Patriot87003

Thanks for that tip - I might try using a ruler for the first class coach (Art was my weakest subject at school!). Yes, the 2nd Class classification strip does appear more noticeable on the pictures so I’ll give that a paint as well.

I took a bravery pill yesterday and dismantled one of my Oxford Rail MK3’s yesterday to fit a few people and improve the livery. I agree with a comment made before that those couplings and small springs are a pain, good idea about gluing each end of them to secure. I’ve used a small blob of PVA and seems to have done the trick. I’ve masked and lightly brush painted the lower body side with Railmatch Executive Light Grey (200), also given the window surrounds one coat using a very small brush. I’ve used Darkstar’s Tarnished Steel (recently mentioned on George Dent’s blog - hence the idea to give upgrading a carriage a go). A pic of the coach next to a Bachmann Class 47 before being sent to the workbench ... A pic after, showing the difference the repaint make, especially the window surronds (still requires transfers). This pic shows the difference the tweaks make when compared to the First Class carriage on the right, still in as-bought condition. The paints used ... I may give the window surrounds a second coat (the pics show some blemishes that are not as noticeable when on the layout) and send the first class carriage to the workbench. The upgrade has increased my confidence in these coaches and I’m tempted to buy a few more to complete a typical WCML rake.

The Class 50 gala is in full swing and so far so good. First service of today was hauled by 50035 Ark Royal ...

Thanks Ade. The shed was built in 2007 so it’s taken 11 years so far. There have been some periods of slow or no progress due to a busy career, family/domestic jobs etc. The past 18 months have seen the OLE and signals installed - next mini projects include adding detailing bits such as more cable troughs and location cabinets, also buildings, lights, canopies and people to the through station - lots to do!

Many thanks for the kind comments. A bit of a quieter week on the modelling front although I did buy one of the new Mark 2F carriages from Bachmann - very impressed although a bit pricey! I’ve designed the layout to be a longer term project and to have as much operational interest as possible, yet be operated easily. When friends/family visit the shed, I can operate it as a roundly-roundly with 5 trains running, but when operating by myself I can do loco run rounds at the through station, loco changes at the terminal stations, and plenty of moves to and from the depot and three loco holding sidings around the layout. A few pictures of the control panel below (drawn on a computer using the Visio program). The blue toggle switches control the isolating sections, the red toggle switches can override certain signals and revert/hold at a red aspect. Point indicator LED’s are fitted to show the position of most points, and push buttons operate the PECO point motors via a CDU. This view shows the left part of the main panel, showing the double junction to the flyover lines heading to/from the terminal, as well as the 4-track main line and reversible line to/from the fiddle yard. This shows the right hand part of the main panel, with Davidson Parkway station, it’s platform loop lines, also some switches to control the layout lighting and turn the signals on/off and revert all signals to red. Next is the two Gaugemaster panel controllers, so able to operate up to 8 trains at once. The first 6 of these are linked to the rotary switches to the left. The layout is split into 12 powered sections and each rotary switch feeds the power to each section - so any controller can feed any section. The 7th controller is dedicated to the depot while the 8th feeds power to separate wires (for testing/wheel cleaning) or to the lower fiddle yard. Each rotary switch is also linked to a DPDT switch - to allow each track section to be switched off, or even the possibility of switching to a DCC controller in the future. The next panel controls the terminal station and depot ... ... while the next panel controls the upper fiddle yard ... (one push button per track controls four point motors, using a diode matrix and each siding has two isolating sections) The lower fiddle yard was a bit of a late addition! So this panel was added to the main control panel.

Hi David, Many thanks for the kind comment on my own layout thread. I’m so glad I clicked on the link in your signature that brought me to your layout thread as your layout is coming on great, amazing progress in the past year and great details. Really does capture the feel of the WCML and brings back many happy memories of screaming through Tring! (When the wires, track and signalling allowed that to happen ... a bit too infrequently during the 1990s with ageing asset and stock!) I’ll be following your layout with interest and probably pinching a few ideas and tips! I’ve also used the excellent NBrass OHLE kits, also the Traintronics signal gantry kits and they really to capture the feel of the WCML ... and I like your track layout and track geometry with the sweeping curves ... keep up the good work.

I visited a model shop yesterday to check both flavours of the new Mark 2 as I also have a DC analogue layout and wanted to check out the best option to buy that works for me. Summary of both types for us analogue users: - 39-650: No lights fitted, however all the wheels are fitted with electrical pickups. - 39-650DC: Interior lights fitted and work while analogue power is applied. Carriage end flashing lights also work. There is a small three position switch underside where the lights can be turned off, have interior lights only, or have both interior lights and flashing lights operating. Note that there is no stay-alive/capacitor fitted, so the lights only work while power is applied. They do look damn fine and quality carriages so did purchase one! I’ve opted for the non-light fitted type in order to save over £20, as I reckon I’ll be able to install some interior lights with a stay alive capacitor for much less per carriage and have the benefit of the lights staying on during station stops etc.

A few more pictures .. A 10 coach railtour is let loose onto the fast lines headed by double-headed Class 50s 50035 and 50006 The tour rounds the curve approaching Davidson Parkway station

Thanks Steve and Charlie for the comments - much appreciated. I've added the line speed signs to the layout in recent days. Next job will probably be planting location cabinets and adding more cable troughing and other details. I've also taken a few more pictures ... A HST threads it's way out of the terminal station (lots of detailing bits and bobs to progress scattered about!) The next picture shows it rumbling slowly over the bridge above the station below, with the single track to the depot curving to the left, while 86424 and 87002 rest in the loco holding sidings. The HST accelerates downgrade, over the river bridge passing a pair of RFD Class 86's on a Freightliner. The HST rounds Pylon curve, passing a small park on the outskirts of town with a Class 87 hauled service catching up. The HST joins the mainline via a double junction running parallel with the 87 ... Finally both services approach Davidson Parkway through station (no detailing or buildings added yet to this station - lots to do!).

Thanks Benjamin. I like the Class 90s as well so looking forward to the Bachmann 90s coming out next year. I also had quite a few work trips pushed or pulled by the Porterbrook purple liveried 87002 and great to see her preserved and still working on the WCML with the sleeper ECS duties and rail tour now and then. Just given my purple version a spin ...

A couple of more views of the new Class 87, 87010 King Arthur on one corner of the layout travelling over the viaduct above a cricket match. I’ve tried to go for larger sweeping radius curves as possible. This presented a challenge with how to gain access to the corners of the layout, so the corner is formed of a separate board that’s hinged and easily flaps-down. This allows easy access with the bonus of watching the trains go by from a different viewing angle.

How is everybody getting on with those new year resolutions made at the start of the year? Time flies ... can’t believe it’s already mid-September! I’ve broadly kept to mine so successfully completed the wiring of the signals and they work really well. It took take a while but in recent days I’ve got round to creating a layout thread, linked below: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/137453-davidson-parkway/ Running sessions have still been too few and far between but I gave the track a good clean with the CMX and Dapol Hoover, so time for a few running sessions, especially following the arrival of the new Hornby Class 87s.

Great clips of Warrington especially seeing those double headed 86s roaring through at speed on the freight liners. Has Dallam any more shows booked ahead? Look forward to seeing it again.

Thanks for the comments. Attached are closer-up pictures of the fleet of 87s in the display case. Each have had some detailing or work done, including new metal buffers, etched nameplates, grab-rails, while some have been re-painted, flushglaze fitted or Limby chassis fitted. Have I missed any livery variations? I've stopped at the Bulgaria, Europhoenix & Caledonian Sleeper liveries (so far!). Gaps in the shelves are those currently on the layout. I've noticed that I'm not the only Class 87 admirer on RMWeb, so a special line-up of 87029, 87023 and 87033 on the main line ...

A few more pictures attached to show the storage areas on the layout. The first shows the 8-road upper fiddle yard in the middle of the shed, with the terminal station running parallel above it. The yard is fully ballasted! The line to the left of it leads down to the lower fiddle yard on a falling gradient. The next picture shows the Virgin era stock currently stored in the lower fiddle yard directly below the upper fiddle yard - it’s also 8-road but I’m definitely not ballasting this one! Tucked away in one corner is a compact maintenance depot to allow plenty of loco-changes via the terminal station.

Many thanks. I do like the Class 90s as well and have 5 of the Hornby version. Two of these have had the old Ringfield chassis replaced with the newer and better performing can-style chassis although the Virgin liveries version has recently failed with an overheating motor! I do have the IC Swallow and RFD liveried versions of the Bachmann Class 90 pre-ordered due next year and looking forward to them being released.

Many thanks Mark. I remember seeing Boldon Junction as well, also saw Coppell last year at one show with its procession of WCML traffic and gigantic fiddle yard! I’ve always enjoyed the seeing the WCML modelled as well, some amazing layouts out there and on RMWeb and in development and it’s great to see Hornby, Bachmann and other manufacturers providing us with quality models like the 87s, Class 90 next year and BBAs at some stage.

I agree! Can never have too many Can’s ... and I confess, I reached 36 x 87s ... and continued! I now have a total of 51 following the arrival of the new releases! As a youngster, layouts such as New Annington (seen at IMREX shows in London during the late 80s) inspired me to get 3 or 4 of the Lima pancake version. Following a hiatus from modelling and without a layout, I bought a few more reasonably priced Lima versions at various shops and shows and detailed and repainted to try and capture one of each type of livery. I then continued to buy a few more to capture some of the interesting names that they carried ... then I only needed a few more to complete having one of each number to have 36 in total. Then I realised some individual 87s carried multiple unique liveries (such as 2, 12, 101 etc), and Hornby releases the Limby style upgraded chassis and motor, so the collection grew! I think I have 17 x 87s with the Limby chassis and the motors and extra pickups give decent performance and reliability, but the new releases are so much better. I’ll take a few pics of the line up of 87s later ...

Many thanks for the comments. Yes ... I’ve bought one of each of the new Hornby Class 87s in BR Blue and IC Swallow livery. Really impressed with them both - very smooth runners and I’ve increased my pre-order of the Virgin liveried version due next year. I hope that Hornby announce a few additional liveries at some stage so I can retire the Limby versions to the display shelf. I already have too many Class 87s already! When the shed was in the planning stages, I got a bit carried away with EBay purchases and painting/detailing the Lima/Limby versions ... watch out for pics of both 87023 and 87029 soon ...

To bring you up to date, a few pictures from this evening and plenty of speed boards on my workbench ready for planting ...

A schematic track plan below ... (wonderfully produced by Andy Y as part of the BRM article)

Many thanks Simon. I've plucked up the courage to create a layout thread linked below. I've been a long-time admirer and follower of both Dallam and Strathmuir .... any BBA's make it to Scotland for the latter? http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/137453-davidson-parkway/ Back to the BBA's ... any thoughts regarding whether Steel Coil or other loads will be provided with the models or supplied separately?

Hi all. I've been a long-time admirer and follower of many excellent layouts on RMweb - plenty of inspiration, tips and tricks ... and it's time for me to be brave and share some details and pictures of my layout. A brief background: Born in South London in Southern DC land near Selhurst Depot, as a youngster I always found trips to Euston and beyond really interesting .. the smell of warm oil, the buzz and roar and power of the AC Electrics, the variety of loco's and rolling stock and destinations, with my favourite loco's being the Class 87's. As a youngster, I had a 'train-set' in the loft with plenty of Lima and Hornby loco's and a crude attempt at OHLE using Hornby's 1980's variety. Move forward 20 or so years ... I've moved to the Midlands, have a family, work in the industry, a decent sized garden ... and about 10 years ago, an 8m by 4.5m breeze-block 'shed' appeared in the garden (with full support from the wife and family!). I've made progress building a layout, so much more to-do ... key features are as follows: - WCML based somewhere north of Crewe, 1980's to 2000s, - 4 Track 'roundy-roundy' with through station with loop lines (loosely based upon Stafford) - 6 platform faces - Double junction with two tracks leading up and over to a terminal station - 4 platform faces - to operate terminating services, loco-changes with variety of operation - Two x 8 Track fiddle yards (upper and lower) - to allow change-over for era's and storage. Eg 1980s only era, or 2000s Virgin Trains era, or a mix! - Traction Maintenance Depot - Representation of OHLE (Non-working but fitted with wires - Mix of NBrass gantries and Dapol masts fitted with Peco Catenary wires) - Colour light signalling (working and automated using Heathcote modules) - DC with cab-control, many isolating sections to allow flexibility, easy to use control panel - ability to operate up-to 8 trains simultaneously. Option to switch to DCC in the future. - As the layout will never leave the home - emphasis on fun and enjoyment and reliability ... over rivet-counting and accuracy ... (and I'm rubbish at art!) A few pictures below of the empty shed back in approx. 2007, baseboards installed during that year, track to the terminal being laid during 2009 and control panel in place. A track plan and more recent pictures to follow.

That’s great news and that’s the kinda scene I’m attempting to recreate on one part of my layout ... looking forward to slotting in the BBA’s into this existing rake of BAA’s, then plenty of weathering to do!

I’ve just stumbled across this thread and it’s fantastic news that you’re producing the BBA wagons! I’m surprised Bachmann haven’t produced them following the apparent success of the BAA’s so their loss is your hopefully your gain. I’m now following this thread, saved your website as a favourite and will certainly be ordering several to compliment the BAA’s. The images released so far look fantastic! I agree with a couple of the previous comments ... especially maybe worth amending the title of this thread to mention the BBA project (as I only found this thread via a Google search for BBA wagon images). Like 87029 above, I’m also modelling the steel coil rake along the WCML. Look forward to seeing this project progress - best of luck with it.