RMweb Premium Popular Post Temeraire Posted July 16, 2018 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted July 16, 2018 (edited) Evening all Well its been a while since the demise of my previous Exford Park layout that had to be removed from the loft of the family home three years ago. As you may have seen on the layout thread, it still existed in storage until very recently but it had been preventing me from moving forward in the shed that has been ready for several months. I finally bit the bullet and scrapped it thus forcing a start on something new after a visit to the board cutter at B&Q! Seven sheets of 9mm ply cut up and loaded for the trip home, no going back. The plan is to rebuild a better version of Exford Park similar in theme with the junction and mainlines passing a stabling point, but one or two differences and additions using the space more wisely I hope. Lots of doodling and changing of mind has happened over the last few months but now I'm off and running (more stumbling at the moment!) with a fairly clear idea of where I'm going. One of the differences will be that the fiddle yard will be underneath the jct/stabling point side of the shed, rather than waste one side with non scenic track. This time the junction will be a double track curving away and four lines passing the stabling point rather than three. The double track will curve away and along the other side of the shed with a two platform 'Exford Park' station at the scenic break where the tracks turn across the doorway before reappearing as the two inner tracks of the four track mainline. In front of the station will be a couple of loops and sidings for freight interest/shunting including a cement terminal like Exeter Central had. The other two lines will form a double track loop down and underneath to the FY, and to gain enough height each will complete a loop of a Helix to arrive roughly 300mm lower at the FY. First up I've set about building the Helix and getting all the levels right this shows the support base in place in one corner. First sections of trackbed marked out for cutting. Both loops drying in the sun after undercoating to seal the wood. It took a while but with the bed secured in place I started to add the first tracks. This weekend I got the first parts of the entry and exit roads in place, one rising to the left the second will be going down. The second layer ready to be fitted on top of the first and this will be the next move. So there we go I've broken cover although there's not much to look at yet, and I'm sure initial progress will be slow until I get the helix and its approach tracks completed, but I'll try to update as things happen. Edited May 16, 2023 by Temeraire 21 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Looking forward to watching this progress David 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 (edited) Another cracking Layout in the making Ian, any Track Plans yet, or is most still play it by ear? Edited July 16, 2018 by Andrew P 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted July 16, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 16, 2018 Is the onexagainst the wall a loop the loop then 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted July 17, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2018 Another cracking Layout in the making Ian, any Track Plans yet, or is most still play it by ear?Cheers Andy the rough drawing below is more or less as explained last night. However, the fine detail of stabling point and yard/sidings will remain fluid until I’ve laid the mainlines and then I will experiment until I’m happy with both the look and functionality of the design. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
owentherail Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Exford in boot by the looks of it, not in shed. Looking forward to progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMafia Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Nice looking project Ian, I too have been planning a similar type layout in my head for years, always thought a single level layout was a waste of one side and it would be nice to have a fiddle yard under the layout. Look forward to seeing this develop 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melangoose Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Nice Plan, Ian. I look forward to seeing this develop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bescotbeast Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Exciting to see "Exford" returning in some form Ian. 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcyg Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Been looking forward to this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted July 29, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted July 29, 2018 (edited) Evening all Not a lot of progress but the helix/spiral thingy in the corner is complete! The top level has been added this week. View of the complete spiral with the exit to the top level in the right corner and the exit to the FY level below it. The difference in track height between FY and scenic level will be 290mm so enough room to see and sort any derailments etc. The bit that has taken the most time with four different slopes all converging/crossing each other! So not huge progress but an important step forward as now the levels are set. The next move is to complete the slopes up and down on the window wall and then around the corner to the the next problem to deal with the doorway! Edited October 26, 2022 by Temeraire 12 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Crikey Ian, I struggle with a 90 degree bend on the level mate, that looks superb, well done. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted July 30, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2018 The bit that has taken the most time with four different slopes all converging/crossing each other!Not a portable layout then? ! :-)Looking forwards to see what follows (in awe). Paul. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhysb Posted August 7, 2018 Share Posted August 7, 2018 Sorry Ian, Missed the new topic! Looking forward to this as never got to experience the previous Exford! Thanks Rhys Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Looks good so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted January 11, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 11, 2019 (edited) Evening all I can't believe its been almost six months since my last post here! To be honest the time between July and Christmas flew past with lots of other commitments and overseas trips eating up time as well as exhibitions with Tidworth or Mike's Oak Road. I also lost the mojo for this layout build a bit whilst I worked out the best way to do things. Over the last couple of weeks I've spent a bit of time in the shed and have moved things on. All the FY baseboards have been constructed and erected in position down the right side of the shed. The scenic 'Exford stabling point and mainlines will be about 300mm (upper pencil line on wall is track level) above once all the FY track is laid and wired. A couple of pics of the track layout planning in progress. There will be 14 ten foot loops, 4 up and 4 down with 6 loops in the centre accessible from both directions. Looking back towards the door tonight after the painting had been finished off. First view of the 'trolley' affair that will carry all the tracks across the doorway and be removable obviously. This is the thing giving me the most headaches and hasn't progressed beyond a wooden rectangle on wheels with four uprights yet! The plywood is balanced in the rough positions to try to show where I'm going. The top one falls L-R and the lower one rises L-R, both carrying double track, there will then be another baseboard at the level of the upper baseboards carrying two tracks around to 'Exford Park' station. So there we go, things are moving forward slowly but hopefully more quickly once I start to get track down as the urge to 'test' will take over! Edited October 26, 2022 by Temeraire 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Happy New Year I was only wondering the other day how the shed was coming along Looks good so far Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted March 22, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 22, 2019 (edited) Morning all Another two months passes and small progress has been made whilst juggling exhibitions and other projects but thought it was time to drag the thread back into life. Since the last update the inclines have been completed and track laid on the lower level. 'Tea trolley bridge' has moved on a bit and now has much more support to keep it all square and level and you can see here the lower incline in place. With trolley pulled back you can see the tapered ends of the boards. The first top baseboard has been constructed and positioned to get the levels right for the second incline. All the above were taken on 20th February since then a little more has been done. The trolley now has both inclines in place and everything has been primed to keep the damp out. The next phase is to lay the tracks across the bridge and all the Fiddle Yard, get it all wired up and complete with point motors etc before moving on to the more interesting bits! Edited October 26, 2022 by Temeraire 14 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhysb Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 Trolley looks great ian! Rhys 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wummyock Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 Looking very good Ian. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melangoose Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 Good Progress Ian. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted July 18, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted July 18, 2019 Thanks fellas but things have moved on a bit since March. I will post an update soon once our break away this weekend is over. The tracks across the door have been done and almost all the FY trackwork is laid now! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted August 10, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 10, 2019 Evening all So the update I promised a while back! The incline tracks are now laid across the bridge as this pic from July 6th shows with the trolley not quite in place. And now in place. Eventually there will be more tracks crossing at the front for the branch through Exford Park. Last night I finally completed the track laying for the Fiddle Yard! Last night was the completion of this end. There are now 14 ten foot loops with 4 UP and 4 DOWN with 6 Reversible loops in the centre plus four short stubs for loco changes etc. There is a bit of track soldering at the far end to do before the tracks are cut across all the board joints to allow the boards to be turned over to fit point motors and then wiring. Once this has all been proved and tested the top boards can be put in place and the first two loops laid and trains run! Not sure how quick this will be as time is now turning to the Tidworth extension! 14 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Now that IS what you call a Fiddle Yard, it looks brilliant Ian. I'm coming to Portsmouth for a wedding at the weekend, and hoping to grab some time at Didcot and Eastleigh on the way down on Friday, and back on Monday, it will be good to see the changes sine the last time I was there about 3 Years ago. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Temeraire Posted November 15, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 15, 2019 (edited) Evening all So with the summer over and the extension to Tidworth made presentable for the Fareham and Taunton shows and no confirmed bookings until late next year, my attention has returned to the shed at last! With all the FY tracks laid as seen above and roughly 120 dropper wires soldered to the rails, it was time to get out the cutting disc and chop it all up! After cutting through about 50 pairs of rails the 4 baseboards were upturned to allow me to attach all those droppers to a power bus and fit point motors. Left hand end of FY with all bus wires done and point motors fitted in place. and the other end of the FY. The two middle boards that have just 14 plain tracks on each. Next move now is to wire up the 32 point motors to DCC decoders and program them all up for testing before moving on to the upper baseboards, wish me luck! Edited October 26, 2022 by Temeraire 20 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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