Heaton Lodge Junction

[HeatonLodge40]

2 hours ago, baglan said:

My wife and I visited HLJ on Friday last and thoroughly enjoyed a few hours admiring the scenery and trains and wondering at the fantastic detail.  Since then I discovered this thread and have really enjoyed reading the history of the making.  

I have one comment about the exhibition set up in Wakefield which I hope is constructive for future venues but was possibly not practical in WX Wakefield due to the building layout.  Everyone enters at the East end where there are a lot of interesting buildings and of course trains arriving from North and East through the tunnels.  During our visit there were a lot of people congregating in this area and staying for long periods.  Not good in Covid times and somewhat congested and jostly for those viewing.  At the middle of the model, near the junction there was more space to view the trains and appreciate the huge distance that the trains travel.  It would be better if people could perhaps enter near the middle, or at least away from a major point of interest, circulate one way and then everyone is more spread out when they reach the beginning or end.

Hi and thanks for the constructive comments.

At the venue there are only entrances at either end of the building.

I couldn’t justify opening both entrances as I haven’t the budget to staff both since they are 60 metres from each other. 
 

As with all exhibitions it’s impossible to control the flow of people, whatever you do. 

I did the best I could with what I had to play with 

[rob D2]

I was intrigued to see that there will be more scenic stuff on the fiddle side, I didn’t know that .

 

I noticed that no trains came down the long straight and went into the tunnel , they were coming out . Does the computer choose that or is it inconvenient to have them cross over the other running lines ?

[SHMD]

16 minutes ago, rob D2 said:

I was intrigued to see that there will be more scenic stuff on the fiddle side, I didn’t know that .

 

I noticed that no trains came down the long straight and went into the tunnel , they were coming out . Does the computer choose that or is it inconvenient to have them cross over the other running lines ?

 

There has been a problem with the pointwork that has temporarily closed that bit of line.

 

 

Kev.

[HeatonLodge40]

17 hours ago, rob D2 said:

I was intrigued to see that there will be more scenic stuff on the fiddle side, I didn’t know that .

 

I noticed that no trains came down the long straight and went into the tunnel , they were coming out . Does the computer choose that or is it inconvenient to have them cross over the other running lines ?

Hi Rob well spotted! 
The answer is I had a major failure with a switched diamond which needs a full day fix. So decided to switch that down line out. Shame cos it’s got a lovely working banner repeater on it. 
It’ll be up for next time! 

[rob D2]

1 hour ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Hi Rob well spotted! 
The answer is I had a major failure with a switched diamond which needs a full day fix. So decided to switch that down line out. Shame cos it’s got a lovely working banner repeater on it. 
It’ll be up for next time! 

fair play , i was wondering if the BR was operable !

[blackpete]

Had a fantastic day out at Wakefield last Saturday. Mind-blowing would be the best way to describe the layout. Spent about 4 hours there and could have spent a lot longer. My photos of the day are here https://flic.kr/s/aHsmXg7qpF

[TheSignalEngineer]

Made a second trip today to take my train-mad grandson. He was very impressed, so was I with the accuracy of his loco recognition. 

[Savoyard]

A surprise visitor to Heaton Lodge on Sunday afternoon.

 

Heljan Class 73 on Heaton Lodge 

[billywhizz]

Hi Simon. 
Looks incredible and from reading the posts on here, it has been very well received. I’ve not had the chance to travel to Wakefield to see HLJ due to work commitments, but looking forward to when the layout goes on display in the Midlands. 
Out of interest, how many visitors did you have through the door at Wakefield? 
I know it would be difficult to put an exact number on this but what proportion of those do you think would be railway modellers Vs general public? 
Regards,

Bill. 

[roundhouse]

We made the trio to see Heaton Lodge from Surrey over the weekend. It was well worth the trip and spent some time watching the fiddleyard, probably due to thats where I normally am with my own layouts at shows.

 

Only witnessed one hand of god interaction in that time. Plenty of trains running aswell.

 

Superb modelling.

[Graham108]

On 16/12/2021 at 21:27, SHMD said:

 

There has been a problem with the pointwork that has temporarily closed that bit of line.

 

 

Kev.

JLTRT

[TheSignalEngineer]

32 minutes ago, roundhouse said:

Only witnessed one hand of god interaction in that time. Plenty of trains running aswell.

On my second visit yesterday we watched for two hours and didn't see any mishaps on the scenic area or fiddle yard. The whole operation seemed to be running well, much more reliable probably resulting from 10 days more running experience.

[TheSignalEngineer]

On 16/12/2021 at 21:27, SHMD said:

 

There has been a problem with the pointwork that has temporarily closed that bit of line.

 

5 minutes ago, Graham108 said:

JLTRT

We used to be able to replace a piece of pointwork in a few hours but now it would take a fortnight to get the paperwork signed off.

[Jon Fitness]

Unfortunately I couldn't make it up there to see it. I'm hoping it'll come down a little further south one day!

Every bit of video I've seen of it makes it look amazing so fingers crossed!

JF

 

[HeatonLodge40]

Just to say thanks to everyone on here for their support with this project. And especially those who visited. 

Biggest thanks to Jonathan, Rob, Lee, Tim & Paul for all their time plus David, Chris & Peter for lending their locos and stock. 
Last truck load is back in the basement which now looks as though someone has chucked a grenade in there.

I’m not going back there for two weeks. (he says).

 

Numbers wise we had a total of 16244 over the two weeks of which 1681 paid in advance and didn’t turn up…I’m guessing because of Covid & Boris’ announcements. 

I was hoping for 20000 plus but given the above I’m not really surprised. 

 

The longest distance visitors travelled (that I know about) was 2 Americans from Wisconsin, 4 Germans from Nuremberg, 3 Swedes from Gothenburg & 2 Chinese from a city I’ve never heard of. (Work that one out). 
Also had 2 ex signal men from HLJ signal box, lots of ex Mirfield shed men and PW gangs. Countless current railway staff including most of those who work the Trans Pennine route!

Nicest touch was from a chap who brought in the original BR remodelling diagram on parchment from 1970.

Ive learned a lot - the main lesson being I will never do a 2 week exhibition ever again.!

That said, the layout ran superbly overall. We had two major shorts which stopped everything for a total of 12 mins each time. Bit nerve wracking that was. Only cleaned the track a couple of times. 
The final four hours on the last Sunday was one of these occasions whereby we ran basically in manual with a reduced service. 
Got the derailments down to one a day sometimes - most were due to the odd train missing a sensor so not stopping in time and rear ending another. 
 

My overriding best memory was seeing two massive MGR’s crossing the crossovers in opposite directions together and lots of cameras flashing. 

Of about £100k’s worth of locos performing, the most requested was Thomas the Tank Engine. 

Most amusing complaint (from 6 people) that there was two many trains running at the same time !

Next stop is the South West - probably Bristol. If anyone knows of a venue big enough  (that isn’t £25,000 a day in that location) - I’d be extremely grateful to know about it.

Much bigger exhibition next time with all the trade & lots more layouts. 

Have a good Christmas! 

 

 

[class27]

Enjoy your break!! Merry Christmas. Hopefully lots more people will see it next year.

Best Wishes

Steve

[37114]

Would be great if you can do Bristol Simon, I can't recall how much space you need as I presume you exceed the average sports halls used for the large south West shows eg Thornbury or Corsham? Also have you tried Shepton Mallet show ground?

[Simond]

Simon,

 

congratulations on a successful first outing!  I wish you many more!  And I look forward to seeing it in the flesh, having followed the thread since Allan first posted all that time back.

 

might be a good idea to post the show venue requirements in terms of space, facilities, etc., on here and any other relevant fora?

Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year

Simon

 

[HeatonLodge40]

Thought I’d have a couple of weeks off after the expedition cough cough exhibition.

So today I’m in the basement all day trying to clear it up and this evening making the first of 10 Heljan MPD sheds.

 

Not had a bash at one of these before but it’s going together well. 
This is for the fiddle/marshalling yard. I’ve also ordered a big quantity of brass angle to fabricate the first of seven 1 metre tall lighting gantries. 

[rob D2]

Bristol ?

, didn’t see that being next , would have made the 190 miles into 45 !

[HeatonLodge40]

5 minutes ago, rob D2 said:

Bristol ?

, didn’t see that being next , would have made the 190 miles into 45 !

Ah sorry!

Its not confirmed yet anyway 

[AdeMoore]

Another vote for Bath & West Showground Shepton Mallet. No idea of cost mind. But local bike and car clubs put stuff on there so can’t be too prohibitive. A shuttle bus from Castle Cary station literally 3 miles away as Mr Evis does for Glastonbury Festival (Site a few fields away) your sorted, it’s whether the main hall is big enough!

[Kris]

Bath and West is big and drafty and it's going to miss out on walk by customers.  

[ianLMS]

Wonder if u can get hold of the folks who own the vacant Debenhams buildings in town centres and use those. I know there is a huge one in Bury St Edmunds in East Anglia that would take the layout easily. And its only 30 mins from me. I am sure Bristol and all majot towns and cities are sitting on vacant department stores! Maybe one of the owners is  a railway modeller!! Who knows!

Edited December 30, 2021 by ianLMS

[Joner]

40 minutes ago, ianLMS said:

Wonder if u can get hold of the folks who own the vacant Debenhams buildings in town centres and use those. I know there is a huge one in Bury St Edmunds in East Anglia that would take the layout easily. And its only 30 mins from me. I am sure Bristol and all majot towns and cities are sitting on vacant department stores! Maybe one of the owners is  a railway modeller!! Who knows!

I was thinking the same thing.