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FENAGHY JUNCTION


colmflanagan
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Hi there,

 

It's been quiet on this topic for a while, but Ken and I have managed to meet up at last and work has begun on the unseen parts of the layout - i.e. the electrics, which, while not on a large scale, are a bit more complex than either Bleach Green or Killagan. So there's not much to  We have still to install/connect the main control  panel so nothing is running yet.  At this time we do not think it likely there will be any exhibitions to take the layout to anyway, certainly for the rest of this year, so we're not putting ourselves under any pressure.

 

However, one project has moved forward, the signalling.  We plan to use mostly the Dapol signals (slightly tweaked with tall finials) for working signals and a couple of ratio ones for fixed ones (though without interlocking!)

 

We had a slight re-design of the signal box when we moved it, and then had to discuss the starter signal on the platform.  Although Dapol make a junction signal it wouldn't be right for this location as it has definitely a "main and branch" arrangement and the starter at Fenaghy would have two "equal" signals, if you get my drift. Now, in my humble opinion, the best r-t-r signals in terms of ruggedness etc were the old Hornby Dublo ones - the bases are quite substantial, but would be readily hidden and no problem as this signal will be on a platform, which is just wide enough for it.  I had an old working HD distant junction signal and decided to have a a go..

 

2043649784_fenaghystartersignal4.jpg.dc326ceb4780d8f9a5cd8921548ffa7d.jpg

 

1308709121_fenaghystartersignal2.jpg.b06657cb8f2a53754057df74fc30264e.jpg

 

There was really quite a bit involved.

First of all, you can't just replace the arms. The H-D models were all upper quadrant and this isn't Larne Harbour! That might need quite a bit of fiddling and working out where the operating wires could go, and shaping them.

The signal arms are ratio (I think LNWR - I have a "bits box" of some of the kits from previous layouts) ). They needed a new pivot, for which i used a piece of copper wire, the arm and the rear signal covering were glued to this AFTER I had drilled a new smaller hole for the operating wire in the dark spectacle plate. I thought I could use the old stronger Dublo wire but it wasn't possible so I used some Alan Gibson handrail 0.31 gauge wire - very fine and next time (if there ever is one) I'll use the slightly heavier gauge. It does work though.  The whole arm/pivot arrangement is by nature flimsy so will not put up with the originals ability to be knocked about a bit. That's why the pivot and wires come out the front - not ideal but this is a prototype - and may be the only one of its kind. Though years ago my friend Edmund Calvert Harrison (an NCC signalling fan) had converted some Dublo single arm signals with some success. i owe him for the idea!

 

Finials were the ones made by MSE, and platform on the bracket again was heavily cut down from a ratio signal kit one. Ratio ladders are available but won;t be fitted until the signal is firmly panted on the platform!  It all had to be painted as well, of course, mostly in advance.  I reckon about 4-5 hours steady work, and not really for the faint hearted. Though i expect doing more, it would get a bit slicker. The single arm ones are a good bit easier.

 

Anyway, there it is, ready for transport to Fenaghy.

 

1858932008_fenaghystartersignal3.jpg.f332a18c9d047ef7e719fcb657e8c8bd.jpg

 

 

 

 

.

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  • 2 months later...

It's been a while since we had any updates; with all going out "outside" the likelihood of Fenaghy Jctn being seen by the public in the next six months or so, is getting smaller. With out current regime we can't actually meet up at Ken's so work on the control panel, started a few weeks ago, has had to be postponed. However, I decided to make a start on the station building, It's a very scaled down Berkeley Deane Wise "Antrim" style  - the directors approached him to design the junction buildings, and he obliged with this smaller version of Antrim main line station. 

 

Still under construction, here are some pics of it on a temporary site at Coleraine!

 

2033499883_Fenaghyjctnstn1.JPG.39b72940b23f3860eef9c60191f9034e.JPG

 

Scratchbuilt using Slater's plasticard; the two "bays" area distinctive feature, though they are less pronounced than at Antrim! Left hand side is a general waiting room, right hand one the booking office.

 

90379637_fenaghyJctnstn2.JPG.94505cd82ecbb85b3c817c1fe0e65a46.JPG

 

The exit to the platform, there will be a canopy here. The flat roof is the toilet block.

2138391859_fenaghyjctnstn5.JPG.7dc419739a5aa0b97526d172152e15f2.JPG

 

Work has started on the roof slates; a design like this is quite fiddly! Hopefully it will be worth the effort. Windows by Brassmaster, doors from Peco. Canopy is a Ratio one.

 

1055136011_Fenaghyjctnstn3.JPG.aa39aa2f20d60c0d72682cea15c9cda6.JPG

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

I've now finished the "Fenaghy Junction" station building;  Like every model, you think of ways you might have done better but it should satisfy viewing at a few feet away and these are close ups to minimize background clutter (as well as some "photoshopping!" here and there.)

 

The station viewed from the front; the fiddly ridge tiles and two little bay "things" came from cutting off the edge of some ratio platform canopy valances.

286844910_FenaghyJctnstationbldg1.JPG.4b0c3cd42a980d256e8675e1dc3cd7cd.JPG

 

The building has interior lighting, dim enough to save me having to fully furnish any rooms!

 

1033790687_FJ3.JPG.d74ab59e8e3f9c00cbbb8c71e63c31a5.JPG

 

1726631357_FJ4.JPG.62efc5cebdcdb93878f7ff834cf109e1.JPG

 

The other "end"  with the canopy and showing the name boards which were made using Slater's "alphabits". A reversal of UTA colours but no one from York Road visited Fenaghy to see how they'd painted this old style name board!  It will sit between canopy and signal box on the layout, and it's only done this way on the viewer's side!

 

1272139589_FJcanopyandnameboard.JPG.833e7704b33b40fb486de2313836682f.JPG

 

A side view as seen by the operators (the main line side)

 

556402582_FJfromoperatorsideskycopy.jpg.e722eaa1c3e88607fa007e7107a08274.jpg

 

And the side the public will see best, the branch platform. -it's a busy day at Fenaghy, 3 people waiting.....someday the train will come and someday the layout will be seen in public.

 

912600482_FJfrontview.JPG.8957705cdf6a07576f681f49d10bb63a.JPG

 

 

Colm

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

The Fenaghy Junction station building has now found it's way to Antrim and Ken has installed it on the layout, which is now nearly complete scenically.

An "aerial view" .  

166722128_aerialviewFJ.jpg.31efea9e94717225397910276bc3f976.jpg

 

 

There are a few tidying jobs -for example, we still have to wire up signals, including the Hornby Dublo one, which needs access to the connections before we "bed it in" on the platform.  The Braid riverside quay is in the foreground. In actual fact the Braid river isn't close to the railway but we've only got about 10 feet to get it all in!

862642304_viewfromtheriver.jpg.33f7e0c7ec54bf6d9bd11e0d2e242cd9.jpg

 

Getting signals operational won't happen until i can get up there to work on it, and that'll depend on Covid, which has so far shown that forward planning is  for now is a thing of the past...  And there's the matter of finishing wiring all the points (including the three way one!), as well as fixing/finishing our control panel.

 

No 51 outside the engine shed

1183487651_51es.jpg.b2a8cd190e3d7027178136b2b0899d0f.jpg

 

View over the station buildings, looking North West, the main line to Cullybackey on right, Portglenone branch on left.

1738908397_lookingNWoverstn.jpg.a672ec616c3008eb7f789f95e60a139f.jpg

 

 

 

1779193056_viewfrombranch.jpg.5ef05a328ff9043f1701b144d961bc71.jpgHowever, it is,we think, looking well.   

 

a view of the goods yard

 

1494019595_Goodsyard.jpg.ecc5b76e0ad4eef3e76fd26dfa6a958a.jpg

view looking east.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

Some recent pictures of the layout, with some more detailing complete.  As the electrics of the layout are not yet  complete and await my next visit to Ken "sometime  after lockdown(s) in 2021", any locos seen are "posed" rather than operational.  I look forward to seeing it again myself!

 

IMG_0343.jpg.f051a8cbe6128c9ba0fd9dde394f0b79.jpg

 

Station buildings in place, and signals, pw hut have been added also.

 

IMG_0342.jpg.3950023bfe7810cc752d524e94a328dc.jpg

 

Hopefully there are no cattle in the wagons as it will be a while before they get shipped out!

 

IMG_0341.jpg.36d46697d9e4969ffd590715a37bb048.jpg

 

The pub is a "wet" one so it's closed for now; two people outside are waiting patiently.....

IMG_0337.jpg.4409f15b40b0f7667e6f46c9262bfcd3.jpg

 

Looking towards Ballymena, a WT "Jeep"  waits for the signal ...

 

Cheerio for now. Hoepfully the next post on this may bea video of somethign running.  Colm

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Fenaghy Junction is now complete as far as possible until Colm is able to sort out the electrics. One or two bits and bobs to add at that time too-eg station running in boards etc. in the meantime I attach a few more photos of how things should look once we are able to get the layout to an exhibition!! Here’s  hoping it won’t be too long. Happy modelling all.

F39AD9BE-01E0-4C2C-860B-1A68B0668799.jpeg

C13A5527-1A75-4A49-94DC-9206966F49CD.jpeg

194CBCC7-EE41-4616-86A2-62A0E958A4E3.jpeg

DE657C6F-7705-4F00-BF10-DA07236F2BC0.jpeg

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On 01/12/2020 at 00:15, colmflanagan said:

The Fenaghy Junction station building has now found it's way to Antrim and Ken has installed it on the layout, which is now nearly complete scenically.

An "aerial view" .  

166722128_aerialviewFJ.jpg.31efea9e94717225397910276bc3f976.jpg

 

 

There are a few tidying jobs -for example, we still have to wire up signals, including the Hornby Dublo one, which needs access to the connections before we "bed it in" on the platform.  The Braid riverside quay is in the foreground. In actual fact the Braid river isn't close to the railway but we've only got about 10 feet to get it all in!

862642304_viewfromtheriver.jpg.33f7e0c7ec54bf6d9bd11e0d2e242cd9.jpg

 

Getting signals operational won't happen until i can get up there to work on it, and that'll depend on Covid, which has so far shown that forward planning is  for now is a thing of the past...  And there's the matter of finishing wiring all the points (including the three way one!), as well as fixing/finishing our control panel.

 

No 51 outside the engine shed

1183487651_51es.jpg.b2a8cd190e3d7027178136b2b0899d0f.jpg

 

View over the station buildings, looking North West, the main line to Cullybackey on right, Portglenone branch on left.

1738908397_lookingNWoverstn.jpg.a672ec616c3008eb7f789f95e60a139f.jpg

 

 

 

1779193056_viewfrombranch.jpg.5ef05a328ff9043f1701b144d961bc71.jpgHowever, it is,we think, looking well.   

 

a view of the goods yard

 

1494019595_Goodsyard.jpg.ecc5b76e0ad4eef3e76fd26dfa6a958a.jpg

view looking east.jpg

 

That's absolutely STUNNING. The unique buildings are wow, the track work, scenics, absolutely a joy to view this. 

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  • 1 year later...

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