CazRail Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 (edited) Having had an invite to this year's Anglesey Model And Collections show in April, and having hit the buffers on my Amlwch branch layout, I've decided to start a new layout to take, which will probably be a 'work in progress' showing this year. As is usual for my layouts, parts of it will take inspiration from various locations in north Wales, although won't be based on any location as a whole. The breif that I've set for myself is: Single line terminus, to hold 2 coaches. A set of sidings, with a reason for them to be there, i.e. an industry of sorts. Use a tunnel as a scenic break, and an under bridge spanning a river. Have all points motorised and working signals, using DC control. Baseboards will be 2x 1200mm x 400mm and 1x 900mm x 400mm lasercut boards from Grainge & Hodder. The fiddle yard/staging area will take up the majority of the space on the smaller board. Hoping to use Peco code 75, with a mix of bullhead and flat-bottom rail. I would really like to include a tunnel portal similar to Blaenau Ffestiniog tunnel, and a bridge similar to the lattice girder bridges on the Amlwch branch. The plan is to get the track down, structures built and some scenic work done before the show. Edited February 19 by CazRail 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 Having had a few days to mull it over, and following discussion with some friends, I've decided there are two, but not limited to, possible routes at this stage, a Flask terminal, or a Wagon Repair Depot. I've made up a few possible track plans using AnyRail, so thought I'd share some on here. Flask Terminal Each trackplan has a similar idea with the main line, which is single line up to the station. The idea being, it does carry on through a bridge, but is disused. This plan allows the train loco to run round it's train. Wagon Repair Depot These require a shunter to be used, to release the train loco as it shunts the wagons around. These are my ideas so far, but is by no means final. Thanks, Caz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted January 17 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 17 Just a suggestion for the wagon repair versions; if you make the building able to span two roads, with a bit of space between them, a gantry crane might extend into the yard outside from the building, which would give it more of a heavy engineering look. And, depending on period, it's a great excuse for a small 0-4-0ST, Ruston 88DS, or a Unimog. Powell Dyffryn at Blackwier in Cardiff had plant for burning off fumes in petrochemical and other tank wagons, an ideal use for one of your kickback sidings. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted January 17 Author Share Posted January 17 4 hours ago, The Johnster said: Just a suggestion for the wagon repair versions; if you make the building able to span two roads, with a bit of space between them, a gantry crane might extend into the yard outside from the building, which would give it more of a heavy engineering look. And, depending on period, it's a great excuse for a small 0-4-0ST, Ruston 88DS, or a Unimog. Powell Dyffryn at Blackwier in Cardiff had plant for burning off fumes in petrochemical and other tank wagons, an ideal use for one of your kickback sidings. Thanks for the suggestion! Like that, a building a bit like that in Warrington Arpley perhaps 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Why only 2 coaches? my branch terminus "Ugleigh" can cope with 4 X 60ft B set coaches and a 4F or 2251 0-6-0 can run round them and it's about 7ft 2100mm from first turnout to buffers. It's a bit of a stretch to get a river under a line just before it plunges into a tunnel (though Malmesbury may be similar) but in the 303mm /ft world bridges have points on them (Buckfastleigh and Goathland) and platforms on bridges like Pickering (and Stroud GWR ) Lots of stations were designed as through stations and the line was never extended, (or cut back) some were built as terminusses and had the tracks extended. Any station serving a reasonable size community not next to a coal mine in steam days will have plenty of inbound coal traffic to give excuses for sidings, far more so than a wagon repair business. Maybe a second hand locomotive dealer.... Or breakers yard 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 This week, the laser-cut boards arrived from Grainge and Hodder, so work could finally begin on the layout. All pinned together and reinforced with wood glue, the next job is to add 50mm polystyrene sheets for the landform. I will have to think about how to lay the pointwork, as they will be motorised. Behind the scenes, I've started building the shed(railway laserlines kit) and the under bridge(scratch built from styrene). 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 Some progress today! Added 50mm polystyrene to the surface today, onto which the track will be laid, from which the terrain will be cut. Then, I had a little play with the track layout, which Ive simplified. Now in the process of gluing some cork and track down using Copydex. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted February 6 Author Share Posted February 6 Another productive few hours working on the layout today. First job was to build the deck for the bridge, which needed to have longitudinal baulk timbers to support the track. It's built up from a base sheet of 20thou plasticard, two 5mmx5mm lengths of balsa to form the baulks, and some planking from Slaters. Once this was complete, it was a case of fitting it to the landform, and laying the track over it. The track needed modifying aswell, with sleepers cut to go on the baulks, dropper wires soldering on, and a gap left over the board joint to accommodate some DCC Concepts copperclad sleepers. A big feature of baulk timbers are the transom beams and stretcher bars. The transoms are made from 1.5mm laserboard which I had lying about, and the stretcher bars made from brass rod. This will all be painted alongside the track. Once the track was laid, I decided to look at the landform, and started attacking it with my hot wire cutters. It's a good start to the layout, the next bit of tracklaying involves the pointwork, which needs some figuring out. Thanks, Carwyn 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium RobAllen Posted February 7 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 7 On 05/02/2024 at 18:35, CazRail said: Added 50mm polystyrene to the surface today, onto which the track will be laid, from which the terrain will be cut. Are you using point motors and if so how you plan to install them? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 24 minutes ago, RobAllen said: Are you using point motors and if so how you plan to install them? That's the challenge at the moment, but I've got a plan to mount the motors at the operating side of the boards and use wire in tube style connection to work them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 It's half term this week, to the layout takes the back seat. I will get little opportunities for progress, but will be few and far between. Today however, I managed to paint the lattice girders for the bridge, firstly a coat of grey primer, followed by Revell 9. Cheers. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 (edited) Had a day of progress today, involving some points and point motors. With the 'main line' completed, today I laid two out of three points in the wagon repair yard. I installed the point motors, which took some time as the track is laid on 50mm polystyrene sheets on top of the board. I also ran the wiring, from the motors to where the switches will be. Wiring for the point motors is in blue(+) and yellow(-) to distinguish from the DCC bus, and each motor'r wire run is tied with different colour cable ties to identify which motor they relate to. There will also eventually be a 12v DC bus, which will power signals and lighting. I've also decided to call the layout 'Glanrafon' which roughly translates to 'river bank'. Edited February 19 by CazRail 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted February 29 Author Share Posted February 29 Work on the layout is slowly but surely progressing, with various parts of the layout being worked on. The beginnings of the platform is now in, and the track in the platform ballasted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 Some more progress tonight, albeit only minor, being ballast and a base layer of earth blend added to the branch line on the station. Next job is to finish the wiring underneath the boards, then it'll be time to add signals, the wagon shed and yard lighting. Then, it'll be on to fencing, signs and then the rest of the scenics. Signal wise, I'm planning to install a red/yellow 2-aspect with a right-hand feather on approach to the points(facing), a ground position light on the exit from the yard, and a red/green 2-aspect out of the platform. Thanks, Caz 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted March 7 Author Share Posted March 7 Ballasting on the branch is now finished, with some more green added. Plan is to finish the remainder of the electronics, including signals, put base scenics down the branch line side, fencing, signage etc, then start on the yard side. This is my first attempt at panting up a bridge, and I'm quite happy with it. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 Another day, another bit of progress. Just the greenery extended towards the bridge this time. Next step is to finish laying the shed road, and once that's in, and the reminder off the ballasting/basic ground cover is down, it'll be details like fencing, signs, lights etc. After that, the more interesting scenics, like trees, bushes, static grass and water! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted April 14 Author Share Posted April 14 Apologies for the lack of updates, it's been a busy few weeks! The layout made it's debut in the Anglesey Model and Collections Society's annual show at Ysgol y Bont in Llangefni yesterday(13/4/24), and was very well received by the punters. (Photo: @JackB95) (Photo: @JackB95) (Photo: @JackB95) The layout ran mostly faultlessly, with only an intermittent de-railing issue on one set of points in the sidings, which is probably an adjustment issue with the point motor. Although up until recently my intention was to sell the layout on after a few shows, it's clear the layout is very much still work in progress. I will, when time and space permits, work more on the layout to bring it up to standard. Overall, I'm quite happy with the layout, and with more work I will be happier with it. The layout is available for exhibitions should anyone be interested, and will be improved before it's next potential outing. Cheers, Caz 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddys-blues Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 Hi Caz, Craig here it was good to see the layout on Saturday, it’s a lovely project and is looking good with a good balance of simplified track plan and great scenery, this also has Rhys musing about something for himself. Now following with interest Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 (edited) Cheers Craig, Thanks for the kind comments, and for coming along to the show. Glad it's got Rhys thinking about the hobby again. Edited April 15 by CazRail 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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