Warren Lane (formally The Layout Formally Known as Warren Lane, and Wulfruna) again...

[Satan's Goldfish]

Wulfruna is the new project title for the container terminal layout formally known as Warren Lane. It left the care of its previous keeper and builder Mr Alan Bevan after its final exhibition outing at Warley 2015. A lot came with the layout (over 200 containers and a collection of working Heljan cranes!) but the name didn't. For those not familiar with the layout and its history, the RMweb thread for it and its website are here:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/23763-warren-lane/

http://www.warrenlane.co.uk/

There is a 2 to 5 year plan of maintenence, alterations, and upgrades for the layout and then it will hopefully return to the exhibition circuit. As it will still be revolving around the format of a working container terminal I'm starting this thread here rather than in the 'Layouts' subforum.

As part of sorting out all the excess equipment that came with the layout, items are due to find their way onto ebay in the new year including original Warren Lane locos, wagons with containers, and 3 of the collection of working Heljan cranes that have been professionally resprayed and weathered to look more British. Mrs SG is on the case with that.

So what's being done to it for it to be retired for so long? Well, a lot of the work is based around making it easier for minimal operator requirement. Alan is still very much involved in some of the up coming work and his philosophy of 'all ways keep something moving' is in play. Some may remember that Warren Lane attended about 3 shows a couple of years ago in a 'roundy' format, there were a lot of merits to this but the amount of transport space needed and effort for set up was just too much. Since then, that long fiddle yard has been sat in my garage. The main meat of the infrastructure work is returning it to full round but in a much more manageable way. Along side this will be a full re-wiring of the scenic boards and rebuild of the control panels to build them into the layout rather than as seperate items. In a backward step (mostly because I just love me some wiring!) it will be set up for analogue control rather than DCC. This means that the mainlines can be fully automated in operation. The 'Maggie' control position at the front will remain and shunting will still require an operator, but everything should be able to be controlled by just 2 people (1 on trains, 1 on cranes).

Wood work has started on new end curves, these will be scenic this time rather than hidden, all still GEML based. Here's a sneek peek





Finally, why Wulfruna? Because it's my favorite 86, I'm retiring it from operations to become a static feature. Layouts are usually named after their main scenic element but nothing actually ever said 'Warren Lane' on the layout and their will still be nothing to pin down the fictional location. A black country word for an Anglian layout will confuse some and I'm just that cruel. Plus if you google 86633 Wulfruna pictures of Warren Lane appear.

Edited September 28, 2019 by Satan's Goldfish

[PhilJ W]

Will it return to the exhibition curcuit?

[Satan's Goldfish]

Will it return to the exhibition curcuit?

Hopefully. The modifications are being designed around it being more easily portable. There's still show requests coming in despite it having been retired.

[Wrighty]

Can't wait to see the new additions to the layout

[Satan's Goldfish]

Can't wait to see the new additions to the layout

Cheers. I could really do with better weather to get a lot of this started and matched up to the existing layout. In the mean time though supplies are being sourced, all the track was picked up today for the new sections, 2 of the points will need a rail end trimmed slightly to match the curved crossing so little jobs like that can be carried out in readiness.

 

Another pic which really gives nothing away for ya

 

[Cornwall]

Can't wait to see more progress

[Andy Y]

A black country word for an Anglian layout will confuse some and I'm just that cruel. 

 

Yes; most cruel! I was relishing the thought of it moving up country in setting until I got to the end of the post. Good luck with the project.

[Satan's Goldfish]

Can't wait to see more progress

A little snip for you then, may not look much but this is the most awkward part of the new track work, but big result it all rolls through smoothly. Famous last words, the rest of the track should be simple now!

 

 

 

Yes; most cruel! I was relishing the thought of it moving up country in setting until I got to the end of the post. Good luck with the project.

Ha ha ha, no chance! All the catenary would be wrong Cheers Andy, I'm sure we can get you over for a sneak peak of the new features when it's done.

[Satan's Goldfish]

Just seen Warren Lane is in the nominations for the British Model Railway Awards...... No pressure not to ###### this up then!

 

Relevant holes and markings sorted on the new end curves so Mrs SG can have her dining table back. Just need the weather to behave now for frame work and trolley work to commence.

[Satan's Goldfish]

'Andreamrssatan' on ebay has started selling 'Warren Lane' excess stock, she's trying to add 1 item a day on average, no reserve and free postage*, some items bought for the layout never even got turn a wheel! That'll keep her out of my way while I build frames and trolleys anyway

 

A good sized hattons order went in last night for detailing parts, still waiting for the weather to improve to properly start cutting wood for the new frame work. The design is all in my head for what needs building, it's too complicated to draw down which is an interesting way to start, I don't recommend big complicated corners! 8 casters are on order for the new parts, the old storage and transit layout trolleys are due to be modified to support parts of the layout too and do away with all the support trestles.

 

*apart from the cranes, have to be crazy to do those free with no reserve!

 

Edit: I probably should tell her it's 'Warren Lane' not 'Warrenlane' and adding who the manufacturer of an item is is useful too! Ah well, first time.

Edited January 4, 2016 by Satan's Goldfish

[E3109]

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this, Mr S.

I spend a lot of time at container terminals, usually on the resident 'Jocko' if the truth be known, carving up bits of styrene to resemble locomotives....

 

I work for FL and am lucky enough to drive the remaining 86s regularly. Sadly, 'Wulfruna' isn't one of the survivors....

[Satan's Goldfish]

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this, Mr S.

I spend a lot of time at container terminals, usually on the resident 'Jocko' if the truth be known, carving up bits of styrene to resemble locomotives....

 

I work for FL and am lucky enough to drive the remaining 86s regularly. Sadly, 'Wulfruna' isn't one of the survivors....

I was most upset when I found FL had given up on 86633, she's not long been turned into coke cans though. She ran paired with 87101 Stephenson on Warren Lane but is due to hold this stance now:

 

 

There's some detailing work to be done, she was originally on a Heljan chassis but is now on a dummy Hornby chassis. Couplings are the most obvious part that needs attention! The Heljan chassis from 86633 has found its way to under a green FL 86

 

I had to book a weeks leave from work earlier for February so I should have a solid week for major layout progress then have something to show and share for it.

[Satan's Goldfish]

Ah some more parts have arrived!

 

OVERLY ROBUST LAYOUT FRAME ENGINEERING....

 

 

....YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT!!!

[naturol]

Where will you keep it?

That's a big curvey end board. One might struggle slipping that up the loft hatch,

What's the anticipated completion date?

[Satan's Goldfish]

Where will you keep it?

That's a big curvey end board. One might struggle slipping that up the loft hatch,

What's the anticipated completion date?

I have permission from the wife for a 12x30 shed in the long run for it and my G scale in the garden. Overall foot print once it's built will be 26x8 so it'll fit comfortably with space around. For the time being it's living in the garage while work is underway, over the road from me is a community centre which I have access to and with all parts being on wheels when it's ready for a full set up and test I can just trundle it over.

 

The weekend has seen work on the support frames for the curves, next weekend will hopefully see them completed! Nothing is simple so it's taking a lot longer than a normal rectangle layout would. There's no set finish date but a vague 2 to 5 year plan. The first milestone will be tracks laid and point motors connected, then there's a mountain of electronics to automate most of it, and finally scenery, lighting, detailing, etc. It's the little things that add up like I'll need over 100 cars for the rake of cartics to be complete!

[Satan's Goldfish]

Ok, time for some pictures!

 

Last set of layout legs I built took about half an hour each. 2 Saturday's of work and the Wulfruna end curve boards legs are still just sitting on the floor! On the plus side, each wheel at the end of each leg is able to support my weight (I know, I checked, and I'm not small!) So It should have good durability.

 

When set up, the support frames for the end curves need to not trip up operators. The end curves are each cut from a sheet of 8x4 so they're not small when in use but need to be compact enough for transportation and storage. Their shape dictates a trapezoidal leg and feet pattern, but the more reliable trolley shape is always a rectangle. Lots of issues to overcome, so here's the solution I've come up with (and why progress is slow!)

 

Trolleys/legs when the layout is set up. Trapezoidal shape, The legs from the boards above drop down to directly above the wheels. Where there's 2 temporary legs on the rear trapezoid, when board height is worked out there will be a equally robust length of wood across the top between the 2 legs with a piano hinge attached and X bracing between them. The outer 2 legs (none shown, no recepticals above wheels for them yet) will also be attached with hinges to the curve boards:

 

 

When the layout needs to be transported or stored, the outer legs will lift off their wheels and hinge up underneath the big curved board. The entire curve board will then drop on the piano hinge into a vertical position (big curved edge up). The back scene on one of the curved ends will be removable (the reason for this will become clear as construction progresses) then the outer wheels on one frame hinge in to create a rectangular wheel base:

 

 

The 'rectangular' frame is then wheeled over to the other curved board. The ends of the outer wheel supports have a pair of large receiving holes drilled in, these line up with pairs of large M12 bolts fitted to the other frame:

 

 

 

Which side inside to support both frames together:

 

 

 

Next the outer legs of the other frame hinge in, another large supporting M12 bolt lines up with a hole in the side of the first frame:

 

 

And slips inside:

 

 

 

A cabinet catch then joins the 2 together:

 

 

 

The same process then happens at the other side:

 

 

 

And a big snug rectangular trolley is created supporting both end scenic boards face-to-face to protect the scenery:

 

 

 

The space between the 2 sets of upright legs is just enough for the back scene height to fit. This is why 1 of the back scenes will need to be removed. There is also going to be space for longer items like lighting rig parts to fit on the trolley frame underneath the folded boards once it's all clipped together:

 

 

 

Only slight issue at the moment is it kinda needs fitting together with a rubber mallet and taking apart with a crowbar! The issue is the tightness of the holes the M12 pins slip into, I just need to bore them out a little to ease up the ability to slide parts in and out. But as it stands, the trolley works and in theory can support the weight of 8 fat men

[naturol]

You lucky, lucky man, train crap allowed in the kitchen. I thought that was only in fairy tales.

[Satan's Goldfish]

You lucky, lucky man, train crap allowed in the kitchen. I thought that was only in fairy tales.

If I make it large and heavy enough, she can't get it out

 

Even I'm not stupid enough to attach the 8ft curves onto it in the house though, it'd never get out with those on!

 

(Edit: you should have seen the disapproving look at the sawdust on the floor! My mum's round for lunch tomorrow and everything!)

Edited January 16, 2016 by Satan's Goldfish

[Shed]

Nice work

[ess1uk]

That's some serious woodwork

[Satan's Goldfish]

My 14mm bit arrived today for boring out the locating holes Soon be time to fix the legs in and mount piano hinges Won't be able to fit that in the kitchen Where's the fun?

[Satan's Goldfish]

In other news, a parcel has arrived from China (well, actually a lot of parcels have arrived from China this last couple of weeks, but all in good time folks ). In it were some scenic items, 5x Toyota Land Cruiser in 1/71 scale as pictured below. These are slightly over scale and I've plonked the Essex favorite, a white Escort XR3i next to them to show the worst case scenario scale discrepancy.

 

However, next to a Transit, Lorry, or Bus, the scale difference isn't so bad! Alternatively, using perspective these slightly too large models could be at the front of a layout with the smaller scale items at the rear.

 

Anywho, the plan is to (slowly) individually modify these to represent older Hilux's with things like jacked up suspension, roll bars, spot lights, etc. A nice alternative to the ever common Land Rover, so I thought I'd share it with the class in case they want something different too

 

[PhilJ W]

In other news, a parcel has arrived from China (well, actually a lot of parcels have arrived from China this last couple of weeks, but all in good time folks ). In it were some scenic items, 5x Toyota Land Cruiser in 1/71 scale as pictured below. These are slightly over scale and I've plonked the Essex favorite, a white Escort XR3i next to them to show the worst case scenario scale discrepancy.

 

However, next to a Transit, Lorry, or Bus, the scale difference isn't so bad! Alternatively, using perspective these slightly too large models could be at the front of a layout with the smaller scale items at the rear.

 

Anywho, the plan is to (slowly) individually modify these to represent older Hilux's with things like jacked up suspension, roll bars, spot lights, etc. A nice alternative to the ever common Land Rover, so I thought I'd share it with the class in case they want something different too

 

20160121_190138.jpg

Tomica make some excellent models although like Matchbox they are of 'fit the box' scale. In the current range is a modern farm tractor that is to 1/76 scale, a Toyota Avensis estate car at 1/75 scale and a road layer at 1/77 scale.

Edited January 22, 2016 by PhilJ W

[GWRPhil]

Looks like some great work going on. Particularly like the serious engineering you're employing.

 

Good name for the layout.

 

Will be following updates with interest.

[naturol]

You lucky, lucky man, train crap allowed in the kitchen. I thought that was only in fairy tales.

My fairy tail came true, following the small cardiff show last weekend, my radiant honey said " leave the layout downstairs till the stafford show, save effort putting up into loft, " I was knocked down with a feather, photo evidence is available,

There is also now a unicorn graving in my garden.