Stevethomas6444 Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Hello all! It has been a very hectic couple of years with plenty of failed projects in that time. The reasoning behind why so many of the projects since Chalk Lane was because of restricted finances, time and space (as well as rushing to get things complete and being terribly impatient!), they all worked against me engaging in the hobby and in the end I took a small break. Now I feel very motivated and even more so with Bachmanns recent announcements, the Capital Commuter Train Pack and the 2-HAP really got me thinking about doing a simple, manageable layout that is roughly the size of Chalk Lane. So! I started on Leahurst Road! Leahurst Road is set in SE London during the NSE era. The name itself came about when looking through an old London A-Z map and found a Leahurst Road in Hither Green, near where I grew up in Lewisham and where I went to school in Lee Green. It will be a small 2 platform terminus with a siding, I am hoping to give an illusion that the siding is part of a small EMUD that is beyond the scenic area past the bridge, which will be the scenic break. The station itself will be an island platform that can cater only for 2-car units (3 at a very big push). My aim is to take things slowly this time round and accept the fact that a layout can not be completed overnight and also time restrictions will apply at times when my employer needs me more on certain weeks on my rota (joys of being a bus driver eh?). So far I've laid most of the trackwork and I'm in the process of building the platform as well as getting a few kits built and customised. Fingers crossed, it will all go well! Also! Nearly forgot to mention, I've built a static diorama in a APA style box and named it Bromley Common, it was something to get my confidence back in railway modelling and I will post photo's tomorrow if possible Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
50030 Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 I look forward to seeing your progress with this, sounds very much like what I'm trying to achieve on my layout at the moment with a 3 platform NSE terminus, emu depot with recent purchases of EPB's, 4vep, 33s, 73 and waiting for the 2hap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Thanks for the kind words :-) I did look at building a much smaller, scaled-down version of Addiscombe (which I have taken quite an interest in) but space is at a premium and I couldn't cram in even a small depot with a simple 2 platform terminus.... Maybe one day though! Scratch-building the platforms at the moment and instantly regretting the way I chose with balsa wood, I will persevere though as I hope the end result will be decent enough. Also more painting little bits and bobs, like the Bachmann NSE style clocks, TV information screens (from the station modernisation pack) as well as the station lamps and the canopy supports, all in NSE red. It's all coming together quite nicely so far Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Managed to get some photo's taken of the first stage of building Leahurst Road... Overall scenic area and to show the simplicity of the track plan. The carriage cleaning platforms are from the Gaugemaster Fordhampton range, some may remember it from some well known manufacturer MLV 9004 has been used for track testing and gauging! At the moment I have nearly completed the platform and will have to do a little bit more work on it once it is glued down. That is all for now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 And now the platform has been added and awaiting the paint brush! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 Platform attached with the typical SE London suburban stock running the first services into Leahurst Road Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevblokey Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 This is interesting, as someone who was born & bred in Fernbrook Road (which backs onto Leahurst Road) and, indeed, went to school in Leahurst Road, I shall be following this with interest. SE13 rules... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 Many thanks It's nice to know others that grew up in that part of London I was born and bred in SE London, born in Greenwich, lived there a few years then moved about to Blackheath, Brockley then Lewisham before moving to the Medway Towns. I spent a large chunk of my childhood days in the Lewisham area, I lived in Belmont Park which was just off Lee High Road and strangely enough I was closer to Hither Green station than Lewisham itself! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevblokey Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Many thanks It's nice to know others that grew up in that part of London I was born and bred in SE London, born in Greenwich, lived there a few years then moved about to Blackheath, Brockley then Lewisham before moving to the Medway Towns. I spent a large chunk of my childhood days in the Lewisham area, I lived in Belmont Park which was just off Lee High Road and strangely enough I was closer to Hither Green station than Lewisham itself! You're quoting my old stomping ground now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share Posted April 26, 2016 You're quoting my old stomping ground now. Suspected I might have Spending today painting the platform and the canopy, also I might attempt to build the signal box and the office buildings (for the bus depot at the back). I am now looking to see if I have enough Balsa Wood to make a start on the road bridge, looking good so far! I spent last night looking up on my rolling stock wishlist (it is quite extensive) and found that the Kernow/Bachmann Thumper is now available from other retailers. Rails of Sheffield is selling the NSE version for £30 less than anywhere else (£179.50 instead of £210), I am very tempted but I will have to save up my pocket money bit by bit to afford it and that might take a little while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 166202 making an odd appearance on the mostly complete platform, could be on a trail run for a proposed cross-London service? There are plans to convert this to a 2-car 165 in the future, we shall see! Built the Peco signal box today, still a way to go before completion. Downside is that it may be a little too big unless I position it like this.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 A small update: Little bits have been done on the layout, the canopy has been added although work still needs to be done on it (luckily it is removable!). I also added the Bachmann concrete lamps over the carriage cleaning platform after a slight modification and a lick of red paint. The station is not far off completion now, the end ramps need to be added at some point and I am awaiting the low-relief station building from the Capital Commuter train pack to complete it. I might make a start on ballasting the track on platform 1 later on today as well as doing a few little other bits. The recent purchase of the Kernow/Bachmann Thumper is seen on Platform 2, an absolutely stunning model and well-worth it Unfortunately it did mean that my 'hobby fund' will not exist for a little while, but still, worth it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 Prior to the imminent ballasting, 50045, 73129 & MLV 9004 all were testing to see if the track was laid well enough for smooth operation. All 3 lines passed although one point was being a bit temperamental but luckily it just needed pinning down further and all is well 50045 stands at platform 2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 A big update! More work has been done on Leahurst Road whenever a day off from work comes by (not often enough if you ask me!). Looking towards the terminus, the platform is almost completed. I've put off ballasting for a while and that will be done over the next couple of weeks The start of the road bridge, the supports are Balsa wood scraps that have been cut to size and covered in brick paper. Plenty more to do on that. The station canopy had to be taken off and put back again as it was terribly misaligned, the OCD kicked in very quick! Luckily now I am happy with it View from the footbridge. 466031 is stabled at platform 2 after arriving on test. Beyond the stabling siding is a small part of a bus depot. That's all for now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Will follow this with interest. I taught at St Winifred's Juniors so know the area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tetsudofan Posted May 14, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 14, 2016 Very interesting thread. Looking forward to seeing how things develop. I'm local to the area as well. Grew up in Mottingham and went to school at Shooters Hill. Dad did driving tests at the Driving Test Centre over the road from Lee Station. Fast forward a few years and I was working at Barclays Lee Green (now under the shopping centre) and later got a flat at the top of Burnt Ash Hill/Winn Road before I headed off to the Far East. Going back a few years to the late 1930s Dad was a policeman living in the Section House at Lee Green Police Station and whilst on crossing patrol duty on Lee High Road caught the eye of some young lady crossing the road and, as they say, the rest is history....... Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 It seems there are quite a few on here that grew up/lived in the SE12/SE13 area I also used to live in Brockley, where our garden would back on to one of the many railway lines in the area (Aspinall Road, I later looked it up and it was the line from Nunhead to Shortlands Junction). It was there that sparked my interests in railways as NSE liveried EMU's would pass as well as the Eurostars every so often, I used to spend hours at the garden fence just watching trains go past I moved to Lewisham and lived there for 7 years then moved to the Medway Towns to be closer to family, as we would always be catching the train from Lewisham to Gravesend and Gillingham via the North Kent Line. I moved up north to be with my now fiancée just over 5 years ago and now I'm getting withdrawal symptoms from being away from the land of the 3rd rail Railways here don't interest me nearly as much as they do down sarf... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiket4 Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 The layout is coming along nicely. Need to get on with mine now. Regards Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie.dunn Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 It looks great Steve, Due to current work / college restraints my layout is on hold. I have many many plans circling around within my head and i think I've finally got a plan that both i'm happy with and will fit in my house and more importantly my car . I'm hoping to start work very soon with work already started on some wonderful Metcalfe kits. If you ever want to help just give me a shout ( you'll have to get used to working with late steam/early diesels from the north eastern region though ). On another note the layout is coming on great i never relised you started again. thanks jamie D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 It looks great Steve, Due to current work / college restraints my layout is on hold. I have many many plans circling around within my head and i think I've finally got a plan that both i'm happy with and will fit in my house and more importantly my car . I'm hoping to start work very soon with work already started on some wonderful Metcalfe kits. If you ever want to help just give me a shout ( you'll have to get used to working with late steam/early diesels from the north eastern region though ). On another note the layout is coming on great i never relised you started again. thanks jamie D Thanks Jamie What is a steam locomotive? I started this about a month ago as a little project after being re-inspired recently! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 Right, some progress to report! On another long weekend which means time to work on the layout! This time round it has been ballasting the two platform roads, starting on the road bridge and slowly working on the terminus end of the platform. I've also started work on a small embankment between the signal box and the bridge, which will be heavily wooded in the near future with trees salvaged from Chalk Lane. The signal box is currently undergoing work to make it look derelict and not far off demolition, I will post photo's of that when it is complete. Looking towards the terminus, showing the recent ballasting work. The siding has been left out for now as I have ran out of scatter. A trip to the model shop in York is in order for Monday! The road bridge is now taking shape, as is the embankment. That's all for now! I have tomorrow and Sunday to get more bits done so watch this space Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Some more photo's showing more work being done in-between decorating duties around the house. 466031 on the first run since the ''engineering work'' was completed on platforms 1&2. Road bridge now has paving and even a bus shelter! The paint has dried a bit off, giving a glossy finish in some areas but that will be fixed by sanding. View of the station from the road bridge. And to answer the question that nobody has asked! Yes, my desk is also a makeshift workbench and part-time home for Leahurst Road when running trains and working on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiket4 Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Looking good so far, what are the dimensions of your layout? Regards Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Looking good so far, what are the dimensions of your layout? Regards Mark Hi Mark, The dimensions for the main scenic area is 115cm x 30cm. The fiddle yard will be an additional plank with just one section of track that'll be long enough for a 3 car unit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevethomas6444 Posted June 6, 2016 Author Share Posted June 6, 2016 Another update! Getting more and more bits and bobs done around the layout as today is my last free day until Sunday now.... It is coming along together really rather nicely though I'm currently ballasting the last area which is the siding, the weather is warm so it should dry a lot more quickly than the first lot did. Now for the photo's! The signal box has been given a more derelict look, I've even put random bits of rubbish inside (mostly off-cuts of balsa wood and plastic bits). It now has the NSE nameboard added, the first of many! The road bridge is nearly complete! I was about to buy girders but opted for the budget idea of cutting up some balsa wood for the sides and painting them grey. Remember, I'm building this layout on a budget The people who trespassed for a photo of the Flying Scotsman has inspired me to do the same, for 166202.... 466031 & 166202 at the terminus end of the station. This area will need reworking at some point in the near future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.