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Inspired by Berlin Friedrichstrasse


Claude_Dreyfus
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More slow but steady progress on Friedrichstrasse.

Refinements are ongoing with the tram control. The set up allows for 6 trams to run simultaneously; although in reality we'll probably have four. There are 6 stops scheduled around the tram circuit, with block protection to (hopefully) remove the risk of collisions.

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During shows, the tram line will be controlled via the software on the laptop - here we are calibrating the various trams.

The trams are a mixture - here we have a selection of Kato and Roco examples

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Both these views are taken from the rear of the layout - soon to be hidden by the backscene.

Also, work has started on the station building - Youtube link below! These have now been etched - now time to build them

https://youtu.be/SYShAgGPDgs

In preparation for the station building, the paving is going down outside the front of the station. A bit scruffy at the moment, but the ragged edges will be trimmed off once completely dry. There will be a fine spray of colour to tone the brightness down. The structure is an early mock-up of the station - very similar to how the final version will look.

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The platforms will get their final detailing added before the overall roof is fixed down in a couple of weeks time.

We have a number of building kits under construction, which will make a huge difference to the appearance of the layout.

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Overall, we were very happy with how the layout performed on its first outing. We have a few lessons learned, including the need for a bigger fiddle yard, and the curves into the yard need easing. 

 

We lost a point solenoid in the last 30 minutes of the show (which will be fixed at the next club night), and one of the other points were playing up sporadically, but otherwise it went well. The trams also need further fettling.

 

Apart from this, we now all have the small detailing to add. Still lots to do, but we have time until it's next outing, which is our open day in October. We did have some interest, with a few potential invites over the next couple of years.

 

The trains were certainly main stars, of course. Unashamedly demonstrating sound (lots of Eastern-bloc diesels) and smoke, they attracted a lot of positive comments.

 

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A final picture for today from me. One of our stars, the ESU Ludmilla pauses at Friedrichstrasse, with the Fernsehturm in the distance.

 

There were a lot of positive comments, which surprised and pleased us all...makes the hard work over the last few years worth it, and makes us more determined to try to make the layout something special.

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A few night shots of Friedrichstrasse. There are still a good 20-odd lights yet to fit (mainly street lights), but they do add to the atmosphere we are trying to create. Hall lights off last night for a few pictures.

 

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Here be spies... The lights beneath the bridge run on AC, and have a very subtle flicker. All adds to the atmosphere...I rather like the reflection of the light on the river on the bottom left hand side...

 

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A cyclist makes his way home through the late night streets. The street lights are on, but the residents are tucked up in bed; the houses in darkness.

 

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Despite the late hour, there are still passengers awaiting their final trains home...not that the E60 electric will be of too much assistance to them... This a recent purchase by a club colleague and is a Fleischmann model - one of their final H0 models. It is sound-fitted, and sounds superb...that wonderful old electric whine, punctuated by the beating of the connecting rods. 

 

Edited by Claude_Dreyfus
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A reasonably frequent visitor to Friedrichstrasse pauses at the end of the platform. Herr Willy Brandt is steadfast in his refusal to acknowledge the usurper.

 

At the Rotarail show, we were talking to a visitor, who recommended rubbing graphite on the tracks, which helps signification to improve pickup and maintain track cleanliness. This being tested out on the tram lines.

 

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We have finally manged to get the signals wired up.

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An unfortunate SPAD incident!

 

The signals have been set up for a while; however were just as dummies. Now they have been properly wired in. The set up isn't very sophisticated, nor probably prototypical correct; the signals are linked to the points, meaning that simply if the point is set against them they will be red. It does, however, add to the visual interest to the layout. I believe the signals are made by Viessmann.

 

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Crikey, it has been over three years since the last post on here.

 

So, what has been happening on the layout since February 2020? Well, needless to say the show it was due to attend was cancelled, and nothing happened to the layout for a good 18 months plus. Once we returned to regular club meetings the conversation came up about the fiddle yard and the fact it was only 6 tracks...needless to say far too small, especially given the volume of trains operating!

 

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I suppose it was a combination of a lack of forethought, as well as the total H0 stock in the club members possession at the time could barely fill the sidings. Inevitably we needed something a little more substantial.

 

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This is now under construction, a new fiddle yard with 14 tracks - certainly enough to provide a good variety of trains. In addition the old approach of narrowing the four track at the front to two in order to enter the fiddle yard has now been changed. The layout will now have four independent circuits for the mainline, plus two for the suburban line. That, combined with the tram lines, should make for plenty of activity... 

 

The boards have been covered by a thin layer of lino underlay, with the track marked out using a template. 

 

On the return boards, the underlay is more or less track width to allow for the ballast shoulder.

 

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Here the track is being laid, with particular care being taken on the board joint! The track laying will continue at a member's house, followed by the ballasting. The boards will then be wired up and then handed over to the scenery team to get cracking. Inspiration is currently being sought for this corner...

 

An advantage of the layout being worked on means there are often views afforded that are not ordinarily available. 

 

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Adding to this unusual view - which highlights the work which needs to done (everything is a bit too clean in this corner) - is some unusual stock as well. Unusual inasmuch as you won't see either of these carriages on the layout when it is operating, as these are both in the Maerklin 3-rail collection of a member - the nearest carriage easily being 60 years old. Perfectly acceptable for testing the track across the baseboard joins.

 

In terms of future appearances, the layout is scheduled to appear at the Fareham show in October. Plenty to do in the intervening five months!  

 

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Progress continues on the fiddle yard and return boards, with the track laying due to be completed within the next month. Then to the wiring. 

 

The scenic work has started on the river-end return board. The main feature is a steel girder overbridge - a Kibri model. This will carry a twin track rail line across the main circuit. A second span is too be added to complete the bridge. Also present are two new sections of track. The middle track (with the pale underlay) is a dummy siding, designed to give the impression of being a headshunt for a large yard off scene. In addition is a siding (also a dummy) which is serving a factory unit. This has been set into a concrete hardstanding.

 

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The headshunt has the potential to double-up as a scenic programming track. The factory unit is a resin kit from Muellers Bruchbuden. https://www.muellers-bruchbuden.de/

 

There are also some concrete fence panels from the same manufacturer, which will be added to the perimeter of the factory site.  Plenty of urban grot will feature in this part of the layout.

 

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Only a couple of weeks to go until the layout makes its first appearance at an exhibition since April 2019.

 

The fiddle yard has now been completed and trains are fully operational. The new yard is a significant improvement on the last - many more tracks - and the change to make all six tracks at the front of the layout independent lines will allow us to run a far more intensive service.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/WgTtdQ06Niw?si=9vMLiNRVNBnWpgqw

 

The factory board has now had the overbridge added, as well as various greenery. The factory wall has also been put in and weathered. 

 

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Also added is an etched fence and gate, guarding the entrance. This will not be immediately visible to most observers as it will be partially hidden by the overbridge. This is the view from the fiddle yard.

 

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A portrait of neglect. Although the siding is not wired up, it is intended to show an occasionally used track, so there may be an occasional wagon in place.

 

Our intention was always for the layout to have a lot of lights - street lights, lights in buildings etc. A lot of today was spent sorting out the wires and connections for these. The lights beneath the bridge add to the atmosphere.

 

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Perhaps not as austere and East German is the more lively bar. Plenty of light going on here!

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The following week (our last club night before the show weekend) will be spent thoroughly testing the running of the layout - including a new DCC booster unit to help with the increase in trains.

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As I mentioned in the previous post, Friedrichstrasse is intended to be a layout of lights. Streetlights, lighting in houses etc; we have a lighting fiend in the club! Occasionally we like to turn the lights off in the hall and just view the layout in its night-time guise. 

 

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There are still plenty more gaps to fill - we need to complete the street lights, as well as complete the internal lighting for the remaining buildings. These will have to wait until after the Fareham show next weekend. Anyone at the show, do say hello! 👋

 

 

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