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Wembdon Road & Chilton Trinity. 00 gauge 70s-80s Western Region Blue Diesels in a shed.


mikeyh
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Hi,

 

So after many years of lurking, admiring, liking and passing the occasional comment on other peoples layouts on RMweb I'm finally taking the plunge and starting a topic on my own layout.

 

A few people may recognise this from another forum. However, I seem to spend much more time on here than the 'other place' which, to be honest, seems more like the model railway equivalent of BEBO or MySpace these days! I'm hoping a few more people might at least see the layout on here - even though I know posts will only be on the front page for minutes or hours rather than for days or weeks! So here's a brief description and a few photos to show progress so far - I will then try to post updates when there is something new to show. 

 

The story started about 5 years ago when I decided to  construct a railway room in the garden - fully lined, insulated, double glazed and electricity installed - to house the model railway previously located in the loft.

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Since then the layout has slowly developed from the base boards of the previous loft layout - in hindsight I should have started from scratch as it's been a lot harder to adapt the existing boards than I thought. I had a vague idea for a large junction station, called Wembdon Road (inspired very loosely by Newton Abbot), on one side of the room -  with countryside, a canal and MPD on the other side, and a branch line rising to a small terminus (Chilton Trinity) at the door end of the room.

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So finally a couple of overall views of the layout as it is today - still loads to do but hopefully getting there.

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As you can see, my main interest is in late 70s / early 80s BR Blue.

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However - we also sometimes run a GWR period.

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And we also have a slightly random collection of British Railways steam.

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We do try to keep the 3 eras separate though it doesn't always completely work.

 

All the stock is pretty much straight out of the box RTR - I hope to be able to pluck up courage to do some weathering / detailing / kit building one day. Control is analogue. Also point motors, ballasting and signals are on the 'to do list' for sometime in the future.

 

So there we have a brief introduction to Wembdon Road and Chilton Trinity - if anyone is interested in more details or pictures of any aspect of the build I'd be very happy to show in greater depth. In common with many people, modelling time is always severely limited by work and the rest of life but will try to post more updates as any progress is made.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

Edited by mikeyh
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Great layout Mike, really nice.

I wouldn't worry too much about mixing the eras, you could always run "transition era, with your BR steam adding some green diesels.

All the best,

Dave.

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excellent, another BR blue 1980s layout  :locomotive:

 

 

Agreed

Great layout

 

 

Great layout Mike, really nice.

I wouldn't worry too much about mixing the eras, you could always run "transition era, with your BR steam adding some green diesels.

All the best,

Dave.

Good evening and thanks very much for your comments - much appreciated - and also to everyone who liked or has just had a look at the layout.

 

Over the last month I've been trying to concentrate on the branch terminus, Chilton Trinity, as this end of the layout won't be affected by rebuilding / extension of the shed which I'm considering for next summer. This is really a steam age station but it's somehow managed to survive into the late 70s / early 80s. Still lots to do but a few pictures of progress so far.

 

Overall view showing the relationship of Chilton Trinity station and the lower level brewery / factory complex.

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The modern age has reached here in the shape of modern 45 tonne vans to dispatch the factories products.

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Coal for the boiler still delivered in unfitted 16T minerals.

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Class 117 power twin coupled to a Class 128 Parcels Unit wait at the platform before departing to Wembdon Road.

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08 243 parked outside the old steam shed after bring a trip freight up the branch from Wembdon Road.

32007761915_2666139f73_b.jpg

 

Brake van parked out of the way in the headshunt.

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Sentinel industrial shunter waiting to push vans back into the (not built yet!) factory siding.

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Overall view of the station area.

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Over the next few weeks I hope to finish wiring all the point motors and switches and then try some track painting and ballasting.

 

Thanks for looking and a very Happy New Year to all on RMweb.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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  • 4 months later...

Hi,

 

No time for any proper modelling for last few months but hopefully a new arrival last week might provide a bit of incentive to get out to the shed a bit more. The coincidence of 'The Bristolian' train pack being offered for £140.00 and the release of the latest Hornby Collet coaches in matching 'shirtbutton' livery seemed too good an opportunity to miss. I'm no expert but it looks to be a nice looking loco and runs well, and the coaches are superb so I can't quite understand why this pack has needed to be so heavily discounted. I'm afraid I've contributed to the inevitable surplus of BTKs in the coming months by buying just the 2 different composites and the third to make up a nice 6 coach train.

 

6009 King Charles II heads an up express out of Wembdon Hill tunnel and into Wembdon Road station.

34421509810_2ebcfdf844_b.jpg

 

 

A few minutes later, after it's station stop, the train is seen passing Wembon Road loco shed. On the branch behind 8750 Class pannier tank 4612 heads for Chilton Trinity.

33953271434_576233f018_b.jpg

 

Finally a closer view of 6009 with 4612 behind.

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Over the next few weeks, spare time permitting, I intend to turn the clock back by putting away all the 70s / 80s stock and getting out all the GWR stock for a few months.

 

Would also be nice to make a bit of actual progress on the layout - we shall see!

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Mike

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Hi,

 

Whilst 'testing' 'The Bristolian' train pack last week I inadvertently ended up with a sort of Western Region version of the cavalcade which took place on the East Coast Main Line near York last month.

 

Four generations of top link WR motive power pose on the main line next to Wembdon Road loco shed. From left to right, unfortunately not in date order, are the first production HST set 253 001 with power car W43002 (still very much with us of course and re-painted back to this livery) leading, Class 52 Western No 1026 Western Centurion, King Class 6009 King Charles II and Class 50 no 50 037 Illustrious.

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I then spent a pointless but enjoyable half hour with the 4 trains circulating, trying to match their speeds so that they passed in front of the camera together. This was the best I managed!

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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  • 7 months later...

Hi,

Well the end of the year seems like a good time for a long overdue catch up. As usual, modelling time has been severely limited by the rest of life going on but I have managed to make a bit of progress on the BLT, Chiton Trinity. 

 

First job was to complete wiring the point motors - nothing much to show on the surface but it did necessitate building a 'temporary' control panel.

post-22948-0-17774400-1514673136_thumb.jpg

 

To save space this slides underneath the layout on Ikea drawer runners.

post-22948-0-69091900-1514673221_thumb.jpg

 

Attention then turned to a job I've been slightly dreading - painting the track & ballasting. As I will eventually have a lot to do I need to find a quick and cheap way of painting so I've experimented with Halfords grey primer aerosol followed by their Brown Camouflage Ultra Matt spray. 

post-22948-0-62463200-1514673633_thumb.jpg

 

This was then ballasted in the usual way, fixing with dilute PVA. Bit messy to start with!

 post-22948-0-24132600-1514673838_thumb.jpg

 

post-22948-0-81859600-1514673879_thumb.jpg

 

Starting to look not too bad?

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As there is no space here for separate goods shed, coal staithes or cattle dock the station will have a simple, multi-purpose goods loading dock.

post-22948-0-21075800-1514674285_thumb.jpg

 

Few more days of holiday still, so will try to bring right up to date over the next few days.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

 

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Only just found this thread. Not quite sure how I managed to miss it. I love the layout. A proper CJ Freezeresque (and I mean that as a great compliment) shed system, BR Blue and with names familiar from my youth. What's not to like :D?

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Good morning and Happy New Year to everyone. Thanks for the comments and likes. 

 

With the first attempts at ballasting looking encouraging the next job was to complete the trackwork, including the factory siding and the foot crossing.

post-22948-0-62454400-1514801734_thumb.jpg

 

The hillside then needed to be cut out to accommodate the siding and Metcalfe factory building.

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The area was then built up to track level with various thicknesses of card and a recess cut out to locate the factory building..

post-22948-0-44280900-1514805291_thumb.jpg

 

And some walls added.

post-22948-0-39322800-1514805414_thumb.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

 

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just caught hold of this thread Mike, and congratulations on what looks like another cracking layout to be in the very near future. Glad to see you making good use of the 'Bilgewater Mercury' but couldn't help noticing that your factory complex doesn't have a round chimney so unfortunately can't be a true copy of cellophane (gone but not forgotten.... just like the smell).

Keep up the good work and look forward to seeing more photos of the build and rolling stock from the 70s with possibly the 09.30 livestock train from Cannington College which I assume will be quickly passed in the opposite direction by the Nuclear flask train at 09.35 bound for Hinkley Point siding. 

Yours aye,

giz

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just caught hold of this thread Mike, and congratulations on what looks like another cracking layout to be in the very near future. Glad to see you making good use of the 'Bilgewater Mercury' but couldn't help noticing that your factory complex doesn't have a round chimney so unfortunately can't be a true copy of cellophane (gone but not forgotten.... just like the smell).

Keep up the good work and look forward to seeing more photos of the build and rolling stock from the 70s with possibly the 09.30 livestock train from Cannington College which I assume will be quickly passed in the opposite direction by the Nuclear flask train at 09.35 bound for Hinkley Point siding. 

Yours aye,

giz

 

I was quite amused to find that I recognised the big Georgian house in Cannington listed in the real estate pages.

 

It was the Bilgewater Muckery in my day :D.

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just caught hold of this thread Mike, and congratulations on what looks like another cracking layout to be in the very near future. Glad to see you making good use of the 'Bilgewater Mercury' but couldn't help noticing that your factory complex doesn't have a round chimney so unfortunately can't be a true copy of cellophane (gone but not forgotten.... just like the smell).

Keep up the good work and look forward to seeing more photos of the build and rolling stock from the 70s with possibly the 09.30 livestock train from Cannington College which I assume will be quickly passed in the opposite direction by the Nuclear flask train at 09.35 bound for Hinkley Point siding. 

Yours aye,

giz

 

 

I was quite amused to find that I recognised the big Georgian house in Cannington listed in the real estate pages.

 

It was the Bilgewater Muckery in my day :D.

Thanks for your comments and interest - it's good to hear from someone local and a former local who now couldn't be much further away!

 

Although I've used names from the Bridgwater area I've never really intended to tie down the location to Bridgwater area or even Somerset - just somewhere in the South-West. I do have a rake of clay hoods which should really mean a location west of Newton Abbot - though of course there were clay pits at Chilton Trinity so, depending on how far I stretch reality, I suppose they could have lasted until the 1980s and sent some of their production for export by rail??!

 

Here are a few more photos of progress at Chilton Trinity.

 

Retaining walls to form a recese in the bank to house the yet to be built signal box.

post-22948-0-35078600-1514922542_thumb.jpg

 

More ballasting in progress. I'm trying to use a darker and finer mix for the sidings than the running lines.

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A bit of greenery on the cutting sides.

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And now dried out I think it's beginning to look o k?

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33 117 passes the factory sidings on a test run.

post-22948-0-00110100-1514923677_thumb.jpg

 

Nearly up to date now. Thanks for looking.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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Great looking layout. What size is it ?

 

thanks,

Keith

 

Hi Keith,

 

Thanks for your comment. The overall size of the shed is about 5.5m x 2.4m but with the framework and walls the internal space is down to about 5.3m x 2.2m. The main part of the layout is only about 4.2m due to the space taken up by the door opening area. When I was building it it looked huge but I now really wish I'd made it a bit longer and certainly wider - in particular the operating well is quite narrow. I'm hoping, time and funds permitting, to extend it a bit this summer and possibly arrange some storage tracks in a covered area outside the main shed. We will see!

 

In the meantime a few more pictures of the branch terminus - I've been concentrating efforts here as it won't be affected by any future building work.

 

Final bit of ballasting at the end of the platforms.

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Retaining walls in place behind the factory headshunt

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post-22948-0-22869500-1515016452_thumb.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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Hi,

 

A few more pictures of progress at the buffer stops end of Chilton Trinity station.

 

post-22948-0-92631000-1515277925_thumb.jpg

Railings, steps and surface added to the loading dock.

 

post-22948-0-71232100-1515278018_thumb.jpg

Closer view of the railings. These are made from the Ratio concrete posts with most of the holes filled in.

 

post-22948-0-11894400-1515278085_thumb.jpg

View looking back towards the site of the signal box and the factory sidings. Not sure what the 33/1 is doing in there!

 

post-22948-0-01040800-1515278180_thumb.jpg

I have only just started experimenting with static grass. I think I might be a convert.

 

post-22948-0-29384100-1515278261_thumb.jpg

33 117 rests at the buffers in the factory head shunt. The permanent way gang must be attending to a small job somewhere around the station.

 

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08 243 arrives with a short trip freight.

 

post-22948-0-74401700-1515278449_thumb.jpg

And shunting the factory siding. 

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi,

 

Just managed a couple of hours in the shed this weekend. Had a bit of a play and a bit more done at Chilton Trinity station.

 

The shelves over the station side of the layout originally had some Ikea spotlights fitted underneath. These gave only patchy illumination and eventually stopped working anyway so I've just taken them down & fixed up a strip of 'daylight white' LEDs which seem to give better light.

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A new addition on a crew training run - still minus headcodes!

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08 243 still shunting the factory siding.

post-22948-0-80482400-1516570916_thumb.jpg

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

 

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Very nice looking layout. Enjoyed reading and watching the progress.

 

Also nice to see a good selection of stock running too.

 

Tried the same LED lighting too. Improvement was made. I’ve since opted for ceiling mounted LED 6ft strip lighting and I could believe

The difference this made to the what similar looking 6 foot tubes.

 

Thanks for sharing

Dan

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Very nice looking layout. Enjoyed reading and watching the progress.

 

Also nice to see a good selection of stock running too.

 

Tried the same LED lighting too. Improvement was made. I’ve since opted for ceiling mounted LED 6ft strip lighting and I could believe

The difference this made to the what similar looking 6 foot tubes.

 

Thanks for sharing

Dan

Thanks for your comment Dan. I agree the LED lighting does seem to be an improvement. The rest of the lights are ordinary fluorescent tubes but I may get round to changing them one day.

 

Usual busy weekend doing other stuff but managed an odd hour on the layout and made a bit of progress on the platform fencing and the lineside fencing along Station Road. Not finished yet but starting to take shape.

 

post-22948-0-69827500-1517175902_thumb.jpg

 

I'm struggling to get the wires tight enough to appear straight - will have another go next weekend.

post-22948-0-38514800-1517176006_thumb.jpg

 

Shunting continues.

post-22948-0-46681900-1517176105_thumb.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi,

 

New arrival, following a visit to the train fair in Exeter last weekend, is this little beauty - Bachmann 03 045.

post-22948-0-84742200-1518341855_thumb.jpg

 

A long way from it's home (in Norwich I think) and also withdrawn in 1979 I will have to pluck up courage to renumber eventually.

post-22948-0-49345500-1518341910_thumb.jpg

 

Although not really a south west based class, I think Bristol had a couple and possibly some at Plymouth much earlier and maybe even Bridgwater docks?. It is a lovely runner and will be useful as the Chilton Trinity shunter.

post-22948-0-08276700-1518342072_thumb.jpg

 

It's arrival has forced me to address the issue of the dreaded Peco uncoupling ramps. As I am likely to be stuck with tension lock couplings for the foreseeable future (ever) I have many of these ramps and until now they have just been placed over the sleepers. I think probably because these were 'designed' in the code 100 era they sit a bit high for code 75 track (which has always caused a lot of unwanted uncoupling) and the 03 wouldn't go over them (this was also a bit of an issue with the Dapol Class 121). So I've experimented with cutting away the sleepers to enable the ramp to sit a bit lower. This makes them a bit low so 20 thou Plasticard shims were inserted underneath which seems to give a reasonable compromise between allowing locos to pass over, uncoupling most Bachmann wagons most of the time and reducing the amount of unwanted uncoupling.

post-22948-0-08482600-1518342610_thumb.jpg

 

post-22948-0-77403200-1518342821_thumb.jpg

 

The 03 now passes over with no problems and the ramp seems to raise the hook enough to uncouple o.k.

post-22948-0-50699300-1518342903_thumb.jpg

 

I will probably standardise on this arrangement and try to adjust couplings to suit where possible.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi,

 

As it was not really gardening weather yesterday, I managed to thaw out the shed and run a few trains.

 

31 174 heads west with empty ballast hoppers.

26737844378_dd1ce8809e_b.jpg

 

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Next to pass was 50 013 with down empty milk tanks heading back to Cornwall, seen crossing the canal.

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And a brief stop in the Platform 1 at Wembdon Road station.

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Before heading west into Wembdon Hill Tunnel

.38799769310_3c0a20b5c6_b.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

Edited by mikeyh
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Hi,

 

Just a couple of quick videos from 'testing' session last weekend.

 

47 035 pauses at Wembdon Road station with the late running sleeper service to Penzance.

 

37 238 trundles through Platform 1 with loaded ball clay hoods heading for Fowey docks.

 

Station pilot 03 045 reverses a mixed bag of NPCCS back into the down sidings at Wembdon Road before pulling forward to await it's next duty.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi.

 

Managed to make a bit more progress on the Chilton Trinity station area and approach over the last week or so.

 

The wall of the cut out area behind the engine shed had never been finished properly so looked like this.

40238301475_9e047410d3_b.jpg

 

As this is part of a lift-out section which gives access to the tracks hidden beneath the village I thought it would be easier to work on it off the layout.

40238300555_f67258f24d_b.jpg

 

 

I always strugged with somewhere safe to put the lift out section whilst cleaning the track or sorting out a derailment. We've all heard of the mythical 'sky hooks' - well I at least have shed roof hooks where the section can be hung out of the way.

39305889020_0245d5a515_b.jpg

 

The screw in eye goes through the scenery and plywood and screws into a nut epoxied below the board. Looks a bit precarious but as long as the eyelet in the ceiling goes into a rafter it should be fine!

39305888540_e0d6b6e16c_b.jpg

 

Walling and support pillars added.

26261918437_36f8dbba8d_b.jpg

 

 

A bit of grass, brambles and bushes added.

27260064208_25a7d59aaf_b.jpg

 

I've also been experimenting with adding grass and brambles / bushes to the side of the cutting.

41133192931_3424fe1fc2_b.jpg

 

40422201634_03efe5e19c_b.jpg

 

I'm hoping to have a bit more time in the shed over the long weekend so hopefully can make a bit more progress in this area.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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Hi, I've made little more progress to this area

 

I wasn't happy with the bottom edge of the cutting - it came out too close to the track bed and encroached into the cess as you can see on the last to photos of the previous post - so I trimmed the edge back and made a low retaining wall made out of what I hope looks like sleepers.

27241795938_4158487b3f_b.jpg

 

40219805035_d86a361908_b.jpg

 

Support post were cut from 1.5mm Square boxwood.

27241791748_43b5baedd3_b.jpg

 

And stuck on to the sleepers.

27241786568_b29c29e631_b.jpg

 

A wash of thinned sleeper grime added. Probably needs to go a bit darker still!

27241785158_0f674b449c_b.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

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