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off...but not yet running...


bcnPete

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Good evening,

 

Here's a welcome to my new project which I eluded to on my recent Kyle blog entry. I say new, but actually it's an idea that first surfaced in 2009 whilst I was building Kyle in a box file. It was based upon building a similiar small extract from the prototype but centred on Thurso with the idea it could be attached to the other end of the Fiddleyard. Whilst the trains would not physically run through as they were two different lines, there would be overlaps with rolling stock that could work with both and the two layouts together would double the amount of movements at an exhibition. The idea was sketched and even a small white card mock up made for a box file before I decided to scrap it, possibly due to its appearance of too much track in a short space.

 

Here's the original thoughts first posted on RMWeb 2009...

 

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The idea resurfaced last weekend whilst exhibiting Kyle. There is something very compelling about these Scottish lines, especially in the BR blue period and Thurso like Wick has one of those delightful train sheds at the end of the platform in addition to some freight interest.

 

At first I thought I would unplug Kyle and clip Thurso on to the Fiddle yard which meant reuse of this element including the lighting, however after preparing 3 options as sketches, I decided that the third option is the most interesting albeit not the most straightforward option. It involves removing the bay platform and allowing the viewer to see across the platform rather than facing onto it as per Kyle. The run-a-round loop will be included as well as a single siding in front of the goods shed which will be modelled in slight relief in front of the back scene. The entry to the fiddleyard will be masked by the over bridge which will include some grassed banking.

 

A front fascia board will be formed to include integral lighting and the idea is to cut a letterbox slot allowing a view into the train shed and possibly a view at the end either through another opening or left open as per Kyle as per these initial sketches...

 

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It will be first built as a standalone layout which will connect onto the existing slightly modified fiddle yard so it can have its own life however it can later form a combined composition with Kyle which is why I will work to the same constraints of depth and height. It will also be DCC operation with possibly sound too as I think it's time to start embracing the future :D Would mean rewiring Kyle too no doubt...but little by little.

 

As mentioned in my recent post whilst I thought I would restart my Coombe Junction - Moorswater layout, the latest planning was leading it to be a 4.5m linear layout if I wanted to do it properly and I just don't have the time, space or money for that at present. It's as much as managing my own expectations too and taking on something small but hopefully interesting that will keep me enthused as well as hopefully producing something exhibitable without the need for van hire!

 

Incidentally, this blog is called Thurso 722 as during my research I noted from a caption in a Thurso picture in a John Vaughan retrospective on class 37's, that Thurso is 722 miles from London...which is where the layout is being built :)

 

As always, comments welcome.

 

Pete

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  • RMweb Gold

Looking good Pete :D

 

Love the sketches and you still managed to get a reference to JV in there as well! ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

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277 miles from London to Thurso?  Please do tell the AA for their route planner reckons the distance is 677 or thereabouts.  Maybe you meant Glasgow rather than London?

 

A novel approach to layout planning, keep on.

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  • RMweb Gold
good luck hope to see this progress
Thanks Nick...

 

Looking good Pete :D Love the sketches and you still managed to get a reference to JV in there as well! ;)
Thanks Mark - always a need to slip a JV reference in there... ;)

 

277 miles from London to Thurso?  Please do tell the AA for their route planner reckons the distance is 677 or thereabouts.  Maybe you meant Glasgow rather than London? A novel approach to layout planning, keep on.
Thanks and ahem...well spotted...a typo as its 722 from London...I confess to being slightly drunk when I wrote the blog entry :D
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  • RMweb Gold

Nice idea Pete. It is always good to consider different view points it will be interesting to see how it works in practice.

Don

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  • RMweb Gold
Nice idea Pete. It is always good to consider different view points it will be interesting to see how it works in practice.
Thanks Don - am hoping to make a 1:1 mock up this week (as I did for the fiddleyard) as am off for half term so expect another update this week...

 

Option 3 - excellent stuff, I've been kicking that idea about as well. I'm looking forward to this!
Thanks Dave - am guessing yours will be 00 (I saw your note re a Heljan 26!) so we can have the condensed 4mm and 2mm versions on here. Remember that Richard (Ben Alder) has also done a great version of Thurso on a blog here too. Yes option 3 is sort of what I started with 6 years ago and seem to have come full circle back to it..
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Will this be a two-man operation or will an (overworked?) single operator shuttle from end to end ?. Coordinating movements into and out of the fiddle yard could be a trial of friendship! (where's the smiley option gone?)

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  • RMweb Gold
Will this be a two-man operation or will an (overworked?) single operator shuttle from end to end ?. Coordinating movements into and out of the fiddle yard could be a trial of friendship! (where's the smiley option gone?)
Don - it's only 2mm so at present the layout measures 1.5m in length and the extension will be max 1m if that. Currently it's a one person operation with someone standing in the middle and I see it being no different overall - the operation was supplemented by my kids so it's family not friendship that would get strained :D

 

I like the train shed at the front left corner (option 3) the most too.
Thanks Rich - mock up is coming in the next update this week...
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  • RMweb Gold
Nice plan Pete. I like the idea of running trains from one station to another. Looking forward to watching it develop.

 

Thanks Jeremy - I think, despite the chance to invoke rule no.1, ;) the trains never would have in practise however I was thinking to use the passenger, freight and parcels vehicles and maybe swap the locos over - I understand there were no mixed trains to Thurso unlike Kyle so some stock will be unique to each location, especially the locos...

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