Phase 3 Westend Highland Railway the final.

Phase 2 had resulted in a track around the lawn complimented by a figure of 8 track within the original circle but at the same time making the double track around the lawn area. (see photo 2 in the Phase 2 write-up) The problems that arose from these tracks are all associated with tight curves and steep gradients. To try to ease these problems a further track was decided upon, but which could utilise as much of the existing track as possible while enlarging the tight radii where feasible.. To accomplish this, the track would have to go outside the existing track where possible. Further incursion into the back flower and plant bed was just possible but the rest required more construction work in the form of block building outside the existing structure. This took some considerable time and was undertaken piecemeal as time allowed The existing pathway around the bungalow had to be traversed, so rather than hacking out a channel, concrete was laid around the proposed track route. The base for a previous attempt at bridge building,  inverted,  eventually to be used as a cover for the track as it went through the pathway. See  photo..

The attractions of the Welsh Highland railway were reinforced after a visit to North Wales and a Bayer –Garratt locomotive was selected as the right locomotive to use on the extended track.. . A search to find a suitable manufacturer, who was prepared to build such a beast in 45mm gauge finally was found (all existing models appeared to have been made to 32mm gauge), Then a search for WHR style coaches or kits was launched. This was unsuccessful and it was decided that I would have to scratch build them  The people at the Welsh Highland Railway then turned up trumps by providing me with a complete set of drawings for their Millennium coaches

 I tried to use readily available materials at as low a cost as possible. The tricky part is making the chassis/base for each coach. The plywood available at do-it-yourself stores never seems flat enough. I therefore use thin plywood(3ply) and laminate it to a piece which 'twists' in the opposite mode. I then glue them together, with ordinary wood glue or  epoxy, whilst laying the two plywood pieces on the floor with 3 to 4 building bricks to try to obtain the flatness required. I then reinforce this base with ¼ inch to 3/8 inch angle iron (dependent upon what the local B & Q store had in stock; similarly the ends were reinforced.. The angle iron is screwed to the 'flattened' plywood.

Note the ‘box style’ construction

The black ‘strip’ on the base is the angle iron on the sides.

While waiting for the Bayer Garratt to be made, Accucraft produced a replica of the ‘Lyn’ which was very close in form to the ‘Lyd’ being reconstructed on the Welsh Highland Railway. This was purchased ( the ‘Iver’ referred to in the phase 2 article being traded in part exchange for this model) and used as the test vehicle for the  final track. The Accucraft ‘Lyn’ readily pulled two coaches and when full of water would convey the 4 coaches around the circuit but with a reduced operational time. ( the 4 coaches, together, weighed in excess of 20lbs)

Using the same construction method wagons and Guards van that the WHR use, have been constructed and tankers made from Tennis Ball cans and  a cider can

I now await the delivery of the Bayer-Garrat!

By John Tomlin.