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Track plan


N.E. Thing

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Hi all,

 

This is my first attempt at building a layout. I would appreciate any and all tips on designing and building a layout.

 

blogentry-22836-0-37689000-1460296049_thumb.jpg

 

I've already built the baseboards and there is not much room for expansion - baseboards are J-shaped (joints in red) with a fiddle yard not shown. The main scenic area is 11'6" long and 20" wide. I'm using Peco Code 75, the layout will be DC, points will be motorised, and I'm learning everything as I go....

 

I've been tinkering with the track plan for some time without committing to fixing any of it down yet. It's not going to be a faithful recreation of a particular location, instead I'm trying to incorporate as many typical NE features as possible into the space I've got. "North Eastern Branchline Termini" (Ken Hoole) has been the main source of inspiration.

 

I'd be interested to hear what you think of the trackplan. Where should the signals go? What about catch points? I'm still considering a few changes: perhaps just one carriage siding in the station trainshed, and moving the cattle dock to the end of the bay platform. I'm considering shifting the engine shed to the front centre, rather than next to the bay platform where there is not much room and it tends to block the view.

 

Thanks!

5 Comments


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This looks interesting so I'll be following. That's a big turntable for such a station, I presume it's the Peco one. A 45' one would look much better, I think someone does one but there are expensive. You could turn engines "off scene" and use the siding for the engine shed. Looking at the platform and loops trains will be short so small engines would look better.

 

Catch points are used to prevent runaway wagons fouling the main line, you have two headshunts which would perform the same function for three out of four loops so only the line running into the platform would need one.

 

Good luck with the project,

Tom

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Guest Q663368

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I agree with Tom's comments regarding the turntable. If I recall correctly, Guisborough's was in the 42' to 45' range, haven't checked the book, and it was out of use for decades prior to closure of the branch. Whitby (relocated) could turn a B1 which is about as big as I would recommend. I like what you have done with this. I shall study your plan and follow your progress with interest.

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Evening Gents, thanks for the comments. It is indeed a Peco turntable and it does look a bit big, unfortunately I already bought it... However I am going to look for slightly smaller versions, not sure what is out there. 

 

I own a B1, a V2 and 02 and I'm hoping to get the Q6 when Hornby release it so there will be a few fairly large locos knocking around, despite the short platforms :) The platform can take 3-4 non-corridor coaches by the way. I have a couple of tanks such as the L1 which will also be on passenger duties, and a J21 for goods.

 

The track plan in the station approach is largely based on Guisborough's, although I decided I would like a turntable as Guisborough trains used to reverse in and out of the station from the mainline which didn't seem that interesting from an operating point of view.  

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I would think that the double slip at the platform end is most unlikely.  I also doubt that the overall roof would go over two sidings (because you have not included a run around loop on the main platform road) as they are expensive to build!

 

Metalsmiths do a series of turntables and so to do London Road Models.  A 60 foot turntable will do all of the locos you have mentioned, you might get away with a 55 footer for most of them (but measure the wheelbase please).  I doubt that the NER would really have put in anything bigger than 50 foot as they would have generally have used 4-4-0's but try Alnwick as it famously had a lot of big engines at the end of its life.

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I would think that the double slip at the platform end is most unlikely.  I also doubt that the overall roof would go over two sidings (because you have not included a run around loop on the main platform road) as they are expensive to build!

 

Metalsmiths do a series of turntables and so to do London Road Models.  A 60 foot turntable will do all of the locos you have mentioned, you might get away with a 55 footer for most of them (but measure the wheelbase please).  I doubt that the NER would really have put in anything bigger than 50 foot as they would have generally have used 4-4-0's but try Alnwick as it famously had a lot of big engines at the end of its life.

Hi thanks for your comment, I just updated the track plan before reading this. I agree with you - I did away with the two sidings, it didn't seem quite right. I had Richmond in mind by having two, although one of those was a run round loop. I have omitted a run round loop in the station due to the platform being quite short (4ft long - ish), also that was the layout at Guisborough which was my original inspiration. So, a train will have to back out into the loop before the station in order to run around. The double slip was a space saving measure - i'll have a look at alternatives as that may allow the platform to be extended.

 

I'll have a look at those links tomorrow, thanks for those. I read that Richmond was frequently visited by larger locos, but then it did have a massive 268yard platform for troop trains which is probably about the length of my entire layout. :)

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