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Watford and District MRC building Belmont station LNWR/LMS


hayfield

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The Watford and District MRC are building a model of Belmont station on the LNWR/LMS line from Harrow to Stanmore. We have a few(very) books and been on one website but would be very thankful for ant suggestions  of where extra can be obtained. Especially details of the housing companies narrow gauge loco and extra photos of station buildings

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well plans are afoot for a new 00 gauge layout for The Watford and District model railway club, we decided on something that will be quick to build and easy to transport as our new clubroom has to storage room. Belmont Station on the Harrow Weald to Stanmore branch line was chosen

 

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Here is a sketch for the 2 scenic boards and a track plan has been produced in Templot. We are putting together a half size model in card just to see that all is in balance and to help up plan for point and signal motors positions so cross braces do not get in the way

 

We have a time line to work to and hopefully we are now slightly ahead, the main problem is that there are very few photos and not any plans other than old OS maps. Still the platform length looks fine and a bit of modellers licence has beet taken by lengthening the platform so we can run 3 coach trains

 

More later 

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Tony just a few centimetres but for shows it will make it more interesting for viewers and ourselves if we have a verity of stock. The plan is to set it in the 30's as Belmont is being built. For a period the housing contractor had their own narrow gauge loco and wagons for distributing the bricks, cannot find out anything about where on the line in Belmont it happened, only bricks were directly transfered by hand from standard gauge trucks to narrow gauge ones. So again with a bit of modellers licence we have lengthened the sand drag at the Stanmore end and will have an exchange siding to the narrow gauge

 

One of the members has made a schedule of what happens when, for the next 2 weeks we are in the planning stage as far as the design of track and baseboards. The track plan has been agreed to certain tweaks and 3 weeks early we started the first turnout

 

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Whilst if I put my mind to it I could build the trackwork in a couple of weeks, I thought it would benefit others if they did it under my supervision. Alan has stepped forward and is completely new to track building. Well first we set the plan out on a board, then fitted the double sided tape strips to the plan. Finally Allan was able co cut out some timbers. Not much to show for 2 hours work, but its not a race and next week I will take my light/magnifying lamp.

 

For the first one I will fabricate all the crossings, switch and normal rails. Alan will just be building it, which is fine with me

 

Just for the record its a 4 mm scale layout using Exactoscale fast track (00 gauge) and turnout building components. The crossings will be to 00sf gauge of 16.2 mm so we can have finer flange/check rail gaps and still use RTR stock out of the box

 

Anyway back to the Webb 2-4-2T kit I am building for the layout (one must have been near about at some point) though I might be stretching the era a bit

 

There is an additional tweak, so we are not building the crossover as planned as instead of a 6' way between the tracks, we will alter it to a 10' way. This turnout is fine as it is free standing. Will end up about 4" nearer the end so as not to impact on either the size of the platform or siding

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Brian

 

Yes we could build all the plain track by hand as there is about 4 yards of non turnout track. My recommendations for using Exactoscale track using their Plastic sleeper and timbers system is to build the strongest track base given it will be a truly portable layout. The cost of using plain plastic sleepers and chairs is far more expensive than using the excellent Exactoscale fastrack units, also would increase the time frame of the build.

 

OK the plain track would have keys in the chairs, but using the same argument that looking at the crossings you cannot see the 0.3 mm gauge narrowing of 00sf, on the plain track you cannot see the 0.3 mm gauge widening.  00sf will give us firstly a much improved visual appearance through the common crossings as well as hopefully a smoother passage through them compared with 00 universal RTR turnouts.

 

Visually the turnouts will look much better than RTR units, as I have used Templot to design the turnout plans (B7's at the Stanmore end & a C9 at the Harrow end) which look far superiour to RTR offerings. Bullhead rail will be used with 3 bolt chairs, additionally we will use the rest of the special chair range and proper fishplates (plastic & etched) to connect rails, not a rail joiner in sight. The tiebar hopefully will be invisible, I designed (probably copied someone else's idea)  a U shaped copperclad tiebar which will be under the ballast (made one last year and showed it in my workbench thread).

 

Will be looking at point rodding at Scaleforum next weekend. One idea is to have our own signal box behind the scene using a 12 lever frame to work the turnouts and signals, using 3 of the Scalefour Society  4 lever frame units, They will electrically operat the turnouts and signals as the rodding will be scenic and not working.

 

We hope to run it either DC or DCC (not both at the same time) to future proof the layout and allow stock fitted with either system to be operated.

 

Anyone interested in seeing it (or join in) is most welcome, we meet in North Watford on Thursday nights

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A busy morning before going to work, firstly packing up a couple of items which sold at the weekend, then placing an order with C&L to be picked up at Scaleforum on Saturday, paid for a Comet coach a LMS period 2 brake 3rd which will be made into a push pull version which I hope to build for the layout

 

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As well as overseeing the trackwork I think I am building the platform, which was a concrete structure as well as some stock,above is a Webb 2-4-2T the lads would prefer a LMS loco but I have this along with a Watford Tank and Precursor 4-4-2T (well it was a LNWR line at one point). I do have some LMS stock though

 

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Another view of the build so far, whilst the chassis instructions are quite wordy sometimes I find it a bit hard to find where I am, I have spoken with High Level this morning re an appropriate gear box for this and the Precursor, again will pick up on Saturday

 

Off to work now, what a joy !!

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post-1131-0-67407300-1442595531.jpg

 

We are slowly building up a half size 3d plan of the layout. Not fitted but I have printed out the revised track plan for the Stanmore end

 

We know the approximate size of the canopy and one of the members is trying to copy the platform building from photos available

 

Here is a link to the Belmont page of the disused stations  http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/belmont/

 

post-1131-0-84198300-1442595539.jpg

 

Well the turnout construction continued. I have moved the plan to a smaller building board as the crossover has been altered and will be built in 2 sections. Alan has finished fitting the sleepers then we fitted the common crossing (I built this at home)

 

Next was the fitting of the straight stock rail, more later

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I am foĺlowing this with interest as my elderly in-laws talk fondly of the Stanmore branch and trips on the push-pull from Belmont to Stanmore, the latter station being remembered for it's well kept appearance, hanging flower baskets etc.

 

Izzy

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Izzy

 

Thanks, its quite a simple station. But throwing up a few problems and challenges, mainly through lack of information and photos. Hopefully tomorrow I will be picking up a Comet LMS period 2 brake 3rd and a driving trailer end for the earlier period push and pull from Wizzard models along with the track from C&L

 

The track will be a combination of 00 and 00sf gauge. The reason is that we want to use ready to run stock, but have a good looking crossings with finer scale flangeways and check rail gap, however use ready made plain track. so the turnouts will be built to 00 gauge where it joins with the ready made plain track but a reduced track gauge of 16.2 mm through the crossings. This allows the flangeways and check rail gaps to reduce to 1 mm from 1,25 mm. The gauge narrowing is not noticeable but the flangeways and check rail gaps are very noticeable and improves running through the crossing

 

post-1131-0-68948700-1442605762.jpg

 

If you look from the right hand side up to the first arrow its 16.5, the right hand middle section is the transition from 00 to 00sf. The middle left section is the gauge narrowed 00sf 16.2 gauge. the left hand section is the transition back to 00 gauge

 

The build method is set the 00sf gauge through the crossing and stick the extreme right handed chair by eye. Let these set hard.

 

Next stick the extreme left handed chair to 00 gauge, and let set. This has created the first transmission

 

Once these are set hard, using a steel rule against the rail between the two end chairs you can now glue the 4 chairs in the right hand (00) section. This has set the second transition between the 2 gauges

 

The chairs in both transition sections can now be stuck down

 

Hope I have not caused too much confusion, its very easy to do but hard to explain

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Hayfield,

 

Thanks, that's quite clear for me, and interesting. I'm afraid I am wedded to P4 standards for 4mm but see and understand the advantage of OOsf for those wishing to stick with this gauge and the mix of RTR and finescale wheeled stock. Could I ask please, do you keep turnouts at 16.2mm throughout if they are joined together i.e. crossovers etc rather than having the gauge varying back and forth between 16.5-16.2 if there is no plain RTL track between?

 

Izzy

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Izzy

 

Normally yes, in this instance no as there will be some plain track between the 2 turnouts, unlike C&L Exactoscale do not do plain sleepers or sleeper strip in the 1.6 mm thick plastic range.

 

On refection I could  use C&L thick sleepers, though I had planned to use the fast track bases, something to reconsider so I may change my mind (must be my feminine side). I will look at the plan this week. Good call in making me aware there is an alternative. Thank you

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I picked up some 3D printed 2 rod point rodding stools from Modelu at Scaleforum at the weekend

 

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Kept them in pairs and only fitted one set with 2 rods

 

post-1131-0-73812000-1443002572.jpg

 

They will print these to order with the units having the number of stools required per unit

 

Sorry about the photo quality but I don't have a Macro facility on my phone

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Izzy

 

Normally yes, in this instance no as there will be some plain track between the 2 turnouts, unlike C&L Exactoscale do not do plain sleepers or sleeper strip in the 1.6 mm thick plastic range.

C&L do do thick sleepers without chairs in 60ft panels that can be cut down as required, but only in 8'6" length I think, if you use 8ft length for 00 you would need to cut 2mm off each sleeper.

Regards

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  • 2 weeks later...

C&L do do thick sleepers without chairs in 60ft panels that can be cut down as required, but only in 8'6" length I think, if you use 8ft length for 00 you would need to cut 2mm off each sleeper.

Regards

 

Back to normal last night at the club (a few uninvited visitors last week), a bit more progress with the mock up and last week was not a total loss, as most of us were able to discuss matters over coffee for an hour or so

 

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This is the front view of the layout, the model is a 1/2 size model of the model. The crossover on the left is the first design, this has been superseded and mk2 will be fitted by next week, the flat section at the rear will be a hinged shelf behind the backscene, all the electrics will run in a trough under the shelf. The initial thought was to place the point motors here so that if one failed at a show it will be easy to replace without having to crawl under the baseboard

 

As we have bought 2 Scalefour Society lever frames rather than use a microswitch to work the point motors we will use a point roding system from the lever frames to the turnouts and signals. More of this later

 

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This is looking from the rear (operators view). We now have a new member who was a signalman all his life, he is now working out what signals are required as we have changed the sand drag into an exchange siding

 

post-1131-0-49654000-1443807953.jpg

 

A bit more work on the first turnout, the second stock rail fitted and Alan did most of the work. Forgot to take the superglue so could not fit the slide chairs

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  • 3 weeks later...

Last night the baseboard gaffer came back from his holidays and was asked to make a start on the boards

 

post-1131-0-86761300-1445644129.jpg

 

And now the design has gone as far as we need to take it in model form, this now has been altered after discussions and the design agreed.

 

We have one member making up a Scalfour lever frame as we will have 3 joined together to operate the layout. Another is doing his best with the limited info in making a drawing of the station building, another is having his are twisted to build the signal box, Jeff is designing a walkway from the booking office on the bridge to the platform.

 

Alan under my supervision is building the turnouts and we will also build the platform and the point rodding and signal runs

 

We have a stock list and whilst we could to a timetable, this we think would be boring for the public and operators, so whilst it is based in the 30's some trains may be either a bit earlier or later than the chosen period, but the locos will be restricted to those known to have been on shed at Watford (unless my Flatiron slips in)

 

post-1131-0-69079000-1445644139.jpg

 

The Webb 2-4-2T is slowly coming along, after a quick bit of advice with Chris at Highlevel the gearbox was finished and fitted. Works ever so well

 

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Followed by the brake gear, the chassis just need pickups and perhaps a flywheel, but this may creep into the cab.

 

I have also been thinking about the body. The GEM body instructions is really no more than an exploded diagram, so I have been thinking about the boiler and its fitting as its a bit too long (into the cab) and the fire box attaches to the footplate. I really need a drawing to work from, or a few photos, still pleased with it. Also started a period 1 push pull brake third last night

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post-1131-0-39270400-1445724448.jpg

 

A bit more work on the Webb, I cut away some of the lower boiler (I could have taken more off) just to make more room in the body. Soldered the body in place and had to lift (this is a real benefit of soldering the bits together the smokebox slightly higher in the smokebox saddle to keep it level, I also had to fill in the gaps between the side tanks and boiler with Milliput. I have also fitted etched brass spectacle plates and coal rails to the rear windows

 

Next up will be sorting out the pickups and the cab interior, though the interior will be just guess work unless I can unearth any information

 

I have no plans for the loco and relying of Google photos for details like lamp irons pipes etc as I have no books with this loco in nor any plans

 

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A push pull set was run between Harrow Weald and Stanmore, so a start on a Comet Coaches push pull period 1 non corridor brake third coach has been made. Certainly a set was used in the 30's/40's on the branch though it may have been a period 2.

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....the push-pull from Belmont to Stanmore, the latter station being remembered for its well kept appearance, hanging flower baskets etc.

Station building's still there, facing Gordon Avenue in Stanmore, but it lost its clock when the line closed, whilst the ecclesiastical bell tower and entrance arch also bit the dust when the structure was rebuilt as a family home. The only clues to its original design are the ground-floor windows and the little stone trefoil on the end of the front wall.

 

Stanmore Golf Club occupies part of the formation to Belmont, whilst housing covers the former platform and yard.

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Sorry badly written, its the platform building at Belmont, also the booking office on the bridge. We were considering building Stanmore and at least one of the members hankers after still building it, another fancies building the engine shed at Watford Junction.. A couple of members did a site visit of Stanmore 

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Brian

 

Anyone interested in seeing it (or join in) is most welcome, we meet in North Watford on Thursday nights

 

There is real irony here ........ I live easy walking distance from your new clubroom but work until 10pm every Thursday. This coming Thursday I have arranged a job swap in order to finish at 6pm to come along to see your new clubroom/layout ........... only to discover that it's your AGM !

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There is real irony here ........ I live easy walking distance from your new clubroom but work until 10pm every Thursday. This coming Thursday I have arranged a job swap in order to finish at 6pm to come along to see your new clubroom/layout ........... only to discover that it's your AGM !

 

 

Dont worry it wlii take 10 mins, then we are back to normal

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Horsetan popped it today and we had an interesting chat. Yet another very nice person from RMweb

 

Yesterday thoughts on pickups for the Webb 2-4-2 were put into action, but came to nothing. Owing to the brake gear I could not fit wipers to the bottom of the chassis,

 

I thought I could attach some phosphor bronze strip to some copperclad behind the wheels at the top of the chassis, but after making one pick-up it was not feasible to use that method, so today whilst at work I remembered how a Comet chassis I bought ready built approached the problem and adapted it for this loco

 

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I soldered a pad made from brass strip to the chassis tops between the wheels, I also cut small pads of copperclad strip and soldered some phosphor bronze wire to it and attached some wire, the idea is that the wire sits on the top of the wheel treads

 

post-1131-0-37093100-1445986602.jpg

 

The copperclad pad then is super-glued to the brass pad with the phosphor bronze wires pressing lightly on top of the wheel treads and the black wire soldered to the motor. As they say in Cornwall "job done"

 

The footplate had to be altered slightly inside the tanks not to foul the wipers

 

I have thought of a slightly stronger method of attaching the pads to the chassis for future use where this method can be used again.

 

Now I need to sort out some sort of springing for the 2 small wheels

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