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

[meanach]

I think a photographic back scene of the actual area is the way to go . I’m so impressed with the layout above . It totally compliments the excellent modelling . It’s something I want to do with Meanach when I next get the chance to head to the highlands . I reckon this would also

work fantastically well for your stations Rob.

[young37215]

In a perfect world I would go down the photographic backscene route and in the long run, this might be something to introduce at a later date. As Meanach points out the effect on Forsinard does a terrific job of making the railway line fit into the surrounding landscape and makes the layout feel much larger than it actually is. I would love to achieve something similar but consider the work involved too much effort at this time. I have used the emulsion paint technique at Crianlarich and partially at Ardlui where I consider the results an improvment on a plain white wall and will try this at Garelochead as a first step. I'll accept that the red blinds stand out and have to live with them although in hindsight I realise I should have had green blinds fitted. Fortunately being colour blind I dont find that the blinds stand out at all.

 

37017 arrives Crianlarich with 1B15, 1815 Glasgow to Oban which shows the simple painted backscene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by young37215

[young37215]

Not a lot of action at present but with grateful thanks to Mallaig1983, the railings at the northern end of Mallaig station have been fitted. These are  from Scale Model Scenery that Andy didn’t use and was kind enough to give to me. Sprayed with grey acrylic primer, they do the job very nicely. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by young37215

[ISW]

 

10 minutes ago, young37215 said:

 

Rob,

 

Is that bufferstop correctly fitted? I was under the impression that the 'front' of the rails was level with the running rail, such that it could be fishplated to the adjacent plain track.

 

Ian

[mallaig1983]

They look great Rob. Your station building also looks the business from that angle.

Lovely scene with the mk1 alongside.

Edited February 15, 2022 by mallaig1983

[young37215]

On 15/02/2022 at 16:37, ISW said:

Is that bufferstop correctly fitted? I was under the impression that the 'front' of the rails was level with the running rail, such that it could be fishplated to the adjacent plain track.

 

The power of a picture shows defects not readily visible to the naked eye! ISW is right, the buffer stop is fitted as best I can but it is not right. There are 3 vertical sections which do not fit neatly to my code 75 track with the middle section acting like a pivot meaning that it is difficult to get the buffer to sit as it should. At a guess the buffer is designed for code 100 track and whilst I suspect I could adjust the way it fits with a file, a little sleeper grime painted where the buffer sits on the railhead should hide this from all but the sharpest of eyes.

 

The fleet on WHL4 has been stable for a while now, the latest arrival was 20228 which I bought a year or so ago. The loco has been detailed and has standard Bachmann snow ploughs fitted. I want to retain the ploughs but as fitted they fouled the rail so my file has been put to use and the plough height reduced.  All I need to do now is add a wire loop as a coupling; until then it is light engine movements only!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by young37215

[ISW]

8 hours ago, young37215 said:

The power of a picture shows defects not readily visible to the naked eye! ISW is right, the buffer stop is fitted as best I can but it is not right. There are 3 vertical sections which do not fit neatly to my code 75 track with the middle section acting like a pivot meaning that it is difficult to get the buffer to sit as it should. At a guess the buffer is designed for code 100 track and whilst I suspect I could adjust the way it fits with a file, a little sleeper grime painted where the buffer sits on the railhead should hide this from all but the sharpest of eyes.

Rob,

 

Apologies for the 'observation' ... It's actually quite a good bufferstop model. May I ask about the Make / Model? It'd fit well on my Code-100 layout.

 

8 hours ago, young37215 said:

The fleet on WHL4 has been stable for a while now, the latest arrival was 20228 which I bought a year or so ago. The loco has been detailed and has standard Bachmann snow ploughs fitted. I want to retain the ploughs but as fitted they fouled the rail so my file has been put to use and the plough height reduced.  All I need to do now is add a wire loop as a coupling; until then it is light engine movements only!

 

Call me 'old fashioned' but the nose end of a Class 20 without the headcode panel just looks weird to me. Nice model though.

 

Ian

[young37215]

On 22/02/2022 at 20:18, ISW said:

Apologies for the 'observation' ... It's actually quite a good bufferstop model. May I ask about the Make / Model? It'd fit well on my Code-100 layout.

It’s a Peco SL40. I have tried fitting to both code 75 and code 100 and get the same effect on both. The 3 vertical sections all foul the chairs making it impossible to get the base level with the rail. On balance I think I’ll live with the anomaly, I can’t be doing with messing around with removing more chairs. Sleeper grime to the rescue!

code 75

 

 

code100

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by young37215

[LNERGE]

I slice the offending rail fixings off so it all sits down nicely. Another option is to alter the sleeper spacing a little.

Edited February 25, 2022 by LNERGE

[ISW]

6 hours ago, young37215 said:

It’s a Peco SL40. I have tried fitting to both code 75 and code 100 and get the same effect on both. The 3 vertical sections all foul the chairs making it impossible to get the base level with the rail. On balance I think I’ll live with the anomaly, I can’t be doing with messing around with removing more chairs. Sleeper grime to the rescue!

Interesting. I've obtained (swapmeet) some Hornby bufferstops and they fit perfectly to Code-100, although they aren't as good as the Peco ones you have.

 

Ian

[Signaller69]

13 hours ago, young37215 said:

It’s a Peco SL40. I have tried fitting to both code 75 and code 100 and get the same effect on both. The 3 vertical sections all foul the chairs making it impossible to get the base level with the rail. On balance I think I’ll live with the anomaly, I can’t be doing with messing around with removing more chairs. Sleeper grime to the rescue!

code 75

 

 

code100

 

They don't seem to sit "flat" whichever rail is used due to the way they are made. I trim away the lower ends of the vertical parts and the bottom edge of the rails which sit outside the running rail. I suspect running a needle file through the vertical parts which curve over either side of the running rail might help them sit a little lower? 

My efforts on "Crinan":

 

Martyn.

[young37215]

Moving on from buffers, I am currently testing the revised 1983 WTT. In addition to some tweaks to smooth out pressure points in the fiddle yards, I have added north and south paths for an additional train which can be engineers, specials etc as required. It all seems to work, at 1620  2 class 37 hauled freights pass at their booked crossing at Ardlui.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by young37215

[young37215]

For my 1980's time period there was a single daily freight in each direction between Glasgow and Oban. For 1983 the trains were booked to pass at Crianlarich at 17.50 where the crews changed over. Both trains were slackly timed and had significant dwell times at various station along the line to accomodate shunting of wagons being collected or dropped off. Re-enacting the shunting movements makes a change from simply running trains helping to maintain operational interest and ensuring that wagons dont simply sit in a siding for months at a time. 

 

37033 with 7D09, 14.55 Oban to Mossend is seen arriving at Crianlarich early at around 17.00 which leaves 50 minutes for shunting and the collection of empty coal wagons for return to Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by young37215

[young37215]

Having uncoupled from 7D09, 37033 starts it's shunting activity. First a ballast train is moved from the headshunt on the down side to siding on the up side which is necessary in order that the sidings on the down side can be accessed.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by young37215

[young37215]

With ballast hoppers uncoupled, 37033 exits the down sidings and returns to the up sidings to collect the empty coal MCV's which are shunted to the down platform. 37033 returns to air braked 7D09 and shunts this so that the vacum braked MCV's can be attached to the rear of the train. 7D09 is now ready to continue is journey south to Mossend. 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by young37215

[ISW]

3 hours ago, young37215 said:

With ballast hoppers uncoupled, 37033 exits the down sidings and returns to the up sidings to collect the empty coal MCV's which are shunted to the down platform. 37033 returns to air braked 7D09 and shunts this so that the vacum braked MCV's can be attached to the rear of the train. 7D09 is now ready to continue is journey south to Mossend. 

Rob,

 

Are you using, or plan to use, uncoupling ramps and/or magnets or does the 'hand of God' intervene as required?

 

Ian

[meanach]

On 22/02/2022 at 12:11, young37215 said:

 

The power of a picture shows defects not readily visible to the naked eye! ISW is right, the buffer stop is fitted as best I can but it is not right. There are 3 vertical sections which do not fit neatly to my code 75 track with the middle section acting like a pivot meaning that it is difficult to get the buffer to sit as it should. At a guess the buffer is designed for code 100 track and whilst I suspect I could adjust the way it fits with a file, a little sleeper grime painted where the buffer sits on the railhead should hide this from all but the sharpest of eyes.

 

The fleet on WHL4 has been stable for a while now, the latest arrival was 20228 which I bought a year or so ago. The loco has been detailed and has standard Bachmann snow ploughs fitted. I want to retain the ploughs but as fitted they fouled the rail so my file has been put to use and the plough height reduced.  All I need to do now is add a wire loop as a coupling; until then it is light engine movements only!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very interesting 20 to model . Very nicely modelled too . I can’t say I’ve seen anyone attempt one of the repaired / modified 20s before . 

[young37215]

On 06/03/2022 at 19:42, ISW said:

 

Are you using, or plan to use, uncoupling ramps and/or magnets or does the 'hand of God' intervene as required?

 

Hand of god is the usual method, there are too many places to couple/uncouple to make ramps viable and I have not found a reliable way to auto uncouple on code 75 track. I have a few Peco uncouplers which function pretty well in the fiddle yard but that is code 100 track.

 

I am looking at engineering trains at present which caused me to revert to the Crianlarich thread where there are several pictures of dilapidated open wagons which are copied here. As ever I am looking for wagons that I can replicate on WHL4 but I am not good at identifying wagons. Can anyone tell me what these are and, more importantly, if there are versions manufactured in 00.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by young37215

[03060]

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

 

Hand of god is the usual method, there are too many places to couple/uncouple to make ramps viable and I have not found a reliable way to auto uncouple on code 75 track. I have a few Peco uncouplers which function pretty well in the fiddle yard but that is code 100 track.

 

I am looking at engineering trains at present which caused me to revert to the Crianlarich thread where there are several pictures of dilapidated open wagons which are copied here. As ever I am looking for wagons that I can replicate on WHL4 but I am not good at identifying wagons. Can anyone tell me what these are and, more importantly, if there are versions manufactured in 00.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Rob,

 

Photo 1 is of a pair of LMS/BR Medfits, the 2nd one is the steel sided version but I can't quite tell if the nearest wagon is of the 3 plank wooden version. Bachmann RTR or Ratio kit for the wooden type, Parkside (Peco) for the steel type.

 

Photo 2 - wagon 1 is a 5 plank Highfit code ZGV introduced by several of the companies, most likely LMS or LNER, wagon 2 is a 13t LNER/BR steel sided Highfit with chain pockets done by Bachmann, I think that wagon 3 is a Grampus, Dapol maybe, not very good at identifying vans as wagon 4 is other than it is a 12t single vent van with steel ends, possibly LMS/BR (Bachmann.) Finally wagon 5 is a bogie bolster wagon with 5 bolsters possibly a BDV (Cambrian kit.)

 

My assessments may not be 100% accurate but these are certainly the types of wagon that I've bought in N gauge (amongst a great many others !)

 

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Ian.

Edited March 20, 2022 by 03060
Extra info added.

[ISW]

2 hours ago, young37215 said:

Hand of god is the usual method, there are too many places to couple/uncouple to make ramps viable and I have not found a reliable way to auto uncouple on code 75 track. I have a few Peco uncouplers which function pretty well in the fiddle yard but that is code 100 track.

Rob,

 

The Hand of God is much underrated, although it can be made more discrete (and wider ranging) with a suitable uncoupling tool on a stick.

 

Ian 

[03060]

Regarding Engineers wagons Rob,

 

You should be able to include the following that have all appeared somewhere in Ernie's superb collection:

 

Ardlui (mid 80s) - SEALION (Olive), BASS (wooden) (Brown), PIKE x2 (Railfreight Red), PLAICE (Olive ?) With track components.

 

Crianlarich Upper (mid 80s) - DOGFISH (Olive), SEALION (Olive) both with ballst, MEDFIT x2 (Red Oxide), 12t Crane (Yellow), MEDFIT x4 (Red Oxide)

 

Crianlarich Upper (mid 80s) - SEALION x3 (Olive), TURBOT x4 (Dutch) with ballast, STURGEON (?), BASS (steel)

 

Ardlui (mid 80s) - MERMAID X8 (Olive) with ballast.

 

Arrochar & Tarbet (80s) TURBOT (Dutch), WINKLE (Red Oxide), HADDOCK x2 (Red Oxide) spoil + debris.

 

Tulloch (80s) - FLATROL (Bauxite)

 

Spean Bridge (80s) - MERMAID x2 (Olive), MACKEREL, Track M/c.

 

Other wagons noted on the WHL for your period include SEAL ,GRAMPUS, SEACOW, Queen Mary Brake, BRILL, SALMON and possibly SOLE. (Some may be on the edge of your period.)

 

All taken from my notes and I apologise for the ramble but having tested Positive yesterday I've got a little bit of extra time on my hands ! Hoping to do some modelling myself tomorrow and have just taken delivery of an Olive STURGEON (with sides) today.

 

Kind regards,

Ian.

PS - almost forgot an Olive exSECR style brake van seen at Tom-na-faire depot (mid 80s)

Edited March 20, 2022 by 03060
Extra info added.

[mallaig1983]

A really interesting set of notes there Ian. Thanks for tåking the time.

I hope you won’t suffer to much from the pestilence and are soon back to normal. Get well soon.

[BoD]

What a shame that that Dediserve have managed to muck* up both the site and the backups and we have lost so many good pictures.

 

Please don't be disheartened Rob. I wouldn't bother to try and replace them yourself but I hope you just pick up from where you left off and we can all continue to enjoy your wonderful layout. 

 

*other first letters are available

[young37215]

An interesting few days without RMWeb, hopefully everyone is now back in circulation and covid free. Thanks to BoD for his words of support, the loss of 12 months of pictures is irritating but not the end of the world. I'll just have to take some more to fill up the new servers! 

 

I recently bought a second hand Bachmann class 37 that had been repainted as 37027 in the psuedo large logo livery seen in the early 1980's. It's not a bad paint job but with the loco originally 37114, it is the wrong bodyshell for 027 which had a welded roof. Not a  problem as I want 37112 in it's 1981 large logo and have Accurascale's 37027 on order. 1 speedy custom order from Railtec and I am in a position to renumber 027 as 37112 once the paintwork has been revised (the roof and cab doors were blue) and the nose ends swapped for ones with the as built fairings. I have not resprayed a loco before so this will be interesting; worst case is I make a mess and have to pay a professional painter to do the work. 

 

 

Plated roof as found on 37's from around 37098 onwards

 

 

Welded roof as would have been found on 37027

 

 

 

 

[03060]

1 hour ago, young37215 said:

An interesting few days without RMWeb, hopefully everyone is now back in circulation and covid free. Thanks to BoD for his words of support, the loss of 12 months of pictures is irritating but not the end of the world. I'll just have to take some more to fill up the new servers! 

 

I recently bought a second hand Bachmann class 37 that had been repainted as 37027 in the psuedo large logo livery seen in the early 1980's. It's not a bad paint job but with the loco originally 37114, it is the wrong bodyshell for 027 which had a welded roof. Not a  problem as I want 37112 in it's 1981 large logo and have Accurascale's 37027 on order. 1 speedy custom order from Railtec and I am in a position to renumber 027 as 37112 once the paintwork has been revised (the roof and cab doors were blue) and the nose ends swapped for ones with the as built fairings. I have not resprayed a loco before so this will be interesting; worst case is I make a mess and have to pay a professional painter to do the work. 

 

 

Plated roof as found on 37's from around 37098 onwards

 

 

Welded roof as would have been found on 37027

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for this observation, Rob, whilst I've seen you mention this before I've never quite been sure of the difference, the photos explain all now, I'll have to see what style my Farish locos are.

 

Fully over my Covid and made it back to work just in time to be made redundant (I 'was' a magazine printer at one of the YM Mailing sites that hit the news yesterday) although I've still not been informed of this yet officially ! Hey-ho a bit more modelling time on my hands (3 UCV clay wagons and a Medfit built last week) ....and at least RM Web is now back again to help keep me amused. I may even be able to start building my layout now !! ☺️

 

Best wishes to all who follow this thread in particular and glad to get my WHL fix back again.

Regards,

Ian.