Jump to content
 

New layout - some questions


steelmaster501

Recommended Posts

Sorry for un imaginative topic title, but I'm looking for some advice/feedback please.

 

I'm mulling over an idea for a layout which is basically a section of a four line route (up and down mains, and up and down goods) with crossovers between the running lines and a branch (to a yard or industry of some description). I do not have a track plan yet (other than endless scribblings on scraps of paper).

 

The intended period is 1988-1992 and the location is somewhere in the north east (inspired by Teesside area). I intend to hand build the track work.

 

After much deliberation, my initial questions are as follows:

1. I want to use semaphore signalling, but would like to combine with cosmetic point motors (clamp locks). Is this a prototypical combination?

2. I am thinking of using bullhead track for the up/down goods, and using flat bottom track for the up/down mains. I intend to have a crossover between main and goods. The question is, would it be correct to have a bullhead turnout and a flat bottom turnout in the same crossover (or would both turnouts of the crossover have been relaid at the same time - or would both turnouts remain in bullhead with expansion joints at connections to flat bottom running lines)?

3. Would B9's be appropriate for the turnouts in the crossover(s) in the goods lines?

 

Looking forward to some constructive advice from the font of knowledge that is RMWeb.

Link to post
Share on other sites

No one seems to have jumped in on this, but a few observations from me should prompt a stream of corrections.

 

Are your tracks grouped Up Main Down Main Up Goods Down goods with the goods lines to one side like Sonning Cutting. or Up Goods Up Main  Down Main Down Goods with the main lines in the middle  like Taunton -  sorry for the GW analogy.   Para 1 sounds like up main down main paired while later it sounds like the Up lines  and Down lines are paired.    Again GW but you would normally have Up main to Up goods facing crossovers not Up to Down main.

 

As regards pointwork why would they go to all the trouble of mixing and matching bullhead to FB in the same crossover?  It would have been a big job changing the main line turnout, a full engineering possession probably so they would probably have either replaced the entire crossover pointwork or more likely in the 60s and 70s taken the crossovers out completely leaving plain track, that if they didn't lift the goods lines completely;.  As you don't mention diamonds it does sound like Up lines and Down lines are paired.

 

The signalling is interesting, again why would they have semaphore signals and motor operated points. There must be a signal box not too far away to operate the signals.  The Board of trade had limits on the distance from box to points but usually when this was exceeded and motorised points installed it was when lay byes were converted to loops and the loop points were some considerable distance from the box, 80 wagon lengths or more.   I don't see any logical reason for semaphores and motorised points so it will look wrong to me.

 

By the 80s a goods only branch may have been just a trailing connection with trains serving it in one direction only and having to travel 10 or 20 miles to reverse and come back past again. 

 

As for the 4 track, great for tail chasing, Brilliant watching a fast overtake a slow ( better still in steam days, Standish Gloucester a 14XX racing a Jubilee and winning) but you do need a lot of storage to run a sequence,
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Premium

Hi Steelmaster

 

I have copy of the original Quail eastern track plan which dates from 1988, just the period you are interested in.

 

Looking at the Teesside area, the only place that appears to meet your requirement is Newport East Junction at the east end of Thornaby Yard which has the crossovers and the connection to Middlesborough goods branch - if you would like me to do a sketch of the track plan for you, please send me a PM.

 

Moving along the line, there are other sections of 4 track, but without the crossovers.

 

hope this helps.

 

Nick 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Depends as ever on how much space you have.

 

The usual answer to that question however is "not really enough for what I want". 

 

Given that, I think that double track generally works better in model form than quadruple track, but if you are lucky enough to have lots of space, it's an interesting and different option.

 

All GWR engines look the same.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks for the replies guys - sorry, it's been a little while since I've had the chance to log on.

 

Dave, to answer your points, the configuration of the lines would be up/down goods to one side of the up/down mains (i.e. A pair of goods alongside a pair of mains). Your comments re: mixing clamp lock points and semaphore signals mirror my own nagging concern (and catalyst for my initial post) - I think I'll stick with mechanical throughout. Your comments re: mixing BH and FB track in the same crossover make sense intuitively, but I have seen an example in the intended area (at Eaglescliffe) of such a mix, so I'm still toying with this (presumably the cost saving of only relaying one turnout rather than two would have been the driver for this).

 

Nick, thank you very much for the offer of the Quail map, but I already have access to that. The precise location that I am considering is a bit further down the line at Grangetown (branch off to the port). Main operational interest comes not from through traffic but from various run-round manoeuvres etc (e.g. Traffic from potash mine at Boulby to the port - though given that the branch will lead 'off-scene' I can get away with other traffic).

 

Tony, absolutely! Not enough!! :)

 

Thanks all for the feedback, it's really helped.

 

S501

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...