Barry Ten's Blog

Not sure if this is the kind of thing you have in mind?

Yes, absolutely that type of thing - many thanks.

Clutton as well!

looking great, one question though is where do you find all the modelling time?

Tim: thanks, another fine example. And an excuse to look at more pictures of Clutton, if any were needed.

 

Paul: I'm not sure about modelling time - I'm lucky to get 30 - 45 minutes most evenings, if that. But I do try and use that time productively. If I'm out running, I'll be thinking ahead to what I can get done, thinking about the tools and materials I'll need, instead of dithering when I actually get to my modelling slot. That bay platform only took about an hour to make, spread over a couple of evenings; putting in the point was another hour or so (most of which was spent tracking down a wiring bug) but because I've done a zillion similar jobs it mostly went very smoothly. I've recently discovered that i can speed up a hell of a lot of modelling jobs by using a circular saw in a Dremel-type tool, instead of a knife, so most of the cutting on that bay was done with the circular saw tool, which was incredibly quick and easy. Last night I used the same tool to cut some recesses in the platform for the water crane - again, much quicker than hacking away with a knife.

 

I'm also reaping the rewards of a long time in the hobby: that station building is 36 years old; the signal box and goods shed go back 20 years, and so on, so there's a lot of cumulative modelling coming into play. More than that, though, but having through some tough times over the years with family illnesses, worries and so on, I've come to realise how critical this hobby is to my general well-being, so I regard those 30 - 45 minutes as sacrosanct. Luckily I've got a kind and supportive wife who understands the value of the hobby as well, but there's also give and take; she enjoys her garden so I like helping her with watering plants, visiting garden centres and so on, and we try and make time for each other in the evenings to enjoy TV etc.

Nicely done Al, fitting that bay in could have made it all look squeezed but on the contrary it actually adds depth I think.

 

I'm also a subscriber to the "30 minutes a day" approach (mine are in the early morning). An added bonus is that it provides a natural break for things to dry, contemplation of the next step, etc, which stops me from blundering impatiently ahead :-)

Thanks Mikkel - and yes, those 30 minutes are crucial!

May I offer some thoughts on signal box location? The ones I've seen have been located at the station throat, where the largest complex of pointwork is located. Presumably this is to make it easier for the signalman, as he doesn't have to throw too many distant points. The only exception I've seen has been in small suburban stations where the cabin is located beside the level crossing, presumably so the signalman can monitor the road traffic before closing the gates (or is it opening them?) Where there is both a crossing and a goods yard and complex pointwork, as on your layout, I'm not sure which would take precedence, and there are no doubt many exceptions as well.

 

Alan

I'd assume that nearness to the level crossing would be the deciding factor?

I really don't know. I'd have guessed that the preference would be to put it at the station throat and have the station porter run down to open a manually operated set of gates that would be released from the cabin and that would in turn release the signals that protect them, labour being cheap in those days; but that really is just a guess. I know Claremorris had a crossing about 500m or so east of the station which had slotted signals protecting it: the signalman released the signal but it didn't move until the crossing keeper opened the gates and then pulled his lever for the same signal; but that was different because the gates and points couldn't be controlled from the same place.

 

I'll look forward to seeing what you decide on.

 

Alan

 

Edit

 

Updated to add that Tuam station, on the line from Athenry to Claremorris, had its signal box at the south end of the station and a hand operated set of gates at the north end. Kiltimagh had a crossing at each end and the box was at the south where the station throat was located. Charlestown had its box near the throat and manual gates at the far end. These were all on a line built to light railway standards.

 

On the GSWR mainline, Buttevant had its box at the crossing, at the far end from the station throat, as did Rathmore. Headford Junction, just down the line from Rathmore, had the box at the junction, away from the crossing which had its own crossing keeper's cottage.

 

So I think I've just demolished my own argument: you can put it at whichever end you like, and it may depend on what your railway company did.

 

Alan