Kensington Olympia in n scale

[acg5324]

Well, with at least two weeks behind closed doors like everyone else there is some unexpected modelling time.

 

We we’re lucky enough to have our Day / Night blinds fitted on Monday as well as the carpet to our bedroom and the bedroom furniture delivered before Lockdown. The stairs and landing will have to wait until better times.

 

Today I got another four track joints relaid and replaced. That leaves me with five more to do before I start on the fiddle Yard. Luckily I got some extra track and points in before the weekend.

 

Edited March 24, 2020 by acg5324

[St Enodoc]

4 hours ago, acg5324 said:

Well, with at least two weeks behind closed doors like everyone else there is some unexpected modelling time.

 

We we’re lucky enough to have our Day / Night blinds fitted on Monday as well as the carpet to our bedroom and the bedroom furniture delivered before Lockdown. The stairs and landing will have to wait until better times.

 

Today I got another four track joints relaid and replaced. That leaves me with five more to do before I start on the fiddle Yard. Luckily I got some extra track and points in before the weekend.

 

Nice blinds.

[acg5324]

Thanks John, they are like a double roller blind, you can pull them right up or down and align the strips to block off the sunlight completely and anywhere in between.

[Ian Morgan]

22 hours ago, acg5324 said:

 

 

 

 

Rather than have that nasty reverse curve across a board joint, could you ease out the approaching curve to enter the fiddle yard at a better angle? It looks like it could ease out nearly an inch before fouling the woodwork.

 

[acg5324]

3 hours ago, Ian Morgan said:

 

Rather than have that nasty reverse curve across a board joint, could you ease out the approaching curve to enter the fiddle yard at a better angle? It looks like it could ease out nearly an inch before fouling the woodwork.

 

 

Good point, it’s not as curvy as in appears and is the District line track, which will have a 3rd and 4th Rail added. The track is not connected to any other part of the layout. 

 

I’ll have a look and see if a straighter run can be incorporated.

[acg5324]

Today I finished another relaid baseboard joint and made a start on the last one.

 

[acg5324]

Whilst working today I had a mixed bag on the HiFi.......Janet and John superb innuendo.

[acg5324]

Whilst it doesn’t look as flowing a straight run of track, placed over the existing curve, will make the board joint a bit neater.

Edited March 25, 2020 by acg5324

[St Enodoc]

10 hours ago, acg5324 said:

Whilst it doesn’t look as flowing a straight run of track, placed over the existing curve, will make the board joint a bit neater.

Actually, I beg to differ. It is always good to have track crossing baseboard joints at as close to a right angle as possible. The revised "straight" track is worse than the original "reverse curve" track in this regard.

[grahame]

And often trains look better snaking around (gentle) bends and picking their way through junctions rather than on a straight bit of plain track.

 

 

[acg5324]

Today the final tracks were relaid. Next stage will be to complete the fiddle Yard.

 

I left Kevin to tidy up while I made a cuppa......when I got back he was asleep still eating bananas! 

Tidy up obviously meant something different to him...... everything piled on the fiddle yard.

[acg5324]

To finish a couple of shots of the station area.

First one is looking north, the other southwards.

 

[acg5324]

Not much progress today as I had other jobs to do. Another fiddle Yard road laid and a third set up for fixing down.

 

Nearly had a bit of a bloomer as I spotted that the PECO short points don’t adhere to the standard track centres if you lay them consecutively. I’ve reverted to a medium at each end instead.

[acg5324]

Just after the new year I acquired a pair of Arnold POLYBULK hoppers as stand in Ferry vehicles. These are the flat sided type.

Here are some comparison photos with the Farish POLYBULK which of course is a different prototype. The Arnold ones are  only 95mm long when the UK versions should be 120mm (60ft). Diagram E442.

 

[Duncan.]

8 minutes ago, acg5324 said:

Not much progress today as I had other jobs to do. Another fiddle Yard road laid and a third set up for fixing down.

 

Nearly had a bit of a bloomer as I spotted that the PECO short points don’t adhere to the standard track centres if you lay them consecutively. I’ve reverted to a medium at each end instead.

A good decision with the points I think, you'll find the rolling stock runs through the pointwork better with medium radius tunouts.

Cheers

Duncan

[acg5324]

Some more fiddle Yard roads laid. Like most plans things are often fluid and a “good idea” pops up in your head. I realised that a crossover from up to down would be useful in the fiddle yard.........but.......I’ve decided instead to put a turnback siding in for the Kenny Belle, whether it’s a 4TC or DMU. I’ll need to source a Y point but that can be installed later. It will be long enough to take a decent length train.

 

[acg5324]

A little bit of progress today, both points to access the turnback siding installed. I’m going to push on with the track laying this week but will only post photos once it’s finished. To break up the week I’m going to get properly started on Charles House.

[acg5324]

Well I ended up continuing with the track laying. The fiddle Yard is now complete apart from the turnback siding. I have a Y point enroute from the shop to complete.

[acg5324]

As a treat I’m going to try and power test the layout tomorrow.....see if I can get something running. Charles House will finally have some progress too.

[acg5324]

As a treat I’m going to try and power test the layout tomorrow.....see if I can get something running. Charles House will finally have some progress too.

[St Enodoc]

8 hours ago, acg5324 said:

Well I ended up continuing with the track laying. The fiddle Yard is now complete apart from the turnback siding. I have a Y point enroute from the shop to complete.

Could you put a connection in at the other end to, Andy, or isn't there any point (pun intended)?

[acg5324]

6 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

Could you put a connection in at the other end to, Andy, or isn't there any point (pun intended)?

I could. In fact I’m going to, as they say, leave passive provision for it. The siding is intended for the 4TC or DMUs running the Kenny Belle to be turned back but would make a useful connection at the other end of the fiddle Yard. There is already a crossover from north to south which allows access to the inner side of the fiddle Yard.

[St Enodoc]

16 minutes ago, acg5324 said:

I could. In fact I’m going to, as they say, leave passive provision for it. The siding is intended for the 4TC or DMUs running the Kenny Belle to be turned back but would make a useful connection at the other end of the fiddle Yard. There is already a crossover from north to south which allows access to the inner side of the fiddle Yard.

What powered the Belle - JBs or KBs? Had the 6-TC gone by then?

[grahame]

All sorts over the years; including 33s, 73s, 205s, etc., with more recently this:

 

 

and now the service is effectively provided by London Overground and class 378s

 

[acg5324]

6 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

What powered the Belle - JBs or KBs? Had the 6-TC gone by then?

Usually Crompton and a 4TC. Locos and a couple of coaches some times, c33 or c73. DEMUs have also been used and then c119 DMUs......they ran ECS from Redhill then I believe ECS to Reading after finishing the last shuttle. Now a days 5 trains an hour each way!......but maybe not right now.