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Chester Northgate Station (Layout of a Lifetime)maybe


gismorail
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On ‎26‎/‎06‎/‎2019 at 01:43, Andrew P said:

Confused???? What's a Fiddle Yard?:unsure:

 

It's funny you should ask that because someone you know very well prefers the term "storage sidings".   Apparently he hates the term fiddle yard because "images of Keith Moon in Tommy come to mind".

 

Can you guess who?

 

Martin you call them whatever you like though.

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48 minutes ago, Bogie said:

 

It's funny you should ask that because someone you knew very well prefers the term "storage sidings".   Apparently he hates the term fiddle yard because "images of Keith Moon in Tommy come to mind".

 

Can you guess who?

 

Martin you call them whatever you like though.

Thanks for that Bogie I'm happy with Fiddle Yard as storage sidings can also relate to a hidden area somewhere else on the layout like inside the Brewery on this layout. 

As for Keith Moon one can only say 'WHO ARE YOU' or even 'WHO'S NEXT' :jester: a Legend indeed. 

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I have continued with the installation with the newly purchased NCE PowerCab and have installed the plug mounting panel on the main control front.

 

 

2044529493_Powercab02002(600x548).jpg.22688fbceaaf7c6e47881810334acd4c.jpg

( note to myself 'straighten that label :angry: ) 

 

I have installed a DPDT switch above the panel to enable the switching between the main track and the programming track. The beauty of this system that's all that needs to be fitted to the layout itself as the master unit and the control unit are all enclosed within the hand set. If I wanted to expand the system a power  box would have to be added but for the situation on my two exhibition layouts this will not be required. The power transformer just plugs into the back of the panel and is about the size of a mobile phone charger. 

 

372990611_Powercab02003(600x424).jpg.4f0601d32c6709d20436511fb14dc804.jpg

 

 

Whilst I had the labelling machine out I rewrote the main control panel which when it was located behind the layout was the other way about. 

 

1853461929_Powercab02001(600x227).jpg.159c9d82d1498e36f7ad9bf6a16bde1c.jpg

 

 

And the final shot is of the finished control panel. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Looking great Martin, even I can understand that, so your almost ready for the Poynton Show, how many Locos will be available for the Layout?

Twenty plus with sound :mocking_mini: don't worry there are some GREEN diesels Andy my friend and mentor :crazy_mini:

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  • 2 months later...

It's months since I posted anything on this thread but that doesn't mean nothing has been happening as I have been busy getting the layout ready for it's appearance at the Hazel Grove Show 26th & 27th October 2019 . Tidying up the scenery and checking that the new fiddle-yard will work and make things easier under show conditions, cleaning loco wheels .....so boring :rolleyes: but a must do job I'm afraid. Running the layout is more fun from the front and a great deal easier than from the back ..... not quite sure about being 'exposed' to the public though especially if things stop working .....:scared: at least I could hide when operation was from behind the layout :jester:.... 

However there is one confession that I have own up too: 

I've been smoking in the Railway Room !!!!!!!!!:tease:

Well it's not that bad really more like 'Vaping' .... I tried the idea for the Wigan Show back in 2017 and had a good response from people so thought I'd try it again but this time I've simplified the system but have now have two smoke machines to so that the effects can be directed to more local areas. 

 

1725458668_SmokingintheRailwayRoom001(950x519).jpg.eda0c63661b6529d13fcd1584ac546a6.jpg

 

 

2037767516_SmokingintheRailwayRoom002(950x713).jpg.4a06200392f82b52c35223ffd40b43f0.jpg

 

It's a very simple system to be honest the smoke is generated by a small home disco smoke machine which cost under £30 each and I simply direct the water based vapour through copper pipes to holes set under neath the track work where I want the effect to appear on the layout, now if one were to set this up on a permanent layout so much fun could be had indeed I might just try it on my future 7mm model .

 

The first machine is beneath the Ash Pit shed where smoke can be pushed into the pit and also up the Brewery chimney.

 

976789569_SmokingintheRailwayRoom005(950x616).jpg.57df07dab4b8a3b585c3e6e868706134.jpg

 

590726724_SmokingintheRailwayRoom004(950x713).jpg.8927bade4e9ae7b778b9653d33744656.jpg

 

I think my favourite effect is the ash pit area where with the help of some flashing LEDS quite a show can be achieved . 

 

 

The second machine is positioned below the loco shed where smoke can be directed into the shed and also just underneath the track outside the shed as well as the chimney of the sand drier shed. 

 

1567440933_SmokingintheRailwayRoom013(950x713).jpg.f63a40321e2721e9a2d976ce3ade7933.jpg

 

1522101797_SmokingintheRailwayRoom015(950x669).jpg.53e921c0ba1053586dc22d211136412a.jpg

 

139536204_SmokingintheRailwayRoom019(950x713).jpg.fff7e124c70c7e1cdf2e240c86566321.jpg

 

Will post so more pictures tomorrow 

 

 

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, gismorail said:

It's months since I posted anything on this thread but that doesn't mean nothing has been happening as I have been busy getting the layout ready for it's appearance at the Hazel Grove Show 26th & 27th October 2019 . Tidying up the scenery and checking that the new fiddle-yard will work and make things easier under show conditions, cleaning loco wheels .....so boring :rolleyes: but a must do job I'm afraid. Running the layout is more fun from the front and a great deal easier than from the back ..... not quite sure about being 'exposed' to the public though especially if things stop working .....:scared: at least I could hide when operation was from behind the layout :jester:.... 

However there is one confession that I have own up too: 

I've been smoking in the Railway Room !!!!!!!!!:tease:

Well it's not that bad really more like 'Vaping' .... I tried the idea for the Wigan Show back in 2017 and had a good response from people so thought I'd try it again but this time I've simplified the system but have now have two smoke machines to so that the effects can be directed to more local areas. 

 

1725458668_SmokingintheRailwayRoom001(950x519).jpg.eda0c63661b6529d13fcd1584ac546a6.jpg

 

 

2037767516_SmokingintheRailwayRoom002(950x713).jpg.4a06200392f82b52c35223ffd40b43f0.jpg

 

It's a very simple system to be honest the smoke is generated by a small home disco smoke machine which cost under £30 each and I simply direct the water based vapour through copper pipes to holes set under neath the track work where I want the effect to appear on the layout, now if one were to set this up on a permanent layout so much fun could be had indeed I might just try it on my future 7mm model .

 

The first machine is beneath the Ash Pit shed where smoke can be pushed into the pit and also up the Brewery chimney.

 

976789569_SmokingintheRailwayRoom005(950x616).jpg.57df07dab4b8a3b585c3e6e868706134.jpg

 

590726724_SmokingintheRailwayRoom004(950x713).jpg.8927bade4e9ae7b778b9653d33744656.jpg

 

I think my favourite effect is the ash pit area where with the help of some flashing LEDS quite a show can be achieved . 

 

 

The second machine is positioned below the loco shed where smoke can be directed into the shed and also just underneath the track outside the shed as well as the chimney of the sand drier shed. 

 

1567440933_SmokingintheRailwayRoom013(950x713).jpg.f63a40321e2721e9a2d976ce3ade7933.jpg

 

1522101797_SmokingintheRailwayRoom015(950x669).jpg.53e921c0ba1053586dc22d211136412a.jpg

 

139536204_SmokingintheRailwayRoom019(950x713).jpg.fff7e124c70c7e1cdf2e240c86566321.jpg

 

Will post so more pictures tomorrow 

 

 

 

 

 

Very nice. Book Mr P's band for the evening, hang up a glitter ball and PARTY!!!!!

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I promised so further pictures of the smoke machine in operation so here there are :

 

As a train moves through the smoke it can create quite an atmospheric scene as the smoke mingles between the wagons . 

1868459920_SmokingintheRailwayRoom024(950x713).jpg.371cf08227b1278b60eab9a53b6ef951.jpg

 

78473675_SmokingintheRailwayRoom025(950x702).jpg.b30a958342d7deef6512774b88660c0f.jpg

 

2129410924_SmokingintheRailwayRoom029(950x710).jpg.b1c1292d331ba54dd1d625d56acbd937.jpg

 

207206534_SmokingintheRailwayRoom032(950x673).jpg.90b3648b5cbd71247e84b765c7a93ec5.jpg

 

The Locomotive that I have been using in the above photographs is one of Dave Jones J94 models which has been a regular shunter for the Brewery sidings on Chester Northgate and has been a faultless performer since I sound chipped and re-numbered it . Alas a major fault occurred recently all the sound effects were working but the locomotive refused to move in either direction. I could hear the motor turning inside the model so I very carefully took it to pieces , which is quite a job in itself and to my horror I found that the motor mount has totally fallen to bits.

 

1642985624_SmokingintheRailwayRoom035(950x711).jpg.73a834d6d0bb8b64424a64b905ca620d.jpg

 

 

 

As DJM is now no longer trading it  will mean the scrap yard for this locomotive . I have reassembled the loco so that it can be dragged to the breaker's yard :fie: which can be re-enacted during the Hazel Grove Show . 

 

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3 hours ago, Andrew P said:

Clever pics and smoke effects mate, but a shame about the Loco Al, / Landmanlow Sidings had the same I think, pity there is no recourse of action you can take to get it repaired or replaced. 

Thanks for your kind comments Andy . Ref the J94 looking at the way that the mount has 'fractured' I would say that it's a design fault as the plastic mount has just shattered which is I'm afraid the down side of modern plastic's today so I would not be surprised to hear that other's would be heading for the cutter's torch :scare: I will have to keep my eye on getting either a second and one or see if any new ones are going cheap with the collapse of DJM. The motor is still working ok and I have been able to salvage the sound project so at least not all is lost. I was hoping to repaint the loco for Chumley End in WD livery as up until now it has been an excellent runner. 

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Good morning all.

Yes indeed a cracking weekend was had by all at the  Hazel Grove show which is a really well run and friendly show with some excellent layouts and traders. ( some of the visiting public aren't toooo bad either. ):jester:

Chester Northgate 6D run faultlessly all weekend and I was really pleased with the response that it received. Had several people who remembered the station and depot and even had a gentleman who's father was a fireman at 6D in the latter days .....things like this make all the hard work worth while me thinks . 

A special thanks to Trevor and Peter who helped operate over the Saturday and also to family members who assisted with the setting up and taking down over the weekend. 

I took a few pictures myself on the Sunday morning before the Show opened which I thought I would share with you all. 

 

The first couple show the full length of the layout, something which is not always possible at home. 

 

1908634156_HazelGroveshow10.2019013(950x646).jpg.eca89a6fad056b51497614e87cf3347f.jpg

 

328781469_HazelGroveshow10.2019014(950x778).jpg.f46ff679f1735715a4f2d5e7b3bb4775.jpg

 

The third picture shows the new fiddle yard as this was the first show where it was in 'action' I have to say it has made operation much easier and it's good to inter-act with the viewing public. The CCTV system that I installed the week before the show was really useful as it mean't that operators did not have to walk in the line of site of on lookers. 

 

 

2135689113_HazelGroveshow10.2019021(950x812).jpg.c1d305ca5a11a6511c123159a246e419.jpg

 

So all in all and excellent weekend 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • 10 months later...

To update this layout thread Chester Northgate Shed 6D has now been sold to a fellow RMweb member who I hope has as much enjoyment from the layout as I have had. Hopefully it will appear at exhibitions in the future whenever that might be. 

Many thanks to all of you who have followed and contributed to this thread it's been a fun journey  

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