Porthkerry (A South Wales Layout BR Blue era)

[mk1gtstu]

Hi all, Just thought I'd post a new thread on my new layout build in N gauge. The new layout is going to be based on a real location in South Wales, BR Blue era, but with some compromises & rule 1 included.

This is the area I'm going to try & model, having visited here many times in the 1980's as a child. I can remember class 37's on MGR trains to Aberthaw power station thundering over this viaduct, at the time it was a freight only line.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porthkerry_Viaduct

Compromises are; the viaduct on the layout will be a little bit shorter than the prototype due to space restrictions. Also there are large wooded areas either side of the viaduct which obscure most of the railway line either side. I will have less wooded areas on my layout so trains can be seen easily (plus it will mean less trees to buy or make!)
I'm going to run both passenger & freight trains rather than just MGR'S, so it will be HST'S, DMU'S, coal, oil, steel, parcels & other freight.

Track wise it will be a double mainline continuous, & large fiddle yard to the rear of the layout to hold trains. I'm going code 55 track & elecrofrog points. The baseboard space I have measures 3ft wide & just under 10ft long so hopefully I will be able to run decent length trains for a change.

 

I started building it just over a month ago, I have some photos I'll be putting up of it's progress up to now.

 

First up, the baseboards have been built, split into 2 sections..

Edited January 14, 2018 by mk1gtstu

[mk1gtstu]

Some cover lids made to protect it from dust & damage when not in use as it lives in the shed..

 

cork base glued down & some track laying done..

 

I'll add some more photos soon & try and get everything up to date if anyone is interested.

 

Cheers, Stu

[88C]

This looks a very interesting project Stu. Porthkerry has always been a favourite part of Barry for me and I remember it from the days of steam and first generation DMUs.

One day I must follow your example and post some of my efforts which have been heavily influenced by having Grandparents who lived in Barry overlooking the Vale of Glamorgan line.

 

Brian Hunt

[Prometheus]

Though to be truly prototypical, your viaduct will have to collapse somewhat once built....

 

When a child, I remember frequently walking from Romilly Park, through the tunnel and over the viaduct to see friends who lived near the airport in Rhoose. Utter folly but we never met a train. However, we were terrified on one occasion by a terrific roar when about half-way through the tunnel. Not seeing anything coming in either direction, we had no idea on which side to take shelter. After a few seconds blind panic, it occurred to us that it was the sound of a jet flying off from Rhoose over the viaduct and out to sea.

 

Tony

[mk1gtstu]

Baseboard 1 has the Porthkerry viaduct on, baseboard 2 will be the fictitious part of the layout otherwise it would be just loads of trees!

I've kit bashed/scratch built a bridge for baseboard 2 then painted & weathered it..

 

Cheers, Stu

[mk1gtstu]

The viaduct, it's been a right pain to build, many of the curved brick arches I found the plastic very brittle & broke a few trying to get a curve on them, so ended up using plasticard instead & then covering them all in brick paper which has worked out ok.

The prototype viaduct has refuge buttresses along its length, I decided to try & replicate them by making some out of some scrap bits of plastic stone walling & plasticard. On the prototype they are cut away, but I didn't really want to start hacking away the main structure on my viaduct so decided just to glue them along the sides instead. Not 100% accurate I know but I think it looks the part. Then a few washes of various colours & dry brushing staining etc to try & get it looking more stone like & weathered.

Here are a few pics of the results...

 

[mk1gtstu]

On the layout..

 

Cheers, Stu

[deltic9014]

Some seriously good bridge modelling here. Have these been completed over quite a while or do the posting times accurately reflect the stages the work is at?

[mk1gtstu]

Some seriously good bridge modelling here. Have these been completed over quite a while or do the posting times accurately reflect the stages the work is at?

 

Thank you, It's nowhere near finished yet, started building it just before Christmas 2017, so just catching up with all the photos I have so far. I will post a few more later when I've sorted them all out

 

Cheers, Stu

Edited January 14, 2018 by mk1gtstu

[mk1gtstu]

Some more photos to bring this thread up to date to how the layout stands now, viaduct in place, track all laid & trains up and running. Next job to do some electrics & start on the scenery & backscene.

 

Cheers, Stu

[Freight Connection]

Very nice Stu,

 

Some lovely work on the bridge and viaduct..

 

From #2....."I'll add some more photos soon & try and get everything up to date if anyone is interested"... 

 

I'm sure many will be..

 

Regards - Steve

[bcnPete]

Just found this project on the back of your boxfile project.

 

Looks to be a cracking project too - both the bridge and viaduct are superbly modelled.

 

Please do keep posting pics and some vids of trains crossing that viaduct will also be most welcome

 

Keep up the great work - staying tuned

Edited January 17, 2018 by bcnPete

[meanach]

Baseboard 1 has the Porthkerry viaduct on, baseboard 2 will be the fictitious part of the layout otherwise it would be just loads of trees!

I've kit bashed/scratch built a bridge for baseboard 2 then painted & weathered it..

DSC00674.JPG

DSC00686.JPG

DSC00694.JPG

DSC00697.JPG

Wow! Absolutely stunning bit of scratch building and weathering!

 

Cheers, Stu

[mk1gtstu]

Cheers all! A few short vids of the first trains on a test run on the new layout.

 

Cheers, Stu

[mk1gtstu]

Some more woodwork done on the layout. The back scene boards I've made detachable, they just slide in & out on runners so I have easier access to the fiddle yard for track cleaning, de-railments etc. Also made a start on cutting out & fixing thin ply formers ready for the scenery.

 

 

Cheers, Stu

[Bluemonkey presents....]

Nice job Stu. Looks like you are very handy with the base boards and the shed lining as well as a cracking build on the viaduct, very impressive. I watch with interest.

[Mike140]

Very nice!

I was once very tempted to model Frodsham railway viaduct near Runcorn.

 

 

Will be following this!

[Rivercider]

Although in the 1980s the Vale of Glamorgan route was freight only I presume I was used as a diversionary route for all traffic

when the Vale of Ely was blocked, or did that not happen until later? (My only trip that way was on a Bank Holiday in 2003 due to engineering work)

 

Nice work so far,

 

cheers

[mk1gtstu]

Although in the 1980s the Vale of Glamorgan route was freight only I presume I was used as a diversionary route for all traffic

when the Vale of Ely was blocked, or did that not happen until later? (My only trip that way was on a Bank Holiday in 2003 due to engineering work)

 

Nice work so far,

 

cheers

 

Thank you, yes, as far as I know it was freight only in the 80's but I believe it's a passenger line now too. I think they did divert trains to this line occasionally if the main line was having engineering work done.

On my layout I'm going to run both freight & passenger trains as if it's the main South Wales line to add interest.

 

Cheers, Stu

[mk1gtstu]

A bit more progress on the layout. I've been doing some scenery work, making formers etc ready for the mod roc to go down. Also some wiring put in place for buildings & signals. A few photos..

 

[mk1gtstu]

Also made a couple of rock faces from sculptamould, fairly happy with the results, hopefully they will look ok once painted.

 

 

Cheers, Stu

[OnTheBranchline]

Looks like you're making good progress.

[mk1gtstu]

Hi all, a bit more progress. Plaster rock faces now painted with washes of acrylic paint, they will need a bit more weathering & detailing once in place but I'm pleased with how they have turned out so far.

Also some now some mod roc & rock faces are in place. Although slow going it's starting to take shape I think.

 

Cheers, Stu

[marc smith]

I've only just spotted this, due to BCN Pete replying to it!
Great work sir, I must say. I've travelled over this viaduct many times - it's a favourite rail trip of mine, to catch the train at Cardiff Central to Llantwit Major
Llantwit is a lovely little town, with nice little beach and cracking pubs & walking. The rail journey there is an essential part of my day out though

The viaduct at Porthkerry park and the beach and power station sidings, along with some of the sea views are lovely. So this has a particular interest for me.
Especially as I used to take my lad to the park and beach at Porthkerry (he lives not too far away from there now).

This looks like it's going to shape up into a smashing layout Stu
Can't wait for the next installment. Great progress on it too

Marc

[marc smith]

Thank you, yes, as far as I know it was freight only in the 80's but I believe it's a passenger line now too. I think they did divert trains to this line occasionally if the main line was having engineering work done.

On my layout I'm going to run both freight & passenger trains as if it's the main South Wales line to add interest.

 

Cheers, Stu

It was indeed, freight only in the 80's. I think it closed to passenger traffic in the 1960's

however, as you say, it was used as a diversionary line for passenger services, when they were working on the South Wales main line