tractionman

My copy of IRR arrived today and on page 214 is a photograph of 1947 of the line that served Atlantic Works at Altrincham, it caught my eye especially because of the complex trackwork and backdrop of terraced houses so I checked out NLS and the OS 25" map... https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.0&lat=53.39960&lon=-2.35457&layers=168&b=1 which shows a goods shed served by two sidings and a third, from which there is one kick-back line that cuts across the sidings and heads under a rail bridge into the works--the double-track main line is on an embankment and could be used as a scenic break as well as to 'stage' something more main-line to go with some industrials and wagons shunting in the foreground. It's quite compact, and looks model-able in a small space :-) It'd be just over 6 foot long (yellow oblong) but the layout overall could be shortened by making the goods shed half-relief (red oblong), using the placing of buildings to provide view blockers at each end, eg the terraced houses could be shifted more to the left to hide the running-in lines of the sidings (ie where the arrow is), and the layout arranged to be viewed from the north, ie looking towards the main line/embankment as a backdrop: From NLS--Re-use: CC-BY

Gaugemaster have a sale on, eg https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/news/article/view/id/1399/ more at https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/news/archive/

Yes I wanted @Derails Models too, my first choice ideally, but went for TMC instead as they are listed and always great customer service and prices.

wow these look fantastic :-) thanks for the pics!

Pleased to see these, for me the red livery looks the best, though the front end of the loco looks very low for those with bumps in their track! cheers, Keith

Some bargains to be had at the Hobby Shop at Faversham, such as Hornby LNWR six-wheeler for half price: https://hobb-e-mail.com/Hornby-r40122-lnwr-3rd-class-brake-coach-7463---half-price-45632-p.asp lots of others too including LSWR liveried coaches... link for sale page is -- https://hobb-e-mail.com/model-railways-975-c.asp cheers, Keith

On 0 in a limited space, I spotted in this month's Railway Modeller (page 626) a photo of a layout called 'Whaplode', featured originally in RM March 2021, apparently... So being a hoarder I dug out my copy from March '21 to take a closer look, especially at the track plan, it's 7' by 2' and a yard type set-up with a sector plate at one end, looks good (LNER 1930s). But then in the same issue, the next article really caught my eye, 'The Findhorn Railway', an 0 gauge terminus in an L-shape, 11' x 9' 6", and it's got me thinking, inspired by @Nearholmersuggestion (qv) of having a multi-level 'shelf' for the 0 gauge layout, that something like this might work for me, at one of end of the loft, where an L-shape could fit above my 00 roundy-roundy... hmm, food for thought :-)

seconded, I admire @The Johnsterphilosophy to sticking to one location, one period, one theme, I am too much of a butterfly/magpie and too easily distracted...

I was reckoning about 30% of the original price paid, but I have yet to bite the bullet!

True, but if I do sell then it's cash in the bank, and besides what's been spent is spent. If I do look to downsize the 00 stock I'll probably do it in stages, the SR stuff I have is in fact already boxed up, in a kind of 'purgatory', while I mull this over some more, what I really do not want to do is sell the 00 stuff now, and then, say in ten years time, think 'why on earth did I do that' as I really now want to build that 1930s Southern layout, 1950s South Wales colliery layout, the 1920s LNER branchline etc etc! I am sure I am not alone in being troubled by this same quandary.

Thanks @brossard (John) for your reply and thoughts, I have the Dapol LMS Jinty and Sentinel, which would be my motive power 'pool', and the Minerva Peckett and Victory locos would be welcome additions (if/when future finances permit) for a small layout that combines some industrial / freight ops. I like the look of your layout a lot, and what especially appeals is how with 0 the track just looks so right, especially something quite minimal. With 00 I am tempted to cram too much in! cheers, Keith

reading this thread with interest as I have the same dilemma, so much so it's meant I have effectively parked my 00 layout plans I had for the converted loft (21' x 8') til I am sure what to do... part of my problem is my accumulation of 00 stock has spiralled over the past decade or so, and I have lost my focus on era etc, so the attraction of 0 for me is that it gives me a smaller, narrower focus (ie 1930s LMS), and Dapol RTR has helped provide some limited motive power, and a few wagons... but my nagging question is, will this be enough to satisfy my modelling/running desires! the space I have available would make for a great roundy-roundy 00 layout, seeing the trains rolling through a landscape, which is what I had envisaged, but equally I can, in my mind's eye, see a nice 0 goods yard/terminus layout, with tank locos pottering about with some wagons... cue more procrastination :-( so I am watching this discussion with interest :-)

yep I can relate to that, and @The Johnsterphilosophy is a good one to have, I'm trying to keep to specific interests, and this month my last forty quid I have left unspent before pay day has just gone on the LMS inspection saloon on offer at @Derails Modelsand too good to resist, I've been eyeing one up for a while and so splashed the cash 👍

yes please: https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/beyer-peacock-company-works-no-6841-william-francis-0-4-00-4-0t/ :-)

Nice to see folks' pictures and cycling activities 👍 my summer plans so have have been thwarted a bit, firstly a July trip over to England/Wales with my son for a bit of off-road stuff was cut short by my Dad's unexpected hospitalisation, and then secondly the long-awaited family hols to Mallorca (qv) was too hot for being out on a bike! (I really should do some modelling...) This past week I cycle commuted to work, it's only 16 miles each way but the route is half on a fairly rough coastal path, invariably busy with joggers (with earphones in) and dog walkers (and unleashed dogs), so progress is slow by necessity, and then the other half is through Belfast Harbour Estate sharing the road with trucks and cars, dead flat and a bit boring, usually with a full on headwind--I'm not selling it am I?! Still I did it, both ways, and felt better for it: Now I am road testing a short loop for a local cycle campaign group, so see if the ride will work for us to advertise and promote to get more folks here out on their bikes: But, first, a second coffee...

price advertised at £123.20: https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/5723/rapido_trains_uk_oo_0_4_0t_class_y7_ner

looks good :-) https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/vehicledetails/1488316/4wdm_ruston_48ds_shunter here's the Heljan inf https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/6003/heljan_o_4wdm_ruston_48ds_shunter

I used to take my students to Mallorca every Easter on geography field trips, a much more manageable time of the year for being outdoors, though the weather could be quite variable depending on how early or late Easter fell each year. It's a wonderful island with amazing landscapes, but yes probably a return trip is needed for more cycling at a cooler time of year! :-)

Has the latest rubbish weather put us off, or are we getting on with some (indoor?) modelling ;-) Well, last week saw me doing a bit of biking in Mallorca, but dare I say it was too hot! Yes 45.5C on one day. Too much for going out on the trails so we pootled around Alcudia and Pollensa very early in the morning, seeing the sunrise: And now back to a wet and windy and cool Norn Iron, bit of a contrast--what would be good is something in between... Anyone else out and about?

it's caused quite a stir here in the north, especially Portadown--Derry, which would really open up the north-west, I saw somewhere potentially 2050 completion, I might even live long enough to see it :-) just

what a great map, is it publicly available somewhere? cheers, Keith

inf popped into my email inbox today from Hattons, an update? "Rapido have shown initial render images for their newly tooled 'Y7' in OO gauge. A range of NER, LNER, BR and NCB variations are due in 2024. Pricing is unconfirmed, wishlist your model now and we will notify you when pre-orders open." this is the link https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/5723/rapido_trains_uk_oo_0_4_0t_class_y7_ner#models

just spotted this on Facebook too: https://www.facebook.com/groups/163976490369879/permalink/5811246838976121/

Hi and welcome! On industrial railways in East Anglia I recommend this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Industrial-Locomotives-Railways-Eastern-England/dp/1445667908 Which has lots of inspiration :-) Good luck with your layout, I used a 4x1 foot piece of chipboard to create a small layout to just kickstart my modelling and hone/test skills, which works for industrial locos and stock. all the best, Keith

same here, and a pair is a likely Christmas present for me if the timing works out :-)