Aston On Clun. A forgotten Great Western outpost.

[MrWolf]

I've already been giving serious thought to building the terminus for my line in 6ft X 2ft...

[NHY 581]

31 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

 

At least under all that grass, I could hide pretty much any kind of track.

 

 

I can confirm that the kind of scenario is most tempting......

[MrWolf]

And like Topsy, it just growed....

[JustinDean]

42 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

 

A foot shorter would be a lot easier to store. The platform would only be big enough for a couple of four wheelers or one bogie coach.

 

Proper micro dimensions?

 

Somebody has set out rules for other people's railways?

Oh yeah, I’m came across this on Facebook- there’s a micro layouts group. They have rules on size to be counted as a micro!!!  

[Thorness]

11 minutes ago, JustinDean said:

Oh yeah, I’m came across this on Facebook- there’s a micro layouts group. They have rules on size to be counted as a micro!!!  

The Micro Model Railroad Cartel.

We use the definition for micro layouts as suggested by the late Carl Arendt. Posts related to layouts larger than 4 square feet are subject to moderation and/or deletion by the Admins.

 

 

[JustinDean]

On the subject of micros this came up on the FB group I mentioned. Blodwell Junction located at the Welsh borders. This would make a great little layout. 

[MrWolf]

I've always found the Blodwell / Nantmawr area interesting, so many different companies have had a go at the area over the last couple of centuries. I've spent quite a bit of time around there in the past looking for what remains. 

I've also been to Kinnerley quite a few times and thought what a great basis for a model that would be, even as something other than the S&MR. That is, if you can resist the temptation to build the junction and locomotive department sheds.

I have heard of Carl Arendt and his work. The idea of building a series of layouts to X size is an interesting one, I also like the idea of modular sections that can be stand alone models or connected together. 

I can understand completely the Micro Model Railroad Cartel wanting to keep rigidly to the original size concept, otherwise they would cease to be. 

I tend to create myself enough problems with my own set of self imposed rules for railway modelling, let alone working to design by committee, however tenuous. I've never been a club sort of person, other than those for the owners of various vehicles. I see those as a support and learning facility, very much in the same light that I see this site.

Once I have Aston built, I'm certain that after a lengthy session of playing trains, (Probably not that lengthy!) I will doubtless build something modular and shelf like.

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2021 by MrWolf
Internet death

[Alister_G]

4 hours ago, JustinDean said:

This would make a great little layout.

 

All that lovely point rodding, look you...

 

Al.

[MrWolf]

33 minutes ago, Alister_G said:

 

All that lovely point rodding, look you...

 

Al.

 

Indeed. 

 

Nowhere's perfect!

 

Although I no longer find point rodding intimidating.

 

Out of two point rodding kits and one 2 metre point rodding extension kit, I have three 72mm sections of rodding left over.

[MrWolf]

I've been busy sketching for a painting project, but got distracted for a few minutes by the idea of small layouts.

So I managed to spend a few minutes getting it out of my system.

 

 

Edited August 24, 2022 by MrWolf
Replaced picture

[MrWolf]

The view in the easterly direction.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2022 by MrWolf
Only taken an hour to post a picture without the site dropping out

[Stubby47]

15 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

I've been busy sketching for a painting project, but got distracted for a few minutes by the idea of small layouts.

So I managed to spend a few minutes getting it out of my system.

 

 

Would a very light line such as a tub line have such substantial earthworks, or just have a trestle bridge over the other lines ?

[Donw]

I think John Allison built a layout based on on the the junctions in the Blodewell area. 0 gauge very nice layout in one of the modellers.

 

Don

[MrWolf]

Why not have a high (120mm at most) embankment?

It depends on the levels being worked to and from, especially if you started off using horses.

There's a bank and bridge similar to the one on the right on the Criggion branch, which some writers have stated was also used for tipping into standard gauge wagons.

There were some hefty earthworks on the Cliffe Hill railway to avoid steep gradients, as there was on the Stratford tramway where it crossed the SMJR. I suppose that the Causey arch might be a bit extreme. 

I'd post a few pics but it's taken an hour to post the picture above of the other end of the layout idea.

 

 

Edited November 20, 2021 by MrWolf
Site keyboard keeps dropping off

[JustinDean]

I’ve just ordered a big plastic box and laser cut baseboard kit. 
Oh . 
 

You lot are a proper bad influence. 
 

Im off to the pub to contemplate the error of my ways. 
 

Jay

[Martin S-C]

On 11/11/2021 at 20:58, MrWolf said:

Midland Railway 12 ton van to D664. This is one of the more recent Cambrian kits with wheels, bearings and the floor / solebars / W irons moulded in one piece.

 

Is the Matilda II there in readiness to defend the bus-bearing bridge from Stuka attack?

Oh, BTW I Just found this lovely thread courtesy of Compound2632 who I have to thank for linking me to the Insulfish/L&Y wagon build. It seems via that I have stumbled into a thread very much after my own heart so is it okay if I pull up a digestive and join you all?

Edited November 21, 2021 by Martin S-C

[MrWolf]

Hello Martin, 

 

The Matilda is there mainly to prevent it getting crushed on the bookshelf, which is where it used to live. There's a WWI MKIV loitering somewhere too. 

I've found that the best defence against finding shiny EFE buses parked in the middle of bridges is not to have bridges. Hence the Luftwaffe ground crew have become the axis answer to Oddball and the rest of Kelly's heroes.

The Stuka is kept around for the occasional foray onto other threads as and when the conversation gets too bus orientated.

Amongst the regular thread drifts I am, with the advice and support provided by the contributions of others on here, attempting to build a line based on (but not a model of) a once proposed but never built railway.

 

Welcome aboard, please feel free to travel in the first class carriage, there's less holes in the floor...

[MrWolf]

Not really had much time to do anything earth shattering on the layout, though I have managed to have a dig through some incomplete ex LNWR wagon kits and provide enough parts to make another five LMS absorbed open wagons.

 

 

 

Hence the odd coloured panels on one wagon, the chassis are an even more miked bag but all will have the correct chassis details.

Edited August 24, 2022 by MrWolf

[MrWolf]

As promised, I have let loose Miss R with the ballasting. Armed with one of those little plastic ballast applicators, a small flattie brush, eyedropper and a bottle of WWS ballast glue, this is the result after about twenty minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like I'm making dinner then!

 

 

Edited August 24, 2022 by MrWolf
Replaced picture

[Rowsley17D]

Miss RRH is to be congratulated on a fine-looking job. You'll be getting requests for quotes from others who need their layouts ballasted. (I was going to say how much to hire her out but that seems so wrong.)

[MrWolf]

A lot of the levelling involved a quick brush along the inside of the rails and tapping them with the back of the teaspoon being used to load the ballast applicator.

 

I have been informed that I will be ballasting the points...

 

I also asked about a ballast subcontracting service, but if I shared the answer on here I suspect that the moderators would have an embolism. 

[chuffinghell]

So Miss RRH won’t be able to ballast Warren on a sub-contract basis then?…Shame because she’s done a cracking job

 

Edited November 24, 2021 by chuffinghell

[MrWolf]

Able, it would appear yes (unless you want points doing. Willing? That's a no. 

It does appear easy, but a bit fiddly. I suspect that the points are going to be fun (NOT) I haven't tried ballasting in years (didn't go that well IIRC) 

I'm now having gaps in sleepers that need sorting out as well as the fact that the ballast applicator won't work alongside the platform because it fouls the point rodding. That bit will be fiddly.

We've found that applying glue to the shoulders first stops the ballast moving about, then glue between the rails.

 

 

 

I have passed on everyone's kind compliments, she is most flattered and will probably go and hide under the stairs now. 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2022 by MrWolf
SNAFU

[MrWolf]

Parts of the yard trackwork that don't require further work have been ballasted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2022 by MrWolf
Replaced picture

[NHY 581]

Morning Rob, 

 

The Memsahib is to be congratulated on what is an excellent job made out of, what I find to be, quite the most arduous of tasks. 

 

Now we can really see the layout coming to life..

 

 

Rob. 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by NHY 581
Sausage hooves