wigancg Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Hello there and a warm welcome to Rhyn Exchange; the start of a small industrial layout based in South Wales around the late 1950s/early 1960s BR steam on the Western Region alongside the daily grime of the Industrial network and NCB. Initial thoughts are for our new layout to be loosely based around the Inglenook principles with plans to extend in the future to provide a more detailed arrangement of exchange sidings. This will provide us with our enjoyment of a shunting puzzle, industrial railways and Western Region steam. So, here goes the theory... In deepest, darkest Wales within the depths of the Valleys where the beautiful landscape meets the grime and toil of the country's coal industry lies the small junction of Rhyn. The NCB line from Rhyn Colliery meets the BR branch line where the exchange of wagons, (coal, oil, fuel and general goods) plus the occasional miners train, occurs. Once a train on either line arrives at the exchange sidings, the wagons will need to shunted and arranged as required before onward transportation to the appropriate destination by a different locomotive down the opposite branch line. The layout is simple in terms of build and operation, comprising of four sidings, two branch lines which meet at a Y point. The four sidings for shunting are arranged around a 'three way' point and a Right Hand point as well. Therefore, there will currently be no run round facilities at Rhyn Exchange until further extension of the layout is completed, however, this adds to the enjoyment and also to the puzzle aspect. Here is an example of one of our locos that will be required for regular duty in the near future at Rhyn Exchange busy shunting on one of our other layouts. Happy modelling to all for now! Chris and Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 An interesting concept. I am always interested in shunting, whether in model form, or on the big railway, a set of exchange sidings always seem to give a lot of scope for a variety of traffic, cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Hello Riversider, Thank you for your kind comment. We're also interested in shunting layouts and puzzles and also shunting in yards and industrial settings as these are the real unsung heroes of the railways. We have plenty of traffic types of keep us entertained here on Rhyn Exchange and in due course we'll be uploading a track diagram and also a photo of the current state of the baseboard. Thanks again, Kevin and Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenng Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 looks like a nice layout have you some more photos of the layout?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Hi Glenng, Thanks for your kind comment. Currently we are only in the initial phases of developing and building Rhyn Exchange and we have made the baseboards and laid the cork underlay this weekend (photos to follow later this evening). The photos of our 03 shunter above are taken on one of our other layouts. However, watch this space... Thanks again, Kevin and Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 Hello everyone, Here are a few photos from earlier this afternoon after constructing the main baseboard for Rhyn Exchange and gluing the cork underlay firmly on top. As can be seen, the layout will comprise of a 3 way point in the middle of the board with four sidings coming off at the far end to be used for shunting purposes. The 3 main sidings used with the Inglenook principles and the fourth siding used to hold a stationary loco and brakevan when necessary. At the other end of the 3 way point, a Y point is used to feed the yard off towards the two different routes; either the BR branch line or the NCB line leading to Rhyn Colliery. The long piece of flexitrack at the top of the board is an extra piece to be used to make the two branches. Next weekend should see us hopefully pinning down the track and cutting to form the sidings and branches as well as fitting the point motors directly to the points to improve their reliability as this has worked wonderfully in the past. We have also today marked out where the base boards will require holes for the point motors to be slotted into before wiring can commence. Enjoy your modelling, Chris and Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NunneyCastle5029 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Hi everyone, We thought it was about time we showed you the basic track plan for Rhyn Exchange, so here it is: Cheers Kevin and Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted October 24, 2015 Author Share Posted October 24, 2015 Hello everyone, Over the past few weekends we have had a few developments here at Rhyn Exchange. We are now well underway with the building process and all the track has been laid as well as all of the wiring. Locomotives and wagons run well over the track work and the point motors do a sound job and have been fitted with a CDU for that extra bit of "umph" as we like to call it to get the blades over. We have now made a start with the scenery, mostly building up the embankment sides around the yard before we tackle the ballasting and canal bridge at a later date. Enjoy your modelling, Chris and Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NunneyCastle5029 Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 As its been a little while since our last update on Rhyn Exchange, i think its about time to lets tell you whats new we have built a small signal box "Wills kit" this has been painted in the old GW colours and then weathered we have also made a good start on the small amount of landscaping which has been made up from polystyrene sheets cut and glued in place, a layer of plaster bandage has then been applied prior to painting it an earthy brown colour and then covering it with the first layer of static grass. a start has been made on mocking up the canal over bridge for the scenic break, I'm hoping to progress this further over the next few weeks, ive also made good progress kit bashing a "knightwing" air reservoir tank turning it into an industrial water tank. in the mean time we have been playing trains shunting various wagons into numerous formations The 03 Sits ready for the next shunt Wagons all lined up for shunting view of the yard from the other side Happy Modelling Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share Posted December 15, 2015 Hello everyone, Following on from Kevin's previous post, we have completed more progress on Rhyn Exchange over the past few weeks. The yard has now grown into life with static grass covering the embankments as well as some tree populations. The tiny signal box (glorified ground frame) has seen some weathering as well as the rails and the coal stage. We are in the process of carefully ballasting the layout and adding weeds around parts of the track to give that 'unkempt' look about it as well as finishing off constructing our scratch built industrial water tank for the steam locos when they require a drink in between shunting duties. A card mock up of the canal over bridge has been constructed at one end of the layout for gauging purposes and has worked really well during our regular evening test runs of shunting puzzle manoeuvres. Enjoy your modelling and all the best for the festive season, Kevin and Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Russ (mines a pint) Posted December 31, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2015 Nice development of the inglenook concept here, particularly with the ideas of changing engines etc too ... good use of the space .What about some basket liner or static grass on the green bits? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Hi Russ, Thanks for the kind comments. The embankments are actually covered in static grass although it may be difficult to tell in the previous couple of photographs. They are small lengths accompanied now by larger weeds and tufts amongst the newly ballasted track. Photos to follow in due course... Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Hello everyone, Here are a few developments at Rhyn Exchange. Over the festive holidays we have spent some time developing scenic areas on the small layout. Ballasting has been completed and we are well underway with constructing a scratch built industrial style water tower to stand next to the small coaling stage. The next big job to do is still the canal overbridge but work has started developing and strengthening the bridge abutments but all track work is in fine working order after ballasting and weeding has taken place. The use of our weathered stock helps to add the effect of a small marshalling yard and highlights the detailing that we have been able to experiment with on the wagons as well as our steam and diesel shunting locos. Being in such a rural, backwater location allows the use of weeds growing around the track and ballast and wild flowers growing around (and in some cases onto) the dilapidated and run down buildings. There's plenty more work to keep us busy before our first exhibition later this year... Enjoy your modelling, Kevin and Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted January 24, 2016 Author Share Posted January 24, 2016 Hello everyone, It's been somewhat quiet here at Rhyn Exchange over the last few weeks since the Christmas holidays, however, we do now have the water tank constructed and installed on the loco servicing siding. This has been scratch built by Kevin who has done an excellent job and has been weathered excellently to give that run down and well used feel to it. Our next, continued focus is the work on the canal bridge and continuing to add scenic detail and general bits and bobs around the yard. Enjoy your modelling, Chris and Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 Hello everyone and Happy Easter, It's been rather a while since our last update here at Rhyn Exchange so let's bring you up to scratch with developments. Firstly, we have completed full ballasting of the layout which operates excellently at slow speeds for shunting. We have also tidied up some detailing and scenic aspects and Kevin has completed the scratch built water tank in the loco siding to an excellent standard. Our resident Barclay shunter, Lady Charlotte, is an ARC kit incorporated onto a Hornby Pug chassis and looks the part sat on the loco siding whilst her crew take a break in between shunting duties on the exchange yard. Our resident Bachmann 08 also puts in some fantastic shunting duties with her slow turn of speed. Finally, the canal overbridge as the scenic break is nearing completion bridging the two roads away from the exchange yard. There are some more detailing bits and pieces to do here before the coming weekend. If you're out and about at Dukinfield model railway show (Greater Manchester) this coming weekend (2nd & 3rd April) then please stop by, say "hello" and you can try your hand with Rhyn Exchange and sort some wagons for yourself as our layout is meant to be operated by the public as well as ourselves. Also, we shall have our trade stand at the show too for our model shop which we sell many varied high quality detailing items for model railways. Enjoy your modelling and, until next time, cheerio for now. Chris and Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 Evening everyone, Just a shout out to anyone in the Greater Manchester area who may be attending the exhibition tomorrow in Dukinfield; come and say "hello" and see Rhyn Exchange in person. Also, many thanks to anyone on here who did come to see us today and had a go themselves at shunting and solving the shunting puzzle using our resident 08 as well as our 'Lady Charlotte' Barclay loco. Finally, next to our layout we have our own trade stand for our model shop which we have for sale a large amount of high quality, laser cut wooden kits for layouts as well as other detailing accessories, scenery and glue. Enjoy your modelling relaxation, Chris and Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Hi Guys, Just caught up with this little beauty, looks very nice indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted April 20, 2016 Author Share Posted April 20, 2016 Hi Andy, Thank you for your kind words. Yes, indeed. It is such a pleasure to operate and we received plenty of interest when we took it along to a local exhibition earlier this month. Shunting puzzle layouts make for such great entertainment and problem solving activity Chris and Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Hi Andy, Thank you for your kind words. Yes, indeed. It is such a pleasure to operate and we received plenty of interest when we took it along to a local exhibition earlier this month. Shunting puzzle layouts make for such great entertainment and problem solving activity Chris and Kevin Yes indeed, see my Pencarne thread Post #2546, (the last Post) for Bute Road. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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