West Riding Terminus- Halifax Powell Street

[gismorail]

wow this is turning into a real beauty of a layout to follow...................... excellent and so real to the eye 

[clecklewyke]

 

After quite a lot of messy building it had been a while since my last running session so I gave the track a good clean and really enjoyed running some locos! I will definitely work on a timetable in the future (and maybe introduce a random roll of a dice to see if I have any locomotive breakdowns!).

 

(snip)

I have made some lamps to mount to the station wall. I went with the method I had used previously-a rubber grommet cut in half to act as a shade on an LED. They were primed and painted black and will be wired when I finish the building off this week. I have dry brushed the station facade with some browns and blacks- more dirt needed on the right hand side yet though!

 

 

Pete

 

Creating a timetable is a fascinating exercise and running it will really bring the layout alive - see Bradfield Gloucester Square especially posts 702 and 703.

 

Before I moved house we operated Bradford North Western to a timetable and thoroughly enjoyed it. A sample of the timetable is on post 41 here.

 

It was based on the real train movements at Bradford Exchange. These were published in BRM many years ago. My copy is lost after the house move.

 

It's fascinating to see progress on Powell St as in many ways it is paralleling my work on Bradford North Western, which, with Clecklewyke, is arising Phoenix-like from the house move and a change from P4 to OO. I'll be publishimng some details of progress here as soon as I've got the trackwork laid and running - nearly there!

 

I love the lights but what, pray, are grommets? I come from Wensleydale and "Grommet" clearly has a different meaning here!

 

Ian

Edited July 28, 2016 by clecklewyke

[380John]

That scratch built building is a work of art!

 

Excellent stuff very inspirational,

 

John

[leopardml2341]

 

I love the lights but what, pray, are grommets? I come from Wensleydale and "Grommet" clearly has a different meaning here!

 

Ian

Cheese, sorry Grommets.

 

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6664596/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Cables_And_Wires-_-Cable_Glands_And_Strain_Relief_And_Grommets&mkwid=svYswTUEq_dt|pcrid|88057074843|pkw||pmt||prd|6664596&gclid=CJ-isKj9l84CFUE_GwodwXIOHw

[BurscoughCurves]

Thanks for the comments gents.

 

Ian; I'm sure you can tell I've taken a lot of inspiration from Bradfield. It sets a wonderful scene which is greatly aided by the sound fitted stock and prototypical timetable. I will watch for updates from yourself with great interest- Clecklewyke is up there with the finest modelling, a real favourite of mine.

 

Pete

[leopardml2341]

Thanks for the comments gents.

Ian; I'm sure you can tell I've taken a lot of inspiration from Bradfield. It sets a wonderful scene which is greatly aided by the sound fitted stock and prototypical timetable.......

Pete

I was fortunate to be one of the Bradfield operating team for its last few outings before John sold it on.

 

I can but echo the sentiments above, Pete.

 

I'm a big fan of the West Riding variety of urban grot and always look forward to your updates. Keep 'em coming.

[BurscoughCurves]

Evening all,

 

Just a few images of some new platform lamps for tonight. There are 2 different types- a more 'modern' design for the area that used to be covered by the canopy, and a much older type still left in situ further up the platforms and on the parcels platform. Both types are from Layouts4you; the modern ones are 12V bulbs and the older type are LED's. The quality isn't brilliant but I like the general look of them. I have sprayed the moderns grey and painted the older LMR crimson (ish). These look too bright at the moment and will be suitable weathered. I am looking forward to lighting them all up soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks,

Pete

[SGJ]

Hi have you put grates on the platforms, it looks like you have but I can`t make them out although I am viewing on my phone.

SGJ

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi SGJ, what do you mean by grates? Do you mean over the platform pedestrian entrance/ exits?

 

Pete

[SGJ]

Hi SGJ, what do you mean by grates? Do you mean over the platform pedestrian entrance/ exits?

 

Pete

 

No, I am meaning like manhole covers / drainage

SGJ

[BurscoughCurves]

Ahh sorry! No- I have left a space for one below the water column but have yet to find & order/ make a grate yet.

 

The dark squares are where the original supports were located prior to the overall canopy being cut down after bomb damage. The supports in between the tracks are still partly visible as they were only crudely cut back.

 

Thanks,

Pete

[SGJ]

Ahh sorry! No- I have left a space for one below the water column but have yet to find & order/ make a grate yet.

 

The dark squares are where the original supports were located prior to the overall canopy being cut down after bomb damage. The supports in between the tracks are still partly visible as they were only crudely cut back.

 

Thanks,

Pete

 

I was going to ask about the supports in the track next, I thought they may have been water taps to refill the water tanks on the coaches and DMU`s for the toilets, I did wonder why they were H sections rather than 4x2 timber  

SGJ

[BurscoughCurves]

Evening all,

 

Not managed to do a great deal of modelling recently but have managed to lay the final piece of track on the scenic side of the layout- the siding at the extreme front of the layout. I raised it on a base of balsa to clear the point control rods below.

 

 

The support under the bridge at the front is only temporary by the way, the bridge itself is not a public one but will give railway staff access to the off-scene goods yard. I have also built a recent purchase of 4 Skytrex Models LNWR water columns. They are lovely white-metal items with excellent detail;

 

 

 

 

The 4th is located between the turntable approach tracks. They have only been primed and will be painted and weathered soon. My aim is to start detailing the area around the shed next, although I get married in 2 weeks time so may not have a great deal of spare time early September! A few photos to finish the weekend (please ignore the awful yet-to-be changed colour of the shed window arches);

 

 

 

 

 

 

This may well be my final post as a 'single' man!

 

Bachelor Pete

[richard i]

Always liked what you achieve here, it all goes together realistically

Richard

[Jamesb]

Pete, I've just sat and binged on all nine pages of your layout. Fantastic and rather than waste my clicking finger on every shot, I've given you two big thumbs up. Brilliant modelling! Apologies if I missed it, but what are the layout dimensions?

 

James

 

[Suddaby]

James, the room is 3m x 2m (post #44), that's just 9'10" x 6'6" in old old money.

Given that small size Pete (BC), you have created a remarkable scene, that just stinks of city terminus. Also you should have a lot of fun playing with operating it, it reminds me of Bradfield GS, which I was privileged to be a member of the op team on. It will be well worth putting extra effort in to how you run it, the rewards are terrific.

Excellent!

 

Kevin

[leopardml2341]

James, the room is 3m x 2m (post #44), that's just 9'10" x 6'6" in old old money.

Given that small size Pete (BC), you have created a remarkable scene, that just stinks of city terminus. Also you should have a lot of fun playing with operating it, it reminds me of Bradfield GS, which I was privileged to be a member of the op team on. It will be well worth putting extra effort in to how you run it, the rewards are terrific.

Excellent!

 

Kevin

See also; post http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94960-west-riding-terminus-halifax-powell-street/page-9&do=findComment&comment=2386039

Edited August 22, 2016 by leopardml2341

[BurscoughCurves]

Really great comments gents, thanks so much.

 

I'm happy with what I've done so far, and I've learned so much. I'm itching to get more scenic work done but life keeps getting in the way!

 

Pete

 

Ps. My 1st Borat, cheers James!!

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi people,

 

It seems like an age since my last update, and indeed since I have made any progress on the layout. What with the wedding and honeymoon I've not had any spare time prior to this week.

 

I have managed to complete a small final piece of retaining wall (usual mucky method!), and have actually laid some rough turf! 

 

 

 

I skimmed a polystyrene former with PVA & paper and painted it a dark brown colour. When this was dry I covered the small area with more PVA and glued down a piece of hanging basket liner. When this was dry I peeled away the backing paper leaving a very rough scrubby grass embankment. A little trimming is all this has had done in the shots below, although I will be adding some additional static grass. I was looking forward to testing this method and will be using it again. 

 

 

I made the fence from balsa but am unsure whether to keep it- I think I may have made it a little too uneven looking?

 

 

 

Last weekend I really enjoyed the excellent Wigan show, and met a few familiar faces; including Andy Y and Tony Wright. It was great chatting to them both, and received some valuable advice from Tony on where to start with loco kit-building (something I am keen to get into when I have completed more scenic work).

 

A few shots from the show;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next is to start some ground cover in the MPD area.

 

Thanks all,

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andrew P]

The Layouts looking superb, I love the MPD, fantastic.

[sigtech]

Hi Pete, congrats on your marriage,

This layout has a real 'gritty' smoke - ridden northern city feel about it, I have been following it almost from the start-very well planned and realistic modelling with superb atmosphere, beginning to wish I had the extra space for a busier layout like this rather than a single track branchline...envious!!

 

Regards,

SIGTECH (Steve).

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi everyone,

 

Just a quick update with a few images of a tiny bit of scenic work. I have modelled the MPD approach road- with a hint of an incline to add to the urban cutting feel. The ground was raised with a polystyrene wedge covered in a mix of polyfilla, brown acrylic paint and PVA. Before the mix had dried I rolled a set of wheels onto the surface. When dry I added some static grass and earth powder to the edges. The fence is scribed balsa.

 

Please forgive the unpained chimney and awful grey arches above the shed windows- I will sort these at some point!

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

I wasn't happy with the fence I made from the previous post. It was one of those things that bugged me so I changed it. I think the issue was that the balsa grain was flowing horizontally. I am much happier with this now. The back edge of the fence will barely be seen.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the comments Steve and Andrew. Andrew- I'd love to take Pencarne off you hands if I had the space! Could I justify a Halifax - Pencarne summer special?!

 

All the best,

Pete

[clecklewyke]

Hi Pete, congrats on your marriage,

This layout has a real 'gritty' smoke - ridden northern city feel about it, I have been following it almost from the start-very well planned and realistic modelling with superb atmosphere, beginning to wish I had the extra space for a busier layout like this rather than a single track branchline...envious!!

 

Regards,

SIGTECH (Steve).

 

As Cyril Freezer and many others have pointed out, a single track branch terminus built in a rural area will occupy as much land as a cramped town terminus squeezed into an expensive urban site. See "Minories" for example. I had a version of Minories on a 6' long folding baseboard.

 

You don't need to build all the trappings of a station - MPD, goods yard etc., just hint at them by having  just the goods arrival road, the back of the loco shed, a large warehouse in low relief etc. You don't need to build all the pointwork, either, for instance the facing crossover can be imagined off-scene.

 

Using these tricks you can still have passenger workings, goods trains, light engine movements (lots of these with steam!), parcels trains and ECS - plenty of potential variety.

 

Ian

[Corbs]

Just caught up with this thread, really liking the progress and am in awe of the atmosphere you've already created.

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi folks,

 

I've started on some ground cover next to the turntable- in a scruffy unkempt corner! I mixed plaster with some black and brown acrylic paint and covered the small area. When it had dried I sanded it down and added some fine ballast and brown earth powder, then added some static grass. I need to tidy the area a little as it isn't quite dry and the fibers are everywhere.

 

I also painted and placed a rusty oil drum into the plaster.

 

Please excuse the multiple images of little progress; 

 

 

 

 

 

I like how the photos add depth the to doorways in the station building- Liverpool Exchange happened to blend in nicely;

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bought a Locomotech motor and bracket for the turntable which went together well. I wired it to the track bus via a decoder and am really happy with its operation. I love watching locomotives being slowly turned (simple things!). 

 

 

Please excuse the mass of dangling wires- they are for the platform lighting. I am not sure how to power all of the various LED's on the layout- a separate power supply and power bus or on the main track bus? 

 

More to follow soon,

 

Pete