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  • RMweb Gold

Hello Jonathan

This may be a 'trick of the light' or such like, but - from what I can see - it might be possible to replicate the unique track layout of the coal yard (with a degree of compromise). Having four 'shortish' sidings will be more interesting and useful for shunting. But you would have to make the points!

 

Brian

 

Hi Brian, the width of the layout if I included all four coal yard sidings worried me, hence just the two. I may consider things again once most of the station upper goods yard track is in place. I like building points, it's very therapeutic.

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  • RMweb Gold

Hello Jonathan

 

That's good to hear! And that you like building points - I envy your skill there!

 

The only track plan I have of the station is in Through Limestone Hills and the point formation isn't clear - although it looks like it might be a good challenge.

 

Brian

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  • RMweb Gold

 

Bank holiday was spent getting some cork down. I soon ran out of the edging that forms the ballast shoulder but getting the track bed in the right place took some time which I hope will aid smooth running. The Templot plan was cut along the sleeper edges to aid getting the cork in the right place. In the photos the Jinty and sub-urbans are in the coach siding to help give an idea of scale although the camera makes thing much longer than they really are.

 

This shows the three-way turnout, from left to right: to MPD, coach siding, platform 3

 

post-16241-0-52025700-1535387307_thumb.jpg

 

A bit further along showing the catch point

 

post-16241-0-91526800-1535387318_thumb.jpg

 

Next the goods yard exit from the top yard.

 

post-16241-0-90133000-1535387330_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • RMweb Gold

Hello Jonathan

 

That looks really good.

 

I was pleased to read in an earlier post that you will be putting the shed and coal yard at a lower level - as per the real thing. The photo on page 166 of Through Limestone Hills shows it well.

 

Brian

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  • RMweb Gold

Hello Jonathan

 

That looks really good.

 

I was pleased to read in an earlier post that you will be putting the shed and coal yard at a lower level - as per the real thing. The photo on page 166 of Through Limestone Hills shows it well.

 

Brian

 

That's right Brian. The photo of the three-way turnout in post 78 shows where the descent to the lower level will be.

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • RMweb Gold

In between mowing the lawns and trimming a couple of hedges I got some more track-bed down following a cork delivery, but again ran out of edging strip. More now on order.

 

post-16241-0-17239500-1535741596_thumb.jpg

 

The island that the signal box sits in is finished

 

post-16241-0-14909800-1535741609_thumb.jpg

 

The goods shed track-bed and the long siding next to it are just about complete. It takes a long time to cut the Templot plan along the sleeper edges then use that as a template to draw the bed edges, then glue the edging cork down and fill in between with plain cork.

 

post-16241-0-41669500-1535741621_thumb.jpg

Edited by Rowsley17D
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Looking really good! Haven’t investigated this thread previously, but really interesting to see how it’s progressed so far. Will continue to follow with interest.

Quick question; where is your edging cork from?

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  • RMweb Gold

Looking really good! Haven’t investigated this thread previously, but really interesting to see how it’s progressed so far. Will continue to follow with interest.

Quick question; where is your edging cork from?

 

It was Gordon of Eastwood Town fame who put me on to 

 

http://www.charlescantrill.com/

 

for all my cork needs. Rapid free delivery too and they use a courier who turns up when they say they're going too.

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • RMweb Gold

You don’t need edging strips in the goods/loco yards. These were typically ballasted with cheaper materials, such as ash, and the low speeds involved (and lack of passengers!) meant the track was subjected to far fewer dynamic forces, particularly sideways, so there was less need to lock things in.

You could simply lay cork sheet over the whole of these areas. You can cut recesses into it for buildings, allowing them to bed down into the ground.

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Simon, thanks for that. The lower MPD and coal yard area will be one large area without edging mainly, but I still need more edging for the mainline in the upper area. It arrives today but we will not be in, I hope they leave it at the village PO as requested.

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  • RMweb Gold

The cork track-bed is just about finished in the scenic area. Some track and buildings were put in place to give an idea what the finished product may look like. Photography against the light is going to be a challenge.

 

General view

 

post-16241-0-95118700-1536313824_thumb.jpg

 

The goods shed should be on the track to the right but there's not enough room to show the "front" of the building. I could extend this siding further so that this can be allowed or straighten the siding I've placed it on.

 

post-16241-0-68607000-1536313836_thumb.jpg

 

If I extend what should be the goods shed line it would give more room for the goods office/weighbridge building.

 

post-16241-0-42299700-1536313856_thumb.jpg

 

post-16241-0-58311000-1536313869_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

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  • RMweb Gold

Some more time on the layout and I laid the first piece of track, the top yard exit turnout. This was to try out servos and MegaPoints controllers I got from a fellow member who has had to give up the hobby due to serious illness. Most time was spent on thinking about the best way to change crossing polarity: mechanical using microswitches or electrically using MegaPoints relay drivers. Getting the microswitches correctly positioned next to the servo while working under the boards didn't thrill me, so relays it will be.

 

post-16241-0-78034900-1537001307_thumb.jpg

 

post-16241-0-30012100-1537001334_thumb.jpg

 

post-16241-0-63121400-1537001344_thumb.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • RMweb Gold

Have been laying more turnouts and ballasting as I go. Two laid so far, painted, ballasted and servos connected up, droppers soldered on and a plain length of flexi laid on the goods shed siding. 

 

post-16241-0-02688700-1537968189_thumb.jpg

 

post-16241-0-07381000-1537968202_thumb.jpg

 

 

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • 2 weeks later...
  • RMweb Gold

The turnout to connect the bay (platform 1) to the up mainline, connecting plain track and some plain track in the bay have been put in place. All has been wired up and tested with the 3F and a couple of suburban coaches. The plain track from the signal box to the exit turnout from the top yard is laid loose for the time being as I glue down and ballast all in one go. That rattle can of RailMatch sleeper grim is just about empty and I have not experienced any clogging which is usually a failing of RM sprays.

 

post-16241-0-75318800-1539270029_thumb.jpg

 

post-16241-0-62271400-1539270044_thumb.jpg

 

post-16241-0-47039200-1539270061_thumb.jpg

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • 2 weeks later...
  • RMweb Gold

Some plain track to the twin sidings parallel to the bay platform have been laid and ballasted.

 

Driver's view of the exit from the bay.

 

post-16241-0-88316100-1540321041_thumb.jpg

 

View from further back showing the twin sidings one of which has received some treatment from the local PW gang with a load of new ballast.

 

post-16241-0-79054400-1540321090_thumb.jpg

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • 2 weeks later...
  • RMweb Gold

The largest turnout formation was laid this week - the facing and trailing crossovers. These were laid by now what is becoming my usual way: vinyl glue, track on top, pin down and ballast. All have been fitted with their servos but I am awaiting a 4-way relay board before the crossings can be energised.

 

The first photo is looking from the station area, the second towards it.

 

post-16241-0-22595500-1541174765_thumb.jpg

 

 

post-16241-0-49019200-1541174782_thumb.jpg

 

A trick of the light makes it look as though there's a kink in the right-hand track from the turnout nearest the signal box

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • RMweb Gold

The turnouts on the scenic section of the layout are driven by servos using MegaPoints servo controllers and their relay drivers boards (no connection just a satisfied customer) to power relays to change the crossing (frog) polarity. I went and got the relay boards from the web but ordered 12 volt ones instead of 5 volt ones, Any body want 6 X 4-way relay boards? Servos are a breeze to install using aluminium 15 mm channel. I returned the old servo driver boards I got from a fellow member to MegaPoints for a hardware upgrade as the latest driver boards means the servos are silent and no twitching. Once the trackwork to the top part of the layout is done I am going to frighten myself with the cost of a MegaPoints custom-made control panel.

Edited by Rowsley17D
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  • RMweb Gold

A few more hours in the railway room saw the last turnout on the upper level of the layout put in position and connected to its servos. I'm a relay board short which should be arriving soon so am unable to make sure which way round the crossings should be wired . This is the three-way that leads to the MPD/coal yard, the carriage siding and platform 3. A little tidying of the ballast remains to be done.

 

post-16241-0-19762400-1541784899_thumb.jpg

 

 

post-16241-0-25228900-1541784912_thumb.jpg

 

Platform 1/cattle dock had its missing plain track added and I found my box of Lanarkshire buffer stops. Photos help to show where the painting has missed!

 

post-16241-0-81238000-1541785074_thumb.jpg

 

The plain track from the catch-point also received its buffer stop.

 

post-16241-0-52025900-1541785159_thumb.jpg

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