The Final Dream

[trains12]

Hi All

I have decided to start a new thread after coming back from over 12 months inactivity called The Final Dream.

This is to be the last real layout that I will be building and will incorporate parts of my exhibition layouts - Great Tunsley Dale, Bridge of Muir, Glen Gillie, Loch Inch,and 2 of the old layouts from Manchester a station based on Whitland originally, in South Wales, but completely altered over the years and it is hoped the layout for the coal mine model which you will see in my workbench thread.

The thread will start with the building of the shed over the last 12 months. With the ups and downs with my health it is only now that I am starting to get the layouts reassembled.

Attached are some photos showing the inside with the start of the pictures and paintings being hung. We are still awaiting the mains electricity to be connected so it tends to be rather dark at present.

With the insulation that we have put into it in the floor, walls and ceiling it is quite warm inside.

 

If there is anybody here in north Wales who would like to help and get involved we would be only too glad of your help. Just pm me and I will give you details.

 

Cheers for now

Peter

 

ps  Sorry can't get this linked to my other threads, if anyone can help would be grateful otherwise will have to ask Andy Y if he can do it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tomparryharry]

That looks like a decent-sized room. Good luck & happy modelling.

 

Ian.

[jonny777]

I would probably need a room twice that size for my final dream; a model of Langwith Junction in the 1950s (well it is a dream). 

 

Good luck with your final project, because I am resigned to the idea that mine ain't going to happen, unless I win a few million on the lottery. 

[trains12]

Hi All

Many thanks for the comments lads keep them coming. Well in the last few days I with Wendy have managed to erect the storage sidings and the two boards of Whitland station as well as two of the three boards that will have the new MPD on them. In the process we have reduced the leg height by 4in.(100mm) which will allow us to bend over the 3ft wide boards of GTD without breaking our backs. It is hoped that by the end of weekend we will have some of GTD up from the shop unit and and liftout across the door fitted.

 

Still awaiting to have the main cable for the electrics  fitted as well as some locks its now going on for three months now with no power in the shed. Will try next week with Wendy if the sun stays out and no rain.

Will put some photos on of the progress in the next few days.

 

Peter

Edited August 30, 2018 by trains12

[Andrew P]

Hi All

I have decided to start a new thread after coming back from over 12 months inactivity called The Final Dream.

This is to be the last real layout that I will be building and will incorporate parts of my exhibition layouts - Great Tunsley Dale, Bridge of Muir, Glen Gillie, Loch Inch,and 2 of the old layouts from Manchester a station based on Whitland originally, in South Wales, but completely altered over the years and it is hoped the layout for the coal mine model which you will see in my workbench thread.

The thread will start with the building of the shed over the last 12 months. With the ups and downs with my health it is only now that I am starting to get the layouts reassembled.

Attached are some photos showing the inside with the start of the pictures and paintings being hung. We are still awaiting the mains electricity to be connected so it tends to be rather dark at present.

With the insulation that we have put into it in the floor, walls and ceiling it is quite warm inside.

 

If there is anybody here in north Wales who would like to help and get involved we would be only too glad of your help. Just pm me and I will give you details.

 

Cheers for now

Peter

 

ps  Sorry can't get this linked to my other threads, if anyone can help would be grateful otherwise will have to ask Andy Y if he can do it

 

IMG_1200.jpg

 

IMG_1201.jpg

 

IMG_1202.jpg

 

IMG_1204.jpg

 

IMG_1205.jpg

 

IMG_1206.jpg

 

IMG_1208.jpg

Hi Peter, I hope you and Wendy are well. That Shed is looking good now, and nice and bright.

 

I did try to phone you about 3 Months ago but it said the line was out of action, sorry but I didn't try again.

 

I just wish I lived a lot nearer, as I would love to be involved. 

 

Since my Heart Attack in January, I have sold almost all my OO now and just concentrating on two small O Gauge Layouts, Pen Y Bont, and Seven Mill Sidings, both in the 7mm section.

 

With trying to join them all up, will it end up as a double Track Mainline, as I know a couple of the Layouts are currently just single track?

 

All the best with the project Peter and glad to hear your better now and can tackle the project.

[andyram]

I have been a real admirer of your layouts Peter, and enjoyed my chance to operate two of them at past GCR shows. I will follow this thread with real interest. Glad to hear that you are feeling better.

[south_tyne]

That is a wonderful space to work in. Wishing you all the best and look forward to seeing your layout develop!

[trains12]

Hi All

Here are a few photos of the state of play at 4,00pm today.

 

      A view of the storage sidings from GTD

 

     Part GTD that is now to be used at end of the MPD

 

     Part of the new layout station called Whitland

 

     General veiw of the room

 

     A view of the coaling stage snd ash plant ready for the MPD

 

     What will be the MPD at Whitland station

 

     Whitland station

 

      Whitland station

 

cheers Peter

[jonny777]

Wow. This is rapid progress. 

 

Great stuff....

[Signaller69]

Good to see you posting again Peter, glad the new shed problems have been sorted since we last spoke, it and the new layout look super.

 

Best regards to you and Wendy.

Martyn.

[trains12]

Hi All

 

Well after three days of hard graft we have finally erected the main 7 boards of GTD together with a couple of the side boards and some new ones with new legs fitted. Have not been able to try out the system yet as we still do not have any elecrtic connected into the shed. Fitting in GTD has reduced the amount of space that was to be available for the coal mine boards, but upon closer inspection they have been found to be very heavliy contaminated with mildew from the old barn where they were in storage.  This will mean that a completely new track layout wil lbe made for the mine. I have attached a few shots of the mine as it was a short time ago it's at present in the stages of being painted. ( it has only been twenty years in the making).

 

Anyway I will take some shots tomorrow of how it all looks at present. If there is anybody local who would like to join in please give me a PM and I will say where abouts near Caernarfon I am.

[trains12]

Hi all

Sorry I didn't put the photos on, little hiccup, but anyway here are some now.

 

These show the new baseboard built to link parts of GTD with some of the buildings just placed on.

 

The gap at the front where the West Works is will be filled in and have scenery. Still a lot of work to do and then the biggest thing is going to be the wiring.

Sorry if  a bit out of focus but need to get my eyes retested 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trains12]

And a few more shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tender]

Hi Peter,

Good to see you back building again and the problems with the shed behind you now.

So is it to be DCC or DC. From what I remember most of your layouts were DC but I know you did at least one DCC and converted quite a bit of stock.

All the best.

Ray.

[trains12]

Hi all

One last shot which I'd forgotten

 

Peter

 

 

 

[trains12]

Hi all

Here are a few of the shots which I have taken of the building of the coal mine. please accept my apologies if these have already been repeated elsewhere but these show the basic structure and pit head gear together with the compressors and fans. I have now started the painting of these and willtry and get some shots on over the next few days. In the meantime still awaiting the electricity which is causing some problems on using the power tools to make the baseboards.

 

I have come up with a genius of getting Wendy's bike on a stand connected to a small generator and then get Wendy to pedal as fast as she can to generate some power or install Bertie (our dog) inside a tread wheel.

 

Building some more baseboards today and hopefully by end of weekend will have all the layout connected round on main circuit with baseboards.

Peter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trains12]

Hi all

 

Ray, thanks for your comments, here is some information on how we are going to control it all. Any comments or advice will be much appreciated especially on how to do the dual aspect as you know I'm hopeless with electronics.

 

Another problem that has had to be overcome is the control panels  which now will be placed at the front of the layouts instead of at the back as in case of the layouts being at a show. This is easily done in most cases by having sufficient cable lengths to allow this. Where it causes a problem small extension cables have/are being produced.

 

While laid up last year I spent some time looking into the case of DCC operation of the new layout. Two of my layouts are DCC:  Water Mill Halt and Bridge of Muir (B of M) but as only B of M would be used, plus having worked out the cost of conversion of stock/engines as well as the rewiring, the conclusion was to leave it all as DC and place a switch in the control panel of B of M to allow switching to either DC or DCC when needed.

 

The existing control panels will be modified so that the two main lines around the room, with the exception of the two Scottish layouts down the centre, will be able to be controlled from one panel  but still retaining section switches on the individual  panels to allow train movements at like the MPD and the quarry lines. All the point operation will still be controlled from the individual panels by the probe and stud contact. The point motors are a mixture of Hornby, Seep and DC Concepts slow acting motors. The main controllers are still being retained as Gaugemaster  hand held units, with the exception of Bridge of Muir which will have duel controllers using both Gaugemaster analogue hand held and NSE DCC units.

 

Would like to hear from other members what their opinions of this are and any advice would be most gratfully received.

 

Peter

[jonny777]

I just love all those industrial works buildings with the associated pipework and conveyors. I have often toyed with the idea of constructing something similar myself, but have always baulked at the complexity of it all when looking at photos of the real thing. 

 

Maybe this thread will inspire me to give something a go, even if it takes months/years of effort. 

 

Thanks for all the photos. 

[trains12]

Hi Jonny 777

 

Here are a few shots of the buildings of GTD being made some year ago. Hope you like them. They show some of the comsruction methods and also the fun using a crane to lower the units into place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see a lot more on my old thread Great Tunsley Dale. Most of the builds are made from foamboard and plastruct items as well as curtains rail loops and the two large round towers are from toilet connections ( I hasten to say new items not used ones) The small tower by itself I was short of an item so I cut four inches off one of the outside drain pipes. Nothing is safe when I am around modelling,

 

Peter

Edited September 9, 2018 by trains12

[Andrew P]

We tried Dual control DC / DCC, on one of our Club Layouts, it cost individuals 2 x Sound Chips and on an anolog Loco, the PCB Board that went up in smoke.

 

I did the same at home putting a Hornby Class 50 onto a DCC Track, the smoke was quite realistic though. 

Edited September 9, 2018 by Andrew P

[Martin S-C]

*nods sagely* despite what manufacturers suggest is possible, I would keep DC and DCC very separate. You can still have both on the same layout but keep all the wiring entirely separate.

[tender]

Hi Peter,

I'd be inclined to keep DCC and DC separate, as other members have commented the potential for creating smoke only needs a misplaced switch or lapse of concentration and poof. Keep the DCC for Water Mill Halt and convert BoM to DC would be my advice.

If you have DCC Cobalts on BoM they should also work on DC IIRC.

[trains12]

Hi All

Thanks Ray for the advice. We have already decided to convert B o M to DC.

The points are all Cobalts but are operated by DC stud and contact so these shouldn't be a problem.

In the meantime only a small amount of work has been done due to hospital visit and also a disaster in the old barn study centre library. Have not been up there for some weeks now so went up earlier this week and found that part of the ceiling had come  down with the torrential rain over the last few weeks. The result is that 5 bookcases full of books and documents have been water drenched. About 10 / 15 books and some plans are totally destroyed and about 150/200 books have got very bad water damage on one corner.

The pages sticking together. If I can't get these all repaired the cost is going to run into thousands.

All that has been done on the layout is a number of cable make up leads to connect across on the new boards and some cork laying has also been done.

Attached are a few photos showing the leads and some of the cork together with a couple of shots of the new ICI wagons and a couple of the buildings.

 

Peter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Martin S-C]

A few years ago I had my entire model railways magazine collection destroyed by floodwater in a garage where they were stored, MRNs and RMs and MRCs dating from the 1950s to the 2000s all ruined. That was bad enough (they proved to be easy to replace once I made the effort) but for wrecked plans, papers and books I can't imagine how distressing that is. I hope you can recover at least some of them.

[trains12]

Hi All

I remember now why I was thinking of going to DCC - only 2 cables!!

The views below are of the new end board for the junction from Whitland station onto the Scottish boards which will be down the centre of the room and these show the wiring for the feeds for the 6 points for the small loop that will be just after the junction on the branch before the transition to the scottish region from the GWR. It has taken all today to do this.

 

 

 

 

 

The next few shots are of some of the ICI hoppers (Still awaiting a load to come) on the storage sidings at GTD. They will look impressive when the layout is connected behind 8F's, 9F's, Class 37's, Co-Bo's and various other locos. Trying to make up some loads out of resin and the use of cat litter to represent limestone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy them and please keep comments coming.

Peter