So here we go.
For a while now I have been wanting to build a layout and have so far built 3 layouts which have since either been sold or dismantled into other projects. In previous layouts I have been a bit free lance in my design moving into a layout based off a location but not true to prototype. So now I am looking at modelling a location as true to prototype as possible space willing. In doing so the search was on for a layout that can be used for both 1960 operations and current day which narrows the field down a bit but the challenge was to find a place that has not really changed much since the 60s so anything near a city was more-or-less out.
I therefore moved into the country side and into the LMS region which is where I personally think the best trains were made (ducks for cover) and where some of the most gruelling and dramatic scenery is located. This is certainly true of the S & C but this have been modelled to death and wanting to look into an area where not much has been done in recent years I looked into the West Coast Mainline between Preston and Carlisle.
Here we have 2 major Climbs being Grayrigg and Shap both of which are gruelling grades which in steam days required helpers which would be a very neat thing to replicate in operation which with DCC will be very easy to achieve. I have settled on Shap for no real reason other than for several reasons:
1- Shap is more open in its landscape and will be in my opinion be more dramatic to recreate.
2- I have spent time around the Shap incline and know it better.
3- Shap has less of a range of traffic than Grayrigg due to all the Stainmore traffic turning east at Tebay which means there will be less traffic to cover than Grayrigg which from a budget perspective is always a good thing.
Having said that last point though there is still a huge amount of traffic on this line:
1960's Highlights:
The Royal Scot
The Mid-day Scot
The Night Scot
The Caledonian
The Lakes Express
All Freight Traffic
Duchess's
Princess's
Britannia's
Royal Scots
Black Fives
8Fs
9Fs
ETC
Current Day Highlights:
The Caledonian Sleeper
Tesco Train
Virgin Pendalino's
Virgin Super Voyagers
All Container Traffic
All Engineering Traffic
Colas Timber Traffic
Flyash Traffic
Coal from Ayrshire to Wales
Class 66, 68, 88, 57, 92, 90, 86, 60
Colas
DRS
EWS/DB
Frieghtliner
Network Rail
WCRC Excursion Trains
All in all a lot to model and consider.
I have already accumulated a fair bit of rolling stock in regards to both settings for this layout and as I don't have the space at this time to built the layout I am focusing on getting all the rolling stock ready and running this in at the local club. So what is to follow will be a series of works in regards to the rolling stock and locomotives.
Regards
Rand
8 Comments
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now