"Hawkesbury" - the engine shed area is no more.....

[Zomboid]

Is the canal basin size/ location fixed?

Is there space between & behind the buildings (back left in the photo) for the NG to sneak off and turn to give you an off-scene destination?

[halsey]

On 04/10/2021 at 10:30, Zomboid said:

Is the canal basin size/ location fixed?

Is there space between & behind the buildings (back left in the photo) for the NG to sneak off and turn to give you an off-scene destination?

 

Yes the canal basin is pretty fixed and now the 3 relocated 00 sidings exclude your "destination" thoughts although that was in the mix very early on.....

J

Edited October 7, 2021 by halsey

[Chimer]

Jules, the only functional differences in the 009 between your sketch and my v2 are my kickback siding into the corner and you retaining the loop from my v1 which I changed into a siding for v2.  I don't think I've  allowed enough space on the right hand side for the canal and the buildings behind it - can you tell me the exact distance from the near baseboard edge in the last pic to the near side of the canal?  And what trackwork are you going to be using - I'm going to have to get the points right to do things accurately.   I'm not certain the pointwork will fit as you have sketched it, but that does depends on the points radius.

 

I'm not sure that the fan of standard gauge sidings in the top left of the basin adds anything, can't see any function for them beyond somewhere to dump trucks .......... when I first saw them I though they were just bits of discarded track!

 

Cheers, Chris

[halsey]

On 04/10/2021 at 11:22, Chimer said:

Jules, the only functional differences in the 009 between your sketch and my v2 are my kickback siding into the corner and you retaining the loop from my v1 which I changed into a siding for v2.  I don't think I've  allowed enough space on the right hand side for the canal and the buildings behind it - can you tell me the exact distance from the near baseboard edge in the last pic to the near side of the canal?  And what trackwork are you going to be using - I'm going to have to get the points right to do things accurately.   I'm not certain the pointwork will fit as you have sketched it, but that does depends on the points radius.

 

I'm not sure that the fan of standard gauge sidings in the top left of the basin adds anything, can't see any function for them beyond somewhere to dump trucks .......... when I first saw them I though they were just bits of discarded track!

 

Cheers, Chris

 

Hi Chris,

 

Everything is up for grabs but I think the sidings as they were laid out originally were operationally the same 

My sketch was only to get a feel ..............27" is the measurement you want 

6 lengths of 009 streamline track and points just ordered all Peco not setback and not mainline - code 80 3 off RH and 3 off LH 

Edited October 6, 2021 by halsey

[Zomboid]

I would probably agree that the sidings heading towards the buildings don't really seem to have a purpose. I'd just have a nice long siding to the canal basin, and then the rest of the area is a NG free for all.

 

The next question (whatever you do with the standard gauge) is what's the NG for? I'd assume it's for getting things around the industrial area, both internally and to/from the external links to the main line railway and the canal. Once it's got a purpose it's much easier to design the track.

[halsey]

24 minutes ago, Zomboid said:

I would probably agree that the sidings heading towards the buildings don't really seem to have a purpose. I'd just have a nice long siding to the canal basin, and then the rest of the area is a NG free for all.

 

The next question (whatever you do with the standard gauge) is what's the NG for? I'd assume it's for getting things around the industrial area, both internally and to/from the external links to the main line railway and the canal. Once it's got a purpose it's much easier to design the track.

 

The sidings only need to hold 00 wagons so design will (sensibly) work around the 009 and I agree it isn't great as it is shown so far but we will get there 

 

Enough has been achieved now for me to be happy/able to commit and remove the 00 to create the empty space ...........

 

The NG is to get slate from a mine arriving at the bottom rh corner of the baseboards to the canal and to have a transfer "interest/interface" with the 00 main layout.

 

J

Edited October 4, 2021 by halsey

[halsey]

Good progress made today some track and turnouts arrived today so I've been "playing" - first observation is the ease of creating really smooth curves with the 009 streamline track (MUCH easier than with 00) but this is also code 80 not code 100 (as with my 00) so that probably also helps - don't I sound like I know what I'm taking about - still learning a lot.

 

I have two layout choices (thanks @chimer) - the LH version is my preferred as it works better with the still to be relocated 3no 00 sidings in the "top" RH corner still to be done esp without the kickback.

 

I have added a siding to the LH version as you can see.

 

Also I have decided to move the proposed location of the "transfer" platform further to the left so as to achieve better separation between the 00 and 009 tracks on the LH side.

 

I'm pretty decided on this now but not able to lay anything yet so all comments appreciated 

 

 

 

 

[Tallpaul69]

Hi Jules, glad to see you are making progress!

My only worry about the LH layout is the very small size of the oo9 loop - 2 - 3 wagons maybe? 

 

For that reason the RH layout gets my vote, but at the end of the day it is your layout. 

 

Also, will you have an oo9 loco servicing point, even if there is no room for a shed?

 

Cheers

Paul

[halsey]

2 hours ago, Tallpaul69 said:

Hi Jules, glad to see you are making progress!

My only worry about the LH layout is the very small size of the oo9 loop - 2 - 3 wagons maybe? 

 

For that reason the RH layout gets my vote, but at the end of the day it is your layout. 

 

Also, will you have an oo9 loco servicing point, even if there is no room for a shed?

 

Cheers

Paul

 

Agreed but In reality that loop is much bigger - 6 wagons are no problem 

 

I suppose the siding could accommodate a shed otherwise it will have to be assumed as being at the mine.

 

thanks 

 

J

[halsey]

A picture (or 4) is worth a thousand words - a good day mocking up today - lots of fails before this seemed to come out about right - the 3no 00 sidings aren't great but the visual connectivity between them and the 009 I do like and those of you who are keeping up will see I have reverted to @chimers original position for the transfer platform/shed as the curves to the canal wharf work out much gentler.

 

I can't do much more now until various bits arrive - more wire, insulated joiners, 1 more r/h turnout  (for the additional canal siding) etc - my feeling as I stop is I would like the main central brewery building (arch) to be more involved possibly with a single track running through it which feels as though it should be do-able but it might be a step too far - whilst 009 track does do tight curves really well it still doesn't look right to me if they are too tight but part of the loop might be "persuaded" to do so. 

Edited October 7, 2021 by halsey

[davidparker172]

 @halsey Having just read this build log from start to finish i felt compelled to say how great it has been to see this layout develop from ideas to fruition, through the numerous stages of discussion and suggestion, and its still going...

For someone like me who is new to all this and is planning my own larger build to aim for one day, its been inspirational to see it all.

Great help from the guys on here also,  (particularly @Chimer and @Harlequin), so its good to know that such advice and help is out there when needed.

Keep up the good work!!

[halsey]

1 hour ago, davidparker172 said:

 @halsey Having just read this build log from start to finish i felt compelled to say how great it has been to see this layout develop from ideas to fruition, through the numerous stages of discussion and suggestion, and its still going...

For someone like me who is new to all this and is planning my own larger build to aim for one day, its been inspirational to see it all.

Great help from the guys on here also,  (particularly @Chimer and @Harlequin), so its good to know that such advice and help is out there when needed.

Keep up the good work!!

 

Hi David,

 

Wow thanks for the comments - the credit is really all down to the RMW members you have highlighted (and others @Zomboid@DCB) without whom I couldn't have done it and wouldn't still be enthused by the process.

 

My character is such that "god forbid" it should ever be finished as I would then have to start again - I enjoy the journey and its evolution not the destination!

 

Glad you've enjoyed the read - it is/was intended to help others in the position I was in app 7 years ago!

 

Cheers

J

Edited October 8, 2021 by halsey

[davidparker172]

15 hours ago, halsey said:

 

Hi David,

 

Wow thanks for the comments - the credit is really all down to the RMW members you have highlighted (and others @Zomboid@DCB) without whom I couldn't have done it and wouldn't still be enthused by the process.

 

My character is such that "god forbid" it should ever be finished as I would then have to start again - I enjoy the journey and its evolution not the destination!

 

Glad you've enjoyed the read - it is/was intended to help others in the position I was in app 7 years ago!

 

Cheers

J

More than well deserved comments!

 

My apologies i didnt purposefully miss people off the thankyou list...everyone has had great input thus far, and will no doubt carry on doing

 

I am the same, i will enjoy the journey more than the end result (if i ever get started), and as they say, no layout is ever really finished.

 

As i said, keep up the great work, i most definitely wont be the only person taking great inspiration from the build

 

Right i am off to fire up my Anyrail design programme to start afresh

 

 

[halsey]

As the last bits of track are being planned around the loop and brewery (the top canal section is complete and wired) - it seems more important to plan around the brewery buildings - I have been playing with so many different building configurations over the weekend and have arrived at this - its only loose laid held down with 4 pins so the curves aren't very imaginative but you get the general idea - what do people think??

 

I have tried not to place the buildings at right angles and want to make the loop look as least like a train set as possible 

 

The two tracks to the right will join and head off to the slate mine - the track through the brewery arch will terminate somewhere in the transport "yard".

 

3 more (Metcalfe) buildings are planned for this general area - an "engine/loco shed" and another "small factory" but built and used as 2 units this time - the modified shed will go on the wider spaced 009 platform to the right , my current thinking is at that the 3 storey building - part of the small factory kit - will go in the top LH area of 00 interest somewhere between the 00 and 009 tracks and the small factory building will go on the outside of the 009 loop on a short straightened section to be sorted as its laid and with a modified platform.

 

J

Edited October 11, 2021 by halsey

[Chimer]

I wrote this after your Thursday post, but obviously never sent it ........ probably too late now!!

 

"Looking at the middle photo, I'd be awfully tempted to have the narrow gauge running through a tunnel parallel to the canal tunnel (as well as escaping through the factory) ..... sorry .

 

Also, I wonder if the narrow gauge isn't too close to the quayside at the moment - you'll need space for cranes (and people safely) between the two?"

 

Moving swiftly on, I think you may struggle to make the brewery courtyard work as you've got it there.  Having the entry to the brewery as the scenic break would be simpler - no reason why the narrow gauge wouldn't run right through the brewery site and continue on to the slate mine.  You could use the space where the brewery buildings are now for a narrow gauge depot of some sort - shed, workshop etc.

 

Yours confusingly, Chris

[halsey]

1 minute ago, Chimer said:

I wrote this after your Thursday post, but obviously never sent it ........ probably too late now!!

 

"Looking at the middle photo, I'd be awfully tempted to have the narrow gauge running through a tunnel parallel to the canal tunnel (as well as escaping through the factory) ..... sorry .

 

Also, I wonder if the narrow gauge isn't too close to the quayside at the moment - you'll need space for cranes (and people safely) between the two?"

 

Moving swiftly on, I think you may struggle to make the brewery courtyard work as you've got it there.  Having the entry to the brewery as the scenic break would be simpler - no reason why the narrow gauge wouldn't run right through the brewery site and continue on to the slate mine.  You could use the space where the brewery buildings are now for a narrow gauge depot of some sort - shed, workshop etc.

 

Yours confusingly, Chris

 

I'm going to build out the edge of the wharf to address your crane point 

 

009 through the arches is a good idea - worth a thought - easy to do

 

Brewery needs more thought so all points well received - thanks

 

J

[halsey]

Hi - latest progress report - track now laid in the brewery/loop area not wired or stuck but hopefully the final version - I always like to take a couple of days to just keep looking at it and to make sure it feels right before cutting the cork away and painting/wiring/testing and then gluing down 

 

Hi Chris - @Chimer I'm still debating sending one of the sidings into a tunnel and on to who knows where - I will probably do it because I can!

 

Note the new rolling stock (all Bachmann) - the DCC loco came today so its not tested yet.

 

If this one is OK and works well I'll order one more as all my classifieds have now sold so I have some ££'s left in the pot!

 

NOTE to others - 009 is NOT a cheap way to "play trains" mainly due to the high cost of new stuff (esp wagons) and an almost total absence of used stuff.

 

Edited October 14, 2021 by halsey

[halsey]

My "spare" time is now being shared with another project - a hobby/spare room principally for SWMBO!

 

The outside is completely finished and watertight but the inside is just insulated with all the remaining fitting out still to complete, its not going to be plush, it will be as authentic/rustic as I can make it - it is definitely not a "glamping" hut.

 

The railway will continue to progress but mainly at weekends so I'm not disturbing the neighbours banging about in the hut.

[Chimer]

I see a space for an O gauge inglenook ....,

[halsey]

4 minutes ago, Chimer said:

I see a space for an O gauge inglenook ....,

 

I don't think I'll get a look in unless I'm booted out of the house - that's why I'm making sure the bed'ole is comfy.

 

 

[Keith Addenbrooke]

On 14/10/2021 at 16:55, halsey said:

Hi - latest progress report - track now laid in the brewery/loop area not wired or stuck but hopefully the final version - I always like to take a couple of days to just keep looking at it and to make sure it feels right before cutting the cork away and painting/wiring/testing and then gluing down 

 

Hi Chris - @Chimer I'm still debating sending one of the sidings into a tunnel and on to who knows where - I will probably do it because I can!

 

Note the new rolling stock (all Bachmann) - the DCC loco came today so its not tested yet.

 

If this one is OK and works well I'll order one more as all my classifieds have now sold so I have some ££'s left in the pot!

 

NOTE to others - 009 is NOT a cheap way to "play trains" mainly due to the high cost of new stuff (esp wagons) and an almost total absence of used stuff.

 

Hi Halsey, some really nice photos - this looks to be coming together very nicely.  I think the 009 fits in the scene really well.
 

If I might make just one small observation, and this may be because of the angle the photo was taken from, the S curve in front of the loading dock on the track that has come through the brewery in the third photo looks a bit odd to me as it stands - I’m not sure quite why the line is curved in that way?  (the curves to align with the quayside make perfect sense, for example).  I wonder how it would look if that section was a bit straighter?  Just a thought.

 

I note your observation re: cost / availability of 009 stock, which something both yourself and I commented on in early posts in the thread - 3rd Oct for reference.  For wider information as part of the Layout & Track Design Forum, for anyone thinking about 009 (perhaps after seeing the rather nice photos above ), some pointers that may be helpful:

 

1.  The 009 Society has a thriving Member’s Sales shop for 009, plus H0e / HOn30 and H0m.  Membership is required, but you can see a good selection of the products they have online before joining.

2.  There are a good number of regional groups meeting as part of the 009 Society but open to all where there are also specialist Sales stands, as well as regional Narrow Gauge exhibitions - details of these are usually posted in the Narrow Gauge Forum here on RMweb.

3.  Kit building / scratchbuilding is a large part of Narrow Gauge modelling - taking advantage of N Gauge chassis especially.  Dedicated NG Forums such as NGRM Online have a wealth of information, much of it happily shared by modellers who were building great 009 models before r-t-r was available (NGRM requires membership but is free to join).

 

Hope that is of use to someone reading, Keith.

[halsey]

Just a quick photo showing the final solution - all track laid, glued down, wired and tested and working!

 

Thanks as always to the members who enabled me to get here - I'm very pleased with the result.

 

 

 

 

[halsey]

Back in railway mode for a bit (Hut progressing well)

 

Good to go away and come back to it for a bit ................

 

I think this general layout of track and buildings is right so I will now move on with fitting the caboose point levers (great item), painting/weathering track and then building the two remaining buildings (Metcalfe Engine Shed and Small Factory)

 

@chimer - note the widened canal wharf 

 

Cheers for now enjoy your modelling....................

 

J

 

 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by halsey

[Chimer]

Wharf noted!  

 

But now I don't quite see why the siding inside the brewery (?) yard isn't (a) straight and (b) alongside the platforms?

 

Always questions .....

 

Cheers, Chris

 

 

[halsey]

18 minutes ago, Chimer said:

Wharf noted!  

 

But now I don't quite see why the siding inside the brewery (?) yard isn't (a) straight and (b) alongside the platforms?

 

Always questions .....

 

Cheers, Chris

 

 

 

The brewery siding is "curved" because that's how I like it - pure aesthetics nothing else - also the platforms on the curve, rather than the ones through the arch, are for lorries. 

 

J