Popular Post BelsteadLane Posted September 6, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2020 Hi All. New to RMWeb. I thought I’d start a thread showing my WIP layout - Wratting Road. This is the first layout I’ve ever built after getting into the hobby a couple of years ago. It measures roughly 10ft x 8ft so it’s not a big layout but for a starter layout, it’s perfect. It’s OO gauge, DCC and Modern Image. The layout is a fictional location but is based on the GEML around the Ipswich area and everywhere on the layout takes or will take inspiration from places around the East Anglia region. The tunnel area is inspired from the south (countryside) end of Ipswich Tunnel for example and I have a disused signal box inspired by the one at Bishops Stortford on the WAML. The main point of interest will be the Freightliner Train Crew Depot in the centre of the layout. With other small scenes and points of interest scattered around the place. Being centred around Freightliner, typical locos seen will be 66s, 70s, 86s, 90s and an 08 shunter. However, other freight TOCs will still pass through, along with Abellio Greater Anglia passenger trains and DRS Class 37 short sets. Intermodal workings are my biggest interest on the railways and always have been since I was a kid, so Wratting Road is and will be heavily intermodal orientated. Although, I do fully intend to have Hoppers and Tanker wagons as well for variation. More information to follow. I do have a Facebook Page, Instagram account and a YouTube channel too, so feel free to check those out in the mean time. 33 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1722 Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 The pic with all the FL locos removed from the stabling point is superb. Wonderful weathering and track work. looking forward to seeing more. 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Scottish-Exile Posted September 6, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 6, 2020 Stunning images. Look forward to following this thread. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 Thanks 1722 and Scottish Exile for the lovely comments 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull1845 Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 Welcome to RMweb, I've been subscribed to your YT channel for a while now, really like what you've done with the space available. The layout looks great. Cheers Scott 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 (edited) Wratting Road Layout Tour: Heres some pictures showing a bit more of the layout and as you can see, it really is very much a WIP with lots of baseboard yet to cover! I’ll give a quick but detailed explanation describing the pictures. Tunnel Scenic Break The same photo as in the first comment on the thread. This is one of the scenic breaks and entrances to the non-scenic fiddle yard (and i use that term very lightly) it’s a simple two track mainline. This area is inspired by the south/countryside end of Ipswich Tunnel. One day I would like to scratchbuild a more accurate looking tunnel porter for my next layout but for now the Peco tunnel mouth with weathered brick sheets does the trick. The white backboards will have a backscene on eventually - something I will do soon (and probably should have done much earlier on in the layout build!) Looking in the other direction from behind the scenic break backboards: This is one of my favourite places to stand and watch trains run by. From this view, you get a better view of the disused signal box on the right hand side, and of the sidings for the FL train crew depot. With the signal box, you’re probably thinking why I’ve put one there - I’ll get to that later. FL Depot Sidings Here’s the stabling sidings for the Freightliner depot. These are made up of 4 sidings which are the 4 tracks in the centre and on the left. The track furthest to the right is the headshunt, what locos use to reverse and access the depots facilities - this area is yet to be built hence the pause in ballasting. This still needs some driver or staff figures, depot lighting and buffer stops to be added until I’m happy with the area. You can just about make out the relief siding on the left by the white buffer stop, which is outside of the depot boundary. The relief siding is/will be electrified so this is where the FL electrics will be stabled to await further duties or to be shunted/propelled into the depot by a diesel. Mainline The relief siding I mentioned above is the line on the left (the overgrown one) and the two other tracks are the main running lines. You can see the two sets of points to access the FL depot - The idea of having two access lines came from the FL depot at Ipswich which does the same thing. All that unballasted track off centre too the left is the Depot’s facility area. This is as far as scenery has come so far on the layout. I’ll post the more boring bits next on a different comment at some point! Edited September 8, 2020 by WrattingRoad 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 8, 2020 Author Share Posted September 8, 2020 11 minutes ago, pitbull1845 said: Welcome to RMweb, I've been subscribed to your YT channel for a while now, really like what you've done with the space available. The layout looks great. Cheers Scott Cheers Scott! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 (edited) Wratting Road Layout Tour P2 Sorry for the large gap and inconsistent posting. Some more photos now but showing the least interesting places still yet to be made, but I’ll say the future plans for them all. FL Depot Facilities This will be the facility area for the Freightliner depot that will be accessed via the headshunt. The area will have an inspection pit, fuelling points, fuel wagon storage siding and a spare loco siding. A few changes need to be done to the track plan, and the buildings and facilities still need to be sourced. Mainline Continued The mainline continues with the depot’s reception line running alongside making the number of running lines 3. I want to have a road over rail bridge somewhere along the bend and in the corner of the layout on this side, have an ohle feeder station and relay room. I plan to make another embankment next to the mainline and have a road scene with low relief buildings roughly where the bowls in the above are. This will lead to the bottom photo which is where the other scenic break will be - marked by where the ballasting stops. Another road over rail bridge will be here giving a nice sizeable length for a road. Fiddle Yard/Non Scenic Section The fiddle yard isn’t big at all and certainly isn’t interesting to look at. There’s no points for the mainline so trains can run round and round with minimal issues and minimal chances of derailing. All operation interest goes into the depot so it keeps it nice and simple for me to operate. The photo I took the other night of the fiddle yard is the wrong orientation annoyingly so apologies for that. I hope nobody injures their necks! Hope this gives an idea of my layout size and a bit of an insight to what WR will be. It won’t ever be anything amazing, I’ll always have a ‘my first layout’ approach to it, but I’m using it to build up my skills up and when I come round to build my next layout, it’ll hopefully be something special! feel free to ask any questions you may have Cheers, Jack. Edited September 12, 2020 by WrattingRoad 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxokid Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Nice to see you on here Jack!!! great work as always my frend... Thaks neil... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 5 hours ago, saxokid said: Nice to see you on here Jack!!! great work as always my frend... Thaks neil... Thanks Niel! Thought I’d see what all the fuss is about 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisis Rail Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Good stuff going on - can't beat a decent roundy. Ian 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 4 hours ago, Crisis Rail said: Good stuff going on - can't beat a decent roundy. Ian Thanks Ian! Very much in agreement. I love knowing I can walk back in the house for the loo or to make a cuppa and leave the trains running. Nice to sit back and watch them too every now and again! jack 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangoman69 Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Great stuff Jack! For me, you’ve captured the trackwork just right, both on the main line and in the yard. Karl 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 18 hours ago, Tangoman69 said: Great stuff Jack! For me, you’ve captured the trackwork just right, both on the main line and in the yard. Karl Thanks Karl! I quite like the weathering on it, I do go by pictures to find an effect I like. The only things I wished I done was use concrete sleepered track and have the sleepers spaced out. Two things that’ll be different on the next layout. When I first started building this one, I didn’t know much about the real railway so to me, track was track. I’ve learned lots along the way so hopefully the track will be even better on the next layout! Jack 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangoman69 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 34 minutes ago, WrattingRoad said: The only things I wished I done was use concrete sleepered track and have the sleepers spaced out. Two things that’ll be different on the next layout. Jack, I know exactly what you mean, I have used concrete sleepers on my layout, but wish I hadn’t rushed and spaced the sleepers out, something I now regret. There’s always the next layout! Karl 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) Wratting Road Traction - Freightliner Stock. The Diesels! As a layout heavily centred around a FL depot and intermodal workings, it’s no surprise that Freightliner is the main TOC seen on Wratting Road. However, plenty of other TOCs will make appearances as time goes on and my collection grows. The diesel collection isn’t the biggest but I’ve still got plenty to have a nice scene and running session for now. The collection consists of a few 66s, a 57 and an 08. Bachmann 66614 ‘Poppy’ - Rails Exclusive. This is fitted with a Loksound V4 with Biffo sound. Bachmann 66418 ‘Patriot’ At some point, I need to have correct up-to-date ‘Freightliner G&W company’ branding added. This is fitted with Digitrains Activdrive on a Zimo decoder. Bachmann 66533 ‘Hanjin/Senator Express’ No sound in this yet, although I am debating it! Hattons 66593 ‘3MG Multimodal Gateway’ This was sound fitted from factory so it has Biffo’s bespoke 66 sound file on a Loksound V5 Bachmann 57008 ‘Freightliner Explorer No sound in this yet, but it’s an idea for the future. I’ll probably get biffo sound and then try and get the Bachmann DCCSound ‘Freightliner Bond’ 57 to go alongside! Bachmann 08691 ‘Terri’ The first Freightliner Loco I ever bought! A very good choice considering the real Terri shifted around locations quite a bit. Most pictures I find are at Southampton but it was stationed at Felixstowe a few years back making it suit my GE layout nicely. plans for this model are to have lights, stay-alive and details fitted and will get done once the depot is at a decent stage. A nice shot of the diesels together. The Hattons 66 is currently away being weathered up suitably so will look great once it’s back home. I will obviously add to the freight liner fleet in the future but I’m trying to avoid freight liner at the moment to try and gather more stock and locos from other TOCs! More to follow on the fleet and next up will be the FL Sparkys! Edited September 14, 2020 by WrattingRoad 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 16, 2020 Author Share Posted September 16, 2020 Wratting Road Traction - Freightliner Stock. The Electrics! You can’t have a layout with ohle and not have electric locomotives! The current number of Freightliner Electric models are only 3 and they’re all Bachmann Class 90s. 90042 - Powerhaul 90047 - Triple Grey. Modelled in 2014/2015 condition. 90048 - Triple Grey. Modelled in 2009/2010 Condition. The next 90 will, without a doubt, be a Racing Green one. Quite fancy 90016! I’m debating backdating my layout back to the mid 2000s rather than the more recent years as 2004-2008 was my favourite era on the GEML. So 90047 may get reworked into a similar condition to 048. I’ll probably end up having FL’s whole 90 fleet eventually! I’m also eagerly awaiting Heljan’s upcoming 86 and you can be sure I’ll be having a few of those too! Thats all my FL stock covered and so far, it isn’t a vast collection! Next, I’ll show the other traction I have from other TOCs - believe it or not, I do have a fair amount! 14 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
armleyroad Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 Hi there, I'm very interested in this layout and your superb loco fleet. Looking forward to more posts and videos... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 17, 2020 Author Share Posted September 17, 2020 18 hours ago, armleyroad said: Hi there, I'm very interested in this layout and your superb loco fleet. Looking forward to more posts and videos... Thanks! Plenty more to see that I’ll post up soon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxokid Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 More top modelling Jack.. thanks neil... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan68 Posted September 19, 2020 Share Posted September 19, 2020 Looking forward to pics of the stock from other TOCs, especially the 156 I saw on your YouTube channel! Keep up the great work, it looks so realistic. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 (edited) Wratting Road Traction - Non FL Stock It won’t just be Freightliner stock on Wratting Road. I’ll be gathering plenty of other TOC traction, both freight and passenger. Here’s some examples of what I already have. Abellio Greater Anglia 156422 First up, AGA Stock - probably the most vital for setting the modern GEML theme. I havn’t got much yet (not really a surprise) but 156422 certainly is a lovely DMU and one of my favourites in my collection. It’s a Realtrack unit which I purchased from Rainbow Railways and it’s legomanbiffo sound fitted in both units. I recently repainted the interiors in the correct AGA refurbed colour scheme and added passengers - it came with a rancid purple Scotrail interior. Certainly makes a vast improvement. The model is currently away being weathered so will be fully fit for the layout upon arrival back! Abellio Greater Anglia DVT 82132 Next up, the AGA DVT. This was repainted by Laura McWilliams (UKD&E on Youtube) to a very high standard. The previous person who repainted it, made a right sh...show of the paint job so I had to get it redone. I can’t have a DVT on it’s own though... so here’s some photos sent to me by Mr TRS Trains... Won’t be long til I have a full mk3 rake... SNCB 90128 ‘Vrachtverbinding’ This is a model that doesn’t really fit in with the layout currently, but a Ltd edition 90 I can’t turn down. This is the Sound Fitted version of the model which is a Bachmann Collector Club exclusive and I bought it last year at Warley when it was unveiled. In fact, I signed up the club just too buy it Its currently away being renumbered to 028 so it can work passenger trains and freight. And detailed into its early 2000s ‘privitisation’ condition when under EWS ownership. I’ll run this with unbranded VT sets when I eventually start making those. It won’t be 100% prototypical as redundant Virgin stock wasn’t transferred to Anglia/One until 2004. And 028 had gained EWS livery the year before. I personally don’t see the point in making another Virgin set just so it can run to be fully prototypical, so a bit of ‘rule 1’ will have to suffice here. It would be pretty cool to see a ‘what if’ where 028 had lasted a little while longer in its Belgian livery while hauling Anglia Mk2s and One Mk3s also. GBRF 66711 ‘Sense’ Another shed but for a change, it’s not Freightliner! Of course, GBRF is another big freight operator on our network so a modern layout certainly wouldn’t be without a few GBRf locos. This is the only one I have so far but will certainly get more and when. At £90 from rails, this was a nice bargain. This model I’ve kept aside to be the first model loco I do everything too in terms of detailing, sound and weathering. So far, it’s been detailed at one end and fitted with a Modelu driver. I’ll be adding Jamie Goodman sound soon and weathering and then it’s fit to run once I get hold of more GBRf stock! I’ll be keeping it intermodal themed but will have ballast wagons and other appropriate wagons to suit the era and time periods. I’ll round up this post now before it gets too long which it’s already pushing on for. I’ve still got a few more to get through but they’re all Class 37s. So I thought I’d make a seperate post for them as they deserve it! Everyone loves a 37 Edited September 19, 2020 by WrattingRoad 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 9 hours ago, saxokid said: More top modelling Jack.. thanks neil... Thanks again Neil 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Stan68 said: Looking forward to pics of the stock from other TOCs, especially the 156 I saw on your YouTube channel! Keep up the great work, it looks so realistic. Just for you Stan look above! Edited September 19, 2020 by WrattingRoad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelsteadLane Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 Wratting Road Traction - Class 37s! Apologies for the big gap in posts - I keep forgetting I’m on RMWeb now I thought I’d keep the 37s for their own post otherwise the previous one would have been very long! Plus, who doesn’t love a 37? The current number of 37s I have is 5. Bachmann Colas Rail 37421 & 37521 My two Colas Rail 37s that’ll be in charge of Network Rail test trains. I’d like to add a couple more such as 099 ‘Merl Evans’ and 057 while it was still in its original green livery. Bachmann 37424 ‘Avro Vulcan XH558’ Without a doubt, my favourite 37 so far in the collection. This runs with the test train for now, but I have some of the new Hornby DRS Mk2s along the way so it can run with those and I can model the 37 ‘Short Set’ that was used between Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Lima 37611 Usually, I wouldn’t give Lima models the time of day and would rather spend more on better, up to date models. However, this was given to me by a friend for nothing so I want to modernise it and bring it up to standard so it can run alongside my other 37s. This will eventually become 37422 in unbranded DRS livery. A lot of work will go into this model, I need to source a VITrains chassis for it first before anything else commences but so far, I’ve disconnected some gears so it can at least turn its wheels on the layout. I’d like to have it as a runner on DCC but I’m also quite open to the idea of having it as a non runner and fit it with a flashing tail lamp so it can run as a DIT loco at the back of the Short Set or a test train - I just need to make up my mind!! Bachmann 37884 Europhoenix The last 37 is Europhoenix 37884. This model will mainly be used for stock drags, and I’ll be adding the more up to date nameplates and rebranding it as ROG. that’s more or less all my decent stock I own and run. I do have some more, but they’re either not fit for the layout or need more work to the point I can’t show them yet. Next, I’ll show some more layout photos but this time, close ups of some scenes I’ve made. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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