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Hello and welcome to Dudley Central. 

 

I've recently been given the opportunity to build my own exhibition layout in Liverpool model railway society. The layout is only very roughly based on the former railway station near to Dudley Town Centre, it has been adapted for my own interest. I do however believe this important town in the West Midlands deserves it's railway back!

 

The station acts as a junction between an alternative branch of the West Coast Mainline (Between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street via Rowley Regis and the Smethwick Galton Bridge tunnel) and the former South Stafforshire line which connected Lichfield/Walsall with Stourbridge/Worcester. The principal services are operated by London Midland complemented by some longer distance services provided by Arriva Trains Wales and Virgin. There is also a variety of freight services through the station.

 

The layout also has an alternative era  in late 90s/early 00s where Intercity and Centro PTE liveries could be seen. It also gives me an excuse to run a Virgin Trains HST! 

 

The layout itself measures 7ft x 7ft with a small area in the centre where I intend to operate it from. It is fully DCC with sound starting to creep in slowly!

 

The focal point at the moment is the overall PECO roof

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Some appropriate destinations for the station! 

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Some shots of the town scene

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The Scalescenes car park is about 80% complete at the moment

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Sorry to hear of the demise of Mersey Parkway, pleased you have something else to work on. I'm just about to embark on track laying and I'm interested in your drawing pins. I assume that the track isn't glued down yet: are the pins through the sleepers, or just adjacent so as not to leave a visible hole when you ballast?

Thanks, Paul.

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Sorry to hear of the demise of Mersey Parkway, pleased you have something else to work on. I'm just about to embark on track laying and I'm interested in your drawing pins. I assume that the track isn't glued down yet: are the pins through the sleepers, or just adjacent so as not to leave a visible hole when you ballast?

Thanks, Paul.

 

Thanks mate,

 

Regarding the pins, some of the 'set track' pieces I've used already have small holes in the sleepers. Where these are available, I've put the drawing pins through the holes.

 

Where they aren't present in streamline/flexi track, the pins are just placed between the sleepers. I haven't created any new holes in the sleepers.

 

I find the pins are useful for holding the track in place before gluing it all down

 

Cheers, Joe

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Some more pictures from tonight. I've been adding some more detail to the town scene area. I also have platform 2 fully working.

 

A couple of shots of DRS Class 37 pulling a Network Rail train

 

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Merseyrail Class 150 with a service to Manchester Victoria

 

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Central Trains Class 153 with a service to Wolverhampton

 

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The bus link to Merry Hill Shopping Centre

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A couple of shots of the Town Scene and Station interior

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'Ope yoh'm practising yer local accent, me mon, 'n ay gerrin' it confused with that awful, dreary Brummie-spake several miles away. Black Country bay anythin' like it.!! :nono: :sarcastic: :D ;)

 

I like the station destination boards. Oh if only...!!

Edited by F-UnitMad
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Thanks for all the kind comments guys. 

 

Here are some more images, including a new possible tram line that may serve the town. The tram in shot is made by Siku and is being repainted into the T69 Midland Metro Scheme

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Couple of pictures from last night with Freightliner Class 66 being the only loco on the layout!

 

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I've decided to move the car park closer to the station. It will be modified accordingly so that the entrance is on street level. It's made way for a space at the back where I intend to place some castle ruins, much like Dudley Castle itself.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Some more photos from the layout. Fancied a 90s session, so I have the two Centro 150s, my Intercity Class 47 and Railfreight Class 85 on show.

 

I've also completed the Kibri Crane and Construction site kits. Groundcover and detailing of this scene will be next!

 

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More to come soon!

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Haven't got too many photos to share at the moment as the focus lately has been purely wiring the layout up appropriately! 

 

I have however pre ordered my Chiltern Class 68 with sound which should be arriving by the end of the month!

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Thanks for all the kind comments guys! 

 

Getting there with the wiring at last! I'm a bit of a newbie with all the electrics involved, so when I had my first two point motors working I was rather happy to say the least!

 

Managed to get some trains running tonight aswell. Featured are the Windhoff, Class 153 and DRS Class 57 with a freight service.

 

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I've been working on the interior of the station building. Greggs still needs an interior and people will be added soon. 

 

Lighting it up will be next, I'm even considering a small speaker to do station announcements!

 

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This is looking excellent, I love all the detail you're including in the station concourse - really captures the atmosphere of a modern terminus!

 

Thanks! I've really enjoyed doing it to be honest. I'm umming and arring whether to keep the nearside open/clear so that people can see into the station itself.

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Thanks! I've really enjoyed doing it to be honest. I'm umming and arring whether to keep the nearside open/clear so that people can see into the station itself.

 

Ah yes I know what you mean - it's a shame to put in all that detail and then close it off behind a wall! :) One thing you could do is have a removable section to allow viewing, so then you've got the best of both worlds?

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