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Eastcoates - A high level city line


woodyfox
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Hi all,

 

Following a recent house move I acquired a 16x14' concrete garage of a 1950's vintage. It was in a sorry state and so I spent the spring renovating it. It is now a usable space from March to October. The main thing was making sure it stayed dry with decent ventilation.

 

From my efforts I've now managed to build a railway around the perimeter that gives me just under a scale mile of running. The whole thing was built to an open frame design so that the lines can be elevated. I wanted to keep it simple and so there are only 7 turnouts, 2 loop lines, 1 crossover and one siding. 

 

I've modelled in EM before, but, as life is short, stock will be plentiful and the landscaping is pretty demanding in scale, I opted for using the new Peco bullhead track on the scenic section and code 100 on the storage drawer. I have wired to DCC and use a Prodigy DCC01 starter pack. 

 

Apologies for the poor images for now, but lighting is a work in progress as is learning how to use my other halves complex camera!

 

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Here is a view of the western end of my station (Eastcoates) area. It will be a 2 platform affair with a holding siding for DMU terminators and will depict a station that formerly had 4 lines passing through. The signal box is a scratchbuild and is in its approximate final position at the end of the up platform.  In the immediate foreground will be a wide road underpass.

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This is a view from the other direction and shows a view from the station back west over what will be a muddy tidal river via a swingbridge (think Wilmington, Hull) and the eastern end of the loops. The loops are around 9 feet long and so scale length heavy freights will be accommodated comfortably.

 

210713126_Garage1006(800x531).jpg.da462fa106fb368c240b3a9efdaea167.jpg

 

Here's the other end of the loops, I have lots of space for building up old traditional industries. This end will be mainly industrial. Again the 'box is a scratchbuild loosely based on South Howden on the H&BRly.

 

I'll upload some images of the 2 piece 9 foot storage drawer I've somehow managed to concoct AND get working later.

 

Cheers.

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Here's the traverser I've constructed. Due to having a 3ft access door to contend with and the requirement to have the baseboard viewing height at 4'6", I've had to construct the storage traverser in 2 sections. The first is fixed on heavy duty (ballrace) drawer runners and is around 3'6". The second lifts completely out when not in use and is around 5'6" long. This second board is fitted with 4 small wheels that run along wooden beams. The second board is attached to the first board by large bolts and it's movement is therefore dictated by the first board. 

 

All 8 storage roads are joined via 1.2mm brass wire latches that are passed through 1.4mm diameter brass tube that's soldered to the outer web of the code 100 rail ends. The same system operates between the main boards and the traverser. There is then a simple transition from code 100 to code 75 bullhead around 6" into the main boards at both ends. 

 

The major bonus is that there is no wiring at all. I have run 3 sound fitted locos at once with no loss of feed current.

 

The whole thing takes around 5 minutes to erect or dismantle. Only the passage of time through a winter and another warm summer will tell if I've avoided any warping issues. Only a 5mm or so warp will be pretty serious.

 

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Regards

 

 

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Hi all,

 

just a a further update on progress. I'm currently out of the country for a week so can't take any more images. 

 

Before i left, I commenced work on the swingbridge area by constructing the timber frame bridge support (when open) from 6mm square balsa strips. I dyed the wood, using Indian red and black inks mixed with IPA (1:3:9 ratio), by soaking for a few seconds and leaving to dry on foil. The results are quite pleasing (images to follow). I've also completed the painting of the river bed and construction of the retaining bank side walls, using those holding back the river Hull as a guide.

 

As you might be able to tell the inspiration for this layout is the river Hull corridor and high level freight line through Kingston-upon-Hull. In my world however, the line will carry services to and from the East Coast resorts of Withernsea and Hornsea (the low level NER route closing due to too many crossings). The line will also see bucket and spade extras for the coast. 

 

Also, because my rule one applies, I plan to have ecs running to and from a depot in the east of the city to the terminus for onward services. This allows me the chance to run a full HST (sound fitted of course!). Freight will be oil, scrap metals, steel, coal, cement and other general trip workings. All in the heady decade of the 1970's.

 

I'll post plenty of images as I progress.

 

Regards

 

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Hi,

 

Work has progressed on the swing-bridge area. I've completed the timbering and swing pivot foundations. I've also completed the muddy banks of the tidal river. Just need a good clean and (re)paint now. I've tried to capture muddy tidal banks with water channeling. Pretty pleased with it so far. Resin will simulate the water to about 5mm deep so much of the mud/riverbed interface will be unseen.

 

image.jpeg.878a96dc6e1b84499af45b84df459d9b.jpeg

 

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image.jpeg.6144b53ca278b71bf9e322388b4121a7.jpeg

 

image.jpeg.6830245760a66cb5061525fc5c1dd978.jpeg

Regards

 

Stu

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Interesting concept, I lived next to Top Line in the 60s and 70s. I have long had dreams of modelling the line with the assumption of the Abercrombie plan being carried out after WW2 and Cannon Street taking over from Paragon. 

 

What sort of time period are you looking at ?

 

 

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1 hour ago, montyburns56 said:

You've done great work with timber baulks, especially with the grotty weathering.

Thanks Montyburns,

 

I used black ink and Indian red ink mixed with IPA to soak the timbers. I then added a green algae tide mark by painting with very watery sap green and yellow acrylics.

 

 

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I'm also well advanced with ballast laying (about 50% complete). I've also started to experiment with the placement of some industrial storage containers. This will be a slow process with lots of scratch-building required.

 

image.jpeg.f7f7f9356a74d8e9a32cfb244bfb210d.jpeg

 

image.jpeg.9c2a00209319270ada682f9f3c70e8df.jpegimage.jpeg.5f74b075219ebd08476aa287a4f796cc.jpeg

 

Here's close-up of Poorhouse Lane box.

 

image.jpeg.5e4eae4d52f9d695b6ce6dbc924b3110.jpeg

 

I'm installing full 3 aspect colour light signalling and can have a total of 8 signals and 2 shunt signals with 3 full signal sections in both directions.

 

Regards

 

Stu

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A few years before your proposed timescale, but gives a flavour of the formation and environment.

 

Chants Ave to the rear of the train, where St Ninians Walk runs alongside the embankment Ella Street coal yard behind the photographer 

 

image.png.b3d43c334a565f302c86b57e277b2a54.pngimage.png.b3d43c334a565f302c86b57e277b2a54.png

 

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Hi,

 

Good progress on the tidal river bed and swing-bridge. Just need to add a coat of gloss varnish to make the mud 'wet'.

 

I've also 'sunk' the massive pile foundations at the eastern end of the bridge and laid the foundations for the foot boards on the bridge. There will be a walkway down one side hence the asymmetric widths.

 

image.jpeg.56b0002e8959b74c30daa74b082d4c23.jpeg

 

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image.jpeg.4f77422bbdef3f57b7af5f3902cb3d4e.jpeg

 

Regards

 

Stu

image.jpeg

image.jpeg

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34 minutes ago, russ p said:

Love the swing bridge,  I m hoping to have one on my layout.  But there is still so much to do on it at present 

 

Hi Russ,

 

I know what you mean, the amount of ground to cover on this one is pretty daunting at times. I've had to more or less complete the river section so that the bridge can be built in-situ. Once the bridge is in, acces to the river area will be minimal. The swing-bridge won't, of course, be operational; but it would be an interesting project to build one.

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In going to cut the track bed board and let the bridge in. It will be based on either the somerleyton or old trowse types. Mine also will be static.  Shame you cant get them to make noises when a train passes over

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On 7 September 2019 at 17:49, russ p said:

In going to cut the track bed board and let the bridge in. It will be based on either the somerleyton or old trowse types. Mine also will be static.  Shame you cant get them to make noises when a train passes over

 

I did consider some kind of hollow metal box made from old biscuit tins but the support needed would ruin the rattling sound effects. Plus all stock would need to be pretty weighty to get the 'big thud' noises.

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A metal deck would make a big difference to to the noise, building the underbridges on Carlisle one had to have a sheet metal deck (I think about .020") for clearance reasons and the sound of the trains changes markedly as they run on to it. This one is ballasted over - your swing bridge wouldn't be so the difference would be even more noticeable. 

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On 9 September 2019 at 07:38, Michael Edge said:

A metal deck would make a big difference to to the noise, building the underbridges on Carlisle one had to have a sheet metal deck (I think about .020") for clearance reasons and the sound of the trains changes markedly as they run on to it. This one is ballasted over - your swing bridge wouldn't be so the difference would be even more noticeable. 

 

Mmm, that's got me thinking about metal sheet suspended under the bridge with small metal bits on that vibrate when a train passes over....

 

Might work?

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It might, the bridge on Carlisle is the one which takes the main line south over the goods lines and the baseboard builder hadn't left enough headroom so I had to make the deck from .020" steel sheet. The bridge girders (plastikard) were glued to the top and the track ballasted all over - the change in noise is clearly audible from the other end of the room (about 20m away).

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That sounds really effective. 

 

I'll give it some thought. I've also considered cutting the rails by about 2/3 down for the 'clickety-clack' effect. 

I'm going to explore 3 possibilities.

 

1. Some metal against metal impact using  steel sheet picking up vibration under the bridge.

2. replacement of the track bed with metal and 'floating' rails.

3. Some sort of wheel triggered contraption under the supports at both ends wher there's plenty of room.

 

Thanks for the info Michael.

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The mud banks on the river now have a coat of gloss to make them look nice and wet.

 

image.jpeg.d05b94a36bbfd690bc59e05513d5bbae.jpeg

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The grubby type 3 trundling over provides a perfect example of what I'm trying to achieve. This will look better with a big metal bridge and sparse greenery. 20 odd TTA's getting pulled over will add atmosphere too I hope.

 

So that ballasting can be completed, attention will now turn to the station area.

 

Regards

 

Stu

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My original plan had a wide, wooden platform as a plain through station. Further thoughts and testing found this operationally boring and unprototypical  in having no crossover in a mile of city line with loops and a station.

 

I decided to adjust the track work an boards to accommodate 2 outer platforms and a stabling siding with space between showing some typical rationalisation. 

 

There's the inference that the station had loop platforms in busier times.

 

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The last two images show where the downside station access ramp will be. The down side will have a small building and arches which supported a recently removed overall GT Andrews roof. The main station building will be on the upside. Most of the buildings will be depicted out of use, typical of the late seventies period of infrastructure retraction.

 

Regards

 

Stu

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I realised i need a mk3 coach as a gauge for the station platforms before i can go any further. So while i wait, work has begun on the bridge structures. The first is based on the H&B line over Chanterlands Avenue, Hull. This is how it will sit once the brickwork is complete:

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IMG_20190919_171055.jpg.69e920156bc7647c8d29c4437549c437.jpg

 

Regards

 

Stu

 

 

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Here's a close up of the bridge. I've tried to achieve a typical look of a bridge that is over due a refurb. 

The letters are 15mm vinyls from a military kit supplier and are self adhesive being applied over an acrylic paint base. A hairdryer activates the glue once placed. They are then washed over with a matt varnish dyed with a dirt colour. Weathering was applied over the top to suggest where the paint had been beaten by rust. 

IMG_20190919_171242.jpg.3b3f3dcb5f9e272d1faf4dd79e6afeec.jpg

IMG_20190919_171251.jpg.e1adba7c002c82d1d4a50aa14bc0b785.jpg

 

Regards

Stu

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