Beasley Street: A 1970s post war concrete station layout

[Neil]

21 hours ago, GraemeWatson said:

Fantastic work posting this, I wouldn't have a clue how to do that with the link and the video thumbnail!

 

 Thank you Graeme; it's actually very easy to do. Just under videos on you tube there is a 'share' option.

 

 

Left click on 'share' and it brings up this on your screen.

 

 

Left click on the word 'copy' and the address (https etc ...) in the box to the left of it turns blue and you get a message that the link has been copied to your clipboard. Close the youtube tab or window down. Put your cursor in the RMweb reply box where you want the video to appear, right click and paste and the video clip appears as if by magic.

 

 

[Graham T]

You can also just copy the address from YouTube (the bit at the top starting with https), copy that into your post, and it'll get converted into a thumbnail for you.

[GraemeWatson]

Catenary gantries

Disclaimer: I do not profess to be any expert on catenary masts or gantries.

 

With this disclaimer out of the way, in terms of making a "passable" catenary system for this layout, I utilised the products shown in the photograph.

 

Dapol "Kitmaster" C017 Signal Gantry x 2

(Using two short sections and three long sections; two of each are in one pack).

 

Dapol 00CAT1 Catenary system masts

>The older masts from Dapol were painted and weathered, the current batch to my surprise, are not.

 

Evergreen Stripstyrene Code 144 bar strip

================================

The Dapol signal gantry was kit-bashed into a longer gantry by using two short and three long segments glued with poly cement.

 

The Evergreen strip was used to brace the top and bottom of the gantry and glued with poly cement. Two full lengths of strip and a single short length were used per gantry.

 

The catenary mast heads were pruned below a knuckle segment on the mast, and glued underneath with poly cement. The Dapol masts come in long and short varieties in the pack; careful positioning meant I used two short and two long arms being mindful of how the actual live wire would be positioned above the track.

 

It is my understanding that Dapol and Peco have gantries in development, but they've been talked about for a long time. With Beasley Street being an exercise of moving outside of my comfort zone, but also an exercise in fun, I decided that this sort of gantry would suit me fine. There are three of these gantries along the 3.5 foot length of scenic section, and will allow for perfect posing of electric locos without necessarily fitting catenary along the rest of my continuous run (which I definitely don't want to do).

 

I am well aware that there are OHLE experts out there and equally well aware that my approach is flawed. I spent a lot of time looking at station-based catenary solutions on the real railway and came to the conclusion that they aren't all the same anyway. In so far as achieving a passable appearance, I'm content with this mild kit-bashing exercise.

 

Overall for three gantries to provide coverage over four lanes used FIVE Dapol gantry kits, TWELVE Dapol masts (six short, six long) and one pack of Evergreen strip (with plenty left over).

 

 

 

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by GraemeWatson
Extra information

[GraemeWatson]

Also, thanks to Graham T and Neil above for having the patience and forbearance to explain that YouTube stuff above; very grateful to receive such sensible information.

[GraemeWatson]

Bea-hind the scenes of Beasley Street

 

Remembering of course this was built to bridge a gap between two sections of a continuous run, here you can see how a rake of coaches can enter the scenic section and onto the theatrical stage, as it were. 

 

Happy to report that everything appears to be in good running order now that it I integrated into the continuous run. The beauty of it is of course that it can be removed for separate display purposes.

 

Finally a few photos to show everything more or less back into position.

Further scenic work and weathering is to follow, naturally.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by GraemeWatson
Photo alterations

[JaymzHatstand]

5 hours ago, GraemeWatson said:

with plenty left over

That's never a bad thing! 

 

Oozing atmosphere and really looking the Beas knees!

 

Cheers

 

J

[GraemeWatson]

Evening Ambience:

There was a time when the darkness of night was barely mitigated by the tungsten glow of incandescent light.

 

This is something that I've been keen to replicate. It was a challenge to take photographs in low light conditions, requiring a wide aperture lens and a high ISO film back in the day. Fewer photos than one would want exist of evening services such as TPOs for these reasons.

 

Ironic then, that "warm white" LEDs from the gin bottle lights should work so well. I've left these as battery powered for now, which will be fine provided I don't forget to turn them off. The whole station section can lift away for transport and maintenance. Any definite aux power output from the controller would need a separating chocolate block connection to allow its removal unhindered.

Edited September 11, 2022 by GraemeWatson
Autocorrect harshing my perfectly acceptable use of specialist terms

[GraemeWatson]

Experiments with "knitting" aka OHLE

 

I've previously represented removable OHLE as per modelling era on my Durham Viaduct layout section (see profile photo set to LNER steam mode).

 

For this, it was simply a case of Dapol catenary masts to provide a representation of something there. I've noted other people do this, and to be honest, it looks better than running pantographs without them.

 

For Beasley Street, I've done a quick experiment with black thread, tied to the leading catenary arm, and looped over the little tabs underneath before tensioning behind the backscene with tape.

Surprisingly, it looks decent enough to me, though there's no tension wire above, for now. I'll see how I feel about that as time wears on.

 

Here's a mildly out of period RES Class 91 doing some posing.

 

Also shown is my final separate OHLE gantry for the front. The other two are installed beneath the roof of the station.

The side supports used Evergreen Strip H column. These were fitted into holes drilled into the baseboard. I cut them to the same length as the Dapol mast, including the screen thread, so I could affix the Evergreen H 485 4mm column to something beneath the board for stability.

 

Edited September 17, 2022 by GraemeWatson
Extra photo

[GraemeWatson]

Welcome to the future...

 

Finally able to get the Hornby APT-P out in some era specific surroundings. I'm pleased with the results.

 

 

Edited September 17, 2022 by GraemeWatson
Photo adjustments

[GraemeWatson]

The InterCity Era

 

A little bit North of 1978, but it still looks plausible enough for late 1980s early 1990s.

 

I rather enjoyed this particular era.

 

 

[GraemeWatson]

A little layout video test following the advice above from Neil and Graham T above, with thanks.

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by GraemeWatson

[GraemeWatson]

Maintaining the tension of this ghetto catenary

 

The Dapol catenary heads are flimsy. This is helpful because a bit of flex can be helpful when confronted with a heavy hand.  However, in the Mk 1 version of my attempt to thread based OHLE, the tension was fully maintained by the Dapol mast heads, which meant over time they flexed.

 

This my Mk 2 version. Decorative self adhesive picture hooks are added at one end of the layout. The catenary thread was attached to this as a noose. This was then threaded and looped over each catenary head. There is a little nubbin on the bottom of the Dapol mast head which holds the thread central above the track.

 

In the fiddle yard section, I have added an aluminium rod upon which the thread then terminates with a reef knot. In essence, the aluminium rod and the picture hooks maintain the full extent of the tension. The tension can be increased by tugging on the thread tied around the aluminium rod. Because of this at no time is there major tension on the Dapol mast heads, which looks cosmetically better.

 

Hopefully this is more clear in the pictures!

 

The aluminium rod is affixed to the sides of the fiddle yard section with cabinet maker right angles. This allows for a further tensioning option by pivoting backwards.

 

Edited September 25, 2022 by GraemeWatson

[GraemeWatson]

Kernow Models Exclusive 2022 Billingham Enterprise 47363 SFX

 

A few photos of the latest addition, Billingham Enterprise with era and location appropriate ICI Methanol 45 ton TTA wagons (37-578A)

 

The photo highlights the subtle chromatic window tinting on the SFX version of this model.

[Purnu]

 

Really enjoying your updates, excellent work. I’d agree with you about the era in this photo and it’s definitely got the look and feel of late 1980s, early 1990s Leeds. Nice.

[GraemeWatson]

A raucous scene at "The Bashers and Main Men Social Club"

 

3D printed figures now populate the social club, sourced from Scale 3D (no connection other than satisfied customer).

 

Two bald headed gentlemen are throwing fists and knocking back a bottle of non-specific ale. Agent 47 from "Hitman" is blending in at the front.

 

Meanwhile, a vibrant social scene is apparent in the beer garden at the rear. Daisy Duke makes a guest appearance.

Edited October 2, 2022 by GraemeWatson

[GraemeWatson]

The Beasley Street Newspaper Train

 

I've always liked Non-Passenger coaching stock (NPCS) and a Newspaper train makes for an excellent subject.

 

The keen eyed viewer will note that I have added the second tension wire on my ghetto OHLE. It looks more convincing, though is still a simplification of the prototype.

 

This scene was completed with 3D printed Midland Railway trollies (Scale 3D; RR-0023-S-76x3) and Newspapers from a Scalescenes kit (R001B Station Structures). The Scalescenes kit includes a variety of station accessories, including a newspaper kiosk, and a full page sheet of foldable broadsheets and red tops. I thought of shortcuts for making stacks of newspapers, but in the end, I made 270. Three stacks of ten papers, across nine trollies. I printed the kit using a laser printer on recycled, non-bleached paper which looks more convincing.

Edited October 2, 2022 by GraemeWatson

[GraemeWatson]

A better photo of the double layer OHLE

 

It's a better approximation of the real thing. I will add a photo in a future edit of this post which shows the aluminium tension rods in action.

 

Edit: double layered aluminium rods to allow for tensioning of both the upper and lower catenary wire. This is very easy to maintain and puts no real tension on the flexible Dapol mast heads.

Edited October 9, 2022 by GraemeWatson

[GraemeWatson]

Intercity Days

 

A few more photo updates now that the dual layer OHLE is in place.

I'm particularly happy that I've got a reasonable era appropriate station to show off the lighting features of the Bachmann MK2F, including the door marker lights.

[GraemeWatson]

From here to modernity

 

Although intended to give broad atmospheric coverage for locomotives and stock within the 1979 to 80s era, Purnu's comment above about Leeds made me realise that in many ways, I could probably us this for some present day stuff (2020s, future readers!).

 

Here I've conveniently split an Azuma to create this mock up of a modern day commuter service.

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by GraemeWatson

[GraemeWatson]

What about the workers?

 

Key to any scene from the era of The Winter of Discontent are workers on strike, and these have joined the layout from ModelU. 

[GraemeWatson]

Hornby Merchant Navy Elizabeth II

 

Well, I managed to get one of these, so here's a photo of it.

[GraemeWatson]

Extra Extra, read all about it!

 

I've fitted a Hornby Maglight (R7338) to the interior of the Bachmann CCT. I've made a new floor interior out of thin EVA foam and tipped all the papers I've made for the station trollies into it as a test. 

The prototype would feature papers almost waist-high as far as I can discern, so I'll have to get making more!

 

I had toyed with the idea of painting the interior white, but thought better of it due to the way the flush glazing is glued to the blue plastic wall. When taking this apart, pulling the glazing out seems par for the course, as the chassis tabs fit into slots on the glazing. So for that reason, I've left it be, and will otherwise be quite happy with it.

Edited October 16, 2022 by GraemeWatson

[97406]

Great stuff, it’s shaping up well. The approach of doing a module at at time is a good one as you get results quicker than building a large layout from scratch.Anyhow,  I’m hearing “Underpass” by John Foxx to it from a couple of years after the 70s.

  

[97406]

On 16/10/2022 at 15:13, GraemeWatson said:

Hornby Merchant Navy Elizabeth II

 

Well, I managed to get one of these, so here's a photo of it.

You need a purple Deltic to go with it!

[GraemeWatson]

On 16/10/2022 at 17:15, GraemeWatson said:

Extra Extra, read all about it!

 

I've fitted a Hornby Maglight (R7338) to the interior of the Bachmann CCT. I've made a new floor interior out of thin EVA foam and tipped all the papers I've made for the station trollies into it as a test. 

The prototype would feature papers almost waist-high as far as I can discern, so I'll have to get making more!

 

I had toyed with the idea of painting the interior white, but thought better of it due to the way the flush glazing is glued to the blue plastic wall. When taking this apart, pulling the glazing out seems par for the course, as the chassis tabs fit into slots on the glazing. So for that reason, I've left it be, and will otherwise be quite happy with it.

 

 

Beasley Street Newspaper Train, Evening Edition

 

So after folding another few hundred newspapers (!) I've kitted out my CCT.

Only the one out of the rake, but it will do. As mentioned above, it features a Hornby Maglight to illuminate it, with some Bachmann Scenecraft figures.

 

Edited October 30, 2022 by GraemeWatson