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In the beginning...


RobboPetes

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I have been wanting to build a small layout for some time but was not sure what to do. I model B.R. in the early 80s until the end of Speedlink in '91. Trying to design a small layout running both passenger and freight during this time would be hard to achieve. Steam modelers do not have this problem. The move away from 10-foot wheelbase to longer vehicles exacerbated the problem I had.

 

My interest is in freight trains, as I find these far more interesting than passenger trains. As an example, a VDA van can carry Cook-in sauces, Spillers pet food, rolls of news print, Cider, fertiliser, steel products, car components, bagged china clay, bagged cement, etc or used as a barrier vehicle.

 

Looking back at old photos of an 08 dragging a single Cargowaggon through Didcot station provided just the inspiration I needed. Checking the track plan from the British Rail Track Diagrams, Western Region (Quail Map Company) book and checking the site of Dicot Distribution Centre on Google Earth spurred me on. I like Hereford yard but that would have to wait for another day.

 

Looking through The Freight Only Yearbook, No 2, Michael Rhodes & Paul Shannon, page 63 gave me just what I was looking for. The same picture appears in the book - Modelling The British Rail Era, Flemming, Flint, Gibbons and Taylor on page 44. Warrington Dallem Lane sidings was built on the site of a former steelworks. Following this would limit the traffic I could run. I decided to make it a Distribution Depot. The diagram below is the plan I have settled on:

blogentry-13308-0-70398000-1339142984_thumb.jpg

 

I have added a transit shed as I would like to be able to unload flat/open wagons away from public view when exhibiting the layout. All too often these types of wagon are run on and off a layout loaded???

 

The final width of the layout hasn't been determined yet but will be between 1'6" and 2 foot. Total length will be about 8 foot. Heavy use will be made of a sector plate in the fiddle yard and I will be using DG couplings throughout.

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One option would be to run 2 separate trains - one empty and one loaded - only having one of these on the layout at a time would give the impression that both loading and unloading is done off-stage.

 

Another option would be to run a train either empty or loaded only, but needing to access the runround loop, as access to the siding is only available in/from one direction i.e.,empty sleeper trains for the Constain works at Rye House in Herts had to run to Hertford East, run round, then access the works at Rye House by reversing in.

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