Maritime Lane VMF - Modern Freightliner Depot

[SWT442]

Hello and welcome to Maritime Lane VMF, a model of a Freightliner depot set around 2020.

 

Having moved out of my parents and into my first house during March 2021, the itch to play trains soon appeared! I had picked up a basboard off a club member during a show in 2019, which had been stored away by a mate, so this was retreived and planning could start on something. The board was a single 4ft by 2ft one, so a depot of some description seemed like a logical idea.

 

Having a load of Colas stuff, I did initially think about doing a depot based around them but having picked up one of Bachmann's Class 90's in Freightliner colours, my plans soon shifted. Thus, Maritime Lane VMF was born. The layout and it's name takes some inspiration from Southampton Maritime, with a bit of Basford Hall influence from having OHLE. A track plan was drawn up and laid out, with one of the aims being to not cram sidings in every bit of space but still give a good amount of stock on the layout. Part of the Southampton Maritime influence is the shed for wagon maintenance.

 

 

 

 

By the summer, the track had been laid proper and everything wired for DCC. Copper tape was used for the main bus under the layout. Testing could begin to ensure everything ran smoothly, with the only concern being the points needing some tweaking for more reliable operation. It also gained some trestles courtesy of a freind, who donated some from an old layout.

 

 

During August, the loft was boarded out with power & lighting installed not long after. This saw the layout move up there so could get my spare room back! It also gained a fiddle yard, which used a left over loft board. Some Dapol catenary was also installed, with only selected sidings getting it. In due course, the Dapol stuff will give way to Peco and modified Sommerfeldt OHLE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More in the next post.

 

Andy.

Edited April 16, 2022 by SWT442
Restore pictures

[SWT442]

One of the aims with Maritime Lane was to be a test bed for proper wiring and point control, as the layout I had in my parents garage just had a few DCC feeds and all points operated by hand. With the loft being boarded out, it meant a 35ft by 9ft continuous run could be built, but would be a rather daunting project for someone who had never done it properly before! A small depot seemed a good way to get to grips with things.

 

A bundle of SEEP point motors along with a CDU were had from a mate a few years ago, so these were put to good use. I'd always fancied the DCC Concepts Cobalt point levers and with the layout only having six points, the bundle of 6 they do seemed a no brainer! A few hours one evening was spent practicing how to wire one up to throw a solenoid point motor.

 

 

 

 

 

With that figured out, the fun of getting everything wired up on the layout could start. One Saturday afternoon was spent pulling the points up, doing some mods to help with reliable operation and drilling the holes for the point motors. With the motors all fitted, a week went by as I got some additional wiring and jumper leads in place. A Sunday afternoon was then spent getting everything wired up and tested. Despite having an issue with one of the levers causing a short, everything actually worked first time round!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With that done, some testing was done to make sure everything was working reliably before the scenic work could start proper. This brings everything up to date, as some basic scenery placement and planning has started while I play trains and make sure everything works fine!

 

Most items will be ready to plant, mixed in with some kit built stuff. The shed has been made by Weston Models, while the portacabins representing the depot offices are from Bachmann. A Scale Model Scenery telecoms mast was also built up. Road vehicles are Oxford Diecast. The roadways and depot hard standing are made from 2mm thick grey board, with the hardstanding around the shed being doubled up so it comes up to track height.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The DB shunter is on hire until I find a Freightliner one, though I do like the look of the 6w Sentinel Hornby have just released...

 

Andy.

Edited April 16, 2022 by SWT442
Restore pictures

[muddy water]

The DB red class 08 makes a nice difference.  I am sure it was hired in to cover for a Freightliner one have heavy maintenance. You do see the companies hiring in competitor’s locos to cover failures and extra workload.

 

https://flickr.com/photos/joe_bloggs_railway_photos/51250287151/in/photolist-2mKV3F7-rfd4Ez-zf3oN8-2jAZDqs-2m5P7Qx-2mJyqT9-2mwsp25-2nkmKe3-2n5jwAt-2n7WiJk-2n5n5dH-2kbaXUD-2n9BnKC-2khV8hj-2hRp94F-dYLLvt-2m5PXkC-kNeMH4-2kPf5vi-2n68wd7-Gqsizu-V8teFJ-2kDe4KP-2n2qE1r-cZ4AGf-XMWTpP-2nm71VW-2kVcXvj-2mrRNPq-2ncqBvv-2nnhnvo-2n8MRcT-2m4W1PU-2nazPGx-2n9aadn-2kQbcWU-2kvBjTT-UYmrwb-2iA2Q8e-2kNY5TA-2kRfQAe-2kMDbYj-2koFkkj-2n9CCmL-xRPFaa-2jugRHN-E3L9zg-jKAKUP-2m3ryQF-24RzpAd

 

Or in this case, rescuing them!

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by muddy water

[Multigauge]

The addition of the DB 08 gives a splash of different colour. On a different subject, I notice you're using a multimaus. How do you find it?