unravelled

Many thanks for that Martin. I did attempt to create a template on Templot this afternoon, but the settings I chose gave slightly different timbering which didn't match the base, (and your pdf). Even so it was probably the most productive I've been on Templot so far. Now, armed with your pdf, I can go ahead and make up some planning templates. Thanks again Dave

With some trepidation, I have just put my first kit together. I shouldn't have worried, as it all worked very well. I think I managed to break the centre pillar off one of the check rail chairs, feeding in my first check rail, but that is all that went wrong. I haven't soldered the bonding wires yet, in case I decide to do some dismantling before installation. The base feels scarily flimsy at the start of construction, but the final product feels fine. The biggest problem I have had so far is a failure to print out the scale drawing, as none of my installed pdf readers seem to want to do tiling. My next move is to get the A3 printer down from the attic. One thing I am contemplating is running a continuous length of rail through two adjoining turnouts, to aid alignment and reduce the number of rail joints. Would this be a bad idea? I'm looking forward to seeing the range expand, and placing the next order. In the meantime, I will improve the lighting and magnifier on my bench, and build the second kit. Thanks Dave

Two kits ordered on Sunday, arrived today. I hadn't visualised how long they'd be, which might necessitate some extra foreshortening in the trackplan I'm working on. I might have to be less ambitious and wait for the shorter versions to come. but any future ones will be 00sf. I'm looking forward to getting on with their construction. Thanks Dave

Here are a couple from Oxford in 1965, this is at Aristotle Lane crossing and this at Walton Well Road bridge Also from 1965, three photos at Oxenholme Eastleigh in 1966 Finally, Shap 1967 Dave

A 2013 ground level view of one of the scissors crossovers adjacent to the King George V dock. The road behind the gates to the left is the cab rank for London City airport. This picture is from the footbridge at the DLR station. North of Kings Cross, across the canal, part of the Goods depot complex has been converted for Central St Martins art school. The development has retained various sections of inset track. Dave

These are alongside the basin at the east end of the Royal Docks, just off the end of the Docklands Light Airport runway Dave

Mention was made earlier of some narrow gauge track at Three Mills in East London, Here are a couple of pictures from 2011 Dave

Here are a few from 2009, in Factory Road, North Woolwich. All swept away by Crossrail works, unless some survive under the tarmac. The next photo shows the only track still showing, an oblique line entering the Tay Wharf site Dave

I'm late to spot this reply, thanks for the post. I recognise that motor, I have several stripped out of army surplus equipment by my father. Nice to see that G2 is still of interest Dave

I have a technical question about this change. Without the need for the traditional speech capability, will there be a possibility of increased internet bandwidth over the copper lines? I'm interested because although I have an 020 7 phone number, openreach cannot provide fibre at this address, and any improved speed would be helpful. The problem is that my exchange has direct copper to each house, with no green boxes, and no place to run fibre. The slight advantage is that there is no contention, so speed usually remains steady. Dave

A bit late, but here's one. Dave

Looks good, could the smoke deflectors come off cleanly? Will the left over GBL body parts make a 2-4-4T, (or a 2-4-2 if you decide to lengthen the bunker)? Dace

I'll be watching this as in the 70s I had a flat in one of the houses on Gauden Road, (the unnamed road in the middle of your plan), backing on to the goods yard. No goods yard by then, and I remember that Clapham was thought one of the most run down stations at that time. One of the buildings near the main road was Adcola House, a works/offices for the soldering iron makers. I don't think I have any useful pictures from those days, but will have a look later. Dave

Sorry, I thought I had replied to this last night, but the message has disappeared. Thanks for the comment, the chunkiness and non intrusive studs are helped by this being G1, not 0, The crossing angle is about 9 degrees. The form of the crossovers is heavily influenced by Bassett Lowke. There is a G1 coarse crossover, now unused, which I guess my father copied, it is 4'6" long as are the ones you see here. The radius would be about 9'. The stud contact is to G1MRA standard settings. We have used round head brass woodscrews, long enough to go through the sleeper, it is then an easy job to wrap and solder a joining wire between them. The studs are below rail height on plain track, ramping up to give clearance on pointwork. Cheers Dave

Another remodelling tonight. the pair of crossovers have been swapped end for end. I haven't tested the electrics yet, but it has all been reconnected, I think... Time to think about rebuilding some 9' radius curves to 5'6" for the outdoor section. Thanks for the advice Dave

Several pot boilers, and a couple of higher pressure ones. Having blown up a pot boiler loco may years ago, I will be careful if I ever come to steam them again. Thanks Dave

That's something I had not considered. My take on it had been that in reality, it would make sense for the inbound trains to meet the diverging route later rather than sooner, as speeds were reducing for the station. I will probably exchange the crossovers before long. Thanks Dave

Thanks, I only have two clockwork locos, a 112 tank which will remain within station limits, and a Precursor tank, which should be able to manage an out and back run. There are stud contact electric, r/c electric, and steam, (untested for many years). Dave

OK, here are four diagrams to explain my constraints and questions. These are in the usual Minories orientation, with platforms to the left, and the world to the right. The top diagram was my old layout, which I recently altered to increase platform lengths. The second is my current arrangement, where I just moved the crossover to the world end of the layout. After making this change I realised that the first diagram has the advantage of reducing facing movements, as trains to the diverging track don't traverse it.There are a couple of constraints to note. The diverging single pair of points is a fixed factor, it can't move any further right. Also the crossovers are each single units, and at the moment I don't want to chop them up, so the fourth diagram is not achievable at the moment My question is whether there would be an operational preference for one of the middle two layouts over the other? Any thoughts? Thanks Dave

Another couple of years on, and the station throat has been remodelled allowing longer platforms. A revised "girder" facade has been constructed to disguise the 00, (still waiting for the bullhead double slip...). Some of the white "lamp globes", (OK cupboard door knobs) operate the points on the 00 sidings above. The platform extension was made possible by moving the facing crossover out past the trailing one. In some ways I liked the old version better because the facing crossover was inside the pair of points leading to the platforms on the left of the picture. In the new setup there are more moves involving traversing a facing point. Incidentally is there a real world preference for which order the facing and trailing crossovers occur? I now have it with the facing crossover coming first when entering the station. Other work has seen my 1:32 radio controlled pannier tank put back together. I also bought a layout of plastic track for my grandson to play trains on. I almost ended up with 16mm ish models, but decided to use cheap 16mm chassis with small G1 loco bodies. I recently acquired some characterful G1 sentinel bodies, which I am fitting with (16mm) r/c chassis for a cheap and cheerful , and child friendly, locos. Outdoors, I have abandoned the round the garden plans and demolished most of the 30+ year old infrastructure. My current plan is for a balloon loop on the patio for simple out and back operation, hopefully short enough for the clockwork locos. The diameter will be tight at about 11 feet, but should be ok for most of my stock. Cheers Dave

But to get back to the topic, here is a grimy 9F hauling passenger stock. Ok it's possibly ecs, but suits the topic. In my current collecting scheme, I decided not to buy any blue or blue/grey, stock simply as a convenient cutoff point, Dave

3d versions of the double arrow have been used at the rebuilt London Bridge station. Dave

I was interested to see that these are in service. A couple of years ago I remember seeing them under test near Elephant and Castle Then they were being accompanied by a human minder. Possibly South Bank University were involved in the testing as that wasn't too far away. Dave

6106 at Oxford in early 1965 And in December 1965, with plywood numberplate on an OURS trip on the Thame branch. Again I have more pictures but the light was terrible on this trip, so not much detail. Dave

A bit late with this information, but I hope it helps. I have a few photos of 9773 at Oxford in July/ August 1965. The detail shows a bent lamp bracket, which probably explains a lot. I've a couple more front 3/4 if they would be of any use. Dave