coachmann Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I needed a 4mm scale 00 layout with more interesting operational possibilities than the previous layout (Ellesmere North) had been, with sound fitted steam locos a major component. I didn't have far too look. Oswestry was a close neighbour of Ellesmere and shared virtually the same timetable with additional branch trains from Gobowen and Llanfyllin. Oswestry Motive Power Depot offers 'play' value when things cannot venture outside the shed. The station is ideally suited to a square room due to the line's curvature, but I am stuck with a 14' long straight section. Therefore I can only say that my layout is based on Oswestry. It is called General but this name will not appear on signal boxes and probably not on the station either..... History :- The GWR was already in Oswestry when the Cambrian decided to build a station, loco & works and head offices there, however, their rivalry ended on 25th March 1922 (my birthday coincidentally but NOT in 1922) when the Cambs was absorbed into the GWR. The latter's own station became a goods station in 1924. A bay platform was added to the Cambrian station for Gobowen trains. The line was upgraded from yellow to blue route during WW2. Modellers licence :- The GWR upgraded the Whitchurch to Aberystwyth Cambrian mainline to red route in the 1920's both in anticipation of freight developments and to make it easier for the GWR to replace the old and ancient Cambrian locos from its own heavier locos without having the major concern of light axle weight restrictions. New wider baseboard set some 3" lower than previously. The old backscene was removed later..... 13mm Marine ply baseboard top with the old Ellesmere still in situ under the windows for testing sound fitted locos. It will be replaced by a fiddle yard.... 1/8" cork underlay ready for glueing down with neat PVA glue..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Larry, I remember Oswestry well from my trainspotting days in the mid to late 1950s Sundays were always good for shed visits when there would be several Manors and lesser locos resting ready for the week ahead. I also managed to get inside the Works at that time and remember the stored Dukedog and the two narrow gauge tank engines from the W&LLR, Earl and Countess (Nos. 822 and 823 if I remember right). The autotrain to Gobowen was usually pulled by a 14XX class and I plan to model this in O Gauge very soon. Like many GW autotrains it had a nickname, the Gobowen Rattler. Now the bypass is in I haven't been back to Oswestry since I left in 1964. I imagine the town may have changed a bit and the railway a lot. I guess you know that Alan Buttler is also working on a diorama of part of the Works? Though it is on hold at the moment while is is busy with Modelu. Good luck with Oswestry General, I will follow with interest! Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Nice to see you back Larry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 This time the railway would be extended into the garden, something that had been intended back in 2006. One end already does but on an enclosed shelf with a transparent lid. This extension had to be lowered 3" to match the new baseboard height.... My good friend PGH of this forum did a scale plan of the required baseboard and support posts using his trade skills.... The curve was cut from outdoor plywood and well soaked in Creacote before being set aside.... Then PGH acting as civil engineer and I as his chainboy assistant marked out the site with pegs and nails ready for the 3" X 3" posts.... Grafter spade for digging small diameter holes and instant concrete at the ready.... Posts in the ground. The lower 18 " had been well soaked in creosote for a few days before being put in the ground..... Exterior rough 3" x 1" wood was used for the cross members and them given three coats of creosote over several days.... After a few days, the posts were sawn down to correct height using a spirit level and the surplus 3" x 3" tiber screwed to the horizontal cross members to give additional support to the baseboard top.... Work stopped at this point on the outdoor work to concentrate on experimenting with various track formations in the shed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 With all this civil engineering I hope you are settled on this adventure. I think this is what you always wanted so I am glad you've found a solution that looks solid. Good to have you back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
81A Oldoak Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Good plan. The plan captures well the essence of Oswestry. Regards, Chris Klein Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 Track is Peco Code 75 turnouts and C+L thick-sleeper flexible track, which is exactly the same height as the points. I spent ages doing dry runs with track while trying to capture a bit of Oswestry. Photographers quite naturally aimed their cameras at trains in the station and so other areas of this large complex were barely photographed. This made it easier to model the Oswestry most of us know from albums. The ex GWR station was a must because it often appears in the background of photos of the Gobowen platform along with the high water tank. But with no room for a full goods shed, I used a low-relief loading platform. Coal and cattle facilities had to go in a second yard where there was a bare chunk of baseboard. In fact some of it was removed to give more walking space and a better view of the station.... The almost final dry-run with the main lines cut and joined together. Marks on the cork are testimony to the number of previous dry runs! One very important 'tool' was a perfectly straight length of 3" X 1" about 9' long that enabled me to line up the turnouts at both ends of the three straight tracks.... One set of turnouts was then held in position with drawing pins while i dismantled the rest of the track ready for gluing down later.... Another important piece of equipment was a homemade track spacer to Peco geometry. When used in conjunction with the straight timber, there should be no mistakes during track laying. That piece of plastic has seen some use in the past ten years.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Larry, you mention there are not many "general" photos. I have none, but I do have a few memories. For example, i went on a school trip to the old coal/coke gasworks in about 1958. It was located to the west of the railway bridge over the Shrewsbury Road on the north side of the railway. There is a modern retail development there now according to on line maps. As it was next to the railway line I feel sure there were some sidings there. This would be off your plan but might be helpful for operating the layout. What era are you planning to populate the layout with? In BR days there were continual changes in locomotive allocations, Western, Midland and Standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 Thanks Paul, 'The Cambrian Mainline' (BookLaw/Foxline) and 'Branch Lines around Oswestry' (Middleton Press) show that there was a lot going on within the Oswestry railway complex ~ far too much for me to include on a 14' X 2' 3" board. Excluded therefore are the MPD turntable, coal stack, oil stores, coaling stage, timber drying shed siding, railway workshops, carriage shed, engine depot shops siding, coal wharf siding, warehouse siding and two timber yards. A large two page photograph in the Foxline book shows a Dean Goods passing Oswestry amid a sea of small buildings and sidings. Google comes up with some interesting photos if one types in Oswestry Station - Images. Regarding the period to be modelled, the early 1950's suits as it gives me the chance to run pre-1923 GWR coaches and also the odd ex LMS coach in lake. The LMS Ivatt Class 2-6-0 is represented for working the Llanfyllin branch from circa 1953 but I have so far resisted the temptation to buy a BR Std. Class 4 4-6-0. A Dean Goods and 14XX are on pre-order, and if anyone ever produces a DCC-friendly 'Manor'....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jintyman Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Nice to see you back Coachman, and a lovely station and area to model, with that mix of Western and Midland. The civil engineering works have come on well, and should give you some good running/operating potential. Jinty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Good to see you back here Larry, after our phone conversation the other week I was glad to see and hear of your progress, it will be good to see this develop on here in the normal manner, all the best and enjoy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted May 31, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 31, 2016 Larry, Why have you dropped the baseboard height ? Is it to give more depth below the window for the stock in the FY ? The track plan on the board looks really good, plenty of operational fun and photo opportunities. Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 It has certainly been the weather for outdoor work in recent weeks. There may be folk who have not seen my previous layout threads and so at the risk of repeating myself I am showing how the track is glued and ballasted in one go. It suits my desire to work fast, something that was very necessary when I first used it in the early to mid 1960's while working shifts on the buses. First move was to mask off the point switch blades/tie-road before spraying all the track with a Railmatch aerosil of 'Sleeper Grime'...... On removal of track in handy sections, its position is clearly seen on the baseboard. I then spray the part that will be under the tie-rods.... When dry, it is masked off before spreading undiluted PVA..... The strips of masking tape are then removed and the track carefully positioned and ballast poured on..... The lot is them weighted with timber and books.... The section of C+L hi-rail straight track running through the station. Woodland Scenics fine ballast is basically grey with dark brown and tan added, the lot being stirred in a large jar, an idea I got from my near neighbour Jintyman (Talyllyn Junction thread).... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 .................... it will be good to see this develop on here in the normal manner.................... Oh no, not track-lifting already? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Oh no, not track-lifting already? Tracklaying was hard enough haha. Larry, Why have you dropped the baseboard height ? Is it to give more depth below the window for the stock in the FY ? The track plan on the board looks really good, plenty of operational fun and photo opportunities. It had been raised when I had a duck-under by the door but the layout was difficult to work on and gave me back ache, so I reverted to the height used a few years ago. And yes it does give added protection from the sun. A shot showing the C+L running lines laid in the greyish ballast concoction. Compare this with the SMP sidings laid in ash.... SMP's thinner sleepers were ideal for laying in fine ash. This area represents the original GWR station which became a goods only station in 1924. Very little goes to waste and the station building saw use on Ellesmere North after a canopy was fitted, while the wooden platform was built for Moorgate Halt serving Delph branch trains.... Track again comparing running tracks with those in the yard. The two-road loco shed is by Bachmann. I fitted a steel beam across te entrance supported on a riveted steel centre.... column.. Ash wasn't fine enough for the loco yard and so I sprayed the cork underlay with Railmatch Weathered Black and Sleeper Grime until I had the effect I needed. Course ash was then glued and and there to represent clinker. Entrances to loco sheds were often concrete or stone setts up to rail height. I used surplus cork underlay and then sanded it down to rail height. The larger shed is inlaid into the cork... The smaller shed, which is supposed to be the original GWR building, has a pit and acts as the disposal road. The roof mounted water tank is a useful space saver. Much remains to be done here and elsewhere..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 No Track lifting, what I meant was, as he has proved above, neat quick and effective. Very nice Larry, thanks again for the demo and info. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 This small signal box was repainted in W.Region brown and cream and given decorative bargeboards so typical of Cambrian boxes. A photo of a Cambrian box was scanned and the bargeboards filled in with brown and cream. Then they were printed on Epson quality gloss paper to 4mm scale, cut out and stuck to the model.... Also named Oswestry South Signal Box... Another ready-to-plonk building, but fitted with a canopy using Hornby cast metal supports and painted in GWR light and dark stone because it is doubtful this goods building ever acquired W.Region colours.... The back was sawn off to make it into a low relief building in order to fit the space... Two-road engine shed with its unlikely brick pillar replaced by a girder across the entrance supported by a steel column.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Cracking job Coach - loving the new layout. Very pleased that you're back with us again. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 The progress you make, and the sheer quality of it, amazes me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 The progress you make, and the sheer quality of it, amazes me. I couldn't agree more, and in only 30 hours as well! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 30 hours ~ I wish. Construction proper actually started 15th May. This is what it looked like with Peco Code 100 trackwork. Robust, but nevertheless I started again last week seeing as i already had the C+L and Code 75 points in stock... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Everything about that picture is GW. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissRailPassion Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Lovely work here, I like the flow of the track and the natural flexure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 Let wiring commence...... The Gaugemaster is there to serve DC needs (point motors)... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGH Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 I made several trips from North Wales to Oswestry by rail in the late 1950s/early 1960s, but I must admit that the main interest to me was slightly further south in the branches and mineral railways around Llanymynech and Porthywaen. I only took three photos at Oswestry Station itself and these have been posted elsewhere on RMweb in another thread, but might be of interest if repeated here. The Gobowen-Oswestry auto train stands in the bay platform at the north end of Oswestry Station with 7810 on a Whitchurch train circa 1959. 7812 on a southbound train at Oswestry, October 1962 - this shows the building since demolished 46502 awaits departure from Oswestry in October 1962 on a train to Llanfyllin - on the left is building now remaining Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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