that was kept there during the 80s (not quite sure when it was replaced, but it certainly survived into the ScotRail era, as I've seen a photo of it with ScotRail 47s in the main shed in the background. I'm sure it will have the odd run-out round the layout too. I have an old Thompson BG which will make a perfect companion for it, after it's been resprayed into faded red (the coach that is, not the crane). In other news, I've been working away on 15 sheets of plasticard stone sheet to produce the finish I'm looking for for the walls through Waverley and Princes St after they were cleaned in the mid-80s. Once I'm happy with the results, the old walls will be removed and replaced. I will then replace the (surface) ballast through this section of the layout with ballast which is closer to the colouring of the ballast in the second half of the 80s (it currently represents the ballast as of the early 2000s). There will then be no stopping me with detailing of the station throat area and the Princes Street section, as there are so many details to add. I'm really looking forward to getting to that stage. It's just the thought of replacing all those walls that's putting me off at the moment! Plenty to get on with. I just need to find the time! By the time I've finished a working day, I'm too tired these days to do much modelling in the evening and finding time at the weekend isn't very easy at the moment either. Cheers for now, Dave

An interesting and valid point! Waverley West has been and probably always will be firmly set in the period 1979 - 89, plus a few personal favourites from the period through to 1994. I think as the years have gone by my favourite modelling period has tended to shift to the second half of the 80s, probably mainly due to the emergence of so many smart and colourful liveries on the same stock that ran in the early 80s. I think the 1980s version of the ScotRail livery and the various InterCity and Railfreight liveries were some of the smartest looking liveries to grace stock over the past century. Having said that, Deltics and the early 80s are still very much part of WW. I've ordered three of the new Accurascale Deltics which will replace my Bachmann ones when they arrive. I've also ordered a few of the new Accurascale 37s too. The preponderance of duffs at the moment is solely due to the fact that I've been replacing my old Heljan 47 fleet over the past year or so. I'm sure things will gradually return to normal now with the re-emergence of my 26s, 27s and 40s. I've actually been buying a few of the latest batch of Heljan 26s and 27s (including a couple each of the Railfreight and Coal Sector 26s). These are the next locos on my list for attention in the WW works. I agree that haulage variety on WW has been lacking recently, but this is just a temporary situation due to my 47 fleet renewal. Normal service will hopefully be resumed over the coming weeks and months! One of my biggest attractions to Waverley in the 80s was the sheer variety of motive power and stock, so there's no risk of it becoming monopolised by 47s in the long term. My 47 fleet is now complete, at least until Heljan's new version emerges. What happens then will depend on the quality of the model. It's going to have to be good though to get me to replace my Bachmann versions, as I'm very happy with them. Hope that explains my thinking! Cheers Dave

Some more piccies as promised...

Came across this shot recently of 47642 Strathisla entering Waverley with a cross-country set from Carstairs. I'm guessing it was taken in the late 80s...

Maybe I've gone a bit overboard on the Scottish 47s recently...

Hi folks, Well, precious little modelling time available still unfortunately, but I have just managed a quick operating session, so I thought I'd post some piccies, mainly of two of the new kids on the block, 47642 Strathisla and 47715 Haymarket. First up is 47642, which is currently working the cross-country Mk 2f rake in from Carstairs. I have finally got round to reprogramming the address of this rake so that I can now control its lights independently of the other Mk 2fs on the layout. Will be back later, as I have some more pics still to post. Dave

Thanks Will, nice to hear from you again. Hope all is well. I get my corridor connections from York Modelrail: https://www.yorkmodelrail.com/00-scale/corridor-connectors I really like them, although I sometimes only use one connector between coaches as I find they can causes derailments if I use two. I don't think it's very obvious if only one is used though, and they do look nice. They also generally work OK in push mode on my HSTs and push-pull rakes too. The trick I think is to make sure they are only loosely touching on straight sections. That way they shouldn't cause derailments. Gaps between coaches just don't look right to me. I'll happily accept a looser coupling between coaches if the gap is closed up by a corridor connector. I prefer that approach to just trying to reduce the gap. Hope that helps! Cheers Dave

27034 passing with an inspection saloon...

For anyone looking to weather a Class 122, here are some reference photos of the prototype...

Hi Jamie, Yes, that's my tribometer train, including SLW 97201. As far as RTC stock is concerned, that's all I have apart from Test Car 6 (a Bachmann Mk 2 Open), which sometimes runs with my MGR rake and other rakes on test runs. I agree, it's a very smart-looking livery and was pretty striking for its time in a sea of blue and grey! Cheers Dave

Yes, it's a Westie, Jamie, as Alastair says. You won't get away with that around here, you know! Hope all is well with you. Life is as hectic here as ever. My mum is going into a care home at the end of the week, so we're all a bit nervous as to how she's going to take to it. It's a really nice home though, so I think we've done our best to find her somewhere nice. She'll be 90 next month, so she's not done badly living on her own with dementia since my dad died in 2015. From a selfish perspective, it will be nice to be able to pass on some of the responsibility for her, as it's been a worry and a lot of work at times keeping in her own home. Cheers Dave

Thanks Tom! Sorry, I've only just realised I didn't answer your question re. the mail bags. They're Modelscene "5089 mail bags". I paint mine "concrete" (!!) and then weather them and paint the tag white. I like them a lot too. You'll need a fair few for Carlisle too I should think! https://www.petersspares.com/modelscene-5089-mail-bags-oo-gauge.ir (other outlets are available) Hope that helps! Cheers Dave

Hi folks Well, so much for 2020 being a quieter year. January has already been and gone without a single post on this thread. I have however been chipping away at various projects, including the latest two 47/4s in the shape of InterCity-liveried 47593 and 47642. I have also been working on some stone sheets to replace the walls through the station and Princes St. This has long been an ambition of mine, as the walls as they are are actually modelled on how they were in the early 2000s and they were quite a different colour during the 80s, especially after they were cleaned around 1984 I think. Anyway, more on that later. In the meantime, here are a few shots of the latest 47s, probably the last new 47s on the layout until Heljan brings out its latest incarnation. I'll see what that's like before I make any more decisions on 47s for the layout. Here is 47642 Strathisla pootling around the station. The sharp eyed amongst you will notice that the tunnel portal has been repainted, as part of my new wall scheme. The aim is to better match the colouring of the walls during the 80s, although within 6-7 years of being cleaned around '84, the walls darkened again considerably. It ain't easy modelling a real location sometimes! Some exhaust darkening has also been added. and then back on shed at Haymarket alongside 47517... Here is 47593 Galloway Princess... Meanwhile, a gricer watches 27052 as it pulls into platform 16 on a service from Fife... And finally for now, a couple of black and white versions... Hope to be back soon with another update. Happy modelling, Dave

56013 passes by on an MGR service...

That's fantastic news, Jamie, well done indeed! I've written off my DJ payment, but at least it was only one. I'm looking forward to the new Hornby one now though. Didn't think one would be announced so soon. Cheers Dave

Hi Alain A Very Happy New Year to you. You have been busy! I really like the latest module, especially the lighthouse (shown in your video). It's not often you see one of those on a layout! I couldn't quite be sure from the video, is the track layout on this module basically a loop which sends trains back where they came from? Regards Dave

Just in case anyone else experiences the same issue: I had a problem with distorted horn sounds on my 97201. All other sounds, including engine noise, were fine. I contacted Jamie, who asked me to return the chip, which she reckoned was causing the problem. A few days later, a replacement chip arrived which works just fine. Fantastic service. Fantastic locos. Full stop.

I've left almost all the buffer beam details in place and fitted the tension lock coupling on one end and it runs without any problems. All I had to remove was the three-link chain. as I found that fouled the coupling. Otherwise, all the pipes seem to be sufficiently flexible to enable the coupling to move freely. It's worked on two SLW 24s for me now.

A couple of shots I came across of a 27 running through Princes St Gardens and Waverley on a permanent way train back in the 80s...