Looking for regular operators - Oxford, Banbury, Chpping Norton area.

[Richard Mawer]

I am looking for some like-minded people to join me on a fairly regular basis to operate the layout I am building. It is a home layout, not for exhibitions. It is built to be fun operating it.

 

I live approx midway between Oxford, Banbury and Chipping Norton.

 

You will not be asked to pay or contribute anything and I am not looking for people to build it. I just want to form an ad hoc group of like-minded people who enjoy operating a layout in a protypical way (ish) with block bells, a timetable and a fast clock. Even if that means nothing but you are interested, get in touch.

 

The layout ideally needs 4 operators, but it can ge done with 2 to 5. It is oo gauge, set in the mid 1930s and is GWR. It is inspired by the classic Peter Denny layout:Buckingham. It has a large terminus, Junction station, small branch terminus and hidden storage. It has full working signals and works on the Block Signal box principles.

 

My layout is called Buckingham West (ther's a clue in there!) and there is a thread on RMWeb, so look it up my all means.

 

I do not envisage anything too rigid, but just maybe fortnightly get togethers to run the layout, chat, have a beer or the odd mug of tea, and see if we can run to time.

 

If you are interested please message me.

 

Rich

[Richard Mawer]

Well, overall, a sucess. Two of us ran the layout starting at 5.00 Buckingham time. We started with the clock running 3x, but we soon slowed it to 2x. We had difficulty reminding ourselves how to route and signal trains around the layout; the route selection at Banbury is still manual, and the timetable for Evenley, Brackley Road and Banbury combined was hard to read. Considering John had only operated once, for a short time, months ago, he picked it up very well, which is pleasing for me from logic of design point of view. I made as many minor blunders, but that's part of the fun. Well done John. No major blunders from either of us.

 

There are a lot of movements in the first few hours and I may have to thin that down.

 

I have a major issue of where to store the perishables wagons after arrival at Buckingham West. To be resolved!

 

It will be much easier to operate with 3 people.

 

Anyway, after 3 hours of operation (which felt like about 1) we had got to 10.00 am Buckingham time. Not a bad effort.

 

Tweaking and design of timetable sheets is needed, but not a restart, so I am very happy.

 

Now to finish the electrics, signals and bells.

[MarshLane]

Well, overall, a sucess. Two of us ran the layout starting at 5.00 Buckingham time. We started with the clock running 3x, but we soon slowed it to 2x. We had difficulty reminding ourselves how to route and signal trains around the layout; the route selection at Banbury is still manual, and the timetable for Evenley, Brackley Road and Banbury combined was hard to read. Considering John had only operated once, for a short time, months ago, he picked it up very well, which is pleasing for me from logic of design point of view. I made as many minor blunders, but that's part of the fun. Well done John. No major blunders from either of us.

There are a lot of movements in the first few hours and I may have to thin that down.

I have a major issue of where to store the perishables wagons after arrival at Buckingham West. To be resolved!

It will be much easier to operate with 3 people.

Anyway, after 3 hours of operation (which felt like about 1) we had got to 10.00 am Buckingham time. Not a bad effort.

Tweaking and design of timetable sheets is needed, but not a restart, so I am very happy.

Now to finish the electrics, signals and bells.

I am looking for some like-minded people to join me on a fairly regular basis to operate the layout I am building. It is a home layout, not for exhibitions. It is built to be fun operating it.

I live approx midway between Oxford, Banbury and Chipping Norton.

You will not be asked to pay or contribute anything and I am not looking for people to build it. I just want to form an ad hoc group of like-minded people who enjoy operating a layout in a protypical way (ish) with block bells, a timetable and a fast clock. Even if that means nothing but you are interested, get in touch.

The layout ideally needs 4 operators, but it can ge done with 2 to 5. It is oo gauge, set in the mid 1930s and is GWR. It is inspired by the classic Peter Denny layout:Buckingham. It has a large terminus, Junction station, small branch terminus and hidden storage. It has full working signals and works on the Block Signal box principles.

My layout is called Buckingham West (ther's a clue in there!) and there is a thread on RMWeb, so look it up my all means.

I do not envisage anything too rigid, but just maybe fortnightly get togethers to run the layout, chat, have a beer or the odd mug of tea, and see if we can run to time.

If you are interested please message me.

Rich

Hi Rich,

I'd be interested, if I was closer. Unfortunately a good 4-5 hour drive separates us, so fortnightly gatherings aren't really possible, but if you have a guest day one or twice a year, I'll do my best to put in an appearance!

 

Rich

[The Stationmaster]

Like several others who have responded I am at the oposite end of the county so in many respects it depends exactly where the layout is and how easy it is to access from the south.