Slamron Valley

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Having two spare baseboards left over from an aborted P4 layout (Bonshaw), and a fair bit of Code 100 track (1 3-way, 3 left-hand turnouts and 2 right-hand turnouts) leftover from the original Skipton fiddle yard, I decided to make a small branchline layout. I messed around with some set-track points to see what I could make using what I had, and came up with this arrangement - 

 

The layout will be NBR, pre-grouping, probably set in the late 1900s early 1910s, and the name was suggested to me by a friend.

 

I then got all the track for it, and started laying it on the board (there are two, one board which I'm using as the scenic board is 1.6 x 0.6m, the other for the fiddle yard, which is 1.2 x 0.6m). At this point the legs were screwed onto the boards. 

 

At this point I also decided I wanted to fully signal the yard, and bought Ratio kits for LNER signals. Two kits provided the parts I needed for the triple-bracket, two double-brackets and single post signal that I needed. I've used miniature arms (the same as calling on arms I believe, but used for a different purpose) for shunt moves. All arms move, and I'm trying to find a source for brass cranks to connect them up to servos - the plastic cranks keep snapping. 

 

I also built a double-bladed catch point, cut up from an old set-track point, for the goods road. 

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At this point I marked out holes for point motors, drilled the holes, and then before I put the track back painted the baseboards brown as an undercoat for scenery. 

 

The track was then nailed down again, and I placed down the buildings and signals to see how everything went together. I have a Metcalfe red brick station for the station building, and red brick platform kits for the platform. When I can afford it they will be joined by a Metcalfe engine shed, signal box, and goods shed, and possibly a couple of terrace houses. 

 

Final thing for this post (as that's as far as the layout has gotten so far), is I drew up a signalling diagram for it, based on a number of Victorian Railways ones I have in my collection in terms of text, and track being represented by double-lines - most VR diagrams have single lines, but some have double-lines and I chose to represent this variant. I may at some point choose to replace it with a diagram using single-lines for track, but for now I'm happy with it.

 

For rolling stock and locomotives, I'm looking to get a Hornby J36, and a couple of 52F kits for NBR locos, I'm uncertain as to which ones though. What few wagons are needed will probably be Parkside Dundas or other kits, and I'm currently looking for a source for NBR coaches.

 

That's all for now, should have some progress to report on the weekend as I have a friend coming over who's going to help doing some work on the layout. 

 

Peter

Edited December 26, 2018 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Saturday afternoon and evening was spent assembling the platforms. After some consideration and discussion, I decided to remove the distant signal. I may add an extra board on at a later stage, to give a bit of a scenic run, on which the distant and an outer home signal will be placed. Below are some photos of the platform construction. I also placed the part-built station building, and a Hornby goods shed down (the goods shed will be a Metcalfe item, as will the signal box and engine shed).

Walls and bracing:

 

Then the tops glued on:

 

Then finally the edging strips stuck down, and some more stock placed on:

 

The remaining buildings (goods shed, engine shed and signal box) will be purchased this week, and along with the station building hopefully completed in the next two weeks or so. 

 

Peter

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Whilst away on holidays, over the last couple of days I've completed the signal box, engine shed, and the two huts that come with the signal box. To allow an interior and lighting to be fitted to the signalbox, I've left the base, cabin, and roof separate. 

Below are photos of the signal box: 

 

And some views of it and the other completed buildings:

 

The station and goods shed will be completed next week, and once lighting and interiors (where applicable) have been completed, will be placed on the layout so ballasting can commence. 

 

Peter

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Not much progress lately, unfortunately Year 12 has a nasty habit of getting rid of any spare time I might otherwise have. Additionally, having been asked very nicely to bring it out for another last exhibition, I'm currently busy preparing Skipton for it's final final exhibition over the Easter weekend. However, after a lot of thinking and discussions with a couple of people regarding my modelling choices, the decision was made to change the location and era to one which fits in my other UK based modelling interests, so that locos and rolling stock that I buy for the layout can be used (albeit gauge converted to P4) on whatever layout I build in the future, once this one has been sold off or given away. With that in mind, the period is now 1946-1950 LMS. The LNER signals I will just have to live with.

The first loco has been ordered, a Mainline 2P from Hattons (see attached photo from the Hattons stocklist), along with a Ringfield motor replacement from Ebay.

Rather amusingly, the total cost of $72.50 AUD (including shipping for the loco and motor) was less than the £73 GBP price for a new Hornby Railroad 2P (at an exchange rate of £1 = $1.85, this represents a saving of $62.50). The money saved will, in a couple of weeks, be used to buy an Airfix 4F and another replacement motor. My reason for buying second-hand locos and upgrading the motors is due to budget - I recently invested basically all of my savings into getting a model factory produced overseas (A Victorian Railways infrastructure item, will be available in a couple of months once production is complete), so as a result I am limiting my spending on models for the next while. 

The 2P, and eventually 4F, will have their tension-lock couplers removed, and have screw link or 3 link couplers fitted as appropriate. Over the school holidays I plan to wire up the layout, finish the station and signal box, build the goods shed, and ballast, however this may happen sooner or later depending on spare time. I hope to have an update with some actual progress and photos soon.

 

Peter