Dornoch Branch Train Anniversary

 The Dornoch Branch train last ran 60 years ago, on the 11^th June 1960.

The branch loco 1649, inherited from Kyle of Sutherland, has been undergoing a detailing upgrade and will eventually be re-numbered 1643 for St Donats 1963. Here it is with a Dornoch train modelled on a Douglas Twibell photograph taken in September 1959.

Peckett Progress

My previous 4mm finescale layout, Kyle of Sutherland, was dismantled at the end of last year, so I’m re-posting a November 2019 progress report on the Peckett 0-4-0 from the Kyle of Sutherland blog to bring the story up to date here. Since last year’s Missenden Abbey Summer School, I continued with the Peckett as described below.

My track record with pick-ups is not brilliant, so I took the opportunity of building a split-frame chassis under the guidance of one of our local gurus (thanks, Frank). I already had a conventional P4 chassis underway for the Peckett (see "GWR 0-4-0ST 1151, 22 July 2018), so decided to experiment by way of making an alternative 00-gauge chassis to compare pick-up performance.

There are a number of potential shorts to resolve in a split-frame chassis, and here is one of them. The gaps in the split axles are off-centre, for example to avoid clashing with the gearbox. However, the gap entered the chassis top hat bearing, which had to be filed back to the frame. The space between the chassis and gearbox frames was padded out with fibre washers to maintain the central position of the gearbox. There are lots more gotchas still to come.

Starting The Layout

Cannibalising an earlier layout, Kyle of Sutherland, is a quick way to achieve the basic framework and supporting structure for St Donats 1963.

The main scenic element is a 3 foot long diorama, with 2 foot 6 inch cassette tables at either end. The cassette tables can be turned around to allow operation from either front or rear. Here’s the start of work on the scenic board with the foreground track sub-base being tested for fit and position.

As soon as there’s some track, here’s a GWR 16xx loco ready to go. That is apart from brakes, sanding gear and some minor corrective surgery. And a slight re-alignment of the handrail.

Rolling Stock

Making a BR(ex-GWR) 16xx Class 0-6-0PT for my other layout, Kyle of Sutherland, brought the St Donats project back to mind, and got me thinking of rolling stock.

The 16xx pannier will need renumbering, perhaps to one of the many 87F Llanelly examples of the type that I saw in 1963. The Hawksworth tender at the back, or the alternative Collett tender in the Malcolm Mitchell box at the front, will eventually be paired with 5961 Toynbee Hall, another Llanelly engine. So far, the Hall consists of a footplate and cab modelled as described in Guy Williams’ scratchbuilding guide “The 4mm Engine” using measurements I made of 4920 Dumbleton Hall at Buckfastleigh. The box at the back contains a CSP/Agenoria kit for Peckett 0-4-0ST 1151, the last of its type in South Wales, which spent its final days shunting the Tremains yard near Bridgend. It’s just possible I saw the real loco when I went to Bridgend by train in September 1963. I would like to think so.

Then there’s a set of 247 Developments coach sides for a diagram G66 Special Saloon, which I’m looking forward to building. I measured, photographed and travelled in this coach on the South Devon Railway. I’ve also planned to make panniers 3753 of 88J Aberdare and 7413 of 84E Tyseley.