Weymouth Tramway - Someone's Finally Doing It

[Jwnewall]

Seriously, who hasn't seen that video? I get recommended this almost everyday.

[Joseph_Pestell]

I was in Bristol for a business meeting yesterday and parked my car on Wapping Wharf where the Bristol Harbour Railway is based (cheap parking by central Bristol standards at £2.10 for 3 hours).

 

Interesting to compare with Weymouth. All the plain inset track (except pointwork) at Wapping is tram rail whereas Weymouth all seems to be conventional rail with what is effectively a check rail throughout which should be rather easier to model.

[Jwnewall]

A few images that I would like to bring to light for this project. I appreciate the images you've all posted but I have pretty much seen all in existence on the internet, I've been searching the web for 3 years finding everything I possibly can about this railway, obsessed if you want to put it that way!

 

 

 

July 6th, 1980. The boat train rounds the corner in dreadful weather. The main interest of this image is the curved point. It was removed not long after and part of the curve can still be seen underneath the tarmac. This connected the previously used main line before the 1939 curve expansion, so its a heck more tighter than the curve that after widening is still excessively tight! 

 

 

Date unknown, but the sidings had already been layed and taken up by this point! Think they were only around for about ten years from 1960-1970 but don't take my word for it. The best part of this is the original cousins building in the background which will help with colouring them in model form.

 

 

Two images a bit further up the line of class 03 shunters, the blue BR one taken in 1972 and the green BR one taken on the 6th September 1966. 03's may be able to fit into the layout even though the era might be a tad too early. 

 

Soon I will make paper cutouts of the baseboards when I manage to get the curved point to get the curve as smooth as possible.

 

Thanks for all the posts here, its heartwarming that people are interested in what i'm going to build!

Edited November 23, 2017 by Jwnewall

[Tim Dubya]

Soon I will make paper cutouts of the baseboards when I manage to get the curved point to get the curve as smooth as possible.

 

 

You could draw it in Templot and build it yourself to the most suitable radius. Or you could commission someone on here to build it for you, I'm sure it would be a pleasure for someone to help you out.

 

Good luck, watching with great interest.

 

Cheers

Timbob

Edited November 23, 2017 by Tim Dubya

[Jwnewall]

No, i'd never commission anyone to be build me a layout in my life, it simply wont be 'my layout' then. If its slightly small than real life then so be it, but hopefully it will still be a staple layout as no one has built this before.

 

I have used track planning programs but generally find it better to lay track out on the floor, a real sense of space and availability.

[Joseph_Pestell]

No, i'd never commission anyone to be build me a layout in my life, it simply wont be 'my layout' then. If its slightly small than real life then so be it, but hopefully it will still be a staple layout as no one has built this before.

 

I have used track planning programs but generally find it better to lay track out on the floor, a real sense of space and availability.

He didn't mean the whole layout just the point.

[Jwnewall]

Ah, get what you mean now. Yeah I can get it commissioned but I will try and print out a paper version of the point first to see if it can fit in the curve.

[Tim Dubya]

No, i'd never commission anyone to be build me a layout in my life, it simply wont be 'my layout' then. If its slightly small than real life then so be it, but hopefully it will still be a staple layout as no one has built this before.

 

I have used track planning programs but generally find it better to lay track out on the floor, a real sense of space and availability.

Yeah just the point. You could get someone who knows Templot just to draw s plan for the point only and either build it yourself or commission it.

[Joseph_Pestell]

I think that the Peco curved point geometry/radii is quite suitable for that location. Probably not exactly to scale but perfectly suitable.

 

Question then is how you embed it into the roadway and create the impression of the second rail (checkrail). That may actually be easier to do from scratch with copperclad.

[Gordon A]

I think that the Peco curved point geometry/radii is quite suitable for that location. Probably not exactly to scale but perfectly suitable.

 

Question then is how you embed it into the roadway and create the impression of the second rail (checkrail). That may actually be easier to do from scratch with copperclad.

 

Or possible C&L as they produce packs of check rail chairs to two different clearances. 

 

Gordon A

[Tim Dubya]

Or possible C&L as they produce packs of check rail chairs to two different clearances. 

 

 

C&L wouldn't be any good for OO unfortunately, TBH you need a bare minimum of 1mm flangeway gap.

 

  

 

If you wanted to have a go yourself with C&L parts, copperclad might be the way to go as I assume it will be buried under the road anyway?

 

You can buy pre built common crossings and pre-filied switch blades, to take the pain out of building your own, from C&L

 

Above all, which ever route you go, have fun! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Re6/6]

A picture of the difference in the Exacto (P4) checkrail chairs shown by Tim for anybody who might be interested. I found that the 0.68mm flangeway were almost unusable being tight, difficult to thread the rails into and causing bowing of the chairs.

 

 

 

 

As has been suggested, copperclad construction would most certainly be the way for you to go. For infill, l always use a good quality tile grout ('Unibond' and the like), although you won't want cobbles the better grouts do carve much better than the likes of 'polyfilla'. Apply the grout infill in two layers allowing a good drying time in between. I found in the past that by doing it all in one go, over time the stuff shrinks and the sleepers tend to show with slight undulations. I learned all this from the 'cobblemaster' himself, Baron Harrap!

 

Hope that this helps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

 

I don't know where these are in relation to your bit of the tramway, you'll know better than me, but these taken in 1972 might help for some of the off-scene buildings?

 

Mike.

[PhilJ W]

1-MSP - 268.jpg

 

2-MSP - 272.jpg

 

I don't know where these are in relation to your bit of the tramway, you'll know better than me, but these taken in 1972 might help for some of the off-scene buildings?

 

Mike.

Thats an idea, make the layout in such a way that the viewers can only see the trains through gaps in the buildings. Only short sections will need to be embedded in the road surface and no scenic breaks (and the giant hand decending from the sky can be hidden as well).

Edited November 29, 2017 by PhilJ W

[Enterprisingwestern]

Thats an idea, make the layout in such a way that the viewers can only see the trains through gaps in the buildings. Only short sections will need to be embedded in the road surface and no scenic breaks (and the giant hand decending from the sky can be hidden as well).

 

Brilliant idea, shame I can only like!

 

Mike.

[Jwnewall]

Hi guys,

 

I always new that it wouldn't be easy to make the double rails. I have seen the work of copper clad before, and it will probably be my best bet. I saw on another thread rails that were already made double rather than putting two singles pieces of rail together, would love to know where I can get that from as I can't find it myself yet!

 

Polyfiller or similar products are what i'm going to use, however not the cobble effect. There are cobbles on the curve today, but they were added in the 90's and the quay corner was either very crushed up rock or paving. Will find some more photos to get the exact idea.

 

Thanks for the pictures, that is a part of the line I am modelling though! The houses idea is good as the railway's scenery faces outwards, so modelling could only be seen from the harbour side towards the buildings. Its a good idea, but i'd rather stick to my guns with the original plan.

[Bulwell Hall]

1-MSP - 268.jpg

 

2-MSP - 272.jpg

 

I don't know where these are in relation to your bit of the tramway, you'll know better than me, but these taken in 1972 might help for some of the off-scene buildings?

 

Mike.

 

Lovely photos - I lived in Weymouth in 1972 so these are very, very nostalgic.  Do you have any more - I would love to see them if you do?

 

The photo of Weymouth Quay in the post below is a GWR official and was taken in 1929.  It shows St. Julian alongside the landing stage preparing to depart for the Channel Islands.  The train has been split to allow detraining passengers access to the vessel.  I think the train is made up from the articulated corridor sets regularly used on the Channel Islands Boat Express at that time. Note also the portable steps used to allow the passengers to descend from the train to road level.

 

I believe there is a good book on the Weymouth Harbour Tramway available from Wild Swan Books!

 

Gerry

Edited November 30, 2017 by Bulwell Hall

[Jwnewall]

Again the terminus station is not part of my layout, there are two other forums to post pictures of it on.

 

Would anyone know where I can find these tracks to buy? or a similar product?

 

 

[lapford34102]

Suspect it's this

 

http://www.proto87.com/Paved_industrial_or_dockside_track.html

 

Stu

[Chris Chewter]

This fella does 3d prints off Shapeways which might help.  Not too sure if they work out cheaper or more expensive for the area you need to cover.

 

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/recreation21?section=tram+track+inserts&s=0

[Re6/6]

Again the terminus station is not part of my layout, there are two other forums to post pictures of it on.

 

Would anyone know where I can find these tracks to buy? or a similar product?

 

post-5773-0-30400800-1308570196_thumb.jpg

 

post-7067-0-16727100-1308475578_thumb.jpg

The top picture is all hand built by Brian Harrap. The tram track (P87) is created by using copperclad construction with code 55 (IIRC) rail and 1mm nickel-silver strip. This method represents girder rail as opposed to the Weymouth tramway which used rail for the continuous checkrails The cobbles were all hand carved. A method which allows 'sets' to be carved to fit the curvature of the track not unprototypically straight using plastic card sets (Wills)

 

The second is indeed from the Proto 87 stores in the US. Andy Reichart will supply stuff to the UK but the US postal and customs charges can be high l believe.

The cobbling is from sheets which cannot be curved.

[Joseph_Pestell]

Thats an idea, make the layout in such a way that the viewers can only see the trains through gaps in the buildings. Only short sections will need to be embedded in the road surface and no scenic breaks (and the giant hand decending from the sky can be hidden as well).

I'm not totally convinced that would work well in 4mm scale. But in larger scales, it could be superb.

[Joseph_Pestell]

The top picture is all hand built by Brian Harrap. The tram track (P87) is created by using copperclad construction with code 55 (IIRC) rail and 1mm nickel-silver strip. This method represents girder rail as opposed to the Weymouth tramway which used rail for the continuous checkrails The cobbles were all hand carved. A method which allows 'sets' to be carved to fit the curvature of the track not unprototypically straight using plastic card sets (Wills)

 

The second is indeed from the Proto 87 stores in the US. Andy Reichart will supply stuff to the UK but the US postal and customs charges can be high l believe.

The cobbling is from sheets which cannot be curved.

 

Those products look very much as though intended for street tramways rather than what you need for railway locomotives. They will be pricey!

 

If I remember correctly, there is a Shinohara HO track that has check rails (intended for US bridges). Shinohara is available from ScaleLink.

 

I think that there is also a Micro-Engineering Co track with similar bridge check rails which you might find via one of the UK retailers that specialise in US models.

 

As shown above, copperclad is a very practical solution as you don't need many "timbers".

[Tim Dubya]

The Paradise Flyer 28/7/93.

BR type 4 diesel no. 37407 'Loch Long' crawls along the Weymouth Harbour Tramway.

[Mike Morant collection]

 

 

Edited December 4, 2017 by Tim Dubya

[Tim Dubya]

Some more from the Disused Railways Group on Farceboosch for you.

 

All photographs © Andrew Boomer