Graham70

Thanks for that, i notice that neither the DR4018 or the DR50018 have loconet ports? I was hoping to run all the decoders and detectors via loconet cables same as the DR4088LN has.

Hi Guys, I am looking at using either the MP1 or MP5 turnout motors on my new DCC N scale layout running a DR5000-ADJ and Itrain. Has anyone been using either for a length of time yet and how have they been? was looking at Cobalts classics. Secondly i see you use as a two wire or a three wire? not sure which way to use? mine will be controlled by either digitrax or digikeijs decoders (the new DK50018 looks good) Any recommendations or feedback much appreciated. Thanks Graham.

So minimum day time temps in winter are on average 20c summer tops of about 45c so the shed will be well insulated and have AC. With the van in place will have around 1500mm between the van and layout. One way i can connect the lower fiddle yard to the upper main lines would be through the colliery {which is on the same level as fiddle yard} then up the helix, or up the helix and branch off and rejoin on the other side near to the Skipton exit. I am sure there is a few ways to do this. The colliery line would disappear from the main level through a tunnel then onto the helix and down. During planning ill work out what the gradients are and if its looks like its close to a problem i can always use Powerbase, am sure i can keep the gradient no more than 2% or less with good planning. Ill be able to have the helix radius out to as close to the 500mm mark as i can. To get a return loop on the lower level ill have the available width of 1000mm so i think a radius of around 480 should be fine. One idea would be to have a double parallelogram then a return loop then back into another double parallelogram with the return loop starting and finishing at the widest points of the yards to make best use of the width. I have 7m of length to play with. Lots to work out but i think its all possible without to much drama.

Thank you for that, i thought that was the way they did it. I am thinking if i rotate your design 180 i can have the colliery line run along losing height and then disappear through a tunnel and then onto a helix and down to a lower deck. I might shorten the platforms so it suits a max of a 5 carriage train so i can model more scenery leading into the station area from Skipton? When i get some time i will do up a track plan and then you guys can let me know how I go with points and crossover placements. Where was the addition of the extra trailing crossover needed?

Thanks for all your input guys and please keep it coming. Its the designing a track plan and the operating rules/restrictions that i am not very familiar with. The construction and electronics i am fine with. This layout will be using block occupancy detection and at this stage will be digitrax loconet network running under Traincontroller. I had hoped DCC Concepts would had have their detection/identification system up and running but last i asked it was a very vague "not at this time".

There is going to be a roller door at both ends so i can push the van out onto the back lawn so i can then use the shed space for any projects or car maintenance ect. There will be just enough room with the van in place to get around the sides to attend to any problems. Am thinking of using a helix to drop down to a lower deck where to model a colliery and would then also have space for fiddle yard and return loop.

Thanks this is looking good. Question if you had empty coal wagons coming from skipton how do they cross over the over line? would they go past then reverse back across and into the yards? Would it be better to have the station building on the other platform so as to view the building from the platform side? I know it is in real life on the closer platform. Could I rotate 180 and have skipton on the left and Ilkey on the right? that way would have the station facing out? Have been thinking more about the colliery and what if i were to have the colliery line disappear and then use a helix to drop down on to a lower bench? thinking a lower bench would be easier to work on than a upper one. i have plenty of space to fit a helix in which would give me a larger area to model a colliery and associated workshops ect. Thanks.

I am planning on 900mm radius curves on either side. Perhaps i could have the platforms starting just into the curve to give more space at the other end? Big 4 would like LMS and LNER. As for train size, passenger from 2 up to 4 to 5 or longer if suits. Coal trains well i dont really know what length coal trains would have been running on this line? perhaps smaller trains from the colliery down to the main yard then put together to make a longer train?? What sizes would long and short coal trains be?? Am thinking with the colliery line i will have 7m or more to rise {partly hidden, tunnels, back scene} to the upper or lower deck where i will have the colliery ect.

Thanks this looks interesting, would it still work if you were to flip the plan so the line to the quarry {colliery} was on the top instead? or rotate 180deg so the station end up on the right and the quarry line is top left?

Thanks for all your comments it's greatly appreciated. This is my first full attempt at a layout so no wonder I have not got the track setup the way it should and that is why i have asked all of your advice so as to nut it out correctly so as to avoid planing issues. The facing points issue I didn't even think about truthful but thank you for pointing it out. I was just thinking in the ability to move trains whichever way they needed to go as I had thought to have both empty and full coal trains coming and going on both main lines. I am really just using Langwathby as a track plan not a location as such if that helps to clear it up a bit. I was more thinking that it could be a possible mainline station in the north hence the colliery branch line. I am definitely in need of your advice on the correct layout of the yard, sheds station areas etc. Had thought I could add the engine shed and possibly a coaling station as this is on the mainline and they would serve a purpose but if they would not normally be at this style of station/yards then can easily do away with them. The plan is to have the colliery on a separate level most likely above this level as a second stage of the build. Definitely planning on having engine shed, turntable etc at the colliery itself but that will come later. It was mentioned that I could move the station area onto one of the lift out bridges, the lift out sections will only be very narrow as they will have to go between the rear of the caravan and roller door then along the wall then back across in front of the van to complete the circuit. I know the scenes I want to create but not how to get a track plan that suits and works. Again much appreciate your input and any plans or ideas that you may come up with to fine tune this layout idea of mine.

Hi guys, So i am looking at building a new OO layout and have found a plan of Langwathby which i think suits what i want with some slight mods. The main layout will be in a shed 7m long by 4.5 m wide containing a caravan on one side. plan will be to have the main layout to one side 7m x 1m with the twin tracks then going around the inside of the of the shed with the caravan off center with lift out bridges at either end to allow the van to go in and out front or back. Layout will be twin mainline steam era. There is 3 either single or can be double slips to try and be able to bring trains in and out from both directions. Each end has to complete a 90 deg turn fairly quickly so as to end up onto the lift out bridges but I will have some small extra distance where to transition to the bridges, I would like to have longer platforms if i can find room to the move things to the left. Unsure if i have the right amount of line lengths around the working areas to make operations viable or can i shorten up the track areas on the left to give longer platforms? I haven't worked out the colliery track plan yet. I would like to be able to have coal trains travel up and down the colliery line with the loco up front and then be able for the loco to do a run around in the main yards so as to be able to leave in either direction. I am considering building the colliery on a deck underneath or above this current level, which would look better? The track plan is just to give an idea of what i am looking for. I have attached both the original and my modified plan for any and all comments. Any ideas and feedback appreciated. Thanks Graham.

Hi guys, so i am looking at building a new OO layout and have found a plan of Langwathby which i think suits what i want with some slight mods. The main layout will be in a shed 7m long by 4.5 m wide containing a caravan on one side. plan will be to have the main layout to one side 7m x 1m with the twin tracks then going around the inside of the of the shed with the caravan off center with lift out bridges at either end to allow the van to go in and out front or back. Layout will be twin track steam era. There is 3 either single or can be double slips to try and be able to bring trains in and out from both directions. Each end has to complete a 90 deg turn fairly quickly so as to end up onto the lift out bridges but I will have some small extra distance where to transition to the bridges, I would like to have longer platforms if i can find room to the left. I haven't worked out the colliery track plan yet. The track plan is just to give an idea of what i am looking for. I have attached both the original and my modified plan for any and all comments. Any ideas and feedback appreciated. Graham.