gwr Looking Over the Fence

[Tex 'n' Taz]

Well, where do I kick off this topic as a layout? I have not dabbled in the hobby for some 35 odd years. Back in 2011/12? I purchased the LMS Golden Jubilee Set and decided to get back in the hobby. After several house moves and never getting that railway room due to all manner of reasons, I finally put the foot down and I started the layout before any of the adult children could claim it as a bedroom.

 

I had mucked around with a 4"x 4' floorboards with some rolling stock from eBay and card kits. but, that was short lived. So last May I started on the plywood baseboards.  

Having no real idea of a theme or area I went back to my first train set, a 1974 Hornby R541 Great Western Railways goods set. The GWR seed had been planted. I was to base it on the GWR somewhere in middle Devon. No name to the area or the towns, not even the stations. I have thought of using names here in Tasmania as many are the same as names in Devon itself.

 

 

 

 

There is not much available in 00 GWR here in Tasmania, most the stock is RTR and from eBay both here but, also the UK and many UK retailers. All track is Hornby code 100. There is quite a bit of old Hornby Tri-ang on the layout which shows it's still very useable. The layout itself is far from finished, the past months have been put on hold due to illness. Several years ago I was diagnosed with COAD, COPD and now endstage emphysema, less 12 months, worst-case 6. Unable to use any exertion has slowed construction down to maybe an hour or less per day.

 

So I hope to have it going around before my times up, I do have many photos to share, thou I'm no photographer and the lighting needs attention. I will show a track plan in due course. Why the title, when I was growing up we lived near the railway main line for Adelaide to Melbourne and associated lines and yards. These became my playground for me and some of my mates who's parents worked high up in the railway system. So, Looking Over the Fence is where we should have been.

 

I do hope to post daily, definitely inspired by ANTB, Stoke Courtenay, Little Muddle, Much Murkle, The Farthing Layout and The Hintock Branch plus many others.       

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?143344-looking-over-the-fence/&do=edit

Edited March 29, 2019 by Tex 'n' Taz
url

[richard.h]

Looking forward to seeing more of your photos and details of the Layout

[Tex 'n' Taz]

G'day all, 

First of all, I must give the time frame. The era I'm looking at is 1936-1949, then its rule #1.

 

As I said, here is part of the station track plan. Something simple using what track I had on hand.

For some reason, I'm unable to load  Anyrail's track plans. 

The photos below give the general idea of the station with the bay platform, passing loop and diamond crossing to the branch line.

These were just mock-ups in our previous rental. I had all my railway stock at the time stored in this garage, for some reason I moved it to the main house, how lucky, for two weeks later the garage was razed to the ground along with all my tools. (suspected arson). 

The station, made from card surcommed to a mouse house infestation plus a few other card structures.  

 

 

 

Edited March 25, 2019 by Tex 'n' Taz

[Tex 'n' Taz]

G'day all,

In the first photo is the station building that was purchased on eBay, a Ratio 504 kit. This had to be modified as part of the kit was missing. Nevermind, this started a bits and pieces box.  (seller was apologetic) 

Well, last year we moved to new premises and in May layout board number 1 got underway.  There was a lot of shuffling about of buildings until my wife decided on where the water tower and bike rack should end up.  

Ballasting the track down also got underway.

Thank you for viewing,

Tex.

 

 

Edited March 25, 2019 by Tex 'n' Taz
spelling error

[Tex 'n' Taz]

 

G'day all,

I have taken it upon myself to speed up things, today I had serere exacerbation (from now on called an episode), these things almost and eventually will end my life,  so I shall post more often.

The buildings are a mix of Ratio, Wills, Peco, Hornby and scratch built.

 

The bridge is Peco, the abutments are made from picture card with embossed textured paper. Polystyrene embankments 4mm? card road base.

Mums out of era  MG.  

 

The crossing is two Peco kits, as with the eBay station, half or some of it was missing. Started doubts about eBay sellers, buyer beware!    

Edited March 25, 2019 by Tex 'n' Taz

[Tex 'n' Taz]

G'day all ,

just a look around the station from Railway Tce, first is the public toilets, next the luggage and parcels office, main booking hall and branch buffer stop. The street lamps are of a generic Chinese brand. 

As we travel through the photos my stories behind them will become reverlant in up and coming posts. 

At this stage I'm trying to get everyone orentated to the layout. 

For some reason I am having trouble with Anyrail's track plans.Thank you for veiwing,

Tex,or Tez but not Tax. (haha) 

[Tex 'n' Taz]

 

G'day all,

here we have some early photos of the station side of the layout, this is also the main viewing side as well.

 

Main booking hall, still awaiting post and bill boards. 

Luggage and Parcels Office, also awaiting signage.

 

Lamp and gas regulator hut. The bicycle rack started life next to the public toilets but, when the Superintendents son had his bike stolen, it was quickly moved to the platform. The GWR even supplyed the locks for each bike.   

 

The pagoda is used for general storage, hand carts and tools to keep the platform and garden in tip top condition. A 28xx class is slowly creeping through the station, I see the main line signal is set to stop. The 28 has a bulk train of fuel and oil wagons. These never stop in station or town limits. This is serious stuff for the station master. The train will even block the railroad crossing.    

 

 Now I see the problem, the layout hasn't been finished, the track ends when looking northward towards the road over bridge. I do hope to have this in place soon. I also require more track, family donations welcome. 

Don't  worry folks, my best man happens to be a joiner and he's coming up at easter time.  (Hooray)  

 

I'll talk about that signal box a little later..mmm. And the obligatory bus on the bridge.

(hat coat but I won't get far) 

 

Had to go to the loo and wouldn't you know it, just caught the back end of a.... I think an Exeter express. (don't were it from, no tracks after that bridge.)

 

Cameras' really like to show how good or bad a modeller you are, show no mercy. (lol)

 

Thank you for viewing, and good knight, hopeing to be back tomorrow,

Tex. 

   

Edited March 26, 2019 by Tex 'n' Taz

[calvin Streeting]

1 hour ago, Tex 'n' Taz said:

I'll talk about that signal box a little later..mmm. And the obligatory bus on the bridge.

(hat coat but I won't get far) 

lol  

 

1 hour ago, Tex 'n' Taz said:

 

Cameras' really like to show how good or bad a modeller you are, show no mercy

 

yep i use them to take soooo many photos so i can browse and make a list of oops.. missed that etc...  without bending my back into a yoga posistion. to check  

 

 

 

[Alister_G]

Well that's the way to start a thread Tex, lots of great photos.

 

Some great modelling going on, really like your bridge, but the platforms and ground cover all look really good.

 

Looking foward to more.

 

Al.

[Tex 'n' Taz]

Thank you. Alister, when I look at what I have achieved I'm very pleased with the outcome. Having no modeling experience of any kind other than my childhood airplanes, ships, trucks and what we believed at the time to be the best model train set in the world skills in miniature.

I am a jack of all trades and a master of none. All I can say is I try to build what I see in my mind's eye.

And of course, doing and at times imitating what others have done. The best guide for me is the observation of the world outside our window.

I have been watching your efforts also and I like many of cameos, you also have a skillful knack for fine detail.

Thanks again Alister,

Tex. 

[Tex 'n' Taz]

G'day all,

down the north end of the layout by the road overbridge is my scratch built signal box. I made this some years ago from picture card and Scalescenes textured papers. The staircase is made from pop sticks and bamboo skewers painted with brown poster paint. This was all cut out using my Old Timers pocket knife.  

The  Old Timer.

 

Here is a small collection of photos of the signal box. 

Thank you for viewing,

Tex 

 

Edited March 26, 2019 by Tex 'n' Taz

[Tex 'n' Taz]

G'day all,

hope not to bore you to much longer today as I to are becoming quite tiered.

So I shall begin with the last photo. Here we have the gangers area, plate layers hut, storage pagoda, water tower pump and singalmens lamp hut.  

 

At the end of the road we see the signalbox, next to this on the right is a drain. This serves any overflow from the water cranes, water tower and station pluming. (grey water only).

 

To the left of the road over the white fence is private land. Carrtiarna Horse Stud. Agistments and Training Centre.

Big $$ money spinner for the GWR in horse transportation and the local hotel.

  

  Caught a race day special and a Exeter express while getting the photos of the drain and part of Carrtiarnas' property.

 

Thank you for viewing, maybe later,

Tex.  

 

Edited March 26, 2019 by Tex 'n' Taz

[Darwinian]

Splendid modelling there Taz. I especially like the kit bashed station building it looks “just right” to me.