Hintock Town Quay (was Owlcombe D)-A Railway On A Table Top In OO

[john flann]

On Edit:

 

I have changed the title to this thread because I wish to retain the original Hintock Town Quay and its concept rather than develop it in another fashion, Needless to say the original Owlcombe and whose name it took has all the attributes of a table top railway and is well suited to that purpose. I hope in that respect the first posts here will be of benefit.

 

My later post # 24 explains why I have done this.

 

 

Let me introduce Owlcombe.

 

The layout carries forward the name of a layout, Owlcombe, I originally built over fifty years ago and that some members remember. It was also published in the model press (MT, 6/80 and MTI, 60/05) and I have used the name again for old times sake. But I have added the suffix to distinguish between the two.

n

The setting remains south-west Dorset, the time the 1930's and of a Joint GWR/SR branch line.

 

It returns to the concept of a table top layout. Lightweight, convenient size, stand alone, looks good, easy to see and most of all entertaining to play with.

 

n

 

Quiet amusement can be gained from operating using random and systematic method-and all comfortably seated at a table. Equally, it would make a readily transportable and interesting exhibition layout demonstrating how simplicity has so much to offer along with a display of building and scenic skills.

 

In other words it's an Inglenook. And without that so common to many, fish tank look.

 

The track is American HO code 100, the points by Peco and two wire DC. The stock is weathered RTR, the  structures sctach built and Kadee couplings are employed to get (most time) hands off operation.

 

The overall size is 5'6 x 1'8.

 

 

As some will recognize this a re-working of my Hintock Town Quay which featured intermittently (much to the chagrin of several members, and I'm sorry about that) on my Hintock Branch thread. But it no longer fits into the current Phase Two of the Hintock saga.

 

 

More in due course, and I hope you will follow along as the development of the layout proceeds.

Edited August 31, 2017 by john flann

[Andrew P]

Excellent John, Superb workmanship as always, and now easy to follow, will Port Bredy get it's own thread as well now?

[john flann]

Andy, glad you liked this start and I'm going to have fun in following it up.

 

I'm sorry about the "confusion" of having Hintock Redux and Port Bredy both on the one  Hintock thread but I've invested so much in it (82 pages to date) I wouldn't wish to start afresh with two separate threads. But in future posts there I'll try to make the subject more clear.

 

At least you won't have that difficulty with OD.

 

Actually, you are not alone in the confusion for all my images of HR, PB and HTQ (now OD) are all in seven separate files (from 2012 and others before that) and I spend ages in finding the one I want.

 

I'll post again later today.

Edited August 24, 2017 by john flann

[john flann]

Before getting into detail about the development of Owlcombe Denuo, these overall pictures of progress to date might be of interest.

 

 

Left,

 

 

Right, and

 

 

from left to right.

Edited August 24, 2017 by john flann

[Dave47549]

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Edited October 4, 2021 by Dave47549

[john flann]

Dave, happy to hear from you again concerning Owlcombe. Yes, those are the same pictures as in the 1980 MT but which I could not find, hence I used MTI.

 

Regarding your comment about it being an Inglenook I had never thought of that previously. Interestingly though at the MMRS Exhibition in 1972 where Owlcombe made its appearance so did fellow member Alan Wright, have his first Inglenook.

 

It's a very neat arrangement and that I have used since both in Hintock Redux, Port Bredy and the original Hintock Town Quay.

Edited August 25, 2017 by john flann

[NHY 581]

Very pleasant, John.

 

Did you consider a loop?

 

 

Rob.

[john flann]

Rob, I thought you would be interested, no, I did not consider a loop for I could see no particular advantage. There would on the other hand be disadvantage in consuming more space, and on the scenic aspects

 

It's assumed, and accepted the yard could only be shunted by trains running in the one direction.

[john flann]

Reverting to Rob's comment on including a loop these images show how readily it could be accomplished.

 

 

 

 

These were of an early stage of the re-working and to see what could best be done. Later images will show the subsequent development. And, I'm not altogether sure I like what I currently have.

[Dave47549]

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Edited October 4, 2021 by Dave47549

[john flann]

David, your post made me look at my computer archives for the article. Unfortunately whatever I might have had, got lost in a crash except for the attached. I'll scan the article again when I'm back home.

 

The image is interesting for it shows how much things in the RTR line have improved over the years as the 27xx is a cut down Gaiety casting on a Hornby chassis with a Hamblings funnel , safety valve, buffers and three link couplings.  It ran well and for its time looked the part.

 

Edited August 27, 2017 by john flann

[Dave47549]

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Edited October 4, 2021 by Dave47549

[john flann]

Thanks Dave, it would have taken me a month of Sundays to find that. As you indicate the principles on which Owlcombe was built remain applicable.

[NHY 581]

Hi John.

 

 

I would add a cross over here.

 

I do think it would add to the operation.

 

Rob.

[john flann]

Yes, quite agree Rob, that's where it would go.

 

I'll need to wait until I'm home again to try it out and will report back. A lot too depends on the aesthetic appearance because I regard that as just as important, perhaps even more so than the fun value.

[NHY 581]

Quite agree. It has to look right.

 

 

Rob.

[NHY 581]

Further to the above, John, I prefer the straight run as in this photo.

 

Crossover crayoned in.

 

Rob.

[john flann]

Quite so Rob, but things have moved on since that image was taken.

 

What we have now is this for I squeezed in a further siding at the rear. Adding the loop will reduce the siding from which it springs in length but this new siding makes up for it. How long the loop will be remains to be seen for I will need to work things out in wagon lengths and that needs wait my return home. The head shunt at the LH end is, I think, loco and two wagons and that may well be feasible too at the RH, if so it will work out well.

 

Having the loop and thanks for persisting with the notion, will add an additional operational aspect in that the yard can be shunted by trains proceeding in either direction by moving loco and brake van from one end to the other.

 

 

 

 

 

Not only do these illustrate the track formation and siting of a possible loop but an indication of the scenic possibilities. In these shots around 15 wagons are in play and making up trains of 4 /5 can offer much pleasure.

 

Also can be seen are glimpses of Hintock Redux.

Edited August 29, 2017 by john flann

[NHY 581]

I see. In which case the crossover has to go in the first location.

 

I think it would work very well with little compromise to the sidings themselves. I do think it would add greatly to the operation and still preserve the look and feel of the original.

 

 

Rob

[Andrew P]

Yes John, I'm with Rob above on this one.

[john flann]

Then we are all agreed. Thanks to you both. I've ordered the needed points and probably by the time I'm back home they will be waiting for me.

 

I'll then see how matters work out. and looking at the last image above with a RH point forming the curve, it should.

[NHY 581]

John, having dropped into Hintock, I haveonly just caught up with your recent adventures. Wishing you a belated happy birthday and a speedy return to mainline running following your visit to workshops.

 

 

I would suggest some initial gentle running in.

 

Rob.

Edited August 30, 2017 by nhy581

[john flann]

This post follows up my comments in the edited first post.

 

My original HTQ was built as part of the Hintock Branch scenario and at the time fitted in well. In that scenario I have made a considerable investment and on further consideration am of opinion a revised HTQ will continue to fit. But more conveniently as a separate thread particularly because of recent developments at Hintock Redux and Port Bredy.

 

Having said that the other reason(s) is that with any layout of mine there are two prime considerations, one the operating possibilities and the other the aesthetic appearance. And those I was beginning to doubt could be achieved in the manner the layout was presented.

 

 

This makes the point for the siding at the rear disturbs the flow of the running line and adds clutter for I am of the less is more philosophy and any additional operational possibilities are offset by that factor. (This is apart from the question of adding a loop.) So I'm happy to dispense with that siding,

 

 

Aesthetically this is far more appealing and is what I intend shall be the basis for the new HTQ. And, to it will be added a loop.

 

The back story to HTQ will be the subject of a separate post.

Edited August 31, 2017 by john flann

[Andrew P]

Just go to HIDE at the foot of the Post you wish to remove John.

[john flann]

I don't enjoy pictures of works in progress so here are some of happier days at HTQ.

 

 

 

 

 

It's my intent that those shall return-in due course, Hintock Redux requires my attention.