Bloxley

Think that layout used peco 91 and 96 points. They seemed much gentler than the Hornby ones. Hopefully they will be okay

I will I think on this occasion go for DC, its a first layout. It's not really designed to be expanded into a bigger layout. DCC looks like the money could add up very quickly even on a small layout. I think considering I have never even operated a model train in my life, I should probably start basic. I know I will enjoy the building of the layout, as I enjoy modelling and diorama work. So that bit is fine. How often I will feel the urge to operate the layout, is yet to be seen. So I will keep the costs associated with that as moderate as I can.

I dont think anyone could've explained that better. Thank you. I thought it would be much harder than that to wire DC. Going DC would certainly leave more budget for everything else. Massive help, cheers 🍻

No now you have explained it makes total sense. Thank you. This seems a much better way of doing things, than I had planned. Why would you fuel in a siding, yeah should have thought of that!

I think isolating all the track sounds a lot more effort, so although expense may dictate otherwise I had thought dcc would be the easier way too go? I think due to the space a wagon maintenance would be easier to model. Plus the coal trains that serviced the power station to be was so long, think it would eventually bother me that I was showing 1/5 of the train. Which is why I am trying to figure out if it is feasible a power station would have some sort of moderate repair facilities on site? This is just my first idea and I can change industry if needed. I think i have ditched the idea of the DMU as with the space I have I don't think I could produce anything I would enjoy playing with? Drop off and drive out seems like it would get boring quickly. Whereas the industrial sidings seems to give a bit more playability to a small space.

Please forget my ignorance as I know very little about railways. So I think from what you have shown, shunter either sits in fuelling point or bottom right siding? Is there operational or prototypical benefits of having the fuelling point there? Or is purely so it can more easily service two trains?

Okay looking at ariel photos (most are blurred, for security reasons?) but I can see this shed not sure on its purpose? And what might be a refuelling point? So my initial layout albeit it more busy, is potentially on the right type of idea? There is what also appears to be coal unloading facility closer towards where the track branches off the mainline. So it would pass through the unloading facility before it reaches this area. I don't know if that helps determine this sheds use more easily? Although there is no road bridge on this section on the photos there is one further up. And I think some artistic license to compress the scene is fair otherwise I would need a layout longer than my house. lol

Thank you, you might be right. When I first started military modelling I never much cared for historical accuracy. But as time went on... you know how the rabbit hole goes. I suppose its easier with single models to progress like this, whereas a layout is a bigger undertaking and longer term planning is probably needed. In all honesty I will likely ditch the dmu off then. As the one I would actually want I can't actually find in stock anyway (london midland class 170) Main reason i wanted a traverser is because I am draftsman by trade and think I could quite easily design a traverser. So its just a bit of a side project. And I quite like staying afterwork to play in the machine shop on various personal projects. I probably need a rethink of the purpose of the layout after all your comments. This is exactly why I posted as my railway knowledge is limited. I think some kind of wagon repair facility could be feasible? As i grew up around a coal based power station (Rugeley) I think this would suit my needs I mainly saw freightliner (HHA?) wagons on the line. But due to small space i think I would roll back the clock and base it on HAA wagons as they are much smaller.

I think your right, it would give the perception that the sidings going into the shed are much longer. Thank you

So the railway I lived by all my life is the chase line, it has a lot of industrial use (or did until the powerstation closed) and services 2 or 3 car dmus only. Atleast in my living memory. So i kind of was thinking along these lines, its a fictional location. But yes the line would primarily be a industrial line, but purely because I traveled on DMU's every week from about age 11 till 23, i like the idea of a DMU refuelling there or something (if its only because I want to see it I can live with that justification)

The no loop is a small issue, which is why I thought the yard could be serviced by the 08. Probably parked in the siding in the middle of the layout. I just couldn't figure out how to cram a loop in? I suppose I could get rid of the fiddle yard. But I like the idea of the break in the scenery for a new train to enter into the scene. I drive past bescot fairly regularly and they have some smaller I presume ballast wagons, I am unsure exactly which wagons they are. Looking online they look simialr to a MHA? Think that could work with my idea as some sort of depot for minor repairs to locos and wagons, servicing a industrial branchline. I am not 100% caught up on accuracy, so I am willing to flex away from prototypical to have a layout that is fun to my own narrative.

I was kind of in the idea of something of a cross between the two, although not 100% prototypical I would imagine. But I had the idea it was a small all purpose depot servicing a small industry nearby.

Hi all, I have never owned a train set/ layout before. Although I have weather a few items of rolling stock for fun. However I have done a lot of military modelling and dioramas has became a bit of a passion for me for the last 2 or so years. However I have always wanted movement in this dioramas and railways seem to be the perfect fit. I have this idea for a small layout in oo gauge. I am unsure if this is prototypical (suppose to do it right, i would need much more space) but I can probably overlook this. Layout is 180x45 cm (6x1.5 ft), squares are 30cm/ 1ft. This really is as much space as I want to dedicate to this. I hope this layout would give me a fair opportunity to do some shunting with a 08 (think it has a inglenook in there? I am aware this location probably wouldn't have much shunting in real life.) Plus i can bring in and out some larger diesel loco or DMU's? If it matters I would probably like to model the 90's/ early 2000's but this can be changed as I believe most modern wagons may be too long for this layout? If anyone has any feed back, I would really appreciate it. As I have never done any railway modelling in the past, so I am sure I have overlooked many things.

Thank you for the kind words. Yeah i would luke to experiment with chipping/ flaking in the future. Just need a few cheap wagons to give it a go on

Cheers bud. That does look more like the actual wagon. But yeah the colour the camera on my phone gave was way off. I do have a "proper" camera.... but i have to admit i am useless with it :(