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Warrington Bank Quay - The Northern Approach - OO DCC


Wild Boar Fell
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Thanks again everyone for your kind comments,

 

Sub39h, I haven't forgotten, I'll grab some photos at some point for you. 

 

Some progress has been made since the last update, firstly after a trip to Maplin on Saturday I have made a start soldering on the dropper wires for the track supplies working my way from North Board to the South. Most of North board has been done and a start has been made on North Mid. The holes for most of the droppers have been drilled too. I am well aware that conventions exist for the colour coding of wiring, but with this being a model of Warrington, famous for its wire (and the Wires) I decided I could make an exception. No prises for guessing the colours chosen for the track supplies.

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The plan is to put in 3 track supply busses, one for the fast lines, one for the Up lines and one for the Down lines.

 

Following the soldering I continued to paint the rail sides so the scenic side of the rails have been painted on the two northern most boards. The rear of the rails will be painted next time the boards are moved around.

 

Tonight has seen the final point and its associated trackwork fixed in place, meaning the two northern boards are now complete from a track laying perspective.

 

On a unrelated note, I had the chance to see a reasonable amount of loco hauled workings last week down in Norfolk. Don't think I have ever seen so many loco hauled workings in one place (on the national network anyway), a good assortment of 68s, 37/4's & 90s. Must say I was more than impressed.

Only managed to grab a quick photo of Achilles.

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Wild Boar Fell 

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A case of one step forward, two steps back this week.

 

The soldering has continued with all the North and North Mid droppers soldered in place, along with most (possibly all) of the droppers for South Mid completed too. Peco dummy point motor have also been fitted onto cork bases next to the points, with the exception of the two yard points which will have Knightwing ground frames.

I have also scribed 8m of Plastruct strip to represent the lineside concrete trunking and roughly half of this has been laid so far. Many pieces of orange wire have also been cut and positioned to represent the orange conduit used by NR.

 

But, as I have already mentioned there have been a few compromises in the trackwork. One such one was the loss of the gentle curve to the fast lines (I believe this was an error transposing the plan to the board then hiding it with cork), unfortunately this has been bugging me more than it should. As a result I have ripped up the fast lines as far as the points at the northern end (I was tempted to move these too, but the issue with these is mainly the difference in length between the prototype and off the shelf points). As a result these sections of board need to be stripped back to board level and the cork and glue removed, not a tidy job. 

 

As I have been looking at adding the smaller details, it seems to compound any of the compromises depending on where you pick your reference. As a result, it looks like my next job will be to plan out the catenary as any change in the track work will have a knock on effect to the locations of the masts. I am now beginning to wonder why I bothered with this being the first time I have modelled a real location, it's turning into a bit of a headache!

 

Wild Boar Fell

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Hello Paul,

Thanks for that, yes I agree with you they a world better than the Peco 83's. Infact I had actually had a look at these, but my gut feeling was that the turnout/ frog angle was still a bit on the sharp side for it to make sufficient difference over the 83's. I think they probably would have done the trick, but at double the price of the Peco's I wasn't willing to take the risk.

 

I think i'll accept the compromise and hope it balances out with running quality. 

Wild Boar Fell

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Nice to see someone tackling my local! I've planned to do it for God knows how long in 00 but am in need of a room big enough! 

 

Look forward to the progress

Thanks, yep I had been wanting to model it for a good few years. Maybe if you modelled the southern half of the station between us the whole thing would exist in OO...

 

Wild Boar Fell

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Evening all,

As was to be expected, progress has slowed down recently, with no work being carried out during the week (since the fast lines were raised). However today has seen some progress made. Approximately 1/2 of the 'contaminated' cork from the fast lines has been removed with the assistance of a chisel. It turns out I had done quite a good job of sticking it down, although I am not sure whether this is a blessing or a curse. The remaining stubborn cork will probably be removed when the boards are next moved.

 

However more progress has been achieved on the wiring front, a trip to a local electronics store (no prizes available) has allowed me to obtain approximately 1/2 the connectors required for the scenic boards.

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The plan for the track supplies as previously mentioned is to have 3 busses each supplying a pair of lines (for the scenic boards anyway). A further bus will also be used to carry a 5v auxiliary supply for LED lighting and servo board supply. A further connector with carry another 5v supply along with data to chain together the local servo driver boards and the microcontroller. I intend to utilise USB 3 to enable this as it gives some extra capacity for further datalines (thats if I can successfully wire one up!). The south end of each board will have the Phono sockets and USB sockets, whilst the North ends will have the flying leads and plugs. Each Phono connector carries a single track bus. The red connector is the auxiliary supply.

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at each connector the Bus will be split to supply two terminals approximately 1 foot either side of the centreline, the idea being that roughly half the wires will terminate in each block. It is envisaged that the front most terminals will also accept the bus linking them to the corresponding terminal at the other end of the board. The auxiliary supplies will run along the centreline and will feature terminals or splices as required. As for the location of the USB 3, this will be determined after the servos, driver boards & arduino have been fitted. The whole aim is to make the boards as easy to connect as possible but without having resorting to the usual D - Type connectors. 

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For the sake of any electrician out there, I will not post a photo of my attempt to solder up a USB 3 plug and socket (it isn't pretty). When time permits, North board will be flipped and the wiring harnesses added, the droppers will also be terminated. Maybe then some 'testing' can begin.

 

In other news, the Wire are going to Wembley!!! Now does that mean I will have to model the 'Wire Flyer' on WBQ?

 

Wild Boar Fell

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Afternoon, 

Some progress with the north board harness was achieved this morning. It is virtually complete and ready for the board to be flipped and fitted. The photo shows its approximate location (obviously it will be underneath however). As mentioned the red & black aux supply will be properly terminated and distributed later. Approximate wiring diagrams to follow at some point.

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Wild Boar Fell

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As the upgrade to Windows 10 seems to have goosed the CAD package I use, here is a representation of the 5v Auxiliary & Point Control equipment done the old fashioned way. The Microcontroller (Arduino Uno) will not be driving the servos directly, but will supply the data (from the top of my head this is using the I2C pins) to one of the driver boards. The first driver board will control the points on north board and take its power from the 5v Bus. From this the second driver board will be chained from it, using the USB 3.0 as the board jumper (although only 4 pins will be utilised). The second driver board will supply north mid board's servos, again taking power from the 5v bus (which jumps boards on the spare phono plug). From the second driver board, a further USB 3.0 will be used to take 1 servos supplies across to the next board (the plan is to use different pins to those used on the other jumper). Each driver board can supply up to 16 servos each and a vast number can be linked together. Eventually it is envisaged that the point control will use toggle switches or push buttons for the different routes, feeding into another microcontroller to give the impression of analogue point control.    

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As has always been the plan, this layout will be something of a test bed for me to trial new (to me) techniques. I also have some plans for some totally new ideas, but these will remain under wraps for now.

 

Edit 20:08; A poke around with a multimeter this evening has found the source of the glitches and has now been sorted. (Error identified as ID10t)

 

Wild Boar Fell

Edited by Wild Boar Fell
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Photo Friday,

Tonight has seen the back of the rails painted fully on north board. This board is basically ready for new cork to be laid for the fast lines to be replaced. After that it is adding all the remaining orange conduits and concrete trunking. Following that this board will be marked out for the catenary & signal locations (these have to be in place (or holes prepared) before ballasting).

 

But as something a little different to my normal photos, I have put some stock on this time, 67002 comes off the Up Slow with the WAG express. Meanwhile (the original) 66200 heads north with a rake of 'Swordfish' ballast boxes, to assist with the possession at Boar's Head Junction. 

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Apologies for the awful photo quality. I really must dig out the proper camera. Once north mid and south mid are ready, then the Pendolinos and Voyagers can start appearing...

 

Wild Boar Fell

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Thanks,

Also thanks to RS4 of this forum, I should also soon have another rake sorted for this layout too. The very important class 60 hauled Fiddler's Ferry Coal, although they will definitely need toning down a bit. Which reminds me, I should probably print off some more Gypsum containers to make represent the Fiddler's to Newbiggin Gypsum service.

 

Wild Boar Fell

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Again not another layout post, but more of a 'Boar on Tour'. 

 

Today was my first trip into St Pancras, something I have been wanting to do since the refurbishment a few years ago. Unfortunately didn't get to see the front of the station, but that canopy really is impressive! I can't say I am a massive fan of it being a shopping centre, but I am glad it has all been smartened up instead of being demolished. A few first spots as well, First E320, Javelin, first time on S-stock (whilst in revenue service), first 315, 379 and countless other types of units that I can't remember. 

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It was also good to see a fair few 90's and DVT rattling through at speed too, as well as my previous 'cop' Achilles hauling a pair of 90s London wards.

Back in Derby there was plenty of interest with 56312 and its long name, 7 DVTs, Plenty of 37s (although I could only see 558 from a distance), the 45, and 3 of the GBRF 73/9s (73961,2 & 3 I think).

 

Wild Boar Fell

 

Now for the mistimed photos,

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  • 2 weeks later...

So after a lack of progress recently, I decided to put all 4 boards back together and get a proper camera out.

Lighting still isn't brilliant, but these will have to do for now.

 

The opportunity was taken to put some appropriate stock on the layout. First up was the new rake (or should that be half rake) of HTA's behind 60074, Teenage Spirit has indeed turned up on the Fiddler's Ferry workings in this livery (albeit with the nose end DB stickers). Thanks goes to RS4 of this forum for this rake, however I am already thinking it looks a bit short. This may have to be gradually upgraded to 19. The loco is coming off the Up Slow onto the Up Loop.

post-13109-0-24536100-1471701675_thumb.jpg

 

Meanwhile on the still to be relaid (hopefully soon) fast lines, Louis Bleriot & Dr Who are pulling into platform 2, as 11-car (to become) Mission Accomplished is just setting off for the journey north from platform 3. Waiting in plaform 4 is the 'WAG Express' waiting for the road to head out to Manchester Piccadilly.

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One thing I have recently realised is that I am lacking on stock for the local workings. I don't currently own any of the Northern Fleet, nor any Arriva units. Where as for freight the most obvious gap to me is not owning any 325s. If anyone knows of any Northern or Arriva units going cheap, I would be most grateful.

 

Now to get back to layout building...

 

Wild Boar Fell 

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The opportunity was taken to put some appropriate stock on the layout. First up was the new rake (or should that be half rake) of HTA's behind 60074, Teenage Spirit has indeed turned up on the Fiddler's Ferry workings in this livery (albeit with the nose end DB stickers). Thanks goes to RS4 of this forum for this rake, however I am already thinking it looks a bit short. This may have to be gradually upgraded to 19. The loco is coming off the Up Slow onto the Up Loop.

attachicon.gifDSC01390s.jpg

 

One thing I have recently realised is that I am lacking on stock for the local workings. I don't currently own any of the Northern Fleet, nor any Arriva units. Where as for freight the most obvious gap to me is not owning any 325s. If anyone knows of any Northern or Arriva units going cheap, I would be most grateful.

 

 

 I hope you've got a buffer fitted HTA on the front.................

 

Unfortunately Northern blue/purple liveried stuff seems to be fetching a premium price on auction sites. (Much like XC and EMT for my project...)

Hope you get sorted with some.

 

 

 

Cheers,

Mick

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Thanks everyone for your comments,

 

I photographed 60 074 on the Fidllers Ferry train on 25th August 2012. Here's a link to my picture of it running round at Latchford.

I would be very keen to see those, unfortunately it appear the link hasn't been published. But I look forward to seeing them.

 

Looking great. That's about the length of my Hta rake at the moment

And you have a pm

David

Cheers, thanks for your message. That should definitely help re address the balance. Unfortunately those ever useful 150's seem to be silly prices still.

 

 I hope you've got a buffer fitted HTA on the front.................

 

Unfortunately Northern blue/purple liveried stuff seems to be fetching a premium price on auction sites. (Much like XC and EMT for my project...)

Hope you get sorted with some.

 

 

 

Cheers,

Mick

Have no fear Mick, they will do, just not yet. I may have to do these as a 3D print at some point thats unless someone makes them already? I think they also need a removable load adding too. Then I can run them at the front of the station too.

 

Yes that seems very true unfortunately, didn't really hang around in the shops when the various models came out, I'll be interesting to see what the new Northern livery turns out to be like, Whomever may end up running that franchise. It just looks odd running in 'Northern Stealth' livery.

 

Cheers,

Wild Boar Fell 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for those photos Ian, I'll drop you a message shortly.

 

The layout fleet has just grown again thanks to a good spot by DCP of this parish, the layout has gained its first DBS (Well DBC now) Class 60. 

This being 60007 Spirit of Tom Kendall - Which has appeared on Fiddlers Flow before now...

https://flic.kr/p/nHZcpm

<a data-flickr-embed="true"  href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/93336024@N03/14258628206/in/photolist-npR24C-nMp9a7-nM4DpF-ApQFpj-pXWDTa-byDd9c-bzcVfH-aQpbwn-nK2Su5-nurCSu-nHZcpm-nKkFQE" title="60007, 26 May 2014"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/4/3736/14258628206_5e0a61f471_h.jpg" width="1600" height="899" alt="60007, 26 May 2014"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hopefully one day it will be joined by 60019 when it returns from its long term repaint (2 years and counting, I am losing faith I will see it again).

It should re-appear as per the photo below, except it will be carrying its original name (I wonder why?).

http://warrington.co/images/media_gallery/8228194862/8228194862-large.jpg

60007,60019,60026 & 60074 thats enough 60's right... What do you mean someones else operates them too...

 

Wild Boar Fell

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