Heaton Lodge Junction

[St Enodoc]

46 minutes ago, Dave Holt said:

Only if the stock has LNER or Pullman type gangways, having a central buffing block and retracted side buffers. Stock using normal, scissors or suspended type gangways should have the buffers touching, as should stock to loco.

Dave.

Yes, excuse my shorthand. I was referring to the BR Mk 1 stock in the video.

[HeatonLodge40]

I’m well aware of the coupling issue thanks. Give me a chance!

 

Im modifying the GUV coupling by unscrewing the coupling housing and dropping a blob of hot glue half way along the spring - which cuts the spring travel by 50%. Crude but it works 

 

 

[HeatonLodge40]

A welcome parcel arrived from Denmark on Friday. Heljans brand new 31’s will shortly be joining the fleet - there’s 8 altogether, two are already present and correct plus another 6 just landed.

 

These await weathering, sound and numbering. 
The 50 will join the existing green ‘Sir Edward Elgar’ on the rail tour circuit..

[HeatonLodge40]

Lots of radio silence lately I know.

 

All positive update wise though, the automation works superbly - in fact the sight of seeing two ‘40’s on a 20 van Redbank parcels slowing down for a red, then accelerating as the points change a single yellow plus feather light up is super to watch.

It’s been a huge amount of work to get the system to perform - mainly because it involves getting one 10amp system to talk to  another system that works the automation & won’t run on 10amps! At the end of the day there isn’t a manufacturer whose designed a system for O gauge either, so you see the issues. 
 

So the last few days the job has begun to completely dismantle Heaton Lodge, load all the boards onto the steel handcarts & at the same time tidy up the wiring and fix other bits and bats. 
The150ft fiddle yard is now mostly down, next week down comes the scenic side. It’s a mess in the dungeon at the moment so please excuse that! 
After that it’ll all be reassembled for more testing, getting the overhead ‘platform’ type timetables to work and weathering a load of rolling stock that hasn’t been done yet. 

 

For those who are interested the layout will be displayed in Wakefield City Centre from Sat 4th - Sunday 19th December in the Market Hall, Union Street WF13AE. 
Official sponsors Heljan will also be there with additional OO layouts by Peco. 
It’ll be in the modelling press soon enough together with more details.. 
 

Thank you to all of you that have followed this thread for the last 7 years, plus Andy York & Phil Parker for a kind and complimentary write up last month in BRM. 
 

I will keep updating here every few weeks but it’ll be more on the logistics of shifting 100+ boards weighing about 5 tons.!

 

Hopefully see some of you in December 

[AY Mod]

Never seen Tetris played with layout boards! Hope all goes well with preparations Simon, looking forward to seeing it on show and seeing the culmination of all your hard work.

[rob D2]

Good luck with the first showing ! 
bit far north for me, I’ll wait for the world tour !

[woodenhead]

1 minute ago, rob D2 said:

Good luck with the first showing ! 
bit far north for me, I’ll wait for the world tour !

You might have a long wait for a world tour, I think even the Rolling Stones Tours travel lighter than Heaton Lodge.

[sir douglas]

as a local, will definitely go more than once through those 3 weeks

[Simond]

Simon,

 

Wakefield is 257 miles each way for me, so I’ll join the “waiting for the southern show” crew!

 

thanks for sharing your epic journey, & the very best of luck for the premiere!

Simon

[TheSignalEngineer]

Looking forward to a trip. Only about a one hour drive over the hills fro home.  Just hope the weather is good.

[SHMD]

Wakefield - I will definitely be there. Can't wait.

I hope to meet you, and the team(?).

 

I'll bring a couple of Fanta's, a curly-wurly, and a bag of salt-n-shake crisps.

(I will have eaten the sandwiches on the the way there though!)

 

 

Kev.

 

[APOLLO]

Mr Lodge, Do you pack away your trainset every night when you have finished playing with it ?

 

Hat coat ---------------

 

Brit15 (looking forward to seeing your fantastic layout one day).

[russ p]

Have to see if I can do some York work at that time.

Is it running all days?

[d winpenny]

Look forward to seeing the layout in the flesh might have to move back in with my mum in lupset during December 

 

david

[Crepello]

I'm planning to come to Wakefield in December; it's a nice ride from KX, even without Deltics!  Been waiting a long time to see this masterpiece.

[No.71 L/spa]

never got off at wakefield...
a new place ter visit then,pipster!

forward ter see a big thing!

 

[AMJ]

For those who have not been there are plenty of decent real ale bars in Wakefield.

 

Travellers arriving by train can get the free city bus from either Kirkgate or Westgate to the bus station.  The market is next to the bus station and it can be accessed without crossing a road.

 

Walking to/from Kirkgate Fernandes and Wetherspoons are en route.

Walking from/to Westgate you are near to many bars including the Hop.

[jcarta]

12 minutes ago, AMJ said:

For those who have not been there are plenty of decent real ale bars in Wakefield.

 

Travellers arriving by train can get the free city bus from either Kirkgate or Westgate to the bus station.  The market is next to the bus station and it can be accessed without crossing a road.

 

Walking to/from Kirkgate Fernandes and Wetherspoons are en route.

Walking from/to Westgate you are near to many bars including the Hop.

 

Doesn't the free bus drop you off at the pubs en-route? hehehehe 

[HeatonLodge40]

Here is a copy of the advert appearing in most of the modelling press in November..

[ferret1956]

Seriously. A fiver?????? 

 

I paid more  than that for some seriously underwhelming shows 20 odd years ago. 

 

Obviously as a Yorkshireman, I am as tight as the proverbial, but.... 

 

I can see me having 20 quidsworth at least if work permits! 

 

Best of luck with the venture Simon, I've been looking forward to this! 

[HeatonLodge40]

On 29/09/2021 at 20:59, ferret1956 said:

Seriously. A fiver?????? 

 

I paid more  than that for some seriously underwhelming shows 20 odd years ago. 

 

Obviously as a Yorkshireman, I am as tight as the proverbial, but.... 

 

I can see me having 20 quidsworth at least if work permits! 

 

Best of luck with the venture Simon, I've been looking forward to this! 

Thanks, I don’t really want to charge at all but there again there is a lot of expense with the rent of the venue, exhibition insurance and a million other things.

 

Heres a pic of two thirds of the fiddle yard like you’ve never seen before!

[AndrewT]

On 29/09/2021 at 08:28, HeatonLodge40 said:

Here is a copy of the advert appearing in most of the modelling press in November..

Not being pedantic - but an original liveried HST is hardly representative of this magnificent model...

 

[ferret1956]

8 minutes ago, AndrewT said:

Not being pedantic - but an original liveried HST is hardly representative of this magnificent model...

 

I agree, but its a train/loco that a lot of younger folk can still recognise and pester Mum/Dad to take them. 

Smart marketing I reckon. 

I'd prefer a nice Coal sector 60 oe summat but.... 

Or GT3, or..... 

[mgextreme]

I agree a HST to the general public is something they can relate to, a class 20, 37 or whatever loco is your favourite will likely be relevant to a train fan.

 

I think Simon is marketing HLJ to not just train and model fans, this is to be an attraction for all, of any age  and irrespective of if you are a modeller or spotter.

 

I agree clever icon used

[rob D2]

I agree , I thought the whole vision of the layout was not to appeal to us nerds ( who are automatically aroused by it ) but enthuse the general public - a lot of folk will know what that train is , in the same way the privatised railway kept the arrows of indecision as a station sign as its instantly recognisable