Hi.  I can see the likeness To Denny's in the junction station layout, but will you need more sidings in the junction's marshalling yard south of the platform area?

Will you model the branchline station or just have the two dead end fiddle roads as shown in the diagram in the diagram. 

The mainline circuit will be up and down gradients, will these be shallow enough for long trains, what will be you maximum train length, counting the squares in the junction I guess you can have up to 5 foot or so. 

Hi. Thanks for the comment.

The continuous run (circuits) storage loops and dumbbell are all on the lowest level and are flat: no gradients. That way i can just leave trains running.

The gradient up to Newton Purcell (Junction) (Grandborough Junction???) will be at least 1:75.

I will be running max 5 coach trains. I think i could run longer, but I want the trains to look smaller and the scenery larger if i can: not be full of train.

I hope i can get away with the sidings i've built in Newton Purcell, there are 2 small private sidings to the north and a quarry to the east. Time will tell, but it is a small country junc, not Severn Tunnel Junc, but we all have too much stock so......

I shall build a full branchline terminus , in due course.

I shall also build an extensive Buckingham West down the centre of the room. Designs for both terminals are to be decided.

I hope that explains. Thanks for the interest.

Hi  Richard, I have just come across this blog after following a comment from the layouts section. I find the read very interesting because like you, my own layout is very heavily influenced by the all-time classic Buckingham. And, I am not sure whether you have ever seen it but even though I live in NZ I have actually seen and operated it in its new home with its new owner, the wonderful Tony Gee, twice over the last few years on my visits to the UK. It was...sensational and such a joy.

I have written about the experience and the inspiration Peter Denny has provided for my layout Hawkinsfield Junction as a layout topic in the layout section. If you have some spare time pop in and have a look.

I look forward to following your layouts construction as it evolves further.

regards, Andy R

Andy,

The Buckingham Branch has inspired my modelling thoughts for about 35 years. I am very jealous of you having the opportunity to operate it. I'd love to! I don't know Tony.

I'll look your layout up.

Feel free to follow mine and advice is always welcome.

I didnt know Tony either when I made contact via email; as you see I live in NZ. Eventually Tony and I corresponded and I arranged the first visit a couple of years ago when the layout had only just got into its new shed home and was in several pieces and some parts rather damaged. But that first time we had several fun hours playing with Leighton Buzzard and just talking through some of the outstanding ways Peter approached his modelling and his craftsmanship. It was truly amazing.

Then last year I made contact and visited again for a 1/2 day only, but this time the layout is functioning and we were able to follow the timetable- which is a beast and requires a lot of concentration and knowledge of how the layout works -as I say in my layout comments, it took several hours to do about 8-10 movements! Oh what fun and given the age of the thing it is remarkable it still works well. Tony has put a lot of work into restoration of course along with some dedicated friends helping.

Tony attends a lot of exhibitions and if you googled him you may well get a contact email. He lives south of Doncaster in a village called Bawtry, which may, or may not, be near you?

Anyway, I know Tony would be comfortable in engaging in conversation with you and maybe arranging a visit. It worked for me...

Hope you liked my own, meagre 'nod to Buckingham' called Hawkinsfield Junction.

regards, Andy R

Richard,

Tony Gee will be at ExpoEM at Bracknell on 13-14 May 2017.

see http://www.emgs.org/events/society-events/

Apart from the 70th Anniversay demo/display stand listed, Tony will be giving a lecture on Buckingham each day.

Not too far from you?

Regards, Rodney Hills

Custodian of "Metropolitian Junction" by D.A.(Doug) Williams, which layout will be having a 70th in 2019.

Gents,

Thanks for the comments.

The layout has progressed. Please find the up to date thread at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/102581-buckingham-west/page-14

Cheers

Rich