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Trelvis_Gresley

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  1. Ok so it has reached that time - time to disassemble Little Scrumpton. "Boooo" I hear you say. Well sometimes a room needs a rennovation and it should always be remembered, removing one layout leaves room for a new one. "Yay" I hear you say. So a plan is afoot for something completely different. A modern layout set on the chiltern Mainline north of Banbury - look out for Magnerton!
  2. So I thought it was time I put together a video of Little Scrumpton. Hence, out came the camera and I began recording an operating session. I intentionally haven’t followed my usual timetable to the letter as it would have resulted in far too much footage and, in some cases, would have been rather difficult to control, so instead I have taken a few services from my timetable and run them to give you an idea. The result? Well its not going to win any Oscars, but it does include a nice bit of Mozart and the essence of the layout that continues to be a joy to operate and generates a great feeling of satisfaction on my part. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/user/TrelvisGresley#p/a/u/0/WJ3sWV0HnP8 Edit: Photos missing from previous entry "Is it finished?" are now attached to this entry
  3. Is any model railway ever finished? Who knows, but after 2 years I have reached a point where only the smallest details will be added from now on, and considering I have just put some n-gauge cats on the layout, "smallest" is an appropriate word! Hence the following photos hopefully give a good idea of where Little Scrumpton has got to. Since my last entry I have been added a number of details to Little Scrumpton. I have constructed a Loco service depot from the Ratio kit that has been installed outside the shed. This was a challenging kit for me as the plastic kits on this layout are my first constructions of this type. Suitable coal and weathering was added to this area just to enhance the dirtier nature of the shed area. I invested in the excellent Farish models of Highly Signal Box (in place between the road bridge and the tunnel below the castle ruins) and the Pagoda shed which has been installed on the platform. The fine moudlings on the models are very impressive, and, talking of the platform, various P&D Marsh benches, lamps and station namebords have been added in an attempt to give a GWR feeling in keeping with the setting of the layout. I must add a note on the animals found on the layout. Rather unintentionally I have ended up with quite a menagerie included 3 horses, a cow, a bull, 2 dogs, 20 sheep, 5 pigs and 2 cats, the painting of which must be one of the most fiddley things I have ever done. Of course there are a number of humans that have been added aswell, perhaps the lack of passengers will be on thing to be completed in the future but I have worked on the principal that the GWR is so efficient they have moved straight from the ticket office to the carriages without the need to sit around outside! I am sure there shall be the odd update to the layout over time but essentially from now on, time on this layout will go into enjoying the operation and taking satisfaction from my first properly planned layout. (Pictures can be seen in the next entry - sit back and enjoy!)
  4. I started the scenery by looking for a decent Cotswold countryside panorama photo on the internet. Fortunately I found a suitable image and was able to take this and a further Cotswoldian village picture, put them into some photo software and develop the background image I was looking for. The village was blended in to appear behind the station building as with my limited space I would be unable to fit in suitable village buildings in 3D. A few further touch ups to remove the odd 21st century person and tractor, and I was ready to go. The image was resized to fit on 5 A4 pages with very minimal overlap adn then printed intentionally on a low gsm paper. This gave a soft focus feel to the image so that the focus of the layout was the track area. Similarly I then gave the interior walls of the layout a coat of a sky blue, and then cut the images across the horizon/tree line. Although the sky was more realistic I wanted to give the feel of a painted background, again to soften the focus to the front of the layout. This was mounted with a simple coat of Pritt stick and the edges rolled to remove the join as best as possible, (For the future a banner print may give a better finish but this can be a little expensive). The bulk of the land mass was completed using blocks of polystyrene, coated with a generous layer of filler smoothed over. In the area of the castle ruins this was intentionally tiered in a "man made" way, to show the Motte and Bailey structure of the old castle. The cutting into the the tunnel was developed and shaped to give a photo oppotunity with the castle in the background. The whole layout was then give a coat of a light green and brown emulsion. The brown was a tone from Dulux called "Muddy Puddle" which gives a lovely tone for uncoated country roads. On top of this, layers of dark earth, fine dark green mixed greens and yellows and rough grass scatter were added. I have limited my pallet on this layout, as I feel n-gauge is best for giving an impression of a scene as opposed to the hyper reality of larger scales. Trees, bushes and hedgerows have been added using some left overs in my scenics box, however over time I would like to improve the trees to more realistic styles. Buildings I have relied heavily on Peco kits for my station area buildings, using the Goods Shed, Engine Shed and Station building. I have also used the Peco cattle dock however I have halved this in size as I have designed the layout to handle a single livestock wagon at a time. This is the first time I have ever built plastic kits for a model railway as my previous layout used cardboard only. I have found them very straight forward to construct and again have kept my pallet small for the building trimmings to soften them into the environment, I do plan to add a small number of extra details in the future and I have given some interior details to the Goods shed (pallets/sacks etc). (Daisy also stands happily in the cattle dock!). I have also used the Peco tunnel and bridge fronts which were coated in 3 different colours, a predominant colour and then 2 tones to pick out the odd brick. They were then coated in black which was heavily removed before wet to pick out the brick details. The Castle is a mix of 2 of the Hormby Liddle End Castle Ruins sets and Normoyle Folley, which I have been very impressed with. A little climbing plant life has been added to blend them into the rough overgrown grass. The coal staithes and weighbridge in the yard are from the excellent Scalescenes.com range. These were again printed on a low gsm paper but this time on colour laser as opposed to inkjet to give some solidity to the details. I found this kit wonderfully easy to follow and, with only a discarded pizza box to add rigidity, the kit came together with ease. I plan to use this site in the future and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a cheap and simple kit that is easily constructed but gives a good quality finish. Railway furniture I have recently added 2 lower quadrant starter signals and some smaller shunting signals to the layout. These are S&D mouldings pre painted and are not operational. I did consider using the Ratio kits and making them operational however, I was impresed by the quality of the SD models and I am unsure I currently have the skill to effectively build the Ratio kits. I purposely purchased signals so that platform 2 was set for departure with all the other signals "on". Platform 2 is where most of my departures are from and although this means that some of the time the signals are incorrect, this does mean that for the enjoyable moment of the next train pulling away everything is right. I also have added a loading gauge from SD mouldings on the goods loop.
  5. In my previous entry, The Blackbow Line History, I described the imaginary line that led to the development of Little Scrumpton. Once the layout was completed I wanted to develop a suitable timetable for the stock movements based on the activity on the line. Following my map of the line, I developed a timing structure for the journey times between stations for standard passenger journeys and also a semi fast service (XP). As a result, and some slightly loose maths, I developed the table seen underneath the map below. I cannot vouch for its realism, but I wanted to give a rough idea of what may be happening off stage and where the services serving Little Scrumpton may arrive or depart from/to. In the timings and the addition of the stopping details I wanted to develop an idea of the importance of the individual locations along the line, the most important being Magnerton Junction, but also the towns of Tipplebridge and Strongthorn. In total I assumed that the rough 22 miles of the full line would be journeyed in approximately 50 minutes to an hour. Having developed this structure I began to look at the timetable for the layout itself. In addition to the timing, I developed a list of movements that I felt would make the most of my resources: All my stock was used in one “day†run of the timetable. Passenger stock should be seen at least twice. Each engine pulling at least one passenger and one goods train. At least 2 engines should go on shed at some point. Deliveries of domestic coal, Loco coal, morning milk/parcels, Fuel/Oil and livestock. Most arrivals to Platform 1, departures from platform 2. Stock on scene should start and end in the same positions so that the end of one day started the next. I started with the passenger services which are comprised of: An early morning workman’s service to Blackbow Cyder Distillery. 4 morning/4 afternoon/3 evening stopping services using B Set, Railcar and Autotrain. An evening town service using Corridor Stock rake. An early afternoon semi fast service using Corridor Stock rake. Here modellers licence comes into effect as I am certain that a station the size of Little Scrumpton would never have had 14 passenger departure services in a day! In addition, mixed into the passenger services, are a selection of goods services and the resulting shunting opportunities. Busy day in the village! I have developed this timetable over a couple of versions, and as a result have developed a list of starting positions in the fiddle yard to limit the amount of handling needed. I haven’t specified individual wagons to be used, merely their type, and so each session results in a different set of wagons starting and finishing on the layout at the end of the day. Below is the finished timetable:
  6. The fiddle yard area of my layout is compact and busy, containing not only the controller and stock but also a mimc diagram set up of power switches and a further diagram for the points. Also included is the timetable for the layout , the stock set up list for the traverser and information on the "world beyond", the Blackbow Line, which of course the fiddle yard represents. Part 1 of Stage left will explain the set up of the electrical requirements of the layout and the traverser, part 2 will look at the timetable. Electrics The layout contains 4 separate circuits all powered by the Gaugemaster Combi controller: The Power circuit links directly into the main track on the board before the join to the traverser. This is a permanent connection that is always live when the layout is in use. Had insulfrog points been used this would have completed the entire power requirements for the main body of the layout however, I wished to include the smoother running of electrofrog points. Hence the main body of track is split into 3 sections to allow for correct isolation. The first section is the permanently connected entrance to the layout which powers the entry track, engine shed road and reversing loop. Sections 2 &3 are controlled by a DPDT switch and can be shut off or activated 1 at a time. These control the headshunt in platform 1 and the platform 2 road and coal siding allowing motive power to be stored in these locations and then isolated. There is also isolation within the engine shed allowing a movement of loco coal into this road whilst an engine is on shed. As previously mentioned in The Blackbow Line Blog the points are also wired via SPDT switches to bypass relying on the rail to rail connection on the points for electrical current. I have found this greatly improves the smooth running through the points. In the future I will look to change from SPDT switches to micro switches linked directly to the point motors, however this may not occur on this layout. The point motors are Peco PL-10s and run on the accessory loop. They are activated by the stud and probe method, however I have found this to be a little intermittent in performance and the studs need a regular clean as they become quite dirty. I may look to change to “Push to make†switches in the future. The uncouplers are Peco PL-25 Electromagnets and are also linked to the accessory loop. I am yet to link the frets to any stock hence currently these are unused, however they are fully wired in and activated using “Push to make†switches. There is also a main power loop going to the Traverser. Traverser The Traverser (or “Treverser†as its also known in this house!) is made of 4mm mdf like the rest of the layout and using 1 x1 runs on 2 doweling rods. 5 lanes of track have been added capable of holding the 3 coach + loco requirement which is the governing length for the whole layout. The electrical link was originally created with a fixed input for the –ve and a contact between 2 brass screws for the +ve. A screw was soldered in place for each row. Unfortunately this system proved highly unreliable as the restricted room meant that the link was formed by a pair of insulated tweezers. Hence I have upgraded the link to 5 “push to make†switches on the +ve loop, the required switch being pressed for the line to be run. A small box has been added at the far end of the tracks which contains the switches and connections to the track. As this was an upgrade I used the recent trick I have learned of soldering the wires to a fishplate and then connecting onto the end of the track. This was far easier than soldering to the track itself and I plan to use this in the future. Thus far this has worked very well and I am pleased with the ease of use that has come from this change.
  7. As mentioned previously I had developed a list of my requirements for my layout, however as with every model railway the first consideration was space. After various negotiations, I decided the best plan was a shelf layout based upon a 180cm floating shelf. This would allow for storage underneath and also be long enough to allow for 120cm of viewing space with a 60cm fiddle yard. Within these limitations I then worked through a selection of tackplans and settled on the following: (not to scale) The trackplan is very simple based on the standard reversing loop with short sidings for an Engine shed, Goods yard and coal staithes. In addition this allowed for 2 platforms and will easily hold a 3 coach train. Construction was based on 2x1 in frame with 4mm mdf for the box structures and the base board. The mdf was suitably light to allow for the fixed structure to be easily moved from the work area outside, upstairs to the back bedroom. In order to protect the layout it was constructed to include lids for the main layout and fiddle yard area. This was then painted in the same emulsion as the room walls to make the effect on the room as minimal as possible when not in use. I commenced laying the track in the scenic section using Peco code 80 with electrofrog points. It was cut and laid roughly at first in order to mark the required location of the holes for the Peco point motors and electromagents for uncoupling. The point motors are operated by stud and probe method with the electro magnets using push to make switches (I am yet to install the frets on the stock for the uncouplers but wanted to include the option from the beginning). I have also installed SPDT switches for each point so that I am not relying on the point blade to make the electrical circuit. I had experienced many problems with this on Blackbow and wanted to ensure the smoothest running I could for my stock. With the holes in place for the point motors I laid some thin cork roll for the trackbed before fixing the track into final position. This allowed the first checks of my lengths for the platform roads, shunting areas, uncoupler locations and the general running performance. The fiddle yard was then constructed. I have used a 5 road traverser, constructed from mdf, which is designed to use a joiner between 2 brass crews in order to complete the positive circuit. Once all this was wired into place, which with my soldering skills took far longer than I had envisioned, I was then in a position to complete my running tests. A few tweeks, and I was ready to start on scenery. I firstly used a dark brown colour for the sleepers and then a grey for the rail sides to dull them off. I avoided the rust red I had used on Blackbow as I felt this was too strong a colour for the track size and I wanted to keep the colours soft on this layout. In a similar vein when it came to ballasting previously I had used a n-gauge granite chip for ballast which I felt was too heavy. Having read further into ballast for n-gauge and particularly the GWR (using the excellent Fairford Branch website) I decided to try Woodland Scenics fine buff ballast. This is far lighter and finer than the granite chippings and seems far more to scale than most ballast I have seen designed for n-gauge. The ballast was added using my trusty teaspoon and sealed in position with the common pva/water/washing up liquid mix. I then used another trusty part of my modelling tool box, my old Farish 08, to check clearances and that no point blades were being fouled. This completed my testing of the track and from this point on it has been all about scenery.
  8. Before writing about my current layout Little Scrumpton, I wanted to present some of the thought processes behind the layout from a planning perspective. I enjoy reading about the history and development of railway lines of interest and I have read in the past that the railway modeller should consider the history of their model, whether real or imagined. Therefore when I was in a position to starting building my current layout, I wanted to provide a link between this and my old layout, Blackbow, by inventing the history and developing the trackplan of the whole line. The theme would be cider related in honour of the first layout and provide options for further development of other layouts for the future. I had several requirements of both the new layout and the line, firstly my own enjoyment, showing some of what I like to see in a layout, but also to try and make to most of my stock in a prototypical way: For the layout: GWR Branch Terminus with 2 platforms 3 coach train capacity Small loco shed Goods, Coal and Cattle services A strong non railway feature For the line: River Valley Branch line with 2 large towns and a number of villages. A GWR mainline junction with links to LMS A smaller connection to SR A link to Blackbow Cyder Distillery A goods only terminus/shed. Historical places of interest references. Hence I developed the following: The fictional history is as follows: Built during the late 19th Century, the Blackbow line along the Valley of the River Tipple, provided much needed transport links in the region as the river became overcrowded with commercial use. The brainchild of local land and business owner, Lord Applebury of Magnerton House, the line passed through the major regional town of Magnerton, its nearest neighbour the heavily industrial Tipplebridge and then on eastwards, through several villages, to link with Lord Applebury's Famous Blackbow distillery and his family's ancestural home at Strongthorn Castle near Little Scrumpton. To the West of the junction with the GWR mainline at Magnerton the line passed Applebury Park and joined with the Southern Railway at the small town of Clatterby. Hence my current layout, the terminus at Little Scrumpton, had a reason for being. In part 3 I will go into the track plan and construction of the basic layout.
  9. Blackbow was my first proper attempt at a model railway after (teenage) years away from the hobby. I have included this history as my current layout is based around the same fictional Blackbow branch line and I wanted to reference to where my ideas began. The layout was built incredibly cheaply and with very limited room at home. It was a micro layout, at 3 x 1 ft with a 2 x 1 viewing area. The fiddle yard consisted of 2 single sidings entering the upper and lower sections of the layout, with a small rat run in the viewing section linking these parts. But to start at the beginning, with a kind gift of a Gaugemaster combi and the purchase of some points and flexitrack I began to think about the base design, and having stumbled across the excellent and “simplez†Metcalfe building kits, the idea of a layout combining one love, the GWR and another, a cold pint of cider, began to develop. And so Blackbow was born. Having purchased the Metcalfe Brewery and Factory kits I began to put together the trackplan. I wanted to avoid the traditional use of a tunnel portal or bridge for the exit to fiddle yard, so judicial placing of the large brewery building allowed concealment of the 2 entrances. I also wanted to provide some gradient on the line as with only 2 x 1 ft of viewing space available I hoped this would increase the feeling of space. The box was constructed using chipboard for the base, with ply edges and 2x1 bracing for the legs and frame. In hindsight, a lighter material for the baseboard would have been preferable for the many trips up and down stairs as the layout lived under the bed. I used some MDF to build up the gradients with cork laid underneath the track. The control panel was constructed from ply and a mimic diagram, created in word, was added for placing of the 2 switches required for isolation. I selected Peco track and electrofrog points and with my dubious soldering skills the track was laid for testing using my trusty, old 08 I had bought with some birthday money as a boy. All worked well however, I had made a mistake with the short 1 wagon run round loop. I had chosen to use a left and right handed point as opposed to Y points and found that my lines did not separate sufficiently for the run round to be completed. With very limited funds for the project I was not in a position to purchase fresh points hence I was required to force the lines apart a little un-naturally. This worked but even some of the shorter wheel based stock was required to run on the lower part of the loop. With the track laid, edged with a rust red (a little too red to be honest), and running well, my attention turned to scenics. Fortunately, as I was considering my background, an issue of Model Rail magazine was released that included a free short 4ft background. It was perfect for my requirements and was immediately pasted on to the layout. I had also looked a putting together some brickwork and paved flooring using Excel and so within a short period of time my layout had internal walls next to the lines and suitable flooring for a busy Brewery. Then came my first ever attempt at ballasting. I purchased some n gauge granite chip ballast, which was spread evenly between my freshly laid brickwork and I used the traditional pva/water/Fairy mixture which was pipetted in to hold all in place. This was all remarkably successful for my first attempt however, I soon felt that the granite looked a little heavy for the line. I decided not to change it but kept this in mind for the future. With the addition of some pipe cleaner trees, a few lichen bushes, a Langley crane and plenty of barrels and bottles from the same supplier the layout really began to take on a pleasant feel. My stock continued to grow and through the process I had really begun to reimmerse myself in the world of model railways. I learned a lot from this little layout about what looked good for n gauge. I was happy with the slightly sparse, uncluttered feel and appreciated that point motors would be a good idea for the future. The line soldiered on few a few years with the odd detail added from time to time, but with a longing to run passenger stock and a change of house giving a little more room (5 x1!), a new plan came to mind. Final pics
  10. Following quite a few sessions, the track is now laid: Hence some test runs with various rolling stock have taken place. Next step fully wiring up the point motors and the control panel.
  11. And so it begins! Hartham Market is a fictional town set on the Hertford East branch between Ware and Stanstead Abbotts, roughly where the village of Great Amwell is located. It is a traditional Hertfordshire market town heavily based on Hoddesdon, Ware and Hertford with an emphasis on its link to the brewing trade. As a result, key considerations for scenic items include, the River Lea and the New River, a rail served brewery and river side pubs. The layout is set in the early 1990s Network SouthEast era and hence for me is an exercise in nostalgia, as this is the time I began watching trains with my Dad in and around London and the Lea Valley. In addition to the fictional location, I have allowed for certain fictional elements associated with the Hertford East branch to create operational interest: Firstly, I have excluded the Beeching cuts and other line closures in the area. This allows the continuation of the Buntingford Branch and the Hertford, Luton and Dunstable Railway providing a cross Hertfordshire link from Broxbourne to Welwyn Garden City and beyond via the original Hertford East/North connection. Secondly, I have included a triangular junction at the connection from the Buntingford Branch to the Hertford East line allowing journeys to Buntingford from the west. Thirdly, the line hasn’t been electrified so all journeys are diesel hauled at this point. Finally, as I am going to be running only one train in motion at any time, this gives a good opportunity to make Hartham Market the passing location where the Hertford East branch becomes single line for its journey towards Ware. In reality this occurs just east of Ware station. The location of Hartham Market and the local rail links at the time modelled can therefore be seen below The plan for the layout is limited by certain space considerations but is approximately 9.5ft by 2 ft (reducing to 1ft) including the fiddle yard on one end. (See below): The dark blue area to the left represents the location of the brewery, with the New River at the front and the River Lea at the back.The purple line is a reversing loop and is hidden off scene. I have used a fiddle yard style that does require reversing but with the minimal space available, through ladder sidings were not possible. This type of fiddle yard, and the layout as a whole, was influenced by the excellent Lymebrook Yard (see Railway Modeller Oct 2018), which I was kindly allowed to take photos of at the London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace a few years ago. Now having built the baseboards in place and got the track on order, it felt like the moment to begin to share my progress. It won’t be quick (!) but I am sure it will be enjoyable.
  12. I've spent a very enjoyable few hours over the past couple of days working through this thread from page 1. The quality of the layout, particularly the workmanship on the scenery is exceptional. I look forward to seeing the next phase take shape. Thanks for sharing!
  13. Was very impressed by Banbury when I saw it yesterday. It was the accuracy in the smaller "vertical" things, like the different fence types and hand rails, and also the phone masts etc that I thought gave the layout something else. They were modern features that really help to set the scene with the prototypical rolling stock. Inspirational stuff.
  14. Really enjoyed seeing Kirkhill in person yesterday. The split and reform moves of the HSTs are fascinating to watch - so used to thinking of them as complete units. Fantastic slow running as well.
  15. Really looking forward to seeing this layout on Sunday. Really inspirational. Trevor
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