9C85 Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 (edited) It's a long shot, but I am searching for a layout plan which was a 'Layout of the month' in Railway Modeller some time in the late 1990s, possibly early noughties. It was a large OO layout, and was a modern image medium size marshalling yard with the main scenic section running diagonally across the layout and inclines leading up from and down to the storage sidings which I think were on the 'opposite ' diagonal, making a figure 8 layout. IIRC It had something like 3 reception sidings leading to a five road yard, and possibly on to three departure roads. It may even have a hump yard, but not sure. Thanks in advance for any help given. Edited March 2, 2021 by 9C85 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
definate maybe Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Could it be RM jan 1994. The description seems very similar. I can’t link it currently but there is a copy available on eBay current which also shows the contents page of the issue. HTH regards. mark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 12 hours ago, definate maybe said: Could it be RM jan 1994. The description seems very similar. I can’t link it currently but there is a copy available on eBay current which also shows the contents page of the issue. HTH regards. mark. Thanks a lot. I will take a look. PS nice username I have that in my car CD player right now 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 13 hours ago, definate maybe said: Could it be RM jan 1994. The description seems very similar. I can’t link it currently but there is a copy available on eBay current which also shows the contents page of the issue. HTH regards. mark. Yes! Thanks so much. I was convinced that it couldn't have been that soon into my marriage - we're still together though--, so there were obviously more unacceptable magazines to purchase at the time. Just off over to Ebay to have a trip over memory hump. Thanks again Stu 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted February 27, 2021 Author Share Posted February 27, 2021 Ordered from ebay. Should get it next week. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 And here is the plan in question... Copyright Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd. 1994 The 'room' (at 20ft x 14 ft) is bigger than I remember and is too big for my garage - if indeed I felt the urge to start a new project. There's always the option of switching to N Gauge but looking at the prices of stock in 1994 compared to now (Farish Class 08 for £24.95), I think that train has well and truly gone over the hump Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Flying Pig Posted March 2, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 2, 2021 36 minutes ago, 9C85 said: The 'room' (at 20ft x 14 ft) is bigger than I remember and is too big for my garage - if indeed I felt the urge to start a new project. I like the idea, but even in that large space it looks a bit optimistic: I'd like to see a scale version which proves that the yard throats top and bottom can actually be done with ready to lay track at reasonable radii and that the loops are a decent length. Also it seems freight trains can only depart in one direction, though a trailing crossover off the right hand headshunt would fix that. The size of even a smallish marshalling yard really cries out for a bitsa approach in a domestic setting, or as Chris Pendlenton called it "modelling the interesting ends of things" - see for example North Shields, Morfa Bank and Guide Dog Bridge. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 My current layout alludes to there being tracks continuing on beyond the bridges at either end, and it's just the fact that it's a backwater yard in the early 80s that means that only 5 coach trains are the norm. I have tried to concentrate on the 'interesting bit' ...but then obscured it with girder bridges Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Flying Pig said: Also it seems freight trains can only depart in one direction, though a trailing crossover off the right hand headshunt would fix that. I remember spending hours looking at the plan and trying to work out why there was no 'clockwise' exit. You're correct about the crossover. I would have it as a scissors crossover above the right hand entrance to the hidden sidings, and extend the headshunt further down the layout. I would also have it as an 'ex-hump' yard - I know you can get wagons to uncouple wherever you need them but I don't think you can get a realistic speed from loose shunted wagons, especially OO scale. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinofLoxley Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 On 02/03/2021 at 14:38, Flying Pig said: I like the idea, but even in that large space it looks a bit optimistic: I'd like to see a scale version which proves that the yard throats top and bottom can actually be done with ready to lay track at reasonable radii and that the loops are a decent length. Also it seems freight trains can only depart in one direction, though a trailing crossover off the right hand headshunt would fix that. The size of even a smallish marshalling yard really cries out for a bitsa approach in a domestic setting, or as Chris Pendlenton called it "modelling the interesting ends of things" - see for example North Shields, Morfa Bank and Guide Dog Bridge. When I first saw the plan I was reminded of a Hornby plan with roundy outside and a station inside, then looking at the track required I realised it would have to be double the size. Then I finally saw the scale and realised what a big plan it actually was. The radii would be fine, the inside track will be 3' radius. Interesting layout. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ITG Posted March 4, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 4, 2021 Yes, a most interesting track layout, that might tempt me if I was ever presented with a large enough space. That said... .., and it may be heresy to some...... where and how would you modify it, if you wanted to run passenger trains with a station? Where would it fit, or where would the layout need extending? Purely daydreaming ....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 48 minutes ago, ITG said: Yes, a most interesting track layout, that might tempt me if I was ever presented with a large enough space. That said... .., and it may be heresy to some...... where and how would you modify it, if you wanted to run passenger trains with a station? Where would it fit, or where would the layout need extending? Purely daydreaming ....... You'd get a small station in the cutting at the top of the layout - simple two track affair. Fiddleyard would be under the tracks at the bottom - a few loops to hold a selection of trains - the freight I would imagine would stick mainly to being stored in the yard. Also it has to be remembered that may yards operated to support traffic in one direction - take Mottram to the east of Manchester - it's role was to split trains coming from Yorkshire, trains going to the other way were sorted at Dunford Bridge for their colliery destinations. So the fiddleyard might hold a couple of freights that are returning and don't need to access the marshalling yard. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Flying Pig Posted March 4, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 4, 2021 1 hour ago, ITG said: That said... .., and it may be heresy to some...... where and how would you modify it, if you wanted to run passenger trains with a station? Choose a different plan? You aren't going to fit more than a very small station in this one. There's still plenty of running line to watch your trains go by and it looks like you could fit full length expresses with ease. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted March 7, 2021 Author Share Posted March 7, 2021 I purposely try to avoid stations in every plan I have dreamt up so far. The static people and non-opening doors just reinforces the 'toy ' concept for me. I like layouts which suggest a station, with perhaps just the ends of a platform showing from beneath an overbridge. If I ever do another layout, it will be based on a station approach where trains are dragged from off-scene (say 'stage left') by the station pilot and either taken to the off-scene (stage right) carriage sidings or set back stage left into another platform, with the corresponding light engine moves to complete the illusion. For a terminus set up, loco hauled trains would arrive from stage right, and depart from stage left. The layout could even be a continuous run to allow freight traffic, but the off-scene station would be a through station which also had terminating services... think Bristol TM, Cardiff, Sheffield etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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