4firstimes

Finally received a model of the Dapol pacer in Regional Railways livery. I waited for the dcc chipped version as the cost difference in not too great. Unpacking from the box I was a little disappointed however after a couple of hours running in both directions, the wait is probably worth it. I didn't purchase to run on my layout of Arisaig but as this layout is set up the opportunity was too good to miss. With proper running in the model is quiet and runs faultless and at a normal viewing distance the design faults do not appear too obvious. Btw did any other owners find the black corridor connector between the powered and non powered unit directional. Fit the wrong way around at there is restriction in the corridor connector on each of the units.Remove and switch then this is not the case. Welcome your views

With a little process being made this week with 16A or Sub 40 Lincoln St Marks.Just a little montage of the process.The Peco turntable kit fully converted for dcc operation and entry and exits routes marked for sinking into the baseboard.In addition the critical area marked out around the enterance to the engine shed and inspection pits

As the quote states “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” Well this was certainly the case for building 16A or Sub 40A which to the historians is the code for Lincoln St Marks locomotive depot. Unlike the previous layouts Lincoln St Marks has always held a particular interest, being compact and an Ideal showcase to show a collection of N gauge steam locomotives. The interest is this location was rekindled back in 2017 at the Chilton Model Railway exhibition with a layout called Leaman Road. Whilst Leaman Road I think was built to 4mm, and myself modelling in N gauge, what would the challenge. Well In the following 18 months observations at exhibitions revealing a certain absence of working dioramas’ of Locomotive depots in N gauge. Equally of interest is the current standards of N gauge steam locomotives remove the couplings from the front and rear fit the correct pipes, real models in miniature. The reason soon became apparent why there is a lack of locomotive depot layouts in N gauge, the infrastructure to support a model is limited, with a model of a turntable by Peco, various types of buildings for locomotive sheds from different manufactures, a Coaling Cenotaph and ash towers and pre-made inspection pits. A wide choice without being too specific, but perhaps these are the basic infrastructure items to support a project without having to scratch build. In my younger days, I have built several locomotive depots in OO, those days endless switches, circuit breaks and miles of wires to connect the sections and plugs and connectors etc but hang on; In DCC and in N gauge these hurdles no longer exist or do they? The latest models from the main stream manufactures prove slow and reliable movement is possible and the ability to park a locomotive anywhere on a layout. Would this be a chance of a re-think? Well having followed an article on building Ilkley locomotive depot in scalefour the seeds for building 16A/ sub 40A were sown. Interesting the Old Midland railway seemed to have a lot of similarities in style of locomotive depots and the viability of building a diorama in a foot print area of around 6ftX 1ft became a workable option. Together with the knowledge of using “Tim Hood” style of baseboards a small “workable diorama “ which could be tastefully displayed without being too obtrusive. Therefore if 16A/ Sub 40A was to be developed off the drawing board a few areas would require some active research. No Diorama or Model of a locomotive depot could be complete is the one of the most basic items of infrastructure could not be made to work properly. Whilst the real 16A/Sub 40A turntable was around 54ft, one of the few models in N Gauge is the Peco variant this represents a design of over 70ft, measuring and rescaling the variance is size could be disguised as under no circumstances do I have Modelling the skills to produce a correct size version so this could suffice , lets inject a bit of modellers license. As part of the planning process I wondered what locomotives where available as either ready to run or could be converted. An interesting pattern was soon to emerge as16A Lincoln St Marks was home to around 7 locomotives in 1938 , a Class 3p 4-4-0 Johnson, Class 4P 4-4-0 Deeley , Two Class 4P 4-4-0 Fowler, Johnson Class 1F 0-6-0(T), Class 4P (2-6-4(T) Fowler and an ubiquitous Class 4F 0-6-0 . Modelling in OO I would be spoilt for choice. Following Nationalisation when the Depot became a Sub shed of 40A and before the Shed closed in January 1959 there was a reduction in the number of Ex Midland locomotives and substitution with Ex LNER locomotives specific classes of D16, J39 and J69 for shunting the numerous private sidings supporting the Heavy engineering in the town. The final September before closure in January saw a couple of LNER A5 4-6-2(T) locomotives, a J39 and J69 0-6-0(t) which appears to have been a resident over the years . The in between years saw many of the named Director Class D11 “Butler Henderson” “Somme” “Prince Albert” to name a few. In addition there several of my favorite name B1s. If modelled on 00 many of the examples are easy conversions, but In N gauge an Interesting challenge and a spot of modellers licence. The lack of suitable ready to run items in N Gauge I do not consider to a be a handicap as the research provides and interesting area of development in the planning. I have already produced a full size track plan of the of the proposed diorama and converted a Peco N gauge turntable to rotate using DCC and a stepper motor which aligns correctly on each 180 degree rotation. The current stage is making sure all the points clear the baseboard framing on the Tim Hood scenic boards, and adjusting a few clearances. The play value of a diorama of a locomotive depot is very interesting .

At present “not another Cromer” is packed away in storage. Since the last posting Cromer Road has been extended by a further 4ft and a senic section placed with a small industry . Using a ratio pump station kit complete with smoking chimney . The ordinal run from the fiddle yard to the station was short so the 4ft extension provided some additional interest. The layout has been out at a few local exhibitions with the n gauge group I have an association with. Work on a layout based on Arisaig on the Mallaig Extension of the West Highland Line resulted in the need to put into storage. Earlier in the year there was an interest in a private sale. which came to nothing .

Sorry folk I attached the wrong photo

Hi if you connect with my email I sent on Saturday including photos how to connect together

Just seen the traffic on this topic of Achnasheen, the book “The Dingwall ans Syke Railway by Peter Tatlow” has some very interesting diagrams and photos of Achasheen station. Achasheen was a very interesting place in steam days as it was the crossing place for switching of the restaurant car from Inverness to Kyle with the mid day Kyle to Inverness train. The web has a interesting film of the operation.

For details of ex GWR end loading docks have a look at the Wild Swan publication of the Abbotsbury Branch page 127 has two plates showing the information you require . The lower plate is excellent for modelling purpose , contact me off forum if you require any further details Stuart

I am trying to obtain a copy of the article on the Otterburn Branch which appeared in Model Railways January 1979. I have copies of the article which appeared as a feature in November 1979. Copies of the magazine Model Railways for January appear to be scarce, any member of this forum who can assist I would be extremely grateful. The article in January’s issue was more about the ideas for the development for the layout which was to appear at several exhibitions.

Hurst Green Junction between Oxted , East Grinstead and Ashurst prior to the opening opening of Hurst Green Station in 1962 Hurst Green Halt had wonderful example of a London and Brighton South Coast Railway of a tall Junction signal with equal height dolls and lower quadrant arms. This was presumely a replacement as a photo taken in 1907 shows a significant variation. My question is was this signal replaced with colour light aspect signals with the opening of Hurst Green Station or what was the type of signal commissioned and controlled from Hurst Green signalbox. Electrification of the route to East Grinstead lack of modernisation of he route to Ashurst would imply a further replacement. I am looking for information on the infrastructure in the period of 1960 to 1970 with a view to building a 2mm layout. I have access to a wealth of published material by the Oakwood and Middleton presses but I seeking a specific period which appears not to be well represented. Any information which can be provided through this forum i would be very grateful.

I haven't made much progress over the weekend, spend a few hours burying magnets between the sleepers and and cutting plasticard to replace the sleepers over the actual magnets. I have sorted out an issue with one the signals and spent a few hours with paint brush on the platform edges. Need to get under the baseboard to wire up the gas lights on the sleeper barrow crossing too. Including filling the missing boards between the rails. The next task will be building on the scenic entrance to the Mallaig fiddle yard. The real Arisaig had a bit of a rocky cutting , would like to reproduce this too. On the drawing board is a separate piece of scenic work. With the lead up to the station building . Thank goodness for an article last year in a railway magazine with diagrams for Arisaig.

After a couple of spare evenings , cleaning track and removing stray ballast time to return to some of the tasks yet to be completed. Arisaig was designed from the start to be a fully integrated DCC layout linking in with JMRI which is a free software interphase to allow model railway layouts to be controlled from a laptop or tablet. Finally I have all the signals fitted except for two small shunt signals, and amazingly managed to get them to work properly first time. There is a saying that dcc modellers are spoilt for choice, and whilst I still like to operate a layout from a control panel other that the NCE handset. The use of a NCE mini panel really helps to simplify the wire looms on the panel and allows for prototype operation of the signals including the route setting. I have enclosed below a picture of the panel and an open view of the NCE Minipanel, the use of which on this forum has been identified as very in frequent A quick view of the lighting rig An finally I could not resist this 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/ Concrete Bob testing the couplings over the embedded magnets

A couple more pictures I omitted to up lift correctly

The Mallaig Extension has always held an element of fascination and the likes of Arisaig has always held more interest to me than the other stations on the West Highland Line. The interest goes back to the 1980s from the time I borrowed a book on the West Highland line, the seeds were sown for the desire to build a model of Arisaig. A few years later this desire has reached the point of reality. With 18 months getting Arisaig to this stage I feel quite proud of what I have achieved. The concept was that this layout would be Set in the 1980s when the Eastfield's class 37 large logo tractors were in their element and RETB yet to be installed , a little modellers licence. The layout would be designed and built to be Operated by DCC from the start for both points and signals, I already had a member of the family who had been highly critical on how some layouts have signals which work. Arisaig was designed from the start to have signals which worked properly and return to danger after trains had passed, very much like the prototype with the signalman returning the boards after the train has passed. At present Arisaig is without the station buildings and signal box , a certain railway magazine last year provided the plans for these, this was like a dream come true. I somehow didn't, fancy re-scaling the sketch diagrams I had of Glenfinan as part of the conversion to a museum. The next stage is the scenic a task I simply hate, but this makes a change to scratch building the station and signal box. The layout is just under 14 foot built on three baseboards the fronts fold up to form the case for carrying and storage, which is my prefered method of building layouts. My local model railway group call me the coffin layout builder! I have attached a little taster please offer the encouragement .

Hi Pete, I,ve been following your article on Kyle with Interest. Pleased you have decided to go down the DCC route , I'm sure your won't regret. I have installed a sound decoder in a Farish class 37 , at home the sound is very good , but in a exhibition hall it is lost. I have 4 other class 37s to install sound decoders in. On a small layout sound provides and added dimensional interest

The question of livery details of the ex Mark 1 coaches used on the West Highland Line has been raised many times and after over 20 years of research of the West Highland Line and the Mallaig extension I would like to provide the following information. The first set was introduced in 1985 and withdrawn at the end of the 1987 season from which I believe that both sets where in use. The set introduced in 1985 consisted of seven coaches in the formation of: BSO mark 1 Diagram 183 9312 TSO mark 1 Diagram 93 4050, 4243, 4494,4610 ,4623, 4643 The livery of this set was ;- Lettering in white as "West Highland" with "ScotRail" and with the prefix Sc in front of the coach running numbers . Each coach had a white "Scottie" position over the centre door on each side. The roofs including the guttering was dark grey Looking at the coach sides , the livery top down was Green with a Black lining , Cream with a black lining , LNER Green . The solebars where black and the end of the coaches Green to match the main body. . The set introduced 1987 and consisted of 8 Coaches in the formation;- BCK diagram 171 IC2124C ( I say the diagram number with caution as I think the interior was fitted out in the second class formation as 4 seats per side and no arm rests (Diagram 171 had 12 first and 18 seconds, but diagram 172 had 12 first and 24 seconds) TSO Diagram 93 IC3766c, IC3767c, IC4419c IC 4435c Diagram 89 IC4900c IC4911c, IC4912c The livery on this set was as follows Roof grey with green gutters Again looking at the coach body from top to bottom Green with a black lining cream followed by a Black Lining and then a Red lining. The lower coach body LNER green with a black solebar. The 1987 set had the Legend in white "West Highland Line" there was no Scottie of the ScotRail Legend. Although someone may prove me wrong as I have seen a couple of photgraphs with one of the coaches bearing the Scottie. The ends of the coach where black this time,

Lindum started off as a model of Cromer, from which those modellers following will have gathered. A change of heart mid way through was the memento for the change, but not entirely. From my collection of railway books I remember reading of a failed scheme in the railway history of Lincoln to build a railway into the city by the then Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway the former runner of the Great Central. Whilst planning to build Cromer a certain gentleman reminded me that if you build Cromer you need to have working SPAD Signals. Showing my lack of knowledge I had to ask what where spad signals? The same gentleman kindly explained and sent me a copy of the wiring diagram he had used on his model. To model Cromer without the SPADs is like Pork with No Apple Sauce! What followed was a bit of Internet research from which I located a manual of British Railway signalling and this has proved useful when I 've been told I have the signals painted wrong! Over the years I've always small layouts but never in an Urban setting. Lindum was the opportunity to achieve this, as I wanted to build a small layout within a space of 9ft x 1ft. DCC was never on the original specification! Interest within the local N gauge group was to change this, or was it blowing the circuit board four times on the same class 156 dmu? Lets say an Impulsive buy of a NCE Powercab was to change this. As soon as Bachmann released its range of ex Great Central London extension buildings like many modellers I started to collect and add to modelling draw for a future layout. The inspiration to build a small layout in an urban setting provided the desire to use the buildings, and whilst there is much work to do to bed them into the scene they do provide a sense of timeless charm. Or is this a memory of how I remember the British Railway scene in youth? This low shot of the staircase over the street scene with Pub on the corner very much reminiscent of mis-spent youth! Lindum in its present state has been out a few times as a layout in progress and the comments have been favourable, and has certainly provided inspiration to others. Despite the slow progress, I think this proves that even in N gauge small layouts don't have to vast complex point work, but can incorporate all the other infrastructure details which are frequently omitted on larger schemes. The full layout will occupy a space of 13ft by 1ft when finished,with over 3ft of a viaduct, and is the result of a first foray in DCC. I am still undecided to go for full DCC control, and whilst I have interest in using JMRI and integration with MRTT a computer software programme for arrivals and departures. The verdict is still out, but each arrival and departure will be announced like the prototype, and as a commuter I have all 101 and one excuses for trains delayed or cancelled. I am also aware that the TOC "Central Trains" are part of History now, but unlike some of "Central Trains" passengers I had a interest in the livery and their classes of DMUs within the fleet. Now I need to convert some the turbo class 170's to run on DCC with a decoder fitted.

I stand back in amazement, how the time flies, with the pressure of work commitments, Lindum as the layout has become come known has developed. A futher 4ft extension will be built during the winter months. Section will have a 3ft viaduct section with a drop of approx. 6 inches between the two baseboards. When finished the layout will be slightly over 13ft feet, and a first attempt at using DCC using NCE Powercab and JMRI. Below follows a litter taster The Station from the Fiddle yard with Central trains class 156 awaiting to depart. The Class 153 at the far end of the platform has been uncoupled from the train and waits in Platform 1. The 2 aspect signals with theatre boxes are from CR signals, at the station buildings from the Farish Great Central buildings from the London Extension.

Over the years models of Cromer have appeared in both 4mm and 7mm scales, and in all case the models have provided inspiration. Several years ago after having seen the 7mm scale model of Cromer at the Ely model railway show, the seeds were set for a model in 2mm scale or n gauge. The criteria had to be that my version would have working 2aspect platform starters and working SPADS. Two well known model signal makers were contacted and models of both SPADS and plate form starters with working theatre boxes were comissioned and dutyful stored until the day when they could be incorporated into he layout. Not wanting switches and relays to make then work, but rather interested in the system of infra-red detection at last both have been incorporated into the layout. Just supposing the the ex Manchester,Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway had built their railway into Lincoln Into the high town area. Arrival of the Bachman scenecraft range of buildings for the ex Great Central railway. You've guessed it My model of Cromer has become Lindum High town. Central Trains is the train operating company with a busy suburban. Train service in and out of the station I hope to post some pictures later this week, very much of work in progress

The original design of Oldham New Street was indeed Percy street and followed the well tried design of just three points. The Railway Modeller (Oct 2001) carried an article of this layout including Fiddle yard, was around 12ft in 7mm scale. A subsequent article appeared in the Belated Modern Railway Modelling magazine Winter 2005 . Several years ago I scaled this layout to produce a 2mm scale version and I found that i could easly fit into a baseboard size of 6ft, with 2ft 6 inches allowed for the fiddle yard with points. Train lengths would be of 2 trains of two car 1st generation DMUs' or Three car second Generation DMU's ,with adequate plateform lengths,and avoiding the appearence of compressed plateforms. My interest in Percy or Oldham Street was because I was fascinated by the operation of DMU's, in the 1970's unlike the operation of 2nd Generation DMU's, consisted of units being joined and spilt in stations, together with vans being attached to to rear, requiring class 08 or 03/04 or whatever locomotive was at hand to break the consist. When I viewed the ideal length of baseboards, I considered 6ft, including the Fiddle yard ,allowed slighty longer headshunts into the plateforms not only for the storage of DMU's but the storage of parcels wagons and Postal Stock. If the 1970's was the choice of period additional operational opportunites are presented in being able shunt non passenger wagons these may have been Newspapers and TPOs' without too many constraints. Percy street followed the same design of Newcastle Haymarket , this layout was shown in the railway Modeller Jun 1984, Feb 95 and Model rail Supplement. Newcastle Haymarket I always considered more appealing for N gauge, as the Station was built on a viaduct allowing a proper street scene to be modelled, and despite the simpicity of the plan totally in charactor of a Inner Suburban Station. Several years ago I did see Newcastle Haymarkat with a new owner and I believe was converted to DCC, despite being P4 in build still maintaned its appeal. I think the present owner at the time built a DMU storage facilitity , but the shortness of baseboard limited the DMU servicing facility to basic. A 2mm scale model of Newcastle may appear in the future, as at present Cromer in 2mm scale is my future layout complete with working spads.