Bacup - Mills in the hills

[Jason T]

Here goes then:

 

Apart

 

Together:

 

(excuse the mass of odd PCB - the original idea was a bit different)

 

Most of the cassettes - DMU in a non-DMU one :

 

Various stages of lamp construction:

 

Planted street lamp:

 

Platform lamp:

[billyb_imp]

The cassette system fiddle yard looks very interesting something to bear in mind for the future, I am going for the ladder system myself with all the associated issues you highlight but it seems right for my layout, will be back-soon to see how your cassette system is coming along. 

 

Great pics as usual of your scenic's, superb. 

[southern42]

The fiddle yard is proving to be a huge task, but a necessary one. Because of where the two tracks exit the scenic boards (at the back of the layout basically), my preferred option of traverser was a no go (not enough room to move the traverser over). A ladder style FY (which is what it had in Oxford, using Peco turnouts) wastes a lot of space, adds complexity due to the requirements of turnout motors, wiring, etc., and are also a bit awkward for accessing and changing stock if required.

 

As such, the only practical option was cassettes. These are made using aluminium attached to wooden bases, spaced out to track width (obviously). Alignment and connectivity will be (and is on the test section) by brass strips on the right hand side of each cassette. There are a number of different length cassettes; two 2 car DMU ones, two that will take 3 coaches or the equivalent in wagons, two that will take the maximum length of train that will fit in the run-rounds and headshunt and finally, three (so far) for locos.

When a train exits the FY, the loco cassette will be placed at the front with it's train's cassette added behind. When it enters the FY, the cassettes will be the opposite way round so that the loco can be uncoupled, run into it's cassette and removed; for the train it hauled the guards van will be removed (and swapped to the other end) ready for the next time it is used. I stole these ideas from other places

 

The base for the cassettes is ply on a series of risers, set to the height of the tracks on the scenic board.

 

If you're gonna steal, that's the way to do it. 

 

As to the gas lamps, if it gets dark just put a lamp lighter on the street at the beginning of his round. You can blame him, then, if they don't light up.

 

Anyway, the gas lamps look great and give character to Bacup - added value and all that.  Better than the LED one next door to us which just casts its spooky light over the car (not ours) standing underneath it.

 

Polly

[Jaz]

Interesting lamps, when you get a chance can you throw up some at a distance pictures to see how they photograph? The platform lamp is an interesting shape.

[Jason T]

I'll try Jaz although as they are black and most of the buildings are getting on for the same tone, they don't really stand out too much (which is kind of what I wanted).

 

The station lamps are LNWR ones but not too different to the ones at real Bacup. I'm in good company using them as Andy C used them on New Hey too. See, I told you I stole ideas

 

I also bought some etched brass LMS platform seats from Langley but it'll be a while before I pluck up the courage to solder them together. Most of the ones on the platform currently are the rather crap Skaledale ones that not only look awful but are too tall and fall over if a sparrow farts within 500 yards of them. Just noticed that one of them has tipped itself over. Stupid Skaledale.

[muddys-blues]

Nice lamps there Jason, "thay luck alreet on't platform"

 

Happy modelling

Craig.

[Donw]

Thanks Jason. The lamps look pretty good too. Not standing out is just the ticket. Ah yes I can remember the lamplighter.

Don

[Worsdell forever]

Never really looked at the Langley street lamps before (bought quite a lot of Mikes Models ones cheap years ago), they look good, I need some for Greyscroft at some time but as these would have been electric probably from the start ('Company Town' - when the mine got a generating plant the village was wired up also) I'm not sure what type would have been used.

 

Cassettes look good too.

[Stubby47]

Those cassettes do look good, but you might need to add overhead handles to aid picking them up, especially the longer ones.

[Clive Mortimore]

Those cassettes do look good, but you might need to add overhead handles to aid picking them up, especially the longer ones.

And something to go on the ends. 

 

I was at a show when I heard a rushing sound, quickly followed by a series of crashes (and some non-forum words). When I looked round there was this poor chap holding a cassette at a slight angle surrounded by a pile of broken model wagons.   This Tommy Cooper trick got a bit boring after the third time.

 

I like the new additions.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Clive Mortimore

[Jason T]

Thing is, there is no real need to turn the cassettes and hardly any lifting required, especially of the longer cassettes which will spend their out of use time slid to the side. If it were an exhibition layout then I would agree wholeheartedly.

 

When Jeff comes round to play in a few weeks time, I will just make sure he knows where the emergency stop button is

[Stubby47]

That's fine provided you don't to lift the cassette at the back over nearer ones to use the stock that's on it.

[Jason T]

I reckon it will be fine Stu. It is quite rare that I operate when drunk

[Donw]

Even with a portescap driven loco attached my trains would move on quite a  small tilt. So I adopted the practice of lifting the cassettes by the ends.

Don

[bluebottle]

I reckon it will be fine Stu. It is quite rare that I operate when drunk

 

Drunk or sober, Murphy's law applies. After a momentary lapse of concentration led to my Pug doing a lemming leap (and after I'd spent half an hour crawling about the floor looking for bits), I slotted the ends of mine to take card stoppers.

[mark axlecounter]

Looking good there Jason the cassettes method is a good one I have used them on bamar and now on bucks lane. I have made mine so I can stack them up with the locos already to use it helps with the space

But as I say looking good

[Physicsman]

Thing is, there is no real need to turn the cassettes and hardly any lifting required, especially of the longer cassettes which will spend their out of use time slid to the side. If it were an exhibition layout then I would agree wholeheartedly.

 

When Jeff comes round to play in a few weeks time, I will just make sure he knows where the emergency stop button is

 

I think that would probably be a good idea, Jason!!

 

I'm glad to see the layout has survived its most recent upheaval and I can't wait to have a play.

 

As well as doing some scratchbuilding, of course!

 

Jeff

Edited January 14, 2014 by Physicsman

[Andrew P]

Don't forget to Video the MOMENT Jason. hahhah

 

Bodge

[Jason T]

The fiddle yard is almost done now, just needs a bit of tidying up but is fully functional and for the first time since I moved from Oxford back at the end of May, I can actually run decent length trains again.

However, the purpose of this post is not to tell you all that wonderfully exciting news (that I bet you have been on the edges of your seats waiting for) but because I have been messing around with a few photos. After looking at and admiring Jack00's black and white photos, I thought I would have a go too.

 

Over the rooftops, we see the station lost in a sea of houses and mills

 

From the vantage point of a nearby hill, we can see a 3F has arrived from the Facit branch with a pick up goods

 

Curious, we head into town to see which member of this elusive class it is; after all, they are not too common a sighting in the valley. Ah, it's 43734, the venerable Rose Grove loco. The crew must have nipped off for a cuppa.

[georgeT]

Very atmospheric Jason, looks just like a kodak snap from the sixty's, bet its nice to run trains at last ?

 

George...

[Jason T]

Thanks George. It's lovely being able to actually operate although the temptation to play is a worry as there is still a lot to do. The lack of chimney pots on the majority of houses is really starting to grate now; I have a bulk order of 250 castellated pots coming sometime (when Freestone get round to casting them for me), painting and weathering all of them up before attaching them to the houses is not a task I am particularly looking forward to (especially as I will be replacing the ones that have already been added to some of the houses)

[freebs]

Jason - those shots look brilliant. You ought to be proud of what you have achieved so far. It truly is evocative of the area you have sought to portray. Hats off to you indeed.

[westerhamstation]

I think the black and white shots lend a lot of atmosphere to an already brilliant layout, until you said it I have never noticed the lack of chimney pots, just goes to show what detail you miss until it's pointed out. Great modelling all the best Adrian

[westerner]

The top shot across the house roofs deserves a bit more than pressing the like button. Excellent!

[coachmann]

The layout is looking well Jason. I like the view across the Corrie style rooftops. Those Langley gaslamps have got me thinking too. One thought regarding locomotives. You are bound to be having a couple of push pull fitted L&Y 2-4-2Ts but what happens when you fancy something 'express'. Can we expect Duke of Gloucester turning up on a Bacup Wakes Adex to Blackpool?

Edited January 17, 2014 by coachmann