Geep7

The original Punta Brava in full form was 16ft8ins, including a 5ft fiddle yard. This allowed for a 333, plus a full 7 car Talgo Pendular set, or 7 car Talgo 3 set with generator car. Sadly, the 9 foot length I now have available includes the fiddle yard. I could probably push this to about 9ft 6 at a pinch, which would be useful as a measure of my 3-car 440 EMU works out at 37" long. I know I could run my EMU's 2-car units, the 440, 470 and 432 all did so towards the end of their careers, but my 592 3-car DMU has the motor coach unhelpfully in the centre coach, although fortunately,is slightly shorter than the EMU's. I'll have a think about the depot idea, but i'll be limited to about 13in width (a lack shelf plus 2 pieces of 34mm timber either side), which will seriously limited the number of tracks I can have. Although, maybe a small 3 road shed, and a few outdoor stabling sidings might work. I'll have a play around in Anyrail. The only other doubt I have, is that i'll have to provide a fair amount to be electrified, as my electric stock outnumbers the diesels. It would be nice to have somewhere for some freight stock to appear too. But it'll have to all be about compromise. I might even try a curved layout to see if I can squeeze anything more in.

Castle on the hill - Ed Sheeran

Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

Progress update part 2 I did intend to post this progress update almost straight after the last one, but as ever, life gets in the way. So next on the list, structure wise, to get to a stage before scenery can start is the bridge forming the fiddle yard view block. I've been wanting to try building a plate girder bridge for a while now, and having a couple of the Wills vari-girder kits in stock, I thought this would be the ideal solution. So as we see in the photos, there are two spans, one short, crossing the freight branch, and 1 long, crossing the main lines and platform. The top spans are made up of various numbers of plates from the vari-girder kit to suit the span, with a piece of Plastruct girder to form the plate for the deck. The abutments, are the Wills kits, although I could have probably made them from plain brick plastic sheet, but I like the relief on the Wills brick sheets. The Plastruct girders have been detailed with some microstrip and rivets. The rivets are from Scale Model Scenery and are laser-cut on thin mdf. The strips were still a little thick for what I wanted, and with them being mdf, I was able to just take off the top 2 layers, which were then glued in place with Plastic weld. And here we are, up to date. The girders have been attached to the base plate for the road, this being a single piece of 40 thou plasticard. I've place it back on the layout to check for fit, and how it looks, and i'm pretty pleased with it. The plan is to add a central support to the longer span, just to hide up the exit to the fiddle yard a bit more. The intention is for this to be made of a couple of circular columns, joined with cross-spars. But i'm not entirely sure if a span of this width would require it really. But I think I will build it, try it in place, and then see how it looks. Other than that, it needs some cross girders adding under the spans, just so if any ground level photos are taken, it won't look daft. Plus finishing off the abutments, and then I can look at the road surface itself. However, before I do that, I've just received an IKEA order, with a couple of new display cabinets to make (one for trains) and a new modelling desk. I may, or may not, have sneaked in a couple of Lack shelves with the order for a future project.

All the answers you could need, and more, in this thread:

Baseboards...... yes and no. If they are well built, and of the right size for your project, then go ahead. But, I can't recommend using old baseboards, and then adding extra extensions or bits of wood, just to get an extra track in or another couple of inches in length. Don't ask me how I know this.......

I must admit, collecting all these electric trains does mean I am having to tackle the dreaded knitting. As i've described a couple of pages back, on Punta Brava, I had been sort of cheating, and making the support spans and hangers, but leaving the actual wires out. Speaking of the layout itself things have still stalled. As i've mentioned a few times before, I have no space to put the entire layout up without disrupting the whole family, and it would be rather selfish of me to put it up for a whole weekend just to play trains, or do some scenery work. Also, whilst i'm reasonably happy with the actual track plan, and overall look of the layout, i'm not very happy with the baseboards. They are all of different sizes, having been made from board from a previous layout, and augmented. This means the boards aren't particular light either, which makes moving them around and storing the layout a pain. This has meant i've become a bit dissatisfied with the current layout. It's a difficult decision to make, but sometimes, rather than plodding on with something you aren't 100% happy with, it's better to take a step back, and decide that a complete new start is better. Fortunately, i've not got too far on the scenery side, and only ballasted a short length of track and 1 point, so there won't be much waste if I scrap the layout. All of this thinking had kind of sapped my enthusiasm for my Spanish modelling, so I had a chat with my wife, and basically she's agreed that building a smaller, simpler Spanish layout, in the same footprint as my current small British Outline layout would be a good idea. So this means a maximum length of about 9ft and a maximum width of 13 inches. The current thought is a simple single platform station, with run-round loop, and a couple of sidings for freight. I intend to use the station building i've already built, along with the church. However, I keep thinking, with all these loco's I have, whether I should build a depot layout. I'll be interested to know your thoughts.... I'll will continue with this new layout in this thread, as I intend to keep the same name, and it seems like a good idea to keep all my Spanish modelling in one thread.

I also have a Mehano 252 in the blue and white, but with Altaria markings. I knew that the Lima/Electrotren 252 was shorter, and in actual fact, is a model of the Eurosprinter, rather than a true 252, but I didn't realise quite how much shorter until I compared them next to each other this morning. Usually this would bother me, especially with British Outline, but the likelihood of a Mehano Taxi 252 turning up is very low. I think in normal operation, looking side on, it won't be as noticeable. It's just a shame that the Mehano 252 is no longer in production.

Good job on picking up the TRD. I think they are rarer than hen's teeth, and i'd very much doubt if Electrotren/Hornby would want to re-issue them. Yes, unfortunately the model does suffer from one rather major achilles heel. I can't recall if I've mentioned that i'd had managed to re-gear the motor coach with some brass gears. However, something kept nagging at me. Whilst the fix worked rather well, it did cause a bit more noise than I wanted, due to mine being DCC sound fitted. So I recently bought some nylon RC gears from that well known internet emporium, plus a gear puller. A 10 minute job, and I had it running again, and running a lot smoother than before, and quieter. Also, very recently, I managed to grab a decent buy off of the 'bay. This is not an Electrotren 252, but the earlier Lima issue of the model. As such, it is not DCC fitted, ready, or anything like that, so will take a bit of time to get it chipped. However, i'm rather impressed with the detail of the model, and the chassis as well. Compared with the UK outline Lima models of a similar vintage, it's lightyears ahead. It'll be interesting to see what Hornby/Electrotren announce in January. From a personal point of view, i'd love a rerun of the 311 in the red/grey livery and the 321 in green. And I would love it if they did a model of the Class 446/447 EMU's.

Progress Update 1 So a couple of updates to get us up to the current stage of progress. First up is the signal box. This being one of the Ratio ARP kits. I wanted something slightly different for this layout, and settle on this, after I noticed that there was a similar looking box at Gomshall. The kit is basically made up as per the instructions, but was painted entirely in Vallejo Stone Grey (a decent approximation for concrete) and then the brick colour dry-brushed on. The windows are, I think, Railmatch Southern Green, but might be a Vallejo shade that's very close. They were painted before painting the concrete, hence needing some touching up, which I will get around to doing at some point. The platforms, as seen in the first post, aren't particularly complex, being Peco concrete sides, with the rest of the structure made of 40 thou plasticard. The surface will be some fine grade wet/dry paper. This then brings us to the footbridge. As I have mentioned, the is some inspiration from Waddon Marsh with the island platform, and this continues to how passengers access it. I originally had planned to have a staton building of the road overbridge, but I felt this has been done so often I wanted to do something different. The footbridge is a kitbash of 2 Ratio concrete footbridges, arranged with opposed stairways. The reason for using 2 kits, was to extend the centre span to 5 panels. It's also been given a slight angle, just to try and get away from everything being so square and regimented. Here are a few views. And above the SR General Manager's Inspection Saloon propelled by ED E6037 performs a clearance check run. E6037, is a renumber of the latest Dapol 73120. It's had a coat of matt varnish, but definitely needs some weathering. An the Inspection Saloon is Revolution Trains excellent model. Part 2 to follow soon....

It's a shame I hadn't seen your post on Forotrenes. There is a site which shows real time tracking of trains on the RENFE network, showing the trains, similar to how flightradar24 does, on a map. The site is called Positren: https://positren.nebulacodex.com/ Hope this helps for when you're next over in Spain. Also, thanks for sharing the photos. Not many RENFE livered locos about I see. Am I correct in thinking that I read over on Forotrenes that RENFE Mercancias is no more, and it's all now going to be private freight operators?

I thought that they were fixing the gangway to improve the look? If that doesn't include moving the gangway door forward, then what's the point? I also think that the horns are still too small.

I still think model full length modern outline trains is where N gauge still scores over any of the larger scales (TT120 included). A full length 2+8 in N is just a shade over 4.5ft, in 4mm, it's almost 10ft. I'm not sure what that works out at in TT120, but it'll be somewhere near the 6-7ft mark. The set being run at GETS was a 2+4 set, so basically what the GWR "Castle" sets were, but the shortest sets run in normal service before this were usually 2+7's on the cross-countries and in the early days on the Western Region. Again, are most people who will be modelling in TT120 be that bothered about running a full formation? In that case, why are Hornby bothering doing 4 different Mk3 coach types? Ok, 3 types really, as the TF and TS share the same bodyshell. I know that since I was little (that's rather too many years than I care to admit), i've known that a typical HST set is made up of 2 power cars, 1 or 2 first class coaches, a restaurant/buffet car, 3 or 4 standard class coaches and a standard class TGS (the last only from the early 80's onwards). Yes, I know there are exceptions to this for special trains where there were 2 restaurant cars or it being a 2+9 set. Is this the sort of information that we should be providing to new entrants to the hobby, or should we just let them have fun?

Think i'm going to bump this thread too, as i've just started a new thread, and I can't add any custom tags, just those in a very short list.

Just to let you all know, i've now started a thread in the main Layout Topics section of the site:

Possibly my imagination, but something in my mind thinks that the original TT Peco wagon kits were 17/6 in pre-decimalisation money.... but it's probably just my mind playing tricks.... just seems an oddly specific price point though to not be a coincidence if I am remembering rightly....

Even though I was born 7 years after decimalisation, it's not lost on me that these are being priced at £17.06......

If any of you have seen or followed any of my previous layout threads, you’ll know I seem to be unable to keep to a fixed plan, and always ending up extending them. The same has happened again, and the result is Sotherington Lane. Its genesis started with the desire to build a small shunting plank, where I can run some of my Southern Region rolling stock whilst I don't have the room for a large layout. The initial build of this is documented in a thread on the Micro Layout section of this site, but I’ll do a quick overview here. The baseboards, at their core, are a couple of Ikea Lack Shelves. The main (original) baseboard is a 110cm long Lack, extended with a 30cm Lack. The fiddle yard is a 110cm Lack cut down to about 28 inches in length, and a further board, extending the scenic section, is what was left of that 110cm Lack. They have all been widened with some 1.5in x 1.5in square softwood either side of the lack, and then faced with 9mm Ply. The layout including fiddle yard, is now about 8ft6in in length by 14in width. Due to the lack (excuse the pun) of space to add coach bolts, the boards are joined with over centre catches, with metal dowels for board alignment. The track plan has evolved into what is shown below: As described on the other thread, and repeated here for brevity, the idea is that this was a former through station, with both platforms electrified, and the branch line continuing to the right (the middle of the 3 top sidings) non-electrified. Electric services would have always terminated here, with the top-most siding electrified with a cleaning platform provided. The rest of the track is all for freight traffic and is non-electrified. Inspiration for this track-plan has come from Waddon Marsh on the former Wimbledon to Croydon line, but I had given thought to basing this in Kent, and having overhead in the freight sidings, however this would more than likely preclude running the odd Western Region hydraulic. So, for now, the freight lines will be non-electrified, and, rather than set it somewhere specific, it is somewhere on the South Western, on the Surrey/Hampshire border, just on the fringes of electrification. Passenger services will be restricted to 2-car multiple units, so this means Epb, Hap, Bil/Hal electric units, 2h DEMU and the odd Western Region bubble car or parcels unit. I may run a shortened 117 on occasions. But unlikely to be any loco-hauled trains The siding leading off stage and back to the fiddle-yard will allow me to run all sorts of freight stock. Whilst the goods yard (the bottom 2 RH sidings) will allow for general freight traffic, the branch line leading off stage could lead to any kind of industry. For now, I’ve resisted on being specific, but thoughts in my mind include it leading to an MoD depot, a cement works or a household coal depot. Tbh, I already have freight stock for the first 2, and have some Parkside 21t HTV hoppers to build (plus a diesel brake tender), so I may just run all 3. As currently built, it is with the through line closed, but there is the possibility of opening up the right-hand end, and adding another fiddle yard. This would be purely for exhibitions though, as I only have the room to put up the current layout, without upsetting the household authorities. It would however make it a true through station, and I would keep the branch non-electrified, with electric services turning back here. Here are some views of the current state of progress. A front view of the layout. I am still to add the wings which will support the lighting gantry. The fascia will also be painted in something a lot darker, possibly black, or a dark grey, similar to some of my previous layouts. A view of the sidings. The siding with the Western on will be cut back much shorter, and the two front sidings will have a loading dock, with a modified and extended SR style provenders store building. Two views of the island platform and the footbridge. To hide the tracks leaving the scene, and covering the narrow end of the platform, there will be a road overbridge, currently under construction. I was tempted to do the branch line in a different style, but both are going to be plate girder bridges. I am aware that I am probably pushing the realms of reality with the narrowness of the platform, but I really didn't have much other choice. I may model a disused platform along the rear track, showing that at one time there was a double-sided platform, similar to Ascot, Guildford and Ventnor, on which the former station building stood. As just mentioned, i'm currently focusing on getting the road bridge built. I'll then look at getting the point motors fitted and wired up.... but i'm taking this all slowly as and when time permits. Why Sotherington Lane? Well, originally I was intending to make up a complete fictional history for this layout, and was looking at the possibility of the line being an extension of the line to Bordon, which continued and joined up with the Meon Valley line, and this station being at Selborne. Whilst I was looking at some maps, I noticed one of the roads leading from Selborne toward Bordon is named Sotherington Lane, and it just seemed to click, and I thought I could just probably do without the fictional history, and go with a somewhere on the Surrey/Hampshire border.

There's a few on YouTube. If you search for Great Electric Train Show 2023, I think there is one exclusively showing it. Ah, here you go:

I only get the digital version of CM these days, but I have a similar issue with the Railway Modeller. Until recently it's usually early, arriving on the Monday before it's due in the shops, but of late I don't get it until a couple of days after it's out to buy. This month I didn't get it until yesterday, and it was out in the shops last Thursday. In August, it didn't arrive at all. I suspect that most of this can be put down to issues at Royal Mail. Locally we've have terrible issues of late with our RM deliveries. But sometimes the printers send the sub copies out a little late which compounds the issue.

Whilst that sounds like an excellent solution, I really don't fancy having to alter the chassis. I'll keep that as a last resort measure. I'll have a measure up, and see what I can fit in the space currently available. For now, the Bass Reflex is doing a good enough job for a home setting (I have to keep the sound right down, or the household authority would complain), but it would be nice to get a bit more dynamic range on the sound.

I am currently planning to go to the NEC by train for the Warley show, as my local railway station is 2 minutes walk away, and it only means 1 change of train at Reading. Travel time is roughly the same as by car. Obviously this all depends upon if there is / isn't any disruption to the rail services that weekend.

It depends on what you mean by not having available parking. If you mean no onsite parking, and there are public car parks available, then that would probably change my answer, compared to no parking available, except on the road. I have been to a couple of exhibitions in the past where there has been very little onsite parking, and therefore had to park in a nearby residential street, and almost had an altercation with a resident, as they weren't happy with us parking there. And I can see where they are coming from, as I live in a street 2 mins walk from the local railway station. But my point is, if your event starts to antagonise the local residents, they may not be happy it happening at all.

I know this is slightly off-topic, but regarding laptop / desktop spec, I would generally advise going for the largest amount of RAM / fastest cpu you can afford, and in that order. There is no point having an i7 CPU running with 2Gb of RAM. Windows (even the latest version) is notoriously RAM hungry, and is totally inefficient is it's memory management. My PC only had 4 Gb of RAM, and Windows 10 would run slowly. Upping that to 12Gb has resolved that, but it still has its moments. From what i've seen, AnyRail isn't too processor or memory intensive, so shouldn't need much, unless you want to view your plans in 3D.

Think it'll be difficult to identify the exact loco type you saw, as Medway (one of several private freight operators in Spain) operates several different locomotives types. However, if it was fairly modern looking it could be a Stadler Euro 6000 or a Siemens 4700. Sadly, it seems that freight traffic in Spain is suffering much the same fate as in the UK, I.e. being moved to road.... Also I think the line through Teruel to Valencia no longer operates, and it's just the Teruel-Zaragoza-Huesca service that does.