Exeter St Davids

[5BarVT]

On 14/04/2023 at 21:15, bootneckbob said:

@Coronach That's what I thought; I had read that online, I just wasn't sure if both 'sidings' in the Bay would require them? I think platform 2 yes absolutely as it's a used passenger stop/termination. The other line I wasn't so sure, but I think the answer is in the signal I've roughly copied for now on the approach to Red Cow. It has 6 feathers on it to indicate 6 platforms (signaled). I think the siding in the bay area would be for a loco or shunter from New North Yard or Riverside possibly?

Anyway I'm going to run with that idea and only have the one buffer lit for Platform 2 and the other not as it's a siding. Thanks for your comment.

I’ve just looked at the opening notice for Exeter Panel.  E56 (the signal reading over Red Cow Crossing) only has 5 feathers which is what I thought from the layout.  Three to the left for Bay, Down Relief, Up Relief; nothing for Down Main and two to the right for Up Main and Up Platform Loop.  The Hyde Park Siding is a position light shunt move.

Agree about the buffers, if it had anything I think it would be white not red (but I’m not an expert on such matters).
Paul.

[Cowley 47521]

On 12/04/2023 at 18:44, John Besley said:

Looking good, just a couple of points... when you load multiple pictures can you add a space between as it makes it easier to view.

 

And before you sell the MK1 Chocolate and cream set how about getting a Hall -  Hagley Hall or 6000 King George V as both these came through Exeter in 1985 as did 7029 Clun Castle in connection with the GWR 150 celebrations, neither of those went up the SR line all of them where on Choclate and Cream Mk1's

 

Just an idea

 

 

We went to see those specials go through Exeter when I was a kid. From memory one train had 7029 Clun Castle and 5051 Drysllwyn Castle in charge and one of the others had 7819 Hinton Manor and 6000 King George V doing the honours but they suffered various problems on the way down (also possibly with GWR stock thinking about it?) and didn’t make it further than Exeter under steam power from what I remember.

 

I think the next day or the one after we watched Hinton Manor at Red Cow Crossing leaving Exeter with 4930 Hagley Hall heading back from Plymouth and they’d apparently had a really good run over the banks on the way up.
 

I would have only been about 12 years old at the time so apologies if I’ve misremembered any of this! 😂

[bootneckbob]

Last day in the shed for my Easter break although it wasn't a day at all it was 3 hours, still worthwhile. As I expected, the Brewery (as it is now) did need some compression.

 

With what I've mocked up today I think I'll get away with it visually, but the side adjacent to the road will take up the slack; i.e. there will be no outside yard space other than the loading bay. From the viewing side it should look ok. Although not shown in the photos, I've looked at all the areas of the building, widths, heights and clearances, particularly for the canopy which extends over the 'removed' line at the entrance to New North Yard.

 

I've attached a couple of photos again. This time the view from the ends of Platforms 1 & 5. I've also included a real photo of the scene probably taken from the end of platform 3 / 4., although it's zoomed in a little bit too much. I've also showed a bit of an overhead shot to show how I mock up the areas. I really should have sorted out the car parking sign!

 

Late edit: Cropped version to compare the composition between reality and the layout; plus my mrs couldn't tell what she was supposed to be looking at, so I cropped it!

 

 

Overhead showing the floor plate for the 'Brewery' and one side representation

 

 

View from platform 1

 

 

View from platform 5

 

The real view, probably from platforms 3 / 4.

Edited April 16, 2023 by bootneckbob

[bootneckbob]

One today from taken from platform 3

 

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by bootneckbob

[Cowley 47521]

14 hours ago, bootneckbob said:

One today from taken from platform 3

That looks like quite a late Peak working into Exeter. I can’t quite make the number out on my phone, any idea which one it is (maybe 45128 with the Tinsley snail)?

[bootneckbob]

No idea on the 45. Looked at the download of it but the number's illegible.  

[GordonC]

10 minutes ago, bootneckbob said:

No idea on the 45. Looked at the download of it but the number's illegible.  

 

the filename has 45141 in it 😉

[Cowley 47521]

1 hour ago, GordonC said:

 

the filename has 45141 in it 😉

Ah thanks for that. 

[bootneckbob]

4 hours ago, GordonC said:

 

the filename has 45141 in it 😉

Well spotted!

[bootneckbob]

I took this picture last week when it turned up and cancelled my Accurascale order for Defiance yesterday. I will be getting one of their 50s for sure but swapping out all 6 of my 50s will be expensive. My 2 NSE ones are still in their boxes and never been run or out of the box for that matter so I might sell those and get the Accurascale NSE model.  Anyway without repeating myself, when I found out about Defiance in Rail freight and the year (1987-88) I had to get one. I've always said the layout is set around this time, 86-89, so this just narrows it down that bit more.

Edited May 1, 2023 by bootneckbob

[John Besley]

On 15/04/2023 at 22:54, Cowley 47521 said:

We went to see those specials go through Exeter when I was a kid. From memory one train had 7029 Clun Castle and 5051 Drysllwyn Castle in charge and one of the others had 7819 Hinton Manor and 6000 King George V doing the honours but they suffered various problems on the way down (also possibly with GWR stock thinking about it?) and didn’t make it further than Exeter under steam power from what I remember.

 

I think the next day or the one after we watched Hinton Manor at Red Cow Crossing leaving Exeter with 4930 Hagley Hall heading back from Plymouth and they’d apparently had a really good run over the banks on the way up.
 

I would have only been about 12 years old at the time so apologies if I’ve misremembered any of this! 😂

 

I know this is further up the line but here are Hinton Manor and Hagley Hall hammering up to Whiteball on a rake of GWR coaching stock on the easter Monday 1985... those where the days

 

 

 

[Graham T]

Very nice photos!

 

[Cowley 47521]

6 hours ago, John Besley said:

 

I know this is further up the line but here are Hinton Manor and Hagley Hall hammering up to Whiteball on a rake of GWR coaching stock on the easter Monday 1985... those where the days

 

 

 

 Great stuff, thanks for posting these John.

[bootneckbob]

I got Defiance without any NEM pockets and the spares arrived today so this was her first time out hauling anything. Caught her doing some light Speedlink work down by Cowley Bridge a few minutes ago! 

[bootneckbob]

Well I can't believe its been 3 months since the last update. Busy with the other hobby and looking after the house and garden (yawn). Anyway, I really wanted to push on a bit with some time off this week; didn't do as much as I wanted but got some more ballast down in the station area (northern end) which has helped stick the platforms down to the base board and stop any warping. Will this be a good idea in the long run; who knows, watch this space.

Along with the ballast I did a bit of the cable run on platform 4. Should have taken a pic but you'll see it in time. The other thing I've been up to is the building which is now the Brewery (I think). Slow work but this building unlike my other mock ups has been made in card not foam-board. Not finished but it's taking shape and given the confined space I think it's looking ok. I just gave the main roof a quick coat of grey paint as it didn't show up well in white card. 

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by bootneckbob

[bootneckbob]

Bit of work done on the roof tiles. In case anyone is any doubt or was wondering I'm using Scalescenes printed paper. I bought the scratchbuilders kit as an Xmas prezzie to myself.  

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2023 by bootneckbob

[John Besley]

Look forward to seeing how you tackle the station buildings...

[John Besley]

That BRS Ford Cargo brings back memories...

[bootneckbob]

4 minutes ago, John Besley said:

Look forward to seeing how you tackle the station buildings...

So am I John!

[roundhouse]

The brick building is now Exeter brewery. We have sat under that canopy watching trains but no large logo /  NSE class 50's these days.

Edited August 16, 2023 by roundhouse

[Chris M]

Coming along nicely.  I always find models of real locations far more interesting than fictitious ones.  Yes there is always compromise but so long as the model is close then that's great. Keep up the great work!

[bootneckbob]

Had a week off but not got much done on the railway. Added a bit more detail to the 'brewery', repainted the road and Red Cow crossing, and spent yesterday painstakingly painting the barriers and lights for Red Cow crossing too. Painting wearing magnifying glasses whilst actually painting the items under another magnifying glass! Don't know how anyone can work in N gauge.

Today I added some extra droppers into the line for platform 5 as there was some intermittent power issues (which are now sorted); and did a quick mock up of the display the crossing attendant has which show which lines the approaching/departing trains are on.

Edited August 26, 2023 by bootneckbob

[John Besley]

Very neat, I wish I had a £1 for everytime I sat waiting at Red Cow like the Mk111 XR3i in my Sherpa van or LT35 flatbed

 

 

Edited August 26, 2023 by John Besley
Schpelling

[bootneckbob]

I'm really feeling the effects of having a massive layout and only me working on it but the wife's away to see her family and leaving me to look after the animals for a few days. With any luck I'll get loads done this week 😄

I bought some more scalescenes kits despite having the scratch builders yard; they are very cheap, and do have some additional textures and features. One of the kits was the CLASP modular building. I bought that as I thought it would be good as the base for the Train Crew building at the back of the Bay siding. I think it will also be good for the Royal Mail site and porta cabins in general possibly. 

 

So this afternoon was spent doing a first pass at the Crew building and driving a few trains. The new change in the fiddle yard is brilliant; don't know how I missed it before. In case I've not covered it I've extended two of the shortest through roads and binned the dead end siding in (one anyway). It now means I can get HSTs in any of the 10 sidings from either direction.

 

Since my last update I added some road markings to Red Cow. Most will probably be removed or painted over again but more layers just adds to the depth and a bit more realistic.

 

So here's a few photos. The viewing angle isn't a good one (for the finished layout) but it shows how things are as is.

 

 

Edited August 28, 2023 by bootneckbob

[roundhouse]

We are currently in Exeter and today I noticed that the clasp buildings are no more. The area is being cleared and fenced off, I guess in readiness to demolish the red brick building between the bay platform and the main buildings.

 

Also sad to see that the Great Western Hotel bar (and adjacent restaurant) closed back in April.

Edited August 28, 2023 by roundhouse