Popular Post PGH Posted September 12, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) This topic was originally intended to describe only the wagon loading and unloading arrangements, but as industrial layouts seem rather thin on the ground in this forum perhaps a few more details of the layout itself would be of interest. The layout has been underway for some time, and its still far from being 'finished', although progress has not been helped by having two other layouts on the go at the same time. The layout represents a section of NCB line from a colliery, where the coal is loaded, to a coal preparation plant or washery, where the coal is unloaded for further treatment. En route the line will pass a canal tip (when it gets built) where coal will be also be discharged (into off scene canal barges). So within the layout there are three potential complete traffic movements - colliery to washery, colliery to canal tip and washery to canal tip. In practice many collieries were single units where all the required treatment of coal was carried out and the product despatched direct to the main line, internal traffic being confined perhaps to landsale traffic at the colliery or to a yard elsewhere. However there were examples of NCB railways connecting a single colliery or several collieries to a coal preparation plant on another site, such as the Haigh Colliery - Ladysmith Washery system at Whitehaven or the Waterside System at Dalmellington. My own interest is primarily the Lancashire Coalfield, which probably had more variety of locomotives than any other colliery area, including three unique and individual designs built by the colliery owners and also the only three industrial 0-8-0s in the UK. In the NCB period the longest systems were at Standish, to the north west of Wigan, where a coal washery adjacent to the West Coast main line served two deep pits and two drift mines; Haydock, where a coal preparation plant served four collieries; and probably the most well known and extensive system, Walkden Railways. Edited October 17, 2018 by PGH 28 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted September 12, 2013 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) The layout occupies a slightly 'L' shaped room (originally two rooms joined into one) 16'-4" long x 9'-4" wide at one end and 12'-10" wide at the other, less a chimney breast. The baseboards are a hotch-potch of fixed sections, either free standing or resting on shelves and a cupboard, removable sections across window openings and a hinged flap across the entrance. The emphasis on building the layout was mainly on operation, so the scenery is rather minimal. A photo 'tour' of the system should give some idea of the track layout. The line begins with a headshunt in a tunnel capable of taking a small loco and three empty wagons. It's assumed that the empties weighbridge is somewhere down there as there ain't any room for it elsewhere. Pointwork leads off for the screen roads, this section is on a hinged flap. The empties side of the colliery screens, note the difference between the brickwork of the pitbank retaining wall and winding engine house, built when the colliery was first sunk, and the later pithead buildings and screens. Empty wagons go in here and…… ……come out full here then they pass over the fulls weighbridge the line then curves right past the colliery loco shed and disappears under a road overbridge to run on a shelf at the rear of the workbench Edited May 21, 2022 by PGH 77 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) This is absolutely wonderful! Another one to add to my list of favourites, and another potential distraction for when my shed finally arrives! O scale industrial, splendid stuff... An overall look at the track plan would be interesting to see. Will the canal tipper be similar to the one that Michael Andress built waaay back when I were but a lad? I always liked the look of it, the prototype had a Jinty with yellow tanks and 21T hoppers as I recall. Edited September 12, 2013 by Dr Gerbil-Fritters 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 the scenery is rather minimal.I'll disagree with that statement for starters.I think it is pretty impressive. Particularly like the loco shed - perhaps a typical use for a layout corner - but very effectively done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted September 12, 2013 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) The line crosses the workbench and a window opening on two narrow removable sections, one of which incorporates a canal bridge. Note the orange tint to the 'water' reminiscent of the Bridgewater Canal in the Worsley area. The next part of the layout is less 'finished', most of it has only recently been ballasted and 'grassed', so its rather too neat and tidy and lacking buildings, etc The line then climbs at a gradient of approximately 1 in 30 past the switchback canal tip sidings. The tip itself will be at the end of the track on the right. (Note to health & safety - railings will be provided on top of the wall above the steps !) The gradient here against the loaded trains requires double-heading if smaller locos are used. Alongside the line on the left is the former trackbed with sleeper imprints of an abandoned colliery tramway which preceded the standard gauge railway at the top of the bank the line passes the (unfinished) wagon tippler building and sidings trail off to the coal washing plant, which will be situated where the wagons are standing in the distance. The 'corner' in the sky is unfortunate, but the alternatives were either to take out the chimney breast or lose valuable space, neither of which was viable. The line then crosses a road on a plate girder bridge and splits into two lines which disappear under an overbridge, to the rest of the system and the BR connection. In reality beyond the bridge are only a couple of mirrors. To the left will be a weighbridge cabin, then a single road loco shed (already with its pile of ash outside), and beyond a three storey low relief building to hide the end of the overbridge and point motors. Edited February 13, 2014 by PGH 61 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Love the layout some really nice modelling nothing like a good pit layout Great stuff will be watching with interest Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
avonside1563 Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Lovely bit of modelling, great to see some industrial stuff for a change and particularly liking the Kerr Stuart Victory Class and the little detail of the old tramway sleeper indentations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debs. Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 A delightful scene and subject; so much to interest and all done with considerable aplomb; well done! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asa Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Stunning piece of work PGH,I love it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Brilliant stuff Philip. As you know, I've an interest in the Walkden system myself having been brought up locally. You've really captured many of the elements here, the brick bridges, the loco shed, canal and wharf, just stunning. Really looking forward to seeing it develop. Is the canal still orange? I know they were talking about 'cleaning' it up, though as it's a natural phenomenon of the area I don't know how. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Any chance of a track plan ? Excellent buildings Really love the screens and the way it's all set out Awesome stuff Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Layout 10B.jpg The gradient here against the loaded trains requires double-heading if smaller locos are used. What's really nice about this layout is the impression it gives of being part of a wider system; there's a purpose to the movements of wagons about the place and the photo I've attempted to quote really shows this well and I do like a model that isn't wholly flat... Adam Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Great layout. I'd like to second Adam's comments about giving the impression of a larger system and also a purpose to operations. Much more authentic :-) Out of interest, what's the minimum radius you've used on your curves? They look tight, but still realistic. Looking forward to some more photos, especially more of the interesting loco fleet you've alluded too.... Cheers, Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack P Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Wow, this is really fantastic. Love the ballasting and the trackwork. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted September 12, 2013 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 12, 2013 To all who have replied - Thanks for your encouraging comments Is the canal still orange? I know they were talking about 'cleaning' it up, though as it's a natural phenomenon of the area I don't know how. I haven't seen it myself for years but apparently the drainage from the mines has been diverted to a treatment plant and the canal has lost its distinctive orange colour. As requested here is the track plan: Minimum radius curve is 3ft on the line past the loco shed 31 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Young Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Thanks for sharing the plan, that's a good chunk of railway you've squeezed into the room, yet the photos make the layout appear more spacious than it is. Great work. Cheers, Andrew 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I'm liking this! Great to see a substantial industrial layout! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) It's also refreshing to see a layout designed around a realisitc operating strategy, not just a shunty plank or diorama. Somehow, model railroads designed in this way seem more compelling. Couple of questions: does one locomotive propel the empties into the screens, and another pull the loads? are locomotives allowed over the weighbridge, or do loaded wagons roll over it one at a time without power? I imagine something similar to this excellent thread Edited September 13, 2013 by Dr Gerbil-Fritters 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I agree - there's a reason why I love this plan of Iain Rice's; http://eastmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/best-laid-plans.html 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&WR Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 If that's minimal scenery I'm giving up right now! Love all of it, but in particular the weighbridge hut which has that real feel of Government architecture about it. In another life I spent a lot of time in similar looking buildings on training areas and ranges, this particularly reminds me of a console on an ETR. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markeg Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Excellent work. Especially like the Engine shed area, with grass and clutter. Excellent use of space too. Inspiration for my O gauge end to end layout. Mark in OZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Thanks for sharing the plan, that's a good chunk of railway you've squeezed into the room, yet the photos make the layout appear more spacious than it is. Great work. Cheers, Andrew Thanks for track plan and definitely agree with Andrew Great layout Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGH Posted September 13, 2013 Author Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) Couple of questions: does one locomotive propel the empties into the screens, and another pull the loads? are locomotives allowed over the weighbridge, or do loaded wagons roll over it one at a time without power? I use an 0-4-0 or one of the smaller 0-6-0s to propel empties into the screens and position the wagons for loading. In full size practice of course this operation would be performed by gravity on track laid to a slight gradient with movement of the wagons being controlled by the wagon brakes but I don't think this is practical in model form. The other option would be a creeper under the screens to move the wagons along. However I think its quite satisfying to position the wagons for loading with a loco although it is unprototypical. Although it may not be apparent from the photos, the screen tracks are at a slightly lower level than the through lines and wagons would roll down to the screens after being propelled through the pointwork if allowed to. Locos can cross the weighbridge to collect the full wagons. I assume that in full size practice, unless the weighbridge was on a bypass track as here at Mountain Ash - the weighbridge could be locked in position when not actually weighing wagons. Note that in the Bersham thread Post #7 second photo, SPIDER has crossed the weighbridge to collect wagons from the screens. Also in this topic on Sutton Manor Colliery http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/56561-seen-at-sutton-manor-colliery/ there is a bypass loop line at the weighbridge but its obviously not been in use for some time so locos must be crossing the weighbridge which is on the main entry track to the colliery. Edited September 13, 2013 by PGH 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gismorail Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 wow fantastic modelling inspired design will follow with interest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruston Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 It's about time we had some more modelling in this section and this is excellent! I've been studying books and photos of colliery screens and washeries for my own new layout that is in the planning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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