West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout

[Scott B]

 

March 1983 skirtless (Dave Jolly)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hoover29/8757980063/in/photolist-ekUWmg-pFEaDV-2mkgcFR-2m7PTna-2hojMKL-eWdMV5-tHbLso-2igm1cQ-2ioeQag-r46QcD-2jboJz5-LtB51x-KDuMFm-787Jav-DpTdTf-LqZeXm-KDuM2q-dLk6iW-La5TGo-24NC5XJ-f4KDRP-k8R42J-bo5ibd-b8f1TZ-eeYGn5-2kAHjeA-2ahgYyK-2kAfFwj-CuNEhB-dnvMFU-f4KDSt-CN8tTa-de9gQC-LtB4gB-YyomCH-LtB3gv-2kqTkFx-LqZcFC-o9ZJuq-GRV3Nw-eee636-wp8QNn-LtB4NZ-nvZgjV-dQoT44-fyqaFT-Ywmie5-pe6YBa-J8Pnbf-2iLmYYS

 

By December 1984 it had at least had its headcode boxes painted black.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/52409131@N05/8682305829/in/photolist-eee636-wp8QNn-LtB4NZ-nvZgjV-dQoT44-fyqaFT-Ywmie5-pe6YBa-J8Pnbf-2iLmYYS-2kVcFcf-KchdzZ-LtB3Yx-2iJYHwj-dtEvBQ-fqVxY2-4kscro-b8Bqhv-de9gNE-b8BrZ8-dTtzjD-2emtPGf-fh9vT5-2m9oXQR-rskFv8-dNvWzH-aMaUXr-GT4Sfb-wBe32a-zkP3WY-MKtK67-9RwSs5-diNxBK-hXCbzH-5W3AQ8-MCnNnz-bPju76-n2g92F-dA4vFj-9HTP7j-ek8FZh-cADTj1-boo7R9-bCEQQY-zwiVoV-2bkTdSA-bEcSwY-2fWxiSc-HYRh1s-dKQpBK

 

HTH

 

Scott

Edited September 16, 2021 by Scott B

[mallaig1983]

23 minutes ago, 03060 said:

 

I'm afraid that I've also found a September 1983 photo showing a skirtless 37 051 at Mallaig in Tom Noble's WH Mallaig Extension book (p.60.)

 

If you don't want to hack your model, Andy, can I suggest 37 039 which still had it's skirts on in May 1985 with black headcode boxes (p.28 of the same book) although these were yellow in 1984.

 

I would love to see more of your photos, please, Andy, but with all due respect to Rob it's not my thread.

 

Regards,

Ian.

Can I second Ian’s post above if I may? I’m sure 051 went through the skirt removal/box plating at some point in 83 too. Also 039 did indeed retain her skirts but the boxes were plated. The black in 85 was paint rather than the glass domino though. I too would love to see more photos of your trip. Really appreciating this one for now though. Sorry to trample on your thread Rob.

 

Andy

[csvt2004]

Hi, I have this in my collection, taken 09/05/83.

[young37215]

On 16/09/2021 at 08:42, thegreenhowards said:

I’m slowly working my way through this fantastic thread and I’ve got to the pictures above of my favourite 37, 37051.
 

I’m surprised by your assertion that she stayed with black dominos and buffer skirts until late 1984 as I have the picture below taken on my first trip to Mallaig on 8/8/83 which I’m 99% sure is 37051. I know that 37051 hauled me from Glasgow (with assistance from 20045 to Tulloch) and this is the return working although we caught the ferry to Kyle so I didn’t travel back with her.

 

I'm converting my Heljan class 37 to 37051 and I’d like an excuse to leave her with skirts, so I’d be grateful if you could point me in the right direction for any evidence to support the late 1984 date as I’d love to be proved wrong!

 

 

Ps. I have more photos from that trip if you’re interested.

 

Andy

 

Hi Andy

 

Clearly I was wrong, it is pretty evident that 051 lost her skirts and glass domino headcode earlier than 1984. I suspect that my comment reflected the Class 37 Loco Group page for 051 where there is a picture ostensibly dated April 1984 showing her in original condition. Typically I use Flickr and the Class 37 Loco Group records for reference but Flickr shows 051 with plated headcode from as early as Spring 1982. Interestingly a picture on the Class 37 website dated May 1982 shows 051 with plated headcode, a freshly painted front, worn bodyside paint and bufferbeam skirts indicating to me that the headcode change had been done on the cheap somewhere, presumably Eastfield. By October 1982 Flickr shows that the skirts had gone.

 

If you have more pictures of your WHL trip I am sure that we would love to see them, whether you post them seperately or on this thread is down to you. 

 

Limited operations on WHL4 at present, a few hours of running earlier today had 37085 with the lunchtime Oban to Glasgow service pictured arriving at Crianlarich.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19 by young37215

[thegreenhowards]

Hi Rob and others,

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I may just have to go earlier for my 37051, but it would be nice to put a Scottie dog on, so I may choose a different example. Heljan don’t seem to have done a skirtless split box yet and while I readily hack 4mm locos around, I’m more reluctant when they cost £500+!

 

I don’t have my own WHL or photo thread, so I’ll dribble a few out on here if that’s OK. They all have to be scanned in from prints so it will take a few days.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[thegreenhowards]

On 05/10/2020 at 21:03, 37Oban said:

I try to go back when I can with my daughter, but, even though there are more trains per day now than there were in the 80's Sprinters just don't cut it for me! 

 

In my time there I had one memorable trip that wasn't cl37 hauled.  On 25th September 1985 the 37 due to take the 13.00 Oban - Glasgow QS failed (i think it was a fuel problem) so another loco was commandered and the only one available was 27001, which had arrived earlier on a freight.  It was too good a chance to miss so I bought a ticket to Crianlarich.  We had six on and left almost a minute and a half down and made heavy weather of the climbe to Glen Cruiten summit.  Eventually we arrived at Crianlarich 14 and half minutes down on schedule!  When we left Oban it was overcast but this turned to light rain by Crianlarich.  The guard told me that if it rained when we left Oban he would have had to walk in front of the loco spreading sand on the rails to give it any chance of making any progress!  If that had failed they would have had to return to the station to detach three coaches!  He missed the  27's but they were life expired when 37's replaced them and as far as he was concerned it should have happened sooner.

 

Roja

 

I’m continuing my tour through this thread and came to the exchange on class 27s on the WHL. My first and only experience of them was later in the week on that same trip in 1983 and it gives me an excuse to show another of my pictures if that trip! We stayed in Oban on the night of 12/8 arriving with 37081, so we were surprised to come out the following morning to be greeted with this sight on the 0740 to Glasgow.

 

 

I seem to remember being a little disappointed at the time as I was (and still am) mainly an EE fan, but I enjoyed the run and I’m really pleased to have experienced it now. 27051 will be the 27 on my layout when Heljan release it.

 

 

[mallaig1983]

4 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

I’m continuing my tour through this thread and came to the exchange on class 27s on the WHL. My first and only experience of them was later in the week on that same trip in 1983 and it gives me an excuse to show another of my pictures if that trip! We stayed in Oban on the night of 12/8 arriving with 37081, so we were surprised to come out the following morning to be greeted with this sight on the 0740 to Glasgow.

 

 

I seem to remember being a little disappointed at the time as I was (and still am) mainly an EE fan, but I enjoyed the run and I’m really pleased to have experienced it now. 27051 will be the 27 on my layout when Heljan release it.

 

 

seems you struck lucky that day.

[young37215]

On 18/09/2021 at 09:26, thegreenhowards said:

I’m continuing my tour through this thread and came to the exchange on class 27s on the WHL. My first and only experience of them was later in the week on that same trip in 1983 and it gives me an excuse to show another of my pictures if that trip! We stayed in Oban on the night of 12/8 arriving with 37081, so we were surprised to come out the following morning to be greeted with this sight on the 0740 to Glasgow.

 

 

I seem to remember being a little disappointed at the time as I was (and still am) mainly an EE fan, but I enjoyed the run and I’m really pleased to have experienced it now. 27051 will be the 27 on my layout when Heljan release it.

 

 

You have one up on me as 27051, formerly 27107 was one of 2 ex 27/1 push pull locos I didn’t manage to have for haulage. 
 

I recently bought a Flangeway Salmon wagon. I decided that I would go for the incorrect short version on the basis that I was not certain of how the longer length would perform on 3rd radius curves. I paid the full rrp which includes Flangeway sending me the revised body once available so I can make a choice at a later date. I now need to create and paint some rail panels to create a load for the Salmon. 
 

27105 is seen with a short engineers train heading south on the approach to Crianlarich. 
 

 

 

 

[6990WitherslackHall]

The layout is looking brilliant.

[thegreenhowards]

Hi Rob,

 

I’ve just finished wading my way through the 46 pages of your thread. It’s wonderful stuff and your layout is truly inspiring. It’s more like one of the American system layouts than anything usually seen in this country. Congratulations!

 

I have built up a few questions which I largely resisted asking as I went through in case they had already been asked, so I will fire away now if that’s OK.

 

Andy

[thegreenhowards]

First question is about DCC sound for your 37s. You described the speaker and sound file arrangements for your 20s in some detail but not for the 37s….unless I missed it. it would be helpful to know whose sound projects you use in your 37s. A lot of people seem to like the legomanbiffo projects which I’m tempted by but I’m normally a Zimo user so, other things being equal, I’d rather stick with a Zimo supplier. Speaker wise, you seem to rate the EM2 which I could easily fit in in O gauge - could probably manage an EM3. Any others you particularly rate?

 

Regards

 

Andy

[thegreenhowards]

Next up was more a comment than a question.
 

I note you were having problems with the power inrush on starting up. I have not experienced this with my NCE PowerCab (on my 00 layout) but I have had power drops such that certain locos or accessories don’t work properly. I solved this by adding a Tam Valley 5A booster but as I’m currently starting in O gauge I am quite worried about power requirements. So I bought one of the DCC Concepts Alpha Meters. I have found this very useful in understanding power requirements. On my OO layout I note the amp draw on startup is about 1.5 Amps dropping to about 1 Amp after a couple of minutes but with no trains running. I can isolate power districts in turn to understand which have the biggest power draw.

 

The Alpha Meter won’t solve any problems but it does allow accurate diagnosis and in this game, I think that ‘knowledge is power’, so it might be worth investing in one if you’re still having any problems. As with many DCC Concepts products, they’re  not cheap, but it is a nice piece of kit. No connection…just a satisfied customer.

 

Regards

 

Andy

 

 

[young37215]

Hi Andy

 

Thanks for the positive comments. WHL4 is something of a journey which I am enjoying even though most activities seem to take much longer than I had expected. The layout proved to be something of a lifesaver during the various lockdowns where working on the layout and recording developments on RMWeb gave me contact with the outside world as well as creating a diary of the layouts evolution. 

 

In terms of the sound in the class 37 fleet I have most producers represented as the summary in the picture below shows. I have no allegiance to ESU as such despite the proliferation of their chips and the Cab Control system. CC was the best controller option I could find for what I wanted and overall I have been pleased with it despite the irritations relating to starting power. I simply have never got around to buying a Zimo chip although I have several of their speakers where in my opinion, upgrading the speaker is the best enhancement that can be made to a sound chipped loco. The Earth Mover 2’s are excellent but expensive because of the need to mill 00 gauge loco chassis to fit the speaker. My current speaker of choice based upon a personal comparative cost/benefit is the Zimo double dumbo, LS 40x22x09 which at £18 delivers perhaps 75% the EM2 at 20% of the cost and fits a Bachmann class 37 without any modification.

 

I have not used any DCC Concepts products although I have been tempted. Their voltage meter would be high on my list of potential purchases although I don’t intend doing anything on this front at present. This is largely because Cab Control has been less of a problem following the power BUS extension in the fiddle yard since when CC starts power on the first or second attempt. 

 

With autumn appearing well under way, my days on the golf course are receding and thoughts are returning to the next steps in the development of WHL4. Hopefully I will have something to report on this front in the coming weeks.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2021 by young37215

[thegreenhowards]

Hi Rob,

 

Thanks for your thoughts on sound projects. I agree that the speaker is critical, but hopefully that will not be such an issue for me in O gauge.
 

With regards to the recordings on the chip, I feel that with 37s (more than most other classes) there is a huge difference between one driven conservatively and one driven with typical West Highland thrash. The sound file I have on my sole 00 example is in the former camp and rather disappointing to my ears, so I’m looking for a proper thrash example with wheel slip. I’m more or less decided on the legomanbiffo project.

 

Andy

[thegreenhowards]

Another, rather different, question if I may. Can I ask you to elaborate on your coach formations?
 

I note that the CWNs of the period show fairly similar formations of, typically BFK, TSOs and either a RMB or BSO(T). Whereas photos and your formations suggest rather more variety with BSK, SK and CKs also featuring and the BFK sometimes bring a mk2. Could you give a description of the different formations you use and, if possible, suggest any other sources of data on this?

 

Many thanks

 

Andy

[young37215]

12 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Hi Rob,

 

Thanks for your thoughts on sound projects. I agree that the speaker is critical, but hopefully that will not be such an issue for me in O gauge.
 

With regards to the recordings on the chip, I feel that with 37s (more than most other classes) there is a huge difference between one driven conservatively and one driven with typical West Highland thrash. The sound file I have on my sole 00 example is in the former camp and rather disappointing to my ears, so I’m looking for a proper thrash example with wheel slip. I’m more or less decided on the legomanbiffo project.

 

Andy

 

Legoman's WH sound project can be quite feisty if driven aggressively in the style of so many Scottish region drivers. With judicious use of the Drivelock function you can get entertaining departures with wheels slipping and engine cutouts at low speeds. I must get around to a video of an Earth Mover fitted loco departing Crianlarich heading south to imitate the wheel slip I have seen in several videos on the rising gradient

 

  

[young37215]

12 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Another, rather different, question if I may. Can I ask you to elaborate on your coach formations?
 

I note that the CWNs of the period show fairly similar formations of, typically BFK, TSOs and either a RMB or BSO(T). Whereas photos and your formations suggest rather more variety with BSK, SK and CKs also featuring and the BFK sometimes bring a mk2. Could you give a description of the different formations you use and, if possible, suggest any other sources of data on this?

 

Many thanks

 

Andy

 

The first post on page 14 of the thread explains how and why the coaching stock fleet is formed as it is including the sources of information that underpinned my selections. If I was starting over I would have one or two less SK's with TSO's in their place but otherwise I think I have a fair reflection of the coaches seen on the WHL in the early 80's. 

 

[thegreenhowards]

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

 

The first post on page 14 of the thread explains how and why the coaching stock fleet is formed as it is including the sources of information that underpinned my selections. If I was starting over I would have one or two less SK's with TSO's in their place but otherwise I think I have a fair reflection of the coaches seen on the WHL in the early 80's. 

 

Thanks Rob,  That was so far back in my read through that I’d obviously forgotten about it! I did follow the links at the time which were well worth a read.

 

I look forward to the ‘Earth Mover’ video.

 

Andy

[young37215]

A little pottering and some planning have occupied the last few days, the planning relates to deciding what to do next and the pottering saw 27105 shuffle it’s empty rail train into Crianlarich. 

 

[young37215]

It's a filthy day today so I am off to the loft to start work on the scenery at Ardlui. For some strange reason cutting and glueing polystyrene to create hills and mountains always makes me nervous, I don't know why but it does. Hopefully I can get the bulk of the work done today so as to limit my anxiety to just one day.

 

Whilst looking on Ebay this morning I noticed the complete set of 6 Jane's Railway Year books covering 1981 to 1986. Reading my copies of these is a great way to relive my bashing days and I also find them a great reference source. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165135890316?hash=item2672ddb78c:g:JpoAAOSwbN9g60nk

[young37215]

A few hours spent cutting polystyrene and gluing it in place using PVA broke the back of the job of creating the mountains to the west of Ardlui. So long as the glue has dried I should be able to finish cutting and start covering the polystyrene with plaster cloth today.

 

[mallaig1983]

A decent productive day Rob. It’s coming on nicely.

[young37215]

Lots of work but little to show for yesterday’s effort. The day was largely made up of wood work with 3 small sections added to the Ardlui area. Hopefully I will feel sufficiently confident to start laying plaster cloth later today.
 

The track on the approach from the south was tight to the baseboard edge. I grafted an additional 30 mm piece of baseboard onto which I will create an embankment. 

The lower level baseboard around the station entrance leading to the A82 was rebuilt. The original was a temporary affair, the new section is much more robust.

A small triangular corner was added to the baseboard at the northern end, again this was to create a larger space between the track and the baseboard edge. 

 

Edited May 7 by young37215

[mallaig1983]

Really nice looking signals Rob. Are they kits? Apologies if they’ve been covered previously. Progress is looking good. I look forward to following the greenery.

Andy

[young37215]

 

On 21/10/2021 at 17:46, mallaig1983 said:

Really nice looking signals Rob. Are they kits? Apologies if they’ve been covered previously. Progress is looking good. I look forward to following the greenery.

Andy

Hi Andy

 

Signals are MSE kits, I sub contract their construction as I don’t have a clue how to solder them together! Once I have finished the scenery they will be automated using servos and my Megapoints control system.

 

Plaster cloth was added to about 60 percent of the Ardlui mountainside yesterday. It’s a messy business but one that shows how the finished area should look. Fortunately I managed to buy a large supply of plaster cloth a year or two back at a good price. So far I have hardly made a dent in my stock and I hope that I have sufficient for the remaining scenic areas I intend building. I suspect that I will want to add some filler to a few areas but I'll wait until the plaster is painted and fully dry before I make any decisons.
 

 

Edited May 7 by young37215