Christleton Junction - 1986 - Gateway to North Wales

[61656]

9 hours ago, cheesysmith said:

Don't forget the BR 3 wheel luggage trolley. They got everywhere, including abroad.

Now that is definitely an idea with legs. Or wheels. 
 

How did they not all end up in the four foot?

[cheesysmith]

https://www.modelrailwayscenes.com/products/passenger-luggage-trolley-3-pack

[5BarVT]

3 hours ago, 61656 said:

How did they not all end up in the four foot?

They were braked, pull to release so you had to be deliberate.

You wouldn’t have tried a second time.

Paul.

[61656]

2 hours ago, 5BarVT said:

They were braked, pull to release so you had to be deliberate.

You wouldn’t have tried a second time.

Paul.

Of course, I remember now. I probably only ever used them once or twice when I was travelling to or from University in the early 90’s. 

 

In that case, they should still be ok on my relatively narrow platforms. 

[61656]

Welcome back to a working forum again. For a while there I thought all my efforts were in vain!

 

A 25/3 brings in a short van train, through the increasingly dark and depressing entrance to Christleton on the down Crewe line.

 

 

 

[Banger Blue]

On 27/09/2021 at 11:18, cheesysmith said:

https://www.modelrailwayscenes.com/products/passenger-luggage-trolley-3-pack

Railtec transfers do a customisable transfer pack for these, so you can have your station name on the trolleys, 

link for 4mm transfers:

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4284

 

[61656]

I've been giving my fiddle yards some thought over the last few weeks, including playing around with various Peco point templates to see what I might be able to achieve. I think the revised plan could give me the increased flexibility that I'm hoping for. The proposed new sections are shown in red.

 

There are two key alterations:

 

1. There is a link from White Lane carriage sidings into the Holyhead* Fiddle Yard. This will allow a much smaller number of DMUs to run the working timetable - I'd got up to a requirement for 12 units, with no more than 4 on scene at any one time! The addition of a double slip at the entrance to the fiddle yard makes it much more flexible; there should be enough space for a 2-car set to enter the fiddle yard and set back to White Lane even with all the storage sidings full up.

 

2. There is also a link from the Warrington fiddle yard to the Holyhead. The way it is arranged mean that all 3 terminating sidings and 4 through sidings can reverse to come back on scene from Warrington, Holyhead or even via White Lane. This will allow the number of DMUs needed to be vastly reduced, but will also allow the offset directional flows, such as tanks and containers to run the same way through the station as required.

 

There are another 10 points required to allow this, of which I already have 3, so it won't be happening overnight (although if I sell the numerous curved points that I no longer need that will probably fund the shortfall). It does allow me to go re-draft the timetable, which had ground to halt at 10.30am when the complexity of the stock movements required made the excel sheet too cumbersome to manipulate. If I do some re-jigging of loco and stock allocations then it should hopefully become more workable.

 

*Calling it the Holyhead fiddle yard is confusing. It can also be Llandudno, Bangor, Chester, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. I would rename it Chester but that is too much effort in the excel sheet!

 

[malcolmcelyn]

On 26/05/2021 at 11:40, St Enodoc said:

No - they're all WREXHAM with General and Central shown separately and with General in two parts, the ex-GWR and ex-GCR (Exchange) platforms, hence the apparent duplication.

I can confirm, Wrexham General (ex-GWR line to Shrewsbury), attached to which was Wrexham Exchange, on the ex-GC line into Wrexham Central which was an end on junction with the ex-GWR line to Ellesmere.

Seeing the maps of Shotton (High Level on the GC route, Low Level on the North Wales Coast line) reminds me of an incident whilst waiting for the train to Wrexham at Shotton High Level (I went to Kelsterton College, by train, in the late '70's). A friend had bought some salted peanuts and offered me a handful. Being a cocky teenager, I threw one up in the air, mouth open, and caught it! Then, upping the ante, I threw up two peanuts. Mouth open, one in. Step back to catch the other, straight off the edge of the platform! Luckily, train was late and no other passengers were waiting on the platform, but my friends never let me forget it.

[BenW]

22 hours ago, 61656 said:

I've been giving my fiddle yards some thought over the last few weeks, including playing around with various Peco point templates to see what I might be able to achieve. I think the revised plan could give me the increased flexibility that I'm hoping for. The proposed new sections are shown in red.

 

There are two key alterations:

 

1. There is a link from White Lane carriage sidings into the Holyhead* Fiddle Yard. This will allow a much smaller number of DMUs to run the working timetable - I'd got up to a requirement for 12 units, with no more than 4 on scene at any one time! The addition of a double slip at the entrance to the fiddle yard makes it much more flexible; there should be enough space for a 2-car set to enter the fiddle yard and set back to White Lane even with all the storage sidings full up.

 

2. There is also a link from the Warrington fiddle yard to the Holyhead. The way it is arranged mean that all 3 terminating sidings and 4 through sidings can reverse to come back on scene from Warrington, Holyhead or even via White Lane. This will allow the number of DMUs needed to be vastly reduced, but will also allow the offset directional flows, such as tanks and containers to run the same way through the station as required.

 

There are another 10 points required to allow this, of which I already have 3, so it won't be happening overnight (although if I sell the numerous curved points that I no longer need that will probably fund the shortfall). It does allow me to go re-draft the timetable, which had ground to halt at 10.30am when the complexity of the stock movements required made the excel sheet too cumbersome to manipulate. If I do some re-jigging of loco and stock allocations then it should hopefully become more workable.

 

*Calling it the Holyhead fiddle yard is confusing. It can also be Llandudno, Bangor, Chester, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. I would rename it Chester but that is too much effort in the excel sheet!

 

Nice idea - will it work with off the shelf points or do I need to get templot out again?

[61656]

2 hours ago, BenW said:

Nice idea - will it work with off the shelf points or do I need to get templot out again?

Peco set track all the way. Mainly because I can’t face anymore point motor wiring for a long time to come!

[61656]

The south end continues to progress slowly. I’ve extended the brickwork to the left up to the baseboard edge and I’ve resprayed the increasingly tatty exposed board with trusty camouflage spray.

 

A couple of buffer stops have been added at the ends of platforms 3 and 4.  I’ll get a couple of better shots of them in due course. I was surprised by the complete absence of anything remotely appropriate in kit or pre-built form, so these are the Hornby blocks, which actually look ok once the shiny black plastic is painted.
 

I’ve been weathering the brick bridge and parcels tower, but I’m not too happy with how they’ve turned out. I think I’ll look to repaint all the brickwork to a darker red and then restart the weathering. 
 

I’m now starting to build a low relief multi-storey car park to go at the back of the overbridge. This link to Flickr (not my pic, but super evocative) showing a photo of Walsall has been my inspiration (and there’s two words you don’t often see together). 
 

 

 

After the car park I want to sort the road surface on the bridge with a pavement and street lighting. Then it’s on to the front section, with some work on the stabling point, boundary fence, S&T compound and station car park.

 

I’ve added a couple of speed boards (included in this week’s WON for any drivers reading). The points heating and signalling location cases will wait until the signalling contract is awarded. 

 

[Mol_PMB]

I like the weathering on the parcels tower, but I agree the bridge looks too light and orangey. I wonder if it might be better in blue engineering brick? Or a darker red-brown as you suggest. 

 

Had the Buddleia curse taken root by the mid-80s? 

[5BarVT]

Just now, Mol_PMB said:

Had the Buddleia curse taken root by the mid-80s? 

Probably not.  My understanding (internal hearsay) is that stopping vegetation management was a cost cutting decision to meet the demands of the then “owner” just prior to privatisation.  One of those where the undesirable effects would take some time to be realised by which time the decision maker would be well retired.

Paul.

[61656]

5 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

I like the weathering on the parcels tower, but I agree the bridge looks too light and orangey. I wonder if it might be better in blue engineering brick? Or a darker red-brown as you suggest. 

 

Had the Buddleia curse taken root by the mid-80s? 

Thanks. The photos don’t really capture the colour that well (which is to say I’m hopeless with a camera). The ballast is much darker in reality, but the parcels tower is actually quite white, rather than dirty. 
 

I’ve done quite a lot of research around the buildings in the Chester area and they seem predominantly red brick, rather than blue. I assume the local red  clay is hard enough that it wasn’t worth the transport cost of blue. That said, if anyone has any local pictures I’ll happily paint accordingly!

 

As 5barVT states, the cut back in weed killing wasn’t until the early 90’s. I think it has been not only the cut back in funding but also the restrictions on chemicals which have resulted in today’s green jungle. As the picture of Walsall shows though, away from the tracks the greenery was allowed to grow far more than previously. 

[61656]

An 08 on the blocks. Regular readers will note the evidence of recent advice re BRUTEs and trolleys. 
 

[61656]

Mid-week Peak! A class 45 in the centre road waiting to head south with empty vans for Bletchley. A 47 pauses on the blocks in platform 3. 

[mallaig1983]

Oh how I wish I was sitting on that brute with my bottle of squash and sandwiches. The sounds and smells and soaking up the atmosphere. Should I stay spotting at Christleton or go for a run down the coast? 
The layout is really starting to ooze atmosphere now. Looking great.

 

Andy

[61656]

Suitably motivated by Mallaig’s post this morning I’ve made some more progress at the south end. The parcels lift tower now has a slate roof, the framework for the multi-storey is up and there are a few more BRUTES on the platform ends. 
 

An aerial view over the new development with a class 85 bringing in an early afternoon service from Euston to Holyhead. An 87 is stabled to the left, whilst a large logo 47 has detached from a trans-pennine working. 

 

A low level shot moments later as the 85 rolls into platform 3. The BRUTE here is empty, so we can only assume the call of the coast was too much. 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2021 by 61656
Duplicated photos

[mallaig1983]

Im not so sure. There’s a lot going on so I’ve probably stuck around with notebook and camera. Empty brute means I may have gone in search of bin for the sandwich wrapper or possibly to the travellers fare for an overpriced Marathon or a pack of Opal Fruits. 
 

In all seriousness though, your sabbatical seems to have recharged your modelling batteries. Christleton is benefiting handsomely. Looks great.

[61656]

9 hours ago, mallaig1983 said:

Im not so sure. There’s a lot going on so I’ve probably stuck around with notebook and camera. Empty brute means I may have gone in search of bin for the sandwich wrapper or possibly to the travellers fare for an overpriced Marathon or a pack of Opal Fruits. 
 

In all seriousness though, your sabbatical seems to have recharged your modelling batteries. Christleton is benefiting handsomely. Looks great.

The overpriced Marathons are 4p…

 

I’m happy with how things are coming on and I have lots of things to do to add to this section over the next few weeks. 
 

My original intention was to work left to right on basic scenery and then tackle the big jobs of signalling and overhead wires, but I’m tempted to do this section as an experimental area. 

[61656]

The multi-storey car park has made a lot of progress this weekend. It’s been quite challenging to ensure that the concrete walls are tighter than most car’s turning circles, get the right feeling of oppressiveness and working on the stale urine smell. 
 

Meanwhile, the 15 year old temporary portacabin for the electric stabling point has landed. The yard lights are on, which suggests there should be at least some power for the kettle. 
 

A couple of photos of an 85 stabled in the last of the evening sun, as a driver ends his turn and chucks his trusty bag into his knackered old Escort. You’d think a well paid toplink driver would have better wheels than that, but apparently he wastes all his income on toy trains. 
 

 

 

 

I think the carpark needs to have the backscene painted dark grey behind it, but otherwise I’m pleased with the overall affect. 

[mallaig1983]

It looks like a rewarding weekend. I wouldn’t worry to much about creating the stale urine smell. In 4mm scale you probably won’t be able to smell it from normal viewing distance. Just be content knowing it’s there. 
Ironically many of us would love a ‘classic’ escort but it’s out of our reach because we spend to much money on toy trains!

 

Theres some great modelling going on there. Is the security fence the SMS version? It looks great. Nice work. Really starting to look the part.

 

Andy

[61656]

It was suggested to me that a diesel instead of an electric would be a more convincing photo…

 

[61656]

7 hours ago, mallaig1983 said:

It looks like a rewarding weekend. I wouldn’t worry to much about creating the stale urine smell. In 4mm scale you probably won’t be able to smell it from normal viewing distance. Just be content knowing it’s there. 
Ironically many of us would love a ‘classic’ escort but it’s out of our reach because we spend to much money on toy trains!

 

Theres some great modelling going on there. Is the security fence the SMS version? It looks great. Nice work. Really starting to look the part.

 

Andy

Thanks Andy!

 

Probably best not to speculate on the actual cost of the toy trains. Particularly as a different number has been submitted to the household revenue and excise department!

 

The security fence is Ratio. Upon opening the packet it looks like being a pain in the derry air, but is surprisingly easy to put together. 

[EuroMST]

Class 40s and the North Wales coast, perfect. I have 40 106 in N waiting off stage for when my proper layout gets built, plus another six of the English electric beasts!Should be getting started on preparing the room formerly known as the garage in a couple of weeks, then will finalise the track plan. The fiddle yard needs re-designing with more through roads like yours, to accomodate the freightliners all going one way, then the other. At least I have my timetable done, copying your example, and I only need three DMUs for Bangor's timetable!