Boco_D1

I really like that 50M.P.H wagon it looks exceptional

Hello guys, do you send a e-news letter to existing account holders? I had no idea the order books for 321 where open until seeing it on here.

A triangular set up could interesting, the layout of site certain provides several potential types of set up another way could a folded figure of eight.

That sounds like a mighty fine plan and even the selected areas sound like they work nicely and you don't lose the sense of atmosphere. I've always considered it an ideal location as the variety of traffic is just right, although the period of modelling for me would be early 90s, Working in the TVSC I see didcot in its current state as it is, I remember intercity 47s racing by on the avoiders when I'd gone on a trip to the railway society with my dad, so very different to the boring 319s I was used to seeing. The advantage of Didcot is it has almost everything that runs on the western region feature on it (depending on time period) I have a rake of Yeoman wagons and a rake of merry go rounds and apart from when they started delivering coal from avonmouth didcot was only place those type of trains met, thus its appeal. Although I've thought about it I am yet to set about a full design I have always considered my current space of 10ft by 8ft too small for such a layout, although if I where to do it I would like to have the power station but if size was the factor it would be the first to go. Other considerations would be to join the GWML and OXford line up through the fiddle yard to make it essential one big return loop.

I second that it's a layout I'd like to have go at myself but in N so in OO your layout is going to be huge! Assuming your doing the full works of yard, railway society, station, avoiders and power station Or will there be a bit of compression and compromise?

Growing up in Bedford, 319's where the majority share of trains I saw, I never thought I'd see them in r-t-r form so I'm very chuffed they are on the way farish will certainly be getting a couple of orders from me.

That bridge is looking good, I too like the detail underneath, nicely done.

I will give this topic a proper update but I have essentially taken the whole layout apart to run it around the walls of the shed, expanding the size from 8x3 to 9'6x7'9. The station layout has remained unchanged but it will now represent the north of the station with the line heading towards the Oxford to Bedford line. That line itself will be included and act as a scenic break for the mainline and will run parallel to the fiddle yard. I also intented to included to the waste transfer sidings, described in my fictional history.

Thanks graham, I wanted only a short section to give the opportunity to model futher sections of line otherwise I think with the size required it would dominate the layout.although as it stands the layout is getting extended.

That layout looks like a lot of fun. What sort of setting are you going to model it in?

Indeed not much I can do, but as a professional railwayman I know all too well the consequences of the actions of those who think they are invincible against a speeding train, that sort of behaviour can end a drivers career because some never want to get in a cab again.

Just seen the footage of the trespassers I hope the BTP throw the book at this morons! Standing in the 4ft with your back to oncoming trains, and how did those who stood on the track hope to get out of the way? When the quickest escape route is blocked by other morons in the cess. And i'm sure they all considered the precautions required for the OHLE. You can even see the driver of the Scotsman waving them off the track, but they look like the kind of idiots who think he's waving hello.

looks like yet another promising layout from you Graham, will watch with interest. Jimmy

This layout is coming along nicely, the wall is looking great.

I think the fish eye lens on my phone exaggerates the curve of the points, to the human eye it looks fine, but I think your right an adjustment may improve things.

It's been a few days now since Githley gained running main lines. And I have used the oppturtunity to put in some thorougher testing (playing) of the layout. As expected there are some issues with track, but I didn't expect as many as I have. The Mainlines run rather well with trains traversing through the various point movements without hiccup. The only problem is the down curve, class 47's and my 165 hate it and derail at about the same point, I suspect the larger than usual gap between the rails is the culprit there and I intented to lift and replace. My cargowaggons seem to dislike the entire curve which is very odd as it is larger than 4th radius. I've yet to work out if certain wagons are the culprits or if it is there design or the couplings, anyone else have problems with these? I've spent a lot of time weathering these wagons so not keen of dumping them on a siding out of the way. The fiddle yard however is leaving a lot to be desired. There is one particular set of points that are causing no end of problems, in particular this set: These are the new peco set track curved points they are at the station end of the fiddle yard allowing access to platform 1 and 2. I had planned to use the point blades to control the power in the fiddle yards when running on analogue but if they are set in the certain position and depending on other sets positions they either make 3 fiddle yard roads live all at the same time or are the cause of the intermittent short circuit . This had made running trains very complicated having to remember to restore them after use or isolating certain sections, far to much faffing for a small layout. But the problem lies further the sudden change in curve is not liked by any rolling stock if I try and run up the middle road, everything derails. The other issue I have with the fiddle yard is the larger trains when stopped at the station block the way for other trains depending on which fiddle yard road they require. Not a huge problem but does spoil the flow of trains. The same issue is at the other end of the line. I intend to have a signal at the end of the down curve but if a train uses the points to come out of the fiddle yard that cross the up main they block the down line. Which when using two large trains results in a stalemate. The other problem at this end is the point layout is not suitable for up travelling steam locomotives which always derail at the blades. These problems need to be addressed and at present I have two solutions, the first is a redesign and reposition of points simplifying the layout at the station throat and a rearrange at the London end. More extreme and the one I really am considering is to take the entire fiddle yard out and replace with a cassette system. Whilst I contemplate the fiddle yard I have been working on the station roof. As put in my alternative history Githley received a station rather grander than the town it served. This will be represented on the layout with a peco station overall roof. The roof being used to hide the curve. The peco roof comes in a pre coloured blue which just didn't look right. I started the painful process of priming and painting the roof into an off white colour (humbrol RC 417). The kit is put together with the spans sliding along the I girder, the paint built up meant that the slots on the spans required filling down to fit. I decided to leave a gap in the glazing, this will allow a clear view through the roof and I intented to set up a diorama of workmen refitting the glazing. Once the full length of roof was complete, I place over the layout to see the effect. I will need to weather and touch up the paint work. I also need to put the supporting pillars on but this will be done when the platforms are complete. For access I'm going to look at using magnets to hold the roof in place. That's all for now folks.

Thanks for the idea, I shall have to have a map redraw I think I know how to solve the problem now. Boco

Looking at a few maps I see what you mean, I knew the original (real) Towcester line joined up with the WCML, I was under the impression it was before the line diverged at Roade. I'll have to re-write history and move the line or my junction. Towcester Parkway miles from the town maybe. Edit: Looking at Google Earth Ashton would be a more suitable location for the junction.

Thanks for the comment, in regards to the line joining back up to the mainline it was in my mind (fantasy) that the line would meet at the junction and ladder allowing trains to travel towards Rugby or Northampton.

It's my rest day today and for once I managed to spend a decent amount of time in the shed. So good I now have trains up and running on the mainline. I've been wiring the layout up for analogue use before moving on to dcc, as it stands I have around 20 locos to chip and several Hst and dvt trailers too. I therefore decided to make the layout suitable for both until all locos are chipped at which point the analogue will be made redundant. To make the layout suitable I needed several isolating sections so that I could run the layout the way I intented. I decided to put the switches in the corner of the fiddle-yard. I had planned just to put the switches in the board, but the board was too thick. I decided a small unit built on the side would firstly hide my co(k up and would be more presentable. I decided to bank the toggle switched at the top allowing space for later on to add switches to power up the fiddle yard loops for DCC. In reminisce of my Panel days (last November) I decided to paint the box to look like a NX panel. Although it still needs a bit of a tidy up. With the box complete and wired up I put an extra switch in to control the power supply to the "London" end of the points connecting the up and down lines to the fiddle yard. On testing there is one route that causes an intermittent short circuit but I'm yet to find the cause. The layout is now wired up for some running although the jungle if wired will need a tidy but here is short video: That's all for now folks.

What a fantastic job you have done, I really like the cobbled effect you've created with the das clay.

The weather this weekend has been horrid so I've stayed in and started work on Peco Train Shed Overall roof. This is being painted in a off white colour and I shall use it to cover the track where the mainline meets the fiddle yard to give the illusion the line continues straight on. I've also put together a track plan of the lower level. Verny parkway is now Winslow, as that is the Station that the East West link project intends to reopen. And I also put together a fictional map to give an idea of the Buckingham loop line. There's problem a bit of Tardis style spacing between towns but you get the idea. And just for fun, from when I was playing around with my camera the other night... 2 long range duffs head light engine to Stowe Castle. That's all for now folks.

First time I've come across this topic but I really like the layout and the detail you've put into it. Must admit I did wonder where the canal came from until Katwigan pointed out it was a glass table haha.

Thanks Ben, I always try to find a reason for a line I feel it gives a layout more purpose and I find it quite enjoyable to create an alternative history. As for the pendolino I have mine ordered already, it's the reason the moddeling period was extended, as for the class 321 I will certainly be ordering a couple of NSE units to run on the layout, and if you release Silverlink livery there'll be a couple more orders.