Rivercider Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 I think it's time I posted my effort on here, it keeps me happy so far, but I am still adding bits. Over the years since buying my first Railway Modeller in 1970 I have drawn many layouts on the back of envelopes, a few of the schemes got developed to the point of making a stock list for a propsed timetable. However football, beer, skittles (and work) got in the way. In 2007 I was made redundant by EWS, and restarted visiting exhibitions and buying magazines regularly. For my 50th birthday my partner suggested I get a layout and set up in our spare room. I had room for a layout 9' 3" x 1'6" which is permanently erected on 3 Ikea chests of drawers. I had the board, track and electrics made for me by my local model shop. I have worked out a back story to justify the lines existence. The station Beacon Lane is fictional, now the end of the line of the former Exeter and Poltimore Railway, a line constructed with support from the LSWR to link various clay pits and brickworks to the east of Exeter. An approach by the financially struggling directors for help from the B&E was rejected, the LSWR quickly stepped in and helped construct the line, which joined the main line at Mount Pleasant Junction just west of Exmouth Junction, Beacon Lane was the site of a brick works, goods yard and signal box, the only one on the branch. Due to falling passenger numbers and the working out of the clay pits the line has recently closed beyond Beacon Lane, a residual passenger service remains, but for how long? The planning was done on our lounge floor using Hornby track I used in my teens which had spent 30 plus years in boxes in my parents loft. The layout as delivered, looking towards the fiddle yard end. Looking towards the station end, the track is Fleischman Profi ready ballasted track A Lima class 09 leading a selection of stock to the fiddle yard. As I was unsure which era would sustain my interest longest I have opted to keep the scenery as a blank canvas. I will operate 3 eras in turn, reminding me of my early childhood, early trainspotting years and early work years. 1962 BR (SR) steam, DMU single power car for passenger services, goods shed still in use with coal yard. 1970 BR (WR) hydraulic, coal yard replaced by loco servicing depot which due to WR takeover of the ex LSWR lines is being used as a wagon repair depot, loco servicing is undertaken at Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot. 1977 BR (WR) blue, goods shed now demolished and a small cement terminal has taken its place. Several of the buildings in use are well over 40 years old have come out of the loft and had a quick repaint. At present the loco and wagon stock is a mixture of 35 year old veterans with an increasing contingent of new, mostly Hornby and Bachmann. The main aim of this for me was to provide a shunting puzzle, and an excuse to run a variety of freight stock, hence the idea of a wagon repair depot which would handle cripple wagons of any type likely to be found in the west country. I have a wish list of locos and stock to add in future, who doesn't? cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium gc4946 Posted June 16, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 16, 2011 Great effort so far, also join the club ... you're using the same make of track as me, Fleischmann Profi (see Horniman Park thread) Even though the track's available quite widely through Fleischmann's UK dealers, and costing more than Peco or Hornby, I've not seen or heard many modellers use it, but it really cuts down on the amount of ballasting needed, and with care, can be reused on future projects. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 Even though the track's available quite widely through Fleischmann's UK dealers, and costing more than Peco or Hornby, I've not seen or heard many modellers use it, but it really cuts down on the amount of ballasting needed, and with care, can be reused on future projects. It's good to know about being reused, hopefully this will keep me entertained for a while, but who knows. I decided to use it as I was not sure I could ballast around pointwork without jamming it all up, also my local model shop specialises in continental, and uses it a lot. I used Fleishmann loose ballast to infill the 6 foot between the tracks, OO gauge for the 'mainline', and N gauge for the yard area, with hindsight I should have used the N gauge ballast everywhere. Then a light wash of watered down dirty black in the 4 foot areas, I should have had more patience painting the sides rusty, but was afraid to overdo it or cause electric contact problems, but I think it looks reasonable. This view is looking towards the stopblocks in 1977. A view looking across the yard towards the station. The loco servicing depot in use for wagon repairs, this is the main reason the whole branch has not closed. With the track beyond the crossing now out of use the signal should be removed, and for a box in Exeter I suppose it should really be in brick, or red sandstone. Now I must get some name boards made up! cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TT3 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Great job with the ballasting, the trackwork has come up very well would not have guessed it was the pre ballasted track from the picture with the 09 in it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LN Lancs Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm also very impressed with the trackwork, it looks really good. I'm tempted to give it a try on my next layout but how are you planning to cover the point motors? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm also very impressed with the trackwork, it looks really good. I'm tempted to give it a try on my next layout but how are you planning to cover the point motors? Thanks for your comments. I am aware that the point motors are obtrusive, but it is something I am prepared to live with. A couple of them are behind a wall from my normal operating position, and one is behind a weighbridge office, and I have placed some scrap sleepers and rail to try and hide another. When the layout was constructed for me I was offered the option of them being mounted upside down, but that would have been more expensive and I chose the cheaper option. On another modelling forum there is a thread about this subject, explaining how you fit the motors upside down, it involves hollowing out the board, you can then scatter ballast or whatever to cover up. It's personal choice really This gives a better (or worse!) view of the point motors surface mounted. It must be 1963 as the WR have already installed lower quadrant signals. Viewed from the footbridge a single power car waits departure time for Exeter St. Davids, the N class Mogul will then follow to Exmouth Junction. cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 I have been running the layout as early 1960's BR (SR) lately and took a few pictures:- As Beacon Lane is only half a mile from Exmouth Junction a variety of locos can be sent up the branch on the freight trips. Here an Ivatt tank stands in the yard headshunt . Highfits loaded with timber are propelled into the yard. The goods yard remains busy, handling mostly timber, animal feed and bagged fertilizer. The route on towards Poltimore has not seen passenger traffic for many years, Freight traffic has recently finished and the track has been lifted beyond the crossing. cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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