Sheffield Midlands Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Having recently moved house and discovered that I have a monster sized loft, I got the sketch pad out and began drawing out potential projects. Having modelled the steam era in the past, I felt firmly set that on this occasion I would like to model the present day railways. With so many liveries, locos and the beauty of being able to replicate pretty much anything because I can see it live (rather than rely on old photos). That doesn't mean to say that a few of my steam loco's will be entirely redundant - plenty of Steam Specials traverse UK railways still The space available to me is 3.6m x 7.5m (10ft x 25ft in old money) and that could be doubled in length in the future although significant changes to plumbing and water tanks would be required! So my wish list: 4 track mainline (ECML perhaps) Continuous run or timetable operation Mainline location with full length HSTs etc in operation Handbuilt turnouts for smooth track Portable to allow for potential exhibitions in the future Mainline station comprising 2 4 track roads (city) Countryside section (incorporating a viaduct) Prototype location DCC computer control incorporating both an arrivals & departures board and Signal Box diagram on a plasma tv Train location (just like the prototype Slow action point motors I have built a couple of layouts in the past, each one becoming doomed by either moving house - hence the need for this one to be fully portable. Having played with a few sketches, I ended up with something that was ringing the bells of familiarity in my head. I relaised I had come up with something not a million miles away from Sheffield Station. A good study of it on Google Earth confirmed that the plan would work and with tunnel portals at each end, I would have the perfect scenic breaks too. The space available is also unlikely to require too much compression which will allow for the amazing sweeping curves through various pointwork - particularly at the "pretty" North end. Having played with AnyRail and got the track plan arranged, it was clear that the use of proprietary track from Peco was giving me a lot of restrictions and simply wouldn't do my plans justice. At the time Peterborough North appeared in the BRM and the beautiful trackwork by Norman Saunders of Just-Tracks. Templot was downloaded and many hours were spent trying to suss it out before finally deciding to consult help! More detail to follow! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torn-on-the-platform Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I will watch this with interest. I'm not a Midland man, nor am I particularly interested in modern image, but I do live in Sheffield and have thought that it would make a great model, especially as it is today. There are so many TOCs, each providing at least a couple of different types of train and many of these are available. Are you going to include the weary looking 23 year old running from the tram stop down to platform 5 so as to not miss his train to London on a Friday afternoon? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friar Tuck Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Nice idea, but you don't say what scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyboy Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 This is gonna be a good un'! Sheffield is one of the very few stations I know very well as I used to work there in late 2008/early 2009. I look forward to seeing more progress of your model of a great station. Sam 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 14, 2014 Author Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) It's going to be in OO gauge and as the plans near completion is building very fast. I haven't decided whether the tram line will be included but I'm hoping to include a fairly extensive car system on the layout too. Stock wise I have plenty of Northern DMUs (158s, 142s, 144), HSTs (full length) in XC and East Mids livery and a whole host of other relevant stock. Just in the process of filling the SLR up with as many pictures as possible of the trackwork, sleepers, signals and so on. With the size available to me, it won't be far off scale full size and fully transportable too Edited March 14, 2014 by Sheffield Midlands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 14, 2014 Author Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) Are you going to include the weary looking 23 year old running from the tram stop down to platform 5 so as to not miss his train to London on a Friday afternoon? I will see what I can do Sheffield is also the crossroads it would seem of my life. Being a Cornishman that went to University in Reading, moved to Hull and now still in Yorkshire, I have traversed the Sheffield platforms and tracks on many an occasion. Edited March 14, 2014 by Sheffield Midlands 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 I live just up the track in Barnsley and think its a great idea .i was just looking through a book I got recently on Sheffield and thought if the space was available it would make a great model . Will be watching with interest . Brian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stannyblade Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Also a Sheffield lad myself and will follow with interest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 14, 2014 Author Share Posted March 14, 2014 Great to see so much interest - and plenty from Sheffield too! Hoping to have the plans finished off in the next week or so and then building will commence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 There are quite a few fairly recent pictures of the station and environs posted here on RMweb (often by me ;P) if any of them are of any use....... I will have to find them and have a nosey - thanks Mickey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted March 15, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 15, 2014 Sheffield is one of those on my "I wouldn't mind modelling that someday" list. I prefer the south end though. Cheers, Mick 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 Thanks for the pics Will be having all the sidings on my layout. Is there a carriage washing plant there too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted March 15, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 15, 2014 Thanks for the pics Will be having all the sidings on my layout. Is there a carriage washing plant there too? Don't think so - only a servicing shed. Cheers, Mick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted March 15, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 15, 2014 The carraige washing plant is / was beyond the tunnel at the south end of the station*........Its been OOU for ever cos there was some concern about the run off from it polluting the River Sheaf that flows directly under the station (or occasionally through the station!) Worried about extra pollution in Sheff? Cheers, Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 It is/was on the remains of the 1900 "dive under" whereby down London trains gained access to platform one Down and Up on the ex Midland confuse me ....keep it simple like the GWR in the Duchy ! Kernewek on ni, a-dar Sowsnek! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doughnut Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 All those Millstone-Grit retaining walls to model...fantastic. My hometown Station, so look forward to seeing it progress. If I remember, the stabling area/ servicing shed that is there now( pictured above), at the south end, used to be a Motor- Rail terminal in the 70's. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JCL Posted March 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 15, 2014 This is definitely going on my favorite list. Half of my family are either from, or now live in Sheffield, and I've spent a lot of time there in the past. Of course coming from near Skegness, we used to see a lot of summer trains from Sheffield as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Just for a bit of fun I thought I'd see if I could have a go at the north approach with RTL track - mainly Peco Code 75 with a couple of Shinohara points and their double slip. I don't think it's come out too badly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Just for a bit of fun I thought I'd see if I could have a go at the north approach with RTL track - mainly Peco Code 75 with a couple of Shinohara points and their double slip. I don't think it's come out too badly Great effort but wait until you see it in hand built finescale with lovely fluid, flowing curves and angles with correct sized and spaced weathered concrete sleepers with the correct chairs etc Edited March 15, 2014 by Sheffield Midlands 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Sadly that would be out of my ability so I look forward to seeing your progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRDBLUE17 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Sounds like a great project and the planned trackwork as you describe will be very good to see. I will enjoy following your progress, those walls and bridges/tunnels will also make into a nice model setting. All the best Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rowsley17D Posted March 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 15, 2014 Another fellow member in his loft! And another distraction that'll stop me doing mine. Will follow with interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 Just in the process of planning out a baseboard arrangement for my new layout using the plywood crossmember/open frame format but I am using multiple boards bolted side by side as well as end on end. Has anyone experience of arranging baseboards in the fashion in the picture/scribble below? Normally I would keep them all level but arranging them in a sort of brick formation appeals for strength, alignment etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted March 17, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 17, 2014 I assume that you know that a club (based in Sheffield I think) made a model of Midland Station in the late 1960s (IIRC). Featured in RM. I think they used Formoway track as it had more types of points than Streamline at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Midlands Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 I assume that you know that a club (based in Sheffield I think) made a model of Midland Station in the late 1960s (IIRC). Featured in RM. I think they used Formoway track as it had more types of points than Streamline at the time. Hi Joseph, I wasn't aware of that particular model - I will have to have a look for the article. The difference with mine is that it will be set as it is now, completely to scale with full size platforms/points etc. My only limitation at present is with rolling stock - the Cl185s of Transpennine and Cl222 of East Mids aren't very readily available! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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