Christleton Junction - 1986 - Gateway to North Wales

[61656]

4 hours ago, ISW said:

I reckon you've now used almost as wood as my solid 18mm plywood platforms. Mind you, I'll bet those offcuts were much cheaper. Plywood is ridiculously priced these days.

 

Ian

Cutting the ply accurately was always going to be the issue. 
 

This is just bodging by evolution now!

[ISW]

36 minutes ago, 61656 said:

Cutting the ply accurately was always going to be the issue. 

Most definitely. After I'd cut the plywood to 'the line' I had to take it to the garage 3 or 4 times to gently sand off ½mm in various locations. Fiddly, but ultimately 'solid'.

 

And the garage is on the ground floor (naturally) whereas the model railway is on the 2nd floor.

 

Ian

[mallaig1983]

32 minutes ago, ISW said:

Most definitely. After I'd cut the plywood to 'the line' I had to take it to the garage 3 or 4 times to gently sand off ½mm in various locations. Fiddly, but ultimately 'solid'.

 

And the garage is on the ground floor (naturally) whereas the model railway is on the 2nd floor.

 

Ian

Model railways keep you fit 😀

[61656]

All the platform ends are in, and I think all the platform fronts are in the right place for mk3 clearance. I’m really quite happy with the new concrete sections and the contrast with the brick fronts. 
 

The sensible next step is to do some train running and check for any clearance issues. I understand BR used to put polystyrene blocks on the ends and centres of coaches to do this!

 

 

[ISW]

54 minutes ago, 61656 said:

I understand BR used to put polystyrene blocks on the ends and centres of coaches to do this!

A bit like this then:

 

Note the white polystyrene blocks along the sill and top corner of the cab and mid-length of the roof, all held on (securely? #) with parcel tape. In case you are wondering, this was a gauging run for the first phase of Cairo Metro Line 2 in 1997.

 

# maybe that's why there's a Japanese engineer on the roof!

 

Ian

[GordonC]

http://www.traintesting.com/images/rtc gauging test.jpg

 

from http://www.traintesting.com/Class_155.htm

 

Edited October 25, 2022 by GordonC

[61656]

To make a change from endlessly altering platforms, I started the woodwork former for the Chester line scenic break. An unnecessarily complicated bit of work!

 

The middle pier former is only loosely in place, it needs to hide the fact that the 3rd carriage siding actually follows the mainlines into the fiddle yard. 
 

 

The tower block is temporarily in that position. I can’t decide if I like it or not, but it does add some nice depth. 

[5BarVT]

10 hours ago, 61656 said:

The tower block is temporarily in that position. I can’t decide if I like it or not, but it does add some nice depth.

It feels like the front door is a bit close to the boundary wall.  Options are to move the wall or convert the ‘front’ to something that looks more like the back.

Paul.

[61656]

With another operator staying for a couple of days we spent 3 hours running through another 2 hours of the timetable! I think given refinement and practice we’ll be able to run in about real time. 
 

One thing that working from a real timetable does is introduce complexity into the running that I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to write from scratch.

 

In the first scene, from left to right. In platform 1, a class 128 DPU substitutes for a DMU on a Bangor to Crewe service (hurry up Heljan 104). A class 47/0 waits for an opportunity to run off the steel train (currently just two BBAs); there’s an 85 in the electric stabling to take it on to Mossend. A 47/4 has just backed down into platform 2 to pick up the Stoke to Holyhead service, booked for 100mph air con stock, but today mostly formed of PV mk2s. In platform 3 against the buffers is a 101 to form a service to Manchester Oxford Road, behind a 108 on a Helsby local.
 

Over on shed are a 31 that brought in an early morning Speedlink service taken onwards by a 25. The 45 is awaiting a Holyhead Newcastle, taking over from a no heat 45/0. An 03 is deep in the shed, with an 08 having just sorted some GUVs into the carriage sidings. A large logo 47/4 will pick up a service from York to Bangor, currently awaiting signals outside the station behind a generator 47. 

 

When I conceived Christleton I genuinely thought I’d have to add some services to keep it interesting!
 

Just a little later and we see the same 45 on the left, having run down from the shed, being passed on the Up Holyhead by another no heat peak bringing in the Newcastle service. It will take the crossover reverse into platform 4. Some 45/0 to 45/1 conversions are long overdue. 
 

 

[5BarVT]

11 hours ago, 61656 said:

One thing that working from a real timetable does is introduce complexity into the running that I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to write from scratch.

Agreed 100%.  Makes you appreciate what Train Planners do.

Paul.

[BenW]

At the current rate of progress, will the timetable be completed by the end of the winter? 🤣

[61656]

2 hours ago, BenW said:

At the current rate of progress, will the timetable be completed by the end of the winter? 🤣

Don’t hold your breath!

[61656]

Just after 12.00 noon and we see the first 33 hauled service from Crewe to Llandudno. It has a surprisingly long lay over and connects with several local services. In the middle road a pair of 20’s have just run round the Fiddler’s Ferry to Point of Ayr merry go round (cylindrical HAA’s in use at the moment).  Approaching the station is a 25 on a DMU replacement service. I doubt Chester ever ran short enough of units to require a loco hauled replacement and even on the rare occasions that it did happen, mk1s would probably be more likely than mk2s, but you run what you have!

 

[mallaig1983]

6 minutes ago, 61656 said:

Just after 12.00 noon and we see the first 33 hauled service from Crewe to Llandudno. It has a surprisingly long lay over and connects with several local services. In the middle road a pair of 20’s have just run round the Fiddler’s Ferry to Point of Ayr merry go round (cylindrical HAA’s in use at the moment).  Approaching the station is a 25 on a DMU replacement service. I doubt Chester ever ran short enough of units to require a loco hauled replacement and even on the rare occasions that it did happen, mk1s would probably be more likely than mk2s, but you run what you have!

 

Andy, you need more bog carts! I have a 101 just gathering dust if you’d like a loan.

[61656]

13 hours ago, mallaig1983 said:

Andy, you need more bog carts! I have a 101 just gathering dust if you’d like a loan.

That’s a great offer. I sort of have a plan already, but let me think about it and I’ll DM you. 

[61656]

I managed to finally get an hour to myself this weekend, so progress has been made. 
 

Polyfilla has been applied to the first of the platforms as a trial area. It seems to work quite well!

 

 

I hadn’t expected the surface to be so good, but with a little sanding and some paint it could look the part. 
 

Meanwhile at the West end, the civils contractor has been busy with the road over the Chester lines. The footings are in for the supporting steel work in the middle. 
 

 

It’s going to be tricky hiding the wall to sky interface at this end, but a tower block may do the trick. 

[BenW]

 

On 13/11/2022 at 20:32, 61656 said:

It’s going to be tricky hiding the wall to sky interface at this end, but a tower block may do the trick. 

As there's already a tower block at one end, how about a great big scrubby buddleia growing out of the brickwork, with a pile of discarded furniture tossed over the wall by residents of the flats next to the railway?  

 

[61656]

In the middle of the day there is a glut of Euston to Holyhead trains. Here we see 1D42 running just 9 minutes ahead of 1D43! I assume the first service ran as a relief, although both are booked for 100mph aircon stock. Willesden obviously had more coached than I do!

 

In platform 4 you can just make out that a class 31 has backed on to a 2 coach DMU replacement service, which was brought in by a 25. This is a Hooton turn, booked for a 142/150. 
 

 

Later in the afternoon, with on-going platform work in evidence, we see a class 108 in platform 2 having just arrived from Crewe. In platform 3 a DPU fills in on what should be a local service from Manchester Oxford Road. Potentially this could be a class 304…

 

[EuroMST]

21 hours ago, 61656 said:

In the middle of the day there is a glut of Euston to Holyhead trains. Here we see 1D42 running just 9 minutes ahead of 1D43! I assume the first service ran as a relief, although both are booked for 100mph aircon stock. Willesden obviously had more coached than I do!

 

In platform 4 you can just make out that a class 31 has backed on to a 2 coach DMU replacement service, which was brought in by a 25. This is a Hooton turn, booked for a 142/150. 
 

 

Later in the afternoon, with on-going platform work in evidence, we see a class 108 in platform 2 having just arrived from Crewe. In platform 3 a DPU fills in on what should be a local service from Manchester Oxford Road. Potentially this could be a class 304…

 

1D42 on my timetable is non stop along the coast between Chester and Holyhead. 1D43 stops at Llandudno etc and is 20 minutes behind by the time it stops at Bangor. In late 70s and early 80s Mk1s and Class 40s still covered some of the Euston to Holyhead turns.

[61656]

1 hour ago, EuroMST said:

1D42 on my timetable is non stop along the coast between Chester and Holyhead. 1D43 stops at Llandudno etc and is 20 minutes behind by the time it stops at Bangor. In late 70s and early 80s Mk1s and Class 40s still covered some of the Euston to Holyhead turns.

I’ll have to dig out the WTT again to see if the second train fell further behind the first. That would make sense. The second one is going to have to be mk1s in this version of reality!

[61656]

Some more progress with platforms and bridges. 
 

At the station all the platforms have been filled. Once fully cured I’ll sand them back, paint them and think about coping stones. At the moment they look distinctly festive!

 

 

But a lower angle shot looks half decent.  To the left of the 20’s is a bit of vertical plywood with a screw in it. This will be a staircase entrance to the station, similar to coming up from the Dark Arches bus stops in Leeds. 

 

At the West end I’ve started to sort out my canal bridges and tunnels, which are loosely based on those around Manchester Oxford Road to Deansgate. 
 

A 25 pauses on the Chester canal bridge. The canal angles sharp left here into the basin to the top left of the shot. 

 

 

From further out we see the 20’s passing over the Warrington lines canal bridge, with the third and fourth tanks over the road bridge through to the basin and mill. You can only just see but there’s now 100mm extra scenic section in front of what will be the brick viaduct. 

 

 

Finally a 45/0 brings in a ‘liner from the coast, with the new road visible on the right. 

 

[mallaig1983]

I love that track work on the station approach. The platforms are coming together nicely too.

[61656]

16 hours ago, 61656 said:

I’ll have to dig out the WTT again to see if the second train fell further behind the first. That would make sense. The second one is going to have to be mk1s in this version of reality!

1D43 was hot on the heels of 1D42 all the way! It left Euston 9 minutes behind and left Crewe just 14 minutes behind, a margin it maintained all the way to Holyhead, despite an additional stop at Bangor (neither stopped at LJ). 

[61656]

More progress at both worksites. Firstly the platforms have been painted grey. They still need some filling to get them smooth, but the Polyfila was too white to see any shadows. They look ok in the photos, but need some more fettling yet. 
 

 

Down at the bridge the centre cast iron supporting columns have gone in. Brickwork and front girder to do next. The columns are all equally spaced and vertical, despite not looking like it!
 

[61656]

The civil engineers have been busy…

Some coping stones to do and then we can turn our attention to the canal, before finally getting on to the viaduct. 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by 61656
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