London Calling.. WR Mainline - Acton Green

[P.C.M]

22 hours ago, SparxD428 said:

Thanks Peter, Just replied to Rob above that if I remember back that far 31117 was adorned with headcode discs, and just had another thought it was always quite clean too so may scupper the look I've just created on 102.

Here you go, it does look quite clean. You should be able to find some discs easy enough.

[SparxD428]

I actually managed to finish replacing the retaining wall at the weekend on the TMD.

A little bit of extra ballast, green and clutter was added in the void.

 

Also laid a concrete "barrow" crossing in the gap I left halfway down the carriage sidings, due to my laziness with cutting and fitting sleepers between flex joins !

 

Managed to finish weathering on 2x ballast wagons, and make removable ballast loads for them too. Might just whitewash one of the wagons a second time as yellow still looks a bit too factory. Still have 2 more ballast wagons to ruin to complete the short rake.

 

I also managed to construct and paint the large retaining wall behind the fuel point too, now I just need to plant that and join it with the scenic break bridge and add fencing, path etc.

 

Just one pic of the TMD and ballast wagons today on shed behind the 08, with some o the retaining wall thats been done visible behind.

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

Edited November 16, 2020 by SparxD428

[SparxD428]

An interesting aside, going through some of my old photo's I found something rather intriguing I took which I dated on the back of the print at the time as April/May 1987. It shows 33008 in revised green on platform 9 at Reading facing west, with a rake of Mk1s/2s in Blue Grey and NSE. The headcode shows "95" which would suggest it is a diverted boat train from Waterloo to Southampton Eastern Docks.

I am intrigued to know whether it did originate at Waterloo and was a boat train, if so why did it divert via Reading, and which route did it take out, bearing in mind it would have been very unlikely (but not entirely impossible) to have originated at Paddington with a 33 on the front.

 

I took a photo of the photo on my phone as scanner is not setup at the minute.

Be intrigued if anyone knew anything about this working and whether it was unique?

Might have to copy this post to a different forum.

 

Any of my SR expert friends feel free to comment

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

[SparxD428]

Done some work on the layout(s) over the last week.

TMD:-

Retaining walls are complete on the scenic break of the TMD. I've started building a small front wall, and as it sits on a cradle above the storage yards I may add a separate sloping bank to make it more aesthetic to view, once I've finished the last of the retaining walls.

Also had multi meter at the ready due to a couple of dead spots , maybe these have been due to atmospheric/temperature change in the garage. One fishplate bypass soldered and some minor filing of rails to fix a poor point blade connection and everything seems to be back running OK.

 

Main Layout:-

Whilst the electrical kit was out I finally fixed the dodgy point that leads to the speedlink platform, it seems to spring back a tiny fraction to lose contact and this is one of my ones where the point motor polarity is shorting in one direction when the frog was connected. Removing the point motor proved it was the point itself, so an incredibly careful operation to tin a thin layer of solder on to the point blade, then file to profile seems to have finally fixed this problem. Now the short wheelbase Loco's go over the crossing in to the speedlink platform without stopping.

 

Of course, some pictures below:-

Sunday TMD line up

50029, 47402, 37284, 50032, 08(in shed), 33025, 47593 having wiper fixed in depot, 50028, 73137 and 31268.

 

Meanwhile on the fueller 50004 with 50031 in the carriage sidings waiting to take the ECS for the Down Midnight to Padd. Next time I might get some better pics of the finished walls.

 

At the station 31102 is parked for the weekend with a trip freight of supplies for the depot

 

50014 thunders through Acton Green on the Plymouth-Paddington

 

Weekend duty for an ETH Duff. 47500 on an engineers train with the down main under possession

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

[rob D2]

Nice one .

that depot is unashamedly WR and looks a bit like Newton abbot with the higher level I think .

 

I may have to build a plank next to run my blue stuff - although my aspirations / memories are mainline 

[SparxD428]

A trip to Alton Model Centre yesterday for some supplies resulted in coming home with 3 x Blue/grey TPO carriages, so now as well as the Down & Up Padd-Penzance Sleeper, I can run the Down & Up TPO train as well.

For now though the TPO is running in daylight hours whilst I continue work on the layout.

I am constructing a removable embankment at the front of the TMD to draw the eye away from the woodwork, using the old reliable hanging basket liner method, as well as constructing a retaining wall at the front of the TMD. Progress is steady as cutting up polystyrene is so annoyingly messy. I Will be adding a bit more subtle greenery to the HBL when done in keeping with the colouring of the rest of the layout.

Also I have switched the office I built from the speedlink depot to the TMD fuel point and added some protective railing, which meant I also finished the brickwork at the building rear. Just need a few finishing touches to complete this now.

 

A few pics..

2 x 33's on the fueller with the new fuel offices

 

47593 having windscreen wiper repaired on shed

 

50004 on the new TPO

 

TPO on platform 3

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

 

TMD

[SparxD428]

Another busy Sunday on the layout. I have made up some non working ground signals from the kits available and planted them on the TMD, as they're old style and just for show, probably not anywhere near where they should be either. I've also continued building and painting the front retaining wall on the TMD and also finished the messy polystyrene cutting.

Also I couldn't resist having another go at sticking ploughs on 24. Result is OK, will need a bit of light weathering and fitting of some beam pipework and some sort of coupling needs constructing

 

A few pics of 24 and of the TMD ground signals

TMD 

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

[SparxD428]

Tonight I thought it was about time to have a short running session under the lights after some further modelling. The retaining wall and bank is coming along by the TMD. I've fitted the (aesthetic only) coupling to 50024 and lightly weathered the ploughs.

It's late night Saturday in Winter 1987...

 

50029 Renown rolls in with the Down Midnight 1C02 23:25 Padd-Penzance, additional stop Acton Green

 

 

On Platform 3, the 23:35 Padd-Westbury pauses behind 50024

 

Late night Vac action at Acton Green

 

In the yard, this week's pilot is a CF 37 whilst an "ECS" Routemaster crosses the bridge

 

Back in daylight and the scenics are progressing on the TMD frontage

 

There are also a couple of new arrivals which will soon make their bow on Acton Green, more to follow after Santa has been..

 

Merry Christmas all,

Cheers,

Stu

 

[Temeraire]

All looking great Stu, look forward to seeing the Christmas arrivals! Have a good (as you can) Festive season with the family and hopefully we can all get together in the New Year sometime.

[pitbull1845]

Well you've been busy Stu, well done its looking really good. Merry Christmas.. 

[Rich Papper]

Hello

Just found this and had a very enjoyable few evenings reading through from the start. I really like the depot scene (particularly when full of 50s), and I'm a big fan of anything underground. I have a tube station myself with EFE trains on a shuttle fitted with Metro Models motor bogies. Interested in the new motorised EFE version too though as mine are starting to show their age.

Seeing your platforms with lights makes me want to get on with mine too. Thank you for sharing.

Rich

[SparxD428]

2 hours ago, Rich Papper said:

Hello

Just found this and had a very enjoyable few evenings reading through from the start. I really like the depot scene (particularly when full of 50s), and I'm a big fan of anything underground. I have a tube station myself with EFE trains on a shuttle fitted with Metro Models motor bogies. Interested in the new motorised EFE version too though as mine are starting to show their age.

Seeing your platforms with lights makes me want to get on with mine too. Thank you for sharing.

Rich

Thanks Rich, I have followed you thread too for inspiration on the underground. I'm hoping in the future to finally have something running on the underground and am too interested in the new EFE version that's forthcoming. Might jolt me in to finishing off the underground board 2 (no scenic just somewhere to run a train up & back) although there's an awful lot of wires in the way right now due to no forward planning!

Cheers,

Stu

 

[SparxD428]

Firstly, a Happy New Year to all my friends here on RM Web and I hope we can all have a decent 2021 and maybe even meet up again and go to a show or two !

This year New Years Eve was spent tidying up the garage and shifting some of the under the layout furniture so I could accommodate a TV in the garage, as we finally got a new one for the lounge so I can now plug the laptop in to the TV in the garage and use TV on the go to watch the football scores if I feel like spending Saturday's with the trains.

 

So what else, is new? Well, these 2 arrived pre Christmas.

 

 

50010 arrives in its 1983-spring 1985 guise with a blue roof. That won't be there long, limited edition or not, I intend to paint it grey and make number 10 look like it often did, tatty and dirty.

As with 50007, some light weathering will suffice particularly around the roof/cantrail area and bufferbeams as at the moment they are just too red.

 

The TMD was very busy stabling motive power over the Christmas holidays.

 

Back to today, and early morning trains running have 50021 on the up TPO at daybreak(ish)..

 

 

As I've cleared some space around the layout can get a better view of the lake I added a while ago to give the curved finish to the scenic section

 

And finally whilst 21 is checked at the Up Main Signal, 14 thunders by on ECS to Didcot for an early morning commuter return.

 

So , my plans for Acton Green for 2021 are:-

1. Finish the Underground line

2. Finish the TMD scenics

3. Remove the lift out section and replace with a fixed board, adding extended sidings around the back of the layout for more stock

4. Add some lights to the TMD and get higher rated PSU's to control the existing layout lights

5. Actually get some Class 47's 

6. Audit and experiment with some DCC settings for better control on certain locomotives

 

Not much to do then..

Cheers,

Stu

 

Happy 2021

 

[SparxD428]

Number 10 has begun undergoing it's transformation from shiny limited edition Landore paint job to the 1987 version. Photo's seem to make it look worse than it does by eye, although my freehand orange cantrail stripe needs a bit of hiding with the weathering after masking proved difficult for someone of my paintbrush skills and failing eyesight.

So far it has gone from this:-

 

To this:- 

Next stage will be to weather the bodysides , underframes and yellow fronts. I am being picky but the black band around the windows goes a little too low for my liking but I will probably make it look worse if I attempt to yellow it up a little. Once weathering is done I will have to make the "D410" numerals it carried in the headcode boxes at that time. I can use IC exec carriage numbers for the 410, just need to fabricate a "D"

 

 

 

Hopefully by the weekend "Diana" will be ready for service.

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

[Temeraire]

Evening Stu

 

I hope you're well mate.

 

'10 is looking good so far, it made me remember a pic I took back in the day at Basingstoke.

 

 

50010 Monarch at Basingstoke with 15.10 Waterloo - Exeter 7th June 1988.

 

I always thought it was probably one of the best pics I took with my first SLR camera. hope its useful!

[SparxD428]

1 hour ago, Temeraire said:

Evening Stu

 

I hope you're well mate.

 

'10 is looking good so far, it made me remember a pic I took back in the day at Basingstoke.

 

 

50010 Monarch at Basingstoke with 15.10 Waterloo - Exeter 7th June 1988.

 

I always thought it was probably one of the best pics I took with my first SLR camera. hope its useful!

Thanks Ian, excellent picture and helpful too, I can clearly see the 410 part of the headcode numbers is centred. I only had 8 recorded runs behind number 10 , the last being on 12/04/88 from Paddington to Tilehurst on the 18.14 Padd-Ox. Remember having it from Exeter to Basingstoke on a Sunday night and it failed to make it out of the tunnel until 33204 was sent to push it up the hill to Central. Also had it on a particularly raucous 01.40 Waterloo - Yeovil (and return workings) !

Cheers,

Stu

 

[SparxD428]

Weathering is now completed on 50010. Just need to add headcode numerals, refit steps and fit nameplates to complete the look.

Also number 7 looks a little less glossy at the front, with only light weathering. I should really add a cantrail stripe for my era but that can wait a bit..

 

 

Hope to have 10 finished by the weekend

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

[SparxD428]

Now, just to make the "D". Considering how fiddly it was putting 410 in the headcode boxes it may be a while before I attempt to fabricate a transfer. Etched plates fitted now and bufferbeam steps put back in place.

And a quick test run on an Oxford - Paddington to welcome her to the fleet.

 

 

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

Edited January 23, 2021 by SparxD428

[Andrew P]

Good to meet you today Stu, just had a quick blast through and very  impressive.

[SparxD428]

On 04/09/2021 at 22:01, Andrew P said:

Good to meet you today Stu, just had a quick blast through and very  impressive.

Cheers Andy, It was good to catch up with the gang again and get some mojo back for modelling. See you at the next one. In the meantime I'll probably post some updates again for the first time in 8 months although as you know not much has happened on the layout since my last post

 

[SparxD428]

OK, so finally cleared space to get to the layout the other week, then enjoyed a catch up with several members of this parish over at the home of Exford Park and Tidworth.

The layout is running really well considering 8 months of neglect, apart from the Gaugemaster 15V PSu going bang when I turned it on first time. One quick visit to RS and back running 24 hours later.

 

Just a few pics to remind me/everyone what Acton Green looks like. Also got a new phone with a better camera though I cant see much difference from the old one but eyesight is slowly fading these days.

 

A couple of TMD pics and one outside Acton Green.

I've just read my "to do list for 2021" earlier in the thread. 

Got some work to do if that's to be achieved this year!

 

Cheers,

Stu

 

 

 

 

 

[Morgenergy]

Been keeping my eye on this thread for a while now and wanted to pop in and mention how inspiring and well done this layout is; a brilliant representation of the era in an urban environment, of which I'm a sucker for! Also a big supporter of anybody making use of old locos and rolling stock from Lima and the like.

 

Keep up the good work

[SparxD428]

First time I've been in for a while , Acton Green still around but not much happened, added a couple of items and slowly getting around to completing some tasks. Have some time off now so hope to complete the weathering of the ballast rake and the scenics on the TMD, all about 12 months behind schedule 

 

[SparxD428]

Weathering brushes out again. Have completed the short ballast rake, and made a start on 47012.

Have also done the Railfreight flats, but just cannot seem to get the TTA's to look right so am keeping on experimenting.

 

A couple of unexciting pics of 47012 and some wagons

 

[SparxD428]

Some more weathering done whilst I ride out Omicron/Covid. Also had an issue on the down relief section on the lift out, as due to expansion the rails were misaligned causing 32 to jump into the station. A few tweaks and a temporary fix with 12mm screws and Blu-tack have got the line back open for now but going to maybe have to replace the hatch with a fixed board and realign the tracks better.

 

50032 back on track

 

On shed at Little Oak, 50024, 50010 & 47012

 

Nearly finished the scenic frontage of the TMD

 

Cheers,
Stu