West Riding Terminus- Halifax Powell Street

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi Andy, I'm glad you're enjoying the layout and yes I'll have a few updates this week. I've been restraining until I have something update worthy!

 

Thanks again,

 

Pete

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi all,

 

Well i've finally made some more progress on the layout front- although I only have a few photos at the moment more to follow soon. I have finished scribing all of the platforms and almost finished painting them.

 

As mentioned previously; Halifax Powell Street is the terminus of a former LNWR venture into Halifax. It was built at great expense due to the required earthworks, running along the route of the current Skircoat Road and terminating near Powell Street (where the station building/entrance was accessed from). The original platform canopy was severely damage during the second world war, and immediately post-war some running repairs were undertaken to keep all of the station at full use. The canopy was cut back and removed, and the damaged central platform was partially (and primitively) resurfaced.

 

Well that is my story anyway! It was a deliberate decision to only partially scribe paving flags on the central platform as I thought it would add a little interest. I think I will stick to this plan but as you can see below the resurfaced area is far too light in colour. I will aim to darken this over the weekend, but I would appreciate some feedback on this in general though as I could always continue the flags along the entire length of the platforms;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now the platforms are more or less complete this means I can start to lay the MPD trackwork. I have started to trim as much excess plastic from the peco points and have started wiring the droppers. I have also purchased a South Eastern Finecast 65ft turntable which I hope to begin building soon. I have just cut a hole for the well therefore track laying can begin soon.

 

Any thoughts on the platform would be very helpful,

 

Pete

 

 

 

 

[Guest 40-something]

Stumbled across this thread yesterday and spent a happy hour or so reading through it.  

 

What a great layout, I've marked this to follow and look forward to your updates.

 

Im most impressed by the weathering to your stonework, matches all the photos' I've seen of that area during the period you are modelling!

[Branwell]

The patches look at bit odd at first Pete, but appreciate that you need to darken them and blend them in.

 

Regards,

 

David

[BurscoughCurves]

Hello again everyone,

 

I seem to have some momentum going on the layout front at the moment and had a good track cleaning session last night. It's amazing how much dirt and debris is left on the track after the cleaning rubber has been used. I tend to use the rubber, hoover then wipe with a cloth dipped in meths. At the Manchester show before Christmas I purchased a set of DCC Concepts rolling road bearings. They are great for cleaning wheels and weathering and I have wired a short section of track to a chunky switch so I can power either the layout or the short programming/maintenance track;

 

42094 on a wheel cleaning session;

 

 

A closeup of the driver (oily rag in hand);

 

 

The switch on the right next to the power cab port;

 

 

I decided to remove some of the random looking resurfacing on platform 3-4 in favour of more scribed flags. I'm glad I did but still need to tone down the platform entrance/exit area. The following photos are from a running session last night;

 

I have done an initial cutout for the low relief station building, it will have several entrance/exits, office doors and windows;

 

 

 

 

 

The South Eastern Finecast turntable well can be seen plonked in place and will be bedded in beneath more retaining walls and low relief buildings above. I'm hoping it will give the layout an enclosed urban feel;

 

 

 

A few random images, I like the feel of this one;

 

 

 

 

A local spotter is unimpressed with the smelly green coaches;

 

 

But things pick up with a local favourite (including a chat with the driver);

 

 

 

Next to finish prepping points and spacing more sleepers on the MPD track.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Pete 

 

[ben pez]

Great work and really starting to look the part.

Who makes the driver with the oily rag?

Is it a monty figure?

Very nicely painted by the way.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Branwell]

Looks better Pete ... and I like the way you've left the gaps in the paving where the columns were

[BurscoughCurves]

Great work and really starting to look the part.

Who makes the driver with the oily rag?

Is it a monty figure?

Very nicely painted by the way.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

Thanks Ben I think it was a Bachmann figure (with a small piece of tissue paper glued to his hand).

 

Pete

 

Edit- it is a Monty's figure sorry- I bought and painted/ repainted them at the same time!

 

Pete

Edited January 26, 2016 by BurscoughCurves

[Mrkirtley800]

Just re-found (is there such a word) this thread and have read it from day 1. Very nice too, I love the concept, and the name you have adopted sounds just right.

In my own system, one of my main stations off-stage is Bradford Market Street, which was I believe, the Midland station before Forster Square came into being.

I will follow your doings regularly now

Derek

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi Derek,

 

Thanks for your kind words. I'm a big fan of your layout- the image on your post #406 is truly superb.

 

Well two points and a double slip plus the MPD head-shunt have been laid and wired to the bus rail, and I have started the point actuation. The points on the 'main' are all simple wire-in-tube with sweeping radii as there is a comfortable distance between the lever panel and the points themselves. As the MPD points are very close to the panel and also offset to the left, I've had to use angled cranks.

 

I bought two sets of GEM angled cranks and they appear to work quite well; 

 

 

 

 

My only concern is that a siding will be laid directly over some of these cranks. The siding will have to be raised slightly to lift it above the slightly proud moving parts. I was considering this anyway to add a slight amount of variation to the track level under what will be a sparsely used siding. 

 

Nothing too interesting i'm afraid but progress all the same!

 

Pete

[AireValley1962]

On the contrary, it is very interesting.  Maybe the front siding that covers the cranks could be made removable on a thin plinth so as to allow access in the case that one of the cranks needs attention.

[5BarVT]

On the contrary, it is very interesting.  Maybe the front siding that covers the cranks could be made removable on a thin plinth so as to allow access in the case that one of the cranks needs attention.

Even on the 12" scale railway you can be sure that the bits that can't be reached are the ones that will go wrong.

 

Paul.

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi folks,

 

I feel like i'm making decent progress over the last week or so- even though I don't have loads to show for it. I have finished the mechanical point control at the front-left of the layout, although I am yet to wire the frogs to the switches;

 

 

A close-up of the angled cranks (the ends are yet to be trimmed);

 

 

At the point end;

 

 

A job that has been bugging me for a while is to cut the slots for the ash pits. There are two of these- the original one in front of the coaling stage (which will be engineering blue brick) and a later one added by the LMS in the 1930's when the turntable was enlarged (which will probably be concrete). Also, in front of the shed I think i'll add another inspection pit (from the left-over pieces);

 

 

 

Whilst the roof was off on the shed (to protect it against wayward elbows!) I gave the interior a much needed dusting;

 

 

Thanks,

Pete

[cheesysmith]

It depends on the siding length, but have you thought of having a raised coaling stage like barrow hill had? It would make a good visual break between the running lines and the shed. A part brick, part grassy bank with a little shunter propelling a pair of coal wagons up it whilst the main lines just on the other side.

[BurscoughCurves]

Yes- that is exactly what I'm planning; part brick but with rough scrub grass. Looking at LNWR coal holes the upper track level does not appear to be very high- a few feet at the most. This suits me! Unlike the GWR versions which are greatly elevated...

 

Thanks,

Pete

[scottystitch]

Pete,

 

Apologies if I am being thick, but you mention using the rolling road for wheel cleaning. Ca you describe how you go about that. I have one (in N gauge) but never thought about it for cleaning wheels...........

 

Excellent updates, thanks for sharing. Really inspirational.

 

Scott

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi Scott,

 

Thanks for your post.

 

All I do is dip a cotton bud in some IPA and gently touch it onto each wheel as they are rotating. I'm not sure whether you have clearance in N gauge but I also reach under the loco and clean the inner wheel face where the pickups contact the wheel. It's surprising how much dirt accumulates. I always do this first on factory weathered locos as they are always coated in brown paint!

 

Cheers,

Pete

[leopardml2341]

All I do is dip a cotton bud in some IPA and gently touch it onto each wheel as they are rotating.

Cheers,

Pete

Pete,

 

Is that really a good use for beer?

 

Hat, coat and pint glass........ Gone

Edited March 3, 2016 by leopardml2341

[Jock67B]

Evening Pete,

I am still drooling over that engine shed my friend, it really is superbly designed and constructed, I hope one day I can manage something that looks like half as good!

Due to my illness, (see Early Risers a few pages ago) and shortage of funds, I want to start with the brick built bothy between the coaling stage and the ash pits, and then begin on the coaling stage itself which I'm sketching at the moment but hope to manage scale drawings soon!

Keep up the good work, yours is such an inspiration to me and many others.

Kind regards,

Jock.

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi people,

 

Jock- thank you as always for the kind words and I do hope you are keeping well. I'll PM you during the week with the turntable photos.

 

Leopard- I thought my jokes were bad! I find guinness an excellent weathering medium though...

 

Well work on the layout has come gradually together over the last few weeks. I need to have a really good clear up as the recent progress has made a lot of mess. It feels like quite a significant moment as the shed is now connected to the rest of the layout and I have been enjoying shunting locos around the MPD. The last track that needs to be laid is the single siding at the very front of the layout and the two which link to the turntable. All of the points are laid and connected to the switch board although the headshunt and coaling siding are yet to be stuck or pinned down.

 

An overview of the MPD area;

 

 

The finished point-control panel (I have yet to 'learn the road');

 

 

Below are a few gratuitous shots of the shed roads, apologies if you get bored!

 

 

 

 

I have added the ramp up to the coaling stage. To the left and at the rear of the coal hole the embankment will be blackened ground and scrub grass and to the right you can still see the brick base modeled on an image found online with a Lanky 2-4-2 engine in front. I used this image to estimate the height of the track against my lanky 2-4-2T.

 

 

 

From the retaining wall;

 

 

 

 

 

 

I quite like this shot, and a cut from it;

 

 

 

 

Next up is to make a start on the SE Finecast turntable kit which I am looking forward to.

 

Thanks folks,

Pete

 

 

 

[AireValley1962]

Love the photos - this is one of the few layouts I have followed from the beginning and it just keeps getting better and better.

 

Keep the updates coming as you can!

 

~ William

[leopardml2341]

Wot 'e sed ^^^^^^^^^

[Jock67B]

Pete,

I love the point control set up, could you tell me if the operating switches (which presumably handle the frog polarity switching?) and the angles, tubes etc all come from the same company so I can cost this up, as I certainly don't need that many points in the first coaling stage/turntable module, even with the ash pits and water cranes included! Thanks for the inspiration my friend,

Kind regards,

Jock.

[George Hudson]

Wonderfully atmospheric.  Turning into a thing of dark beauty.

Andrew

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi everyone,

 

Feels like a while since my last update and the only progress I've made is on the South East Finecast turntable. It's a nice kit but I think the instructions could be a little better illustrated. When compared in situ to a Peco 70ft kit I made years back, it really looks more in scale for a small depot such as mine. I realise that the MPD immediately next to a station may bug many purists but I can think of quite a few examples of this. My excuse is that the LNWR didn't want to spend any more money on a second site.

 

 

I decided to use the parts from the ratio kit, and was thinking of the best way to curve the rail in the well. In the end I have used the ratio rail, suitably trimmed and weathered.

 

 

The joined and primed rail, with the piece removed to reduce the circumference.

 

 

The rail weathered with enamels and powders.

 

 

A tricky part; making sure the rail is concentric with a simple gauge.

 

 

The assembled deck with the sides from the ratio kit used.

 

 

The underside of the deck. The four bearing heights were set with a vernier when the rail was glued in place- measuring from the rail  top to the bearing bottom.

 

 

I linked the central stud to the bridge assembly using a removable pin as well as a nut on the top of the deck. I don't think this is suggested in the instructions but felt it needed to be more secure than just a pair of locking nuts.

 

 

 

I glued the rails in place on the deck with epoxy after soldering the contact wires in place.

 

 

An overall view of the area after finally being able to turn locos the proper way!

 

 

 

On the cosmetic side, the decking was scribed onto balsa sheet.

 

 

The winding assembly from the ratio kit is yet to be glued in place. It looks a little large but I will probably use it.

 

 

The handrails were made from 'L' section with copper wire threaded through 0.75mm holes.

 

A bloke for scale!

 

 

Ratio decking plate was used in between the rails and for the winding area. I hope to prime, paint and weather the deck soon.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully some more progress soon.

 

Cheers,

Pete