kevpeo Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 (edited) A new home for a Dinosaur! Well, for a ‘’cheesy dinosaur’’ class 304 unit, this one -Among other things! I’ve been plotting for a while now which project from within my head to begin after Loch Dour’s fiddle yard extension is done. Many moons ago I built a 5ft x 1ft shunting plank called Hill Foundry, which was about the perfect size for taking around shows (in a Mini Metro!) but of course it limited operations to a few wagons and a small shunter which lost its operating appeal quickly during a two day show!But two 5ft x 18in boards would take about the same space when bolted face to face and allow some ‘’trains’’ to move up and down too! So, a station is needed for the 304 to stop at and make nice noises, courtesy of Legomanbiffo’s nice v4 decoder. A yard would also be nice for my 08 to shunt wagons around in. Plus I also have a four car 310! So the fiddle yard would need to be at least 4 feet long, this isn’t all going to fit is it! After much thought, the ideas started to fit the available space like this.A two platform electrified suburban station, somewhere in the Manchester area with a yard approach track behind. The clever thought was to have railway engineering works going on at one end of the station, off scene, so services are terminating and then returning to Manchester, well shows are at weekends mostly! A master stroke, as only one fiddle yard is needed, allowing 6 feet of scenic work between two bridges.So far its only pencil marks on wallpaper but this is the fiddle yard board roughed out –A six track sector plate with the 3 tracks on the left (marked P) serving the station, and the 3 on the right (marked F) for shunting engineers wagons about. After drawing this out I think I may be able to align tracks U & D with the first two P’s and have room to add a seventh road on the right, which would allow the 4 roads on the left to serve the platform, so some diesel units could appear also. U is the up road through the station but will be cosmetic only, as all trains will be using the down road D with the cross-over beyond the bridge. The tracks marked E are to connect with the main line, offscene, while the one marked H can be a headshunt or lead to a couple of sidings depending on space. Any thoughts out there before I start planning the main scenic board? Kev. Edited January 22, 2013 by kevpeo 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 (edited) Hi all. I’ve been trying out the plan with some stock, and with six roads the 304, 310 and a 153 can fit, along with a few wagons and the obligatory couple of 31’s and the 08 pilot to potter about of course! With seven roads, a couple of 2 car DMU’s could be added easily. Unfortunately the image I took has disappeared off my memory card after editing it to fit on RMweb. Bl****y computers! Kev. Edit. Ha Ha, I found it again - Edited October 7, 2012 by kevpeo 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie!! Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Hi Kev, This is looking very promising, I will be keeping my out for this. One question, what era/year are you planning on modelling? Look forward to seeing more. All the best, George 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Hi George. I thought it said that on the header? Like Loch Dour it'll probably vary eras, either 1990/91 with the 304 and an 85 shuttling about, or 1994/95 with the 310 joining the 304. I wouldn’t expect rapid progress though! Cheers, Kev. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie!! Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Oh yeah, so it does Thanks anyway. All the best, George Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 looking very good i look forward to more updates david 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlw Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Hi Kev, I'm liking the sound of this plan, and I'm sure that like any of the layouts your involved with this will look superb. Is the length of the yard going to be enough that you can see trains arrive then the loco uncouple and run back off scene? What was the metro, nog? Carl 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Hi Carl. Yep, H331 NOG! The yard itself will be off-scene, but loco's with or without the odd wagon or two will appear and then head back. It will make a change from Scottish Tractors! Kev. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 I’ve been plotting on wallpaper again - All drawn out in straight lines rather than the sweeping curves which the real thing will have, I hope! On the left are the platforms which are the full 5ft baseboard length including the ramps. So they will fit a four car EMU or a pair of ‘sprinters’ comfortably. The plan is to have these accessed from the road by modern PTE style steel and concrete ramps. The track marked ‘E’ is the yard entrance/exit road, or in the case of the model, a long headshunt. You have to allow for extensions! On the far right are a couple of sidings allowing for the parking of engineers stock or use as another headshunt. Above these in the corner is space for a pub and some low relief buildings. The tracks marked U; D & E will be electrified, although I haven’t decided which era of mast style to go for yet? Any ideas or comments gratefully received. Kev. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlw Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Kev. Not sure of the name (think portals?) of masts but the ones in this photo are seen around Manchester a lot http://www.flickr.com/photos/manofyorkshire/7141835339/ Carl 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 I recognize that location Carl! That 'H' section portal style is often used on viaducts, including some brand new ones next to the old Coronation Street sets! Around Manchester must have one of the best selections of O/H types in the country. Early 60's down to Crewe, ex DC on the Woodhead side, the Altringham route prior to the trams plus a few more modern additions! Choices, choices? Kev. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 Well, as the wife and kids were out for the day with dancing practice, I thought I’d have a day off decorating and do something useful and go into work and build some baseboards! And here is the result sat by the garage doors – Next stop, the clubrooms for cleaning up and varnishing when the car comes home! Kev. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) I really ought to come up with a name for this layout! Favorite at the moment is ''Parrot Hall'' (which is close to the Furness Railway junction,Parrock Hall,named after a stately home near Roose. Now both long gone but as I work in a zoo the change appeals!) Anyway grab a cup of tea (or a beer in Ozzy's case!) because some work has actually been done. Me and OzzyO have filled,sanded and varnished the baseboards up at the clubrooms, before getting some timber for the legs. A picture paints a thousand words apparently, so here's the fiddle yard board on its legs in the loft - Shown without the sector plate in position. This has had Formica edging strip ironed on to the underside in line with the baseboard cross members, which have also had the edging strip ironed on. This is to reduce friction - And here it is with the sector plate in place. The wooden shelf locks the legs in position and adds some low down weight, which improves the handling in corners, only kidding! But it does help to stop the layout wobbling. This ''two legs & a shelf'' set up will normally be under the scenic board, but can go under either for work to take place - Now the tricky bit, getting the track across the joint! In the past I’ve tried toilet door bolts for this kind of thing but there’s so much ''slack'' in them these days, they're just not up to the job, so I thought I'd go back to brass ''wire & tube'' methods. To start with copper-clad sleeper strip was cut to three lengths- ½ inch, 1.5 inch and ''sleeper sized''. These were then epoxied to the baseboard in the position of one of the middle storage roads and weighted down- Once the epoxy had set small holes were drilled through and countersunk and track pins added, belt & braces and all that. Next brass tubes were soldered to the outside copperclads and the brass wire cut and bent to an ''L'' shape. The sleeper length ones need to have a groove cut into the copper cladding to prevent shorts. The sector plate can then be slid over one position and the next set of copperclads attached - And once that one is soldered on to the next - I've even got the first bit of track down! Kev. Edited August 7, 2016 by kevpeo 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazmanjack Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Looking Good. Will be following this with interest. Cheers, Gary. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Like the look of it sounds like a good plan ill be watching with intrest 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 This has the potential to be superb layout. With regards to the Class 304 and 310 are they DC kits? XF 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted January 20, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 20, 2013 Ooooohhh! That looks tasty, I'm going to be watching this one with interest. Andi 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dave.C Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Ooooohhh! That looks tasty, I'm going to be watching this one with interest. I have to agree with that 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan25912 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 did you build the 304 or 310 yourself as im contemplating building one or both and any advice or tips to go on with would be great cheers alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 I say chaps, steady on, your making me blush! Seriously though, thanks for all your interest shown in what is currently just some baseboards and Peco code75 track! As for the EMU’s, the 304 is the DC Kits model, while the 310 is the Southern Pride kit. The 304 is the easier to build (if you use the right glue!) but the Southern Pride one was the pleasure (if tedious at times) to build. More progress to report. I do like it when a plan comes together – The longer Peco tracks heading under the scenic break are headshunts/loco storage roads, and will be hidden under the bridge structure on the other side. Ozzy’s idea that one! The shorter C&L ones are the start of the running lines. All the copperclad is now glued down and just one more track on the left to lay, but I can’t finish the sector plate because my local shop hasn’t got any code 75 fishplates! Hopefully I’ll be able to pick some up at Kendal show next week. Kev. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 The 304 unit at work- On a different layout! Kev. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliepetty Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 The 304 unit at work- On a different layout! Kev. You seem to be short of a good 144? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Very nice vid 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
7APT7 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Hi Kev Stunning layout and photos, great to see a class 304 and I remember getting on these to go to BNS or class 312 most Saturdays. Great work... Jamie 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevpeo Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 You seem to be short of a good 144? Are you offering one Charlie? lol. kev. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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