Loch Oran is an N Gauge model railway layout constucted by David Harrison, who is a member of BARMATES (Bridlington (Area) Railway Modellers and Train Enthusiasts Society. David is also a member of the Yorkshire N Gauge Area Group and the N gauge Society.
Loch Oran is featured in the December 2009 issue of Railway Modeller under the title West Highland Evocation.
Loch Oran is scheduled to appear at the following exhibitons during 2010
Bradford 27-28 March, Cleethorpes 8-9 May, Scarborough (at Pickering) 21-22 August,
Halifax 25-26 September, Hull 13th 14th November
2011 bookings include Model Rail Scotland Glasgow 25, 26, 27, February,
Skipton 27, 28, 29. August. North Fylde 17, 18 September. Wigan 10, 11 November
The layout is about 16 feet long and four feet wide and requires an operating space of 18 feet by 8ft.
The layout is based on the West Highland Line in Scotland in the period 1999 to the present day. The name is fictional but the junction at Crianlarich is the inspiration for the layout. Some of the buildings are based on those found in the village and the landscape is typical of the area with high barren hills some with rocky outcrops. One of the main features of the layout is Loch Oran itself. This covers over a quarter of the landscaped area.
The layout features a typical West Highland station with a central platform. The yard is dedicated to timber traffic.
The West Highland line in the village of Crianlarich crosses over the village on a viaduct and over the River Fillan on another viaduct. Both viaducts feature on the layout.
Class 66 traversing the viaduct
Class 37 on the Caledonian line betwen Callander and Oban passing Loch Oran
The village of Crianlarich originaly had two lines and two stations. The lower station closed after a landslide blocked part of the line in the 1960's. The layout alters history somewhat and the lower line has been reopened. This provides an outlet to run more traffic on the layout. in reality the two lines were connected but on the model the lower line and the upper line are run separately.
A overall view of Loch Oran Upper station looking north
Any exhibiton managers interested inbooking Loch Oran should email bridmodelrail@hotmail.co.uk