HR d.39 Brake Van Progress

HR d.39 Brake Van from a Lochgorm set of etches.

The window openings have been thickened using the etched shapes supplied by Lochgorm, in addition to these I've made an inner skin to further thicken the walls, this is distanced from the outer skin by spacers to provide a slot into which the glazing slides between the two skins. The inside of the van will be detailed with Slaters' plasticard planking, a section of which you can see in place on the far end wall above the sand box. I've just received a GA drawing from the HRSoc which, though they describe it as "poor", I found readable and very helpful, in fact half of it might be described as being in quite good condition. There'll be a stove and a brake stanchion with wheels and as much additional detail as I can contrive in the van, and of course, I'll model a guard in authentic Highland Railway uniform.

I think I've identified what may be a goods brake van guard in a photo in Tatlow's "Highland Locomotives", he's on page 57 standing in front of Loch an Dorb with a lamp in his hand. I can't identify the lamp unfortunately, it seems to be neither a loco lamp nor a goods brake van lamp.

There's a fine group photo of the station staff at what may be Kyle of Lochalsh among the photos on the HRSChat site. One of the group is a guard, identified by the word appearing on his cap. He looks like the sort of guard you'd see on a mixed train on a branch line or on a goods train. I think the main line passenger train guards were far more impressive in appearance, more like the staff of a Grand Hotel.
I'd like to model an authentic figure for my d.39 van, if anyone knows of any other pictures of HR guards I'd be pleased if they'd let me know.