Alderton

[Twright]

A new start...

 

Hiffton is being replaced with something better (hopefully). The reasons for the replacement are listed in the Hiffton topic so I won't repeat myself. The new layout is going to be a partial through station (one fiddle yard will either represent an industry or a small halt further up the line, served only by a railcar/auto) set in BR (W)/GWR territory but will be to more finescale OO standards, the board size won't change and it will still be DCC operated. The track plan at the moment is:

 

 

Left to right it goes, fiddle yard (representing an industry or the next station), bridge, station (water tank opposite), loading platform, loop (I know that at one end it's too tight but I hadn't shortened the track on Anyrail), goods shed, signal box, bridge and fiddle yard.

 

Any comments/suggestions?

[ChrisN]

Tom,

Is the loop that runs into the fiddle yard on the left workable?  I know it is when the FY is empty but will it when it is full?

[Twright]

Tom,

Is the loop that runs into the fiddle yard on the left workable?  I know it is when the FY is empty but will it when it is full?

 

Thanks for pointing that out, the plan was meant more as a representation as I prefer to work things out in real life, but I hadn't considered that, I will look at solving the problem.

[Modelling Martin]

Looks good i like the loop being on the curve. Is it definitely a through station? If you had a terminus then you would have a bigger space for scenery etc as from the track plan there looks like quite a lot of fiddle yard area. Sorry if it is a bit too outlandish but it was just an idea!

 

Gary

[Twright]

Looks good i like the loop being on the curve. Is it definitely a through station? If you had a terminus then you would have a bigger space for scenery etc as from the track plan there looks like quite a lot of fiddle yard area. Sorry if it is a bit too outlandish but it was just an idea!

 

Gary

 

Thanks. As I've said, this was a representation so it isn't a scale plan. There will be less of a fiddle yard on the left as this only represents an industry or small halt further up. The station is therefore more of a terminus than a through station in operation but can still have through trains. There will still be enough scenery for me, in fact a bit more than there used to be.

[ChrisN]

Thanks for pointing that out, the plan was meant more as a representation as I prefer to work things out in real life, but I hadn't considered that, I will look at solving the problem.

 

Tom,

I have a similar issue of my plan but I have enough space to run round if necessary although on mine it is not the primary run round. 

[Twright]

Tom,

I have a similar issue of my plan but I have enough space to run round if necessary although on mine it is not the primary run round. 

Well as the board is much emptier, I shall look at planning it out.

[Modelling Martin]

Aha i see can't wait to see the next stage then!

[FiveandNine]

A new start...

 

Hiffton is being replaced with something better (hopefully). The reasons for the replacement are listed in the Hiffton topic so I won't repeat myself. The new layout is going to be a partial through station (one fiddle yard will either represent an industry or a small halt further up the line, served only by a railcar/auto) set in BR (W)/GWR territory but will be to more finescale OO standards, the board size won't change and it will still be DCC operated. The track plan at the moment is:

 

track plan.jpg

 

Left to right it goes, fiddle yard (representing an industry or the next station), bridge, station (water tank opposite), loading platform, loop (I know that at one end it's too tight but I hadn't shortened the track on Anyrail), goods shed, signal box, bridge and fiddle yard.

 

Any comments/suggestions?

 

 

"Any comments/suggestions?"

 

1. Stick with it as it is with the through layout - there's something about the simplicity of this arrangement that appeals here. You've shown with your previous layout that you've a good eye for detail, so the simple format will help show this off. You'll have the opportunity to run it as a terminus if you want, but can also justify larger stock (Manor, Cl.22 DH, possibly even a Hall or a Warship) if there's "somewhere else more important" on the line and this station is just on the way.

2. Use a cartridge system for the fiddle yards. Allows easy rotating/repositioning of stock at the other end without having to lift it off the tracks and also allows easier clearance of the right hand end of the loop when needed. Be aware though, the aluminium angle will mean you need to clean wheels as well as track but, as this is also in many ways an issue with nickel silver track, no great problem.

3. Use as large a radius as possible for the visible section curve - if you can, suggest 36" but try not to go tighter than 30". Not sure off you have the space for this, but avoiding trainset curves will really help the realism.

4. Get Paul Karau's book "Great Western Branch Line Terminii" - (ISBN-10: 0860933695/ISBN-13: 978-0860933694) for inspiration!!

 

All the best,

 

Al

[Twright]

"Any comments/suggestions?"

 

1. Stick with it as it is with the through layout - there's something about the simplicity of this arrangement that appeals here. You've shown with your previous layout that you've a good eye for detail, so the simple format will help show this off. You'll have the opportunity to run it as a terminus if you want, but can also justify larger stock (Manor, Cl.22 DH, possibly even a Hall or a Warship) if there's "somewhere else more important" on the line and this station is just on the way.

2. Use a cartridge system for the fiddle yards. Allows easy rotating/repositioning of stock at the other end without having to lift it off the tracks and also allows easier clearance of the right hand end of the loop when needed. Be aware though, the aluminium angle will mean you need to clean wheels as well as track but, as this is also in many ways an issue with nickel silver track, no great problem.

3. Use as large a radius as possible for the visible section curve - if you can, suggest 36" but try not to go tighter than 30". Not sure off you have the space for this, but avoiding trainset curves will really help the realism.

4. Get Paul Karau's book "Great Western Branch Line Terminii" - (ISBN-10: 0860933695/ISBN-13: 978-0860933694) for inspiration!!

 

All the best,

 

Al

 

Thank you very much for the advice, I assume a catridge system is the same as a cassette system. I will be using flexi track to do the curves so it'll be the largest that can fit on the board. I will see if I can find that book in WH Smith's and if not I'll check amazon.

[Twright]

I have redesigned my plan after thinking about all the advice I've received:

 

 

Again it doesn't matter that the flexitrack show is to be too tight, it would work in real life.

 

 Because of space constraints the plan has been reversed but is still a terminus for the longer trains, only short trains continuing through. The fiddle yards now all have track after the point but before the cassettes so the loop can always be used. The siding going to the left could either be an industry (such as on Penhydd) or just a goods siding with crane. The track that continues past the edge of the board is the ends of the cassettes which can and need to overhang so that 2 Mk1s can be accommodated in the platform, loop and left hand fiddle yard. The left hand fiddle yard can accommodated a 4-6-0 and 2 Mk1s, the right one, a railcar and van or something of similar length.

[ChrisN]

Tom,

This seems as though it would work.  There is enough room for a loco to run round a train.  You will need a water tower/ crane somewhere on the platform.

 

I assume that you know you can change the minimum radius to get rid of the red 'ouch' bits.

[Twright]

Tom,

This seems as though it would work.  There is enough room for a loco to run round a train.  You will need a water tower/ crane somewhere on the platform.

 

I assume that you know you can change the minimum radius to get rid of the red 'ouch' bits.

 

The black rectangle is a water tank. As most services would involve the loco being detached, I thought that a water crane wouldn't be needed, but if it is felt that one would still be needed then I'll put one on.

 

I didn't, thanks

[Twright]

The curves have now been sorted, the flex is now at a minimum radius of 28 inches.

[ChrisN]

The black rectangle is a water tank. As most services would involve the loco being detached, I thought that a water crane wouldn't be needed, but if it is felt that one would still be needed then I'll put one on.

 

I didn't, thanks

 

Tom,

I did not realise that the black square was a water tower.  Where it is, is fine, in fact it would only need to be on the platform if there was nowhere else.

[Twright]

Tom,

I did not realise that the black square was a water tower.  Where it is, is fine, in fact it would only need to be on the platform if there was nowhere else.

 

Sorry, I should have made that clearer, thanks

[AndyJH]

Nice looking layout, perhaps add another siding for the goods yard to offer up more shunting?

[Twright]

Nice looking layout, perhaps add another siding for the goods yard to offer up more shunting?

 

Thanks, I'll see if it has enough space when I'm laying the track.

[Twright]

I have now cleared Hiffton completely and I have mocked the layout out with set-track as I don't have any flexitrack in stock. I have then taken some test pictures to try out camera angles and the placement of buildings. I have also found that with careful laying and cassettes than hang over the edge a bit further than originally planned I can accommodate a 4-6-0 and 3 Mk1s.

 

 

 

[ChrisN]

Tom,

Glad to see you are making progress.  The more thought the better at this stage.

 

I assume that you have broken up for the holidays?  Will that mean more progress or are you waiting for the cash?

 

All the best.

[Twright]

Thanks, I had broken up a month ago but I'm finishing Stanway Brewery (my other layout) first before starting on this and yes I will need to save up a bit before starting this.

[Twright]

 

Having laid it out in setrack and then run it for a bit, I felt that I needed to make it more interesting. I have made the goods yard road curved so I can fit more wagons in and so it now goes from left to right, Coal staithes, goods shed and crane. On the platform there is now a parachute tank (the black circle). Where the water tank was, I have now placed the signal box and to it's left, the cattle dock. Under the bridge there is now a point on the siding to make and exchange siding/loop so that any industry can be represented just by changing the wagons. The exit to the fiddle yard will be disguised by trees instead of the bridge.

[kevinklein]

whats a parachute tank?:-)

[Twright]

http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/leamingtonstation/leamington_locos/gwrls249a.jpg

[kevinklein]

:-D thanks!