Lochdubh: Scottish highlands in N…

I took a day to myself yesterday, one that I had probably needed for a while…

Whilst I love my job and am enjoying the layout commissions I have been working on recently strangely, or perhaps not so surprisingly, I’ve found their all encompassing nature to drain me of my own personal creativity. I’ve scratched around at a few jobs and played trains but haven’t felt the energy to start Boothstown or Paxton Road 3.

For some time (well 35+ years) I’ve wanted a large logo Class 37. Tim loved Scottish railway’s, my library book education showed me them on the West Highland and Far North, I even had a poster on the wall of my bedroom. Much more recently and with my ‘British Rail’ rebirth through N I’ve watched ‘modern’ Farish ones go for silly money on eBay narrowly avoiding temptation - I don’t need one… 

However, when 37418 appeared for reasonable money last week I’m sure you’ll understand the drive and energy that fuelled its swift purchase. Her arrival and a life long love of all things Scottish 1980s had me digging out old Railway Modellers and watching Hamish Macbeth.

It’s funny the creative ‘mojo’, it waxes and wanes and in my life I’ve learnt to let it ebb and flow like the tide. The arrival of the 37 proved another of those turning points, perhaps fanning the very heart of the flames of my passion for model railways?

Almost as soon as it was purchased a scan of available rolling stock confirmed my fears, if you want Farish blue grey stock you’d better want a break or restaurant, or have very deep pockets! A brake composite felt like it might work as a stop gap, not that any single coach trains were likely hauled by a 37/4, but at least it had all the bases covered and could perhaps double as a part of the parcel train for the Cambrian project! Sat together on the edge of Beaverbrook, picked out by the room lighting my imagination ran wild.

The week, indeed weekend has been spent in the evening with a pen, paper, old books and Flickr on my iPad. I kept coming back round to Kyle of Lochalsh as my first love, inspired by Kylestrome with lashings of Futer’s and a sprinkling of Danny Boyle’s setting of Plockton.

The shelf above my bench now resides under Beaverbrook. It is barely 14cm tall now, meaning that even Paxton Road is too tall. However the available space between shelf brackets was just under 60cm wide, could a small shelf scene, basically non operational but with provision for a small fiddle stick be crafted for this spot? Some 6mm MDF in stock and within an hour the wood was cut and the ‘box’ taped together.

I settled on a scene inspired by Kyle, assuming still a setting that serves the island of Skye. The pier no longer has rails, and the station is a touch more inland compared to Kyle so our scene is compressed. A stub if the old pier siding remains behind the station with a small yard. Fuel oil is delivered by rail for the ferry and fishing fleet, although fish no longer travels by rail. There is even rumour of timber traffic starting up (if anyone does an OTA in N). Otherwise, it’s 1989/1990. The River Ness bridge is still being repaired and 37418 is one of the small fleet at Muir of Ord, serving Lochdubh to the west whilst the new Sprinters ply their trade north to Wick and Thurso.

I’m hoping to get some paint on the box today and I’ve ordered some different LED strip to try out a different colour temperature. I wondered if it needed a cooler look? We shall see! There isn’t much track and not too many structures, it will be nice to have something physical to work on whilst planning and building items for both Paxton Road 3 (more in that later this week perhaps) and the Cambrian project. You’ll notice that it is all N for now as that’s the way the river is flowing, the H0, 009 and industrial OO will feature again when the time comes!

For now it’s lovey to enjoy this model and consider how it is responsible for this renewed energy. Until next time, more soon…

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