Kielder Forest

[Ragtag]

 

by Ragtag

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??? posted on Mon Aug 31, 2009 5:45 pm

 

You may or may not have heard me describe the concept behind the layout elsewhere on the forums, so I'll recap in brief here. Kielder Forest is based on a fictional reopening of the Border Counties Railway between Hexham and Riccarton Junction. The layout also assumes that the Waverley Route through Riccarton Junction has either been reopened or never closed. The majority of passenger traffic in the area is comprised of Northern Rail DMUs, with EWS providing freight services. Freight movement consists mainly of timber traffic of various types: several Cambrian OTA-A kits are on the workbench as we speak, whilst a fictional rake of Forestry Commission OTA-E's are being converted from VDAs (the rake is fictional, the wagon is real, but in reality only one was converted). The occasional MoD train can also be seen passing through. I'm exercising a little modeller's licence in terms of motive power as I really dislike sheds, so you can expect to see 37s, 56s, and perhaps even a 33 on thunderbird duties.

 

Work began in earnest on the baseboards today, with one half of the layout now more or less complete. All that remains to do is countersink the bolts where the other baseboard will join, and add some wood for the backscene. Apologies for the poor quality of some photos - taken from a camera phone.

 

I opted for a relatively simple structure:

 

 

With legs, in situ:

 

Success! (On the first go too...unexpected)

 

 

The foreman takes in the scale of the task awaiting the PW team:

 

 

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Comment posted by matty-a7x on Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:26 pm

 

I like whatyour doing here i have walked parts of this line in the past, good luck with this and i look forward to seeing it develop

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??? posted on Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:41 am

 

It's a nice walk

 

Eventually, I'm hoping to add a lower level board which will raise itself to track height with a model of the Kielder Viaduct, though this is a long way off

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Comment posted by Wensley on Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:24 am

 

Looking really good. I'm glad to see someone is making progress as work on Westerdale is stalling. I'll have to build up speed. Good luck

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Comment posted by matty-a7x on Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:22 am

 

Ragtag wrote:

It's a nice walk

Eventually, I'm hoping to add a lower level board which will raise itself to track height with a model of the Kielder Viaduct, though this is a long way off

That sounds like a very good plan!

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??? posted on Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:51 pm

 

The viaduct is a real pain though as it was built 'on the skew'. Hence it's relegation to a future project

 

Working later today so no baseboard construction. I did pick up a few points and a Class 08 however.

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??? posted on Wed Sep 02, 2009 5:38 pm

 

Finished the main structure of the baseboards now, and more or less finalised the track plan. Next job is to decide on a material for the track bed, and get to work laying track. The pics below show an uncharacteristically busy station, but it helped to plan out the tracks from my sketch. There will be a lot of track on this left-hand board; hopefully the fact that the right hand board will be mainly trees, and future extensions, will keep the forest feel to the area.

 

View from the western end of the platform. A 158 DMU stands on the through platform as an express 156 heads east on the passing loop. A 153 and 156 stand stationary in Kielder's terminal platforms.

 

 

The same scene viewed from the side. The point layout at the eastern edge of the through platform has now been altered:

 

 

The finalised layout. Due to space on the curves at the east end, the main line has been reduced to single track.

 

 

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??? posted on Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:26 pm

 

Small update: after several miles driving between various hardware stores I managed to pick up some cork tiles, as well as the remaining points. Tomorrow should see some work get started on laying the track bed.

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Comment posted by clarkea1 on Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:51 am

 

I had a lot of trouble getting hold of cork tiles - got some blank looks in B&Q when I asked (they couldn't understand why I wanted cork tiles and not some nice fancy ones), but I found that Wickes do offer them for a reasonable price. Took a bit of driving round to find them though!

 

Regards

 

Alastair

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Comment posted by JZ on Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:56 am

 

Had no problem getting cork tiles in Focus. Maybe they are on the way back 'in'.

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??? posted on Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:11 pm

 

My local Focus had none, was Wickes that I picked them up from in the end. The chap in B&Q said they hadn't stocked them for 2 years, but had had a lot of requests in the past 6 months. In the process of marking some out to lay them now.

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??? posted on Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:35 pm

 

A little over half of the cork laid, and the urge to photograph more new stock took over. Here 08676 shunts an MOD train past Kielder's through platform, whilst Thunderbird 33030 sits in the bay platform.

 

 

 

 

 

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Comment posted by matty-a7x on Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:36 pm

 

Ragtag wrote:

 

Kielder5.jpg

Hi what livery is the DMU in?

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??? posted on Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:44 am

 

Hadn't even noticed that was in the pic

 

That's a work in progress, where I'm awaiting some custom transfers. The livery is supposed to represent a special Forestry Commission repaint - more details when it's finished

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Comment posted by matty-a7x on Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:45 pm

 

Ragtag wrote:

Hadn't even noticed that was in the pic

 

That's a work in progress, where I'm awaiting some custom transfers. The livery is supposed to represent a special Forestry Commission repaint - more details when it's finished

You know thats what i thought the livery was! specail works train?__________________________________________</FONT>

 

??? posted on Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:50 pm

 

At the moment the plan is for it to operate as a heritage railtour special, running from Kielder west to Riccarton, then up the Waverley route to Edinburgh. In truth it was an excuse for me to practice repainting, using a fictional livery so I could 'fiddle' it if it all went belly up.

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Comment posted by matty-a7x on Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:08 pm

 

Ragtag wrote:

At the moment the plan is for it to operate as a heritage railtour special, running from Kielder west to Riccarton, then up the Waverley route to Edinburgh. In truth it was an excuse for me to practice repainting, using a fictional livery so I could 'fiddle' it if it all went belly up.

ahh cool sounds good

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??? posted on Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:22 pm

 

Just a small update with no photos. Track is now laid to the station's terminal platforms, and my first attempt at wiring a live point seems to have worked, with the shunter running successfully into both platforms __________________________________________

Comment posted by Trainsrgr8 on Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:26 pm

 

Sounds good to me! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif"> Can't wait to see some more pics!

 

Danny __________________________________________

 

??? posted on Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:29 pm

 

Wiring four more points, and a bit of sawing, should allow me to finish laying all of the station-related track. Then it's just the timber yard.

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Comment posted by mines a pint on Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:20 pm

 

Will you be using the original stations trackplan and buildings or assuming these also have been modernised?

Looks interesting.

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??? posted on Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:48 pm

 

Well, the original station buildings are now residential cottages, and the embankment top has been taken as 'ground level' and the surrounding land raised to that level. I'm setting the station about 200 yards down the road, in an area where the overgrown fields and forest could be cut back to make sufficient room for the timber yard. It seems kind of fitting in a way. The original Kielder station was used to distribute millions of conifer seedlings when the forest was planted. I'm trying to envision how the opposite would look. The station itself is larger than its predecessor, the rationale behind this being the increased drive for tourism in the area.

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[Piemanlarger]

i see you are having the same <Br> results i had when i tried this for my layout!

 

we need more practise!

[Ragtag]

Silly me, forgot to enable the html editor.

 

The forums had an issue with some of the image extensions so I shall reupload all the photos later today.

[Ragtag]

I've replaced the missing photographs from the old topic.

 

Now for an update on layout progress. Cork has been laid and track plan finalised. About half of the track now has droppers soldered in place, with about a third of the layout fully wired up underneath the board. I still need to work out how to modify my electrofrog pointsto work with DCC, however.

 

In other news, in anticipation of a Christmas arrival (NR's 97303) I've been converting some old airifx Mk2s into a DBSO and departmental coach. Whilst browsing ebay I picked up a cheap Lima 31 and decided to do 31285 at the same time. These are now varnished and awaiting transfers.

 

I've also attached a rough track plan. The small rectangle on the northernmost line is a refuelling point. The single track Border Counties line runs across the lower part of the board and through the station, while the northern sidings form the hub of timber extraction by rail at Kielder.

 

[Ragtag]

With work on track relaying finally making some progress (droppers are now soldered on to all but the northernmost loop) some Network Rail stock arrives on scene in preparation to test the new track.

 

DBSO 9702:

 

9702 leads into Kielder's bay platform:

 

Cruel close-up of the cab end. There is still some small detailing work to do, mainly the addition of an object deflector:

 

9702 awaits pickup in Kielder's bay platform:

 

31285 collects the DBSO:

 

31285:

 

 

An additional Mk2 has also been repainted but is awaiting a final decision on running number before transfers are applied. The Mk2s were picked up cheaply at a recent show, while the 31 is a Lima model picked up for less than ??20 on ebay. All repainting was carried out by hand. Colours are Railmatch enamels, with transfers from Fox and Hurst. The DBSO conversion kit is also from Hurst.

[60maniac]

This is a great layout mate keep up the good work can't wait to see further progress

[Ragtag]

Not a lot of visible progress on the layout, although wiring is coming along. In the meantime, here are some photo's of Kielder's new arrivals.

 

33030 rolls to a halt on Kielder's passing loop:

 

33030 on Kielder's passing loop with a short engineering train:

 

DBSO 9702 leads a Network Rail test train while 33030 holds on the passing loop:

 

DBSO 9702 leads a Network Rail test train while 33030 holds on the passing loop:

 

NR 97303 propels a test train as 33030 continues to hold:

 

66068 and 37411 in Kielder's terminal platforms:

 

66068 departs Kielder station:

 

66152 and 37411 in Kielder's terminal platforms:

 

66152:

 

66152 moves light engine to the refuelling point while 66068 holds with an outbound logs:

 

66152 moves light engine to the refuelling point while 66068 holds with an outbound logs:

 

Network Rail 97303 leading a test train towards Kielder station:

 

Network Rail 97303 leading a test train towards Kielder station:

 

Network Rail 97303 leading a test train towards Kielder station:

[60maniac]

Hi, this layout looks great mate love the new additions keep up the good work I will follow with interest

[James Hilton]

Looks like you had a good Christmas there - plenty of new stuff!

[Ragtag]

Aye, plenty of detailing and, eventually, weathering to be done.

 

Need to practice on some of my older Lima stuff before attacking these though.

[Ragtag]

The arrival of some custom transfers meant I was able to crack on with a project I've had on the back burner for a while.

 

Some paint on the bufferbeam details, another coat of varnish, and a DCC chip, and this one should be more or less ready to go.

 

 

 

[Ragtag]

Not yet, I still have a few DCC-ready locos/units to chip so the hardwiring jobs have taken a back seat. Do you find the express kits difficult to install?

[Ragtag]

Well, it's been a long time since I've done much work on the Kielder layout itself. Following relocation I no longer have the available space that I once did for the layout. However, I am still enamoured with the concept of a reopened Border Counties line. The result is the attached plan for a new Kielder Forest layout incorporating the main features I wanted from the original layout (small passenger station and timber loading). I daresay this plan is a little more realistic with regard to what a reopened line may actually have looked like. The line to the east and Newcastle is single track only, allowing for occasional DMU services, while the line to the west and Riccarton is double track to account for both passenger and freight traffic. Freight services will consist mainly of timber in OTAs with, eventually, some converted KFA-Ts; although the line will see some occasional sandstone traffic from the area's quarries (most, if not all, of which are in reality now disused) along with occasional military trains bringing equipment & personnel to the area for training exercises.

 

The layout will be 8' x 18" consisting of a 4' main section (the inspiration for which came from Cav's Outon Road, which I think will be quite clear to anyone who's looked at the layout) with a 2' fiddle yard at each end. The Riccarton end 2' board will be purely scenic with concealed fiddle roads (and possibly a traverser in the future), while the Newcastle end board will host the timber loading area with a concealed fiddle road behind.

 

All thoughts & suggestions appreciated!

 

[Ragtag]

Small update just to say that baseboard construction is progressing well. Have started some work on Scalescenes kits for the scenic breaks too, will try to post pics tomorrow.

[Ragtag]

Photos of progress so far.

 

Overall view of the main scenic board:

 

37411 passes under the road bridge from the timber loading yard:

 

The view from the other side of the bridge:

 

A 158 snakes over the pointwork to take the line to Riccarton:

 

37411 rumbles away from the timber yard with OTAs in tow, showing progress on the Scalescenes bridge:

 

Another overall view:

[Ramblin Rich]

That's really rather good, I'm impressed how much you can get into 4ft length without it looking too cramped.

 

Look forward to seeing the scenery progress!

 

 

[Ragtag]

Thanks Rich, the overall length is 8ft - the 4ft section can be seen nicely in the last photo, running from the mid-point of the bridge to the far end of the 158. Can't take too much credit for the trackplan, I've just adapted Cav's Outon Road to add a bit more operational interest.

[Ragtag]

Well the house move went off - with an incredible number of hitches along the way. All seems sorted now though and Kielder is up in it's new home. Perhaps the biggest change to be completed is that the layout is now bolted to three Ikea Billy bookcases instead of legs, providing ample stock storage beneath. A little modelling time this week saw me place some scraps from various flat-packed furniture to see how the layout might look with its retaining walls etc. in place.

 

A DUKW-based tour bus ends its trip at "The Reavers", and it's time for a refreshing beer in the garden. The fiddle roads will lie beneath:

 

An overall view of the layout from the pub end:

 

Northern 142058 waits for the station road with an eastbound service to Newcastle:

 

Northern 142020 occupies the platform with a westbound to Riccarton:

 

A Northern 153 is stabled in a siding usually reserved for freight traffic:

 

A view along the platform to the bridge:

 

The bridge. The left-hand arch leads to another fiddle road behind the spare shelves:

 

The Rail Link minibus waits for passengers in what will be a small layby:

 

An Engineering train occupies the timber yard...:

 

...leaving the loading crews with little to do:

[David Todd]

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/k/kielder_forest/