Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL -  LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

I have just added a couple of small but important features to the layout. These comprise 2 hidden shelves which can be pulled out to 500ml and 600 ml respectively. They will be used to hold the computer and train controller. The shelves can be completely removed if I need to get them out of the way.

photos are below

First with recessed shelving

Second with extended shelving

Next task is to create the busses and connect the droppers to the sub busses for connection to the busses, as per the diagram at post 222. 

I am waiting for 200 lever micro switches to wire the point frogs. I should have a good many days under the layout connecting wire. I have estimated I shall require at least 100 X 12 strip terminals to wi9re up all of the layout.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

Dear David,

Thanks for the links. I have been to some of the sites but there appears to be additional information since I last looked. I shall further explore in due course. Again thankyou for your assistance.

regards,

Anthony

Dear Black Sheep, Stu and Simond,

Thanks for the encouraging words. I am really happy with the timetable at post 214 above. It has a lot of detail re the timings for entry  and departure from each station, exact train rakes and an allocated loco for the train in most cases. A few more locos are required to finalise the timetable. if you have not opened the file I recommend a quick look as it will provide a very detailed insight into the passenger rakes running on the line.

I have yet to create a freight time table as it have not been able to locate one as yet. They are obviously much harder to come by. I do know that they ran nearly everything on this line as it was it terminated in the main port to Ireland.   The freight I am aware of was  some freight types on the line including cattle, granite, domestic and gas coal, general merchandise, live stock, animal feed, implements, petrol and oil, timber an building materials, fish and mussel traffic, PO wagons, sheet open and ventilated vans, cattle vans, low sided wagons, drums on open wagons, open wagons, slate, railway ballast, road stone, dressed stone, concrete products, explosives, mining stores, steel vans, fertilizers, hay and fodder.

if anyone has any more detail on freight types or a freight time table on the Chester Holyhead line I am interested to hear.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley
 

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

Dear All,

Work has been progressing nicely with all of the droppers complete for the base boards completed to date, including scenic and hidden track. I have also laid the track, drilled appropriate holes for point control etc and tested electrical connectivity. In addition I have spent some time perfecting the wiring diagram for the scenic and hidden areas, including the provision of detection zones. Most of the goods area will be manually controlled with the main lines and goods entry areas automatic or electrical control.

I have bought 30 meters of curtail wire (PVC tube with metal insert and 30 meters of tensile wire for the manual point control. Only need a 12 lever frame for manual point control to be effected.  

Hopefully the next few days will be further wiring of the bus and sub bus cables.  

Pictures are below

showing the Conwy goods area with an unusual visitor (an A1), a class o4 shunter and a 108 DMU on the main line  

DMU in more detail

Close up of the DMU.

Partially completed wiring for level 1 only (scenic and hidden). All of the main bus and sub busses and drawn. Scenic track on the left and hidden track on the right. Black and red bus is the main scenic bus. Brown and blue is the main hidden track bus and the sub bus for the goods area.  

Pilots are Switch pilot servos

T are terminals 

S are switches

Servos are servos (not surprisingly)

One line of the track detection areas are wired up together to run back to the detection module.

Ii hope the diagram is legible!

All sub busses have an on/off switch (blue switch) to allow fault detection on the ECoS system when closing with a short. There are 4 sub busses in the Conwy scenic area, and 11 in the first level hidden area. Conwy, Penmaenmawr and Bangor will have 16 detection zones each. The hidden track level 1 has 48 track detection zones.

I obviously have more work on the other levels but it is coming along.

If you read this thread please take the time to  reply either positive or negative, as your feedback is very valuable and has made quite a difference to the layout to date.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

Dear All,

Thanks for the reply Simond. Your comments are greatly valued. I think the pan to overlay

some thin plasticard over the edge of the plasticard added already with merging trees painted on may over come the issues you have raised. I shall try it and post photos once completed. Please keep any replies coming.

Sith Lord may the force be with you in your arboreal pursuits, particularly as I am the main recipient of those endeavours! I look forward to further visits.

I have now completed laying all the hidden and scenic track with droppers and holes for point control finalised. I may take another photo tomorrow. Next is to check all of the wiring underneath for connectivity and loco testing. Then I need to create shelving on the layout for the Conwy Levers blocky Control panel, Controller, and Computer.

I have just bought a number of locos. 1 Black 5, 2X BR 5MT, 2 X BR MT, 2X BR 3MT tanker, 2X Class 24 Diesel. All need running in.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

Dear All,

Just a photo showing the range of wire to be used in the layout. Picture below.

The reels of various colours of wire from front to back are .5mm cross section (dropper wire connected to underneath of track- only red and black to show polarity), .75 mm2 cross section (most colours to show track type attached to 50 mm2 dropper wire) and 2.5 mm2 cross section (bus wires) 

Track wiring colours are as follows-

Scenic down-  black/red;

Scenic up -grey/pink;

goods area  - brown/blue;

hidden storage areas - brown/blue;

hidden track down - black/red;

hidden track up - pink/grey;

hidden loop down - white/orange;

hidden loop up - purple/grey;

point frogs - green;

detection  bus line (1 only) - yellow and green;

scenic bus - black/red; 

hidden bus - brown/blue.

Any replies are very welcome. I have had few replies to the query on the post at 211 if you are able to venture an opinion regarding the painted or plasticard version of the town wall. Additionally has anyone seen the time table posted at 214.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

Dear All,

A few more advances in the layout.

Have completed two new base boards to go down the right side of the layout. The first is only 2 1/2 feet wide and is a section which can be lifted to give unimpeded access to the layout. A friend will be assisting in creating a metal frame to act as a lifting device. I expect to use the sort of gas cylinders used in boots to help support the lifting of a boot to help with the weight.

The second section is 5 feet long but only 5 feet wide as I need to incorporate a strip of sea on the outside edge of the board below the level of the base boards. 

This sea area will be attached to the underneath of the base boards.

Photos below.

View of the two new base boards in relation to the existing layout. Small one is resting on the other.

View from the side showing relative size of the additional base board 

Conwy scenic area has nearly completed with respect to droppers. A "forest of wires". I have now received all of the electronic components needed to wire up for DCC ops.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and has a successful new year.

All replies are encouraged.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

Dear All,

To those who commented on the wall versions thankyou. If I use the plasticard version I am going to over lay some other small pieces of card for my painter to paint a few trees on, hence blending in the wall and surrounding terrain. I think this will improve the overall look.

I would also encourage comments on the time table directly above if you are interested.

All comments are welcome!

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

For those interested I have attached the proposed passenger time table for the layout based on a Summer 1960 timetable for the line. 

Detail shown includes the arrival and departure times form Conwy Bangor and Penmaenmawr. Also shown is the exact train rake formations and the allocated loco to the train. Most trains will start from one of the two  hidden fiddle yards. The rakes are also numbered. Those allocated a colour make a return journey using the reverse rake formation. You will see the colour is duplicated for the return journey and assigned a specific number. 

To fill these rakes I still need about 50 SKs in maroon. The attachment will download into an excel spread sheet.

All comments are welcome.

Sunday Train rakes.xlsx

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

Dear All,

I have been on holidays for a few days and done some substantial work on the layout. The first is the scenic area for Conwy has had all the rail cut to size and connected.

Next is an alternative to some of the back scene painting by creating a 3D 2d effect on the wall. I shall be after comment son this one way or the other.

Last is the completion of the Conwy hidden rail dropper wires prior to connection to the main bus line.

Photos are below.

Photo above is looking toward Llandudno with mixed wagons in the goods area waiting pick up. A Royal Scot is going to Llandudno pulling a parcel train. A Black 5 is pulling a mixed goods rake to Hoyhead. 

Photo above is the Conwy board minus the river area

Looking to Conwy station which is just off the board

Close up of the Conwy goods area

Cattle wagons on the move

Using ply and plaster card for the medieval town wall I have overlaid the paint work by mother-in-law. Which version do you think loos better the 3 D plasticard version or the purely painted version?

Close up of the plasticard version

Painted version without plasticard.

Hidden tack with droppers complete.

Please give me a response in terms of the painting version or the plasticard one.

All comments are welcome.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

Dear All,

Thanks for the marvellous contributions. David and Stu your efforts are greatly appreciated. The building is obviously quite small and nestles between the main highway and the main line. 

Another building to construct once I have some trains running. Still waiting for electronic components which will see me operational I hope.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

Stu,

Thanks for your reply. I had not seen the small building prior to the posted photo and thought it may have been demolished. Your confirmation of this means one less building to construct!

I am waiting for electronic components to finish wiring the hidden track around Conwy (nearly all hidden track above Conwy has droppers now)00000. I have cut all of the Conwy scenic track but yet to add droppers. A job for tomorrow.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

Dear David,

Thanks again for the information.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

Dear David,

Thanks for the reply. Yes your response confirms what I thought. Do you know the purpose of the building in the first picture and whether it stood after the construction of the road bridge. From your comments it appears it does but not sure.

Regards,

Anthony

Dear David,

Thanks for the interest in posting the photos. They are certainly useful as they show detail I have not seen before. Does anyone know what the first photo is showing. It is not consistent with my knowledge of the area. I think it is of the far bank from Conwy prior to the construction of the new highway bridge. What do others think?

Regards,

Anthony Ashley   

Dear Terry and Simond,

Thanks for the comments they are greatly appreciated. Work has been a little hectic combined with a family issue over the last two weeks. I have been away for the last week and go to Sydney for most of this week. Accordingly modelling has been limited, although I have at last ordered all of the electronic components required to make Conwy operational. Hopefully the parts will arrive before Christmas, as I have a large holiday period coming up. 

Anyone with more great photos of Conwy, Penmaenmawr or Bangor is encouraged to add them to the thread. Those who have contributed to date have really added to my knowledge for accurate modelling of the bridges and around Conwy. Thanks again to all of those who have contributed.

My next task while waiting for the electronic components is to finish the hidden track wiring and commence cutting track for the scenic area in front of the castle. In addition I have commenced the Conwy Station base boards to run down the left side of the layout. 

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

Dear Simon and Dave,

Thanks for the comments. I was going to add a hinged box with a Perspex front over the top of the hidden areas on the outside of the layout. That way the locos are protected but those viewing from outside the layout can still see them running.

Regards,

Anthony

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENT

This week has been working on wiring in the hidden track area so progress looks minimal but have made some advances. Photos are of part of the hidden track area looking either way. Once wiring this are to the track is complete I need to tackle the bend in the hidden track. 

All comments are welcome both good and bad.

regards,

Anthony

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

I have had a busy week end with a number of tasks completed, although little to show in the way of photos. I have prepared all of the points by removing plastic webbing form both sides of the point in preparation to connecting each side of points tracks by wire. I have also isolated the frogs using a piercing saw for each point.

The supports for the hidden track are now completed and painted with primer. Need to do an enamel coat, position the track mark, out location for cork base, lay cork and paint the cork. I can then relay the track once each point is has the 3 wires soldered to each point. I have purchased 10 colours of wire to assist with identification of the wiring. I shall practice on the hidden area, make my mistakes and then proceed to the scenic area.

I am having trouble understanding how to manage the frog polarity reversal. I am using ESU switch pilot servo to control the movement of the switches with ESU servos as the motors. Does any one know if you need the Switch pilot Extensions for computer control and detection. If you need the Extension for this task then I can use them to also control the frog polarity reversal. If the Switch Pilot Servo provides the control and detection for the point then the Extension would not be necessary as I could use a much cheaper micro switch. I am also unsure how to wire the micro switch with the Switch Pilot servo. 

Any ideas or comments on this would be greatly appreciated, as I can not proceed with further work until I understand the electronics involved and what I need for operations.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley  

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

I have been busy with creating the road which goes under the goods area at Conwy and focussing on the hidden track area around the outside at the top of the layout. Photos of the new hidden track area are enclosed. It was a lot easier than I expected and has worked out well.

View along the top of the layout looking west

View looking south to north with the new track platforms just visible

View showing the corner. There are two levels with a pair of tracks ascending and a pair of tracks descending. The descending tracks will go into a giant helix appro 20 feet by 6 feet and then run into a fiddle yard a further 28 feet down the shed and yet to be built. The ascending track joins the scenic track or alternatively completes a hidden loop under the scenic section.

The other task this week end was to prepare points for DCC. Further work to be done yet on this.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

I have been busy with creating the road which goes under the goods area at Conwy and focussing on the hidden track area around the outside at the top of the layout. Photos of the new hidden track area are enclosed. It was a lot easier than I expected and has worked out well.

View along the top of the layout looking west

View looking south to north with the new track platforms just visible

View showing the corner. There are two levels with a pair of tracks ascending and a pair of tracks descending. The descending tracks will go into a giant helix appro 20 feet by 6 feet and then run into a fiddle yard a further 28 feet down the shed and yet to be built. The ascending track joins the scenic track or alternatively completes a hidden loop under the scenic section.

The other task this week end was to prepare points for DCC. Further work to be done yet on this.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAIL LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

I have completed a set of medieval toilets for inclusion on the layout. Hope you all enjoy them!

Photos below.

All comments are welcome.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

WELSH DRAGON RAILWAY -  LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

Dear All,

A few developments on the layout.

These include completing many of the southern Conwy medieval town wall sections including some of the turrets along the way. It is a slow process with walkways being modelled behind the wall. The turrets were made from 40 ml plumbing pipe with B Queen resin used to create the stone woek. This material remains flexible for long enough to curve around the turret and then cures in this shape. I am very happy with the effect. The castle turrets will be completed in a similar manner.

I have completed the Llandudno goods are sea wall and this is also featured.

The supporting ply for the hidden track around the top of the layout, including a large curve has also been cut.

I now need to purchase the train control system and some of the electronics. The points need to be prepared for DCC ops.  I have also recently purchased 60 vehicles form Oxford. I need some roads to put them on.

Goods train heading past the medieval town wall.

The next photo shows a gate in the distance, which is yet to receive the stone work . It is a complicated shape and taken from Google earth.

Detail of the turret and wall

Sea wall in the Llandudno goods area.

2 photos of hidden track area

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Anthony

WELSH DRAGON RAIL - LAYOUT DEVELOPMENTS

I have modified the hidden part of the layout as shown below.

The red and green track is a large hidden oval around the layout.

On the both sides of the layout is a large helix with 3 levels. On the lowest level a train heading to the fiddle yard can cross tracks and return back to the scenic table if required.

At the end of each fiddle yard is a single traverser track allowing a loco and tender to enter from any fiddle yard track and run around the fiddle yard, entering the fiddle yard entry track and to rejoin its original rake of vehicles facing the correct way to leave the yard.

On the first and second level of the helix on each side of the layout are a single 16 foot goods storage siding (in orange track as is the fiddle yards and loco run around track).

I do have a query re TC gold. is it possible to draw the different levels of the helix in TC Gold as there are 3 of them.

If you have any further queries on the plan please ask.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

These show the road passing under the town wall and railway:

 

Conwy 41.jpg

Conwy 42.jpg

Conwy 43.jpg

Conwy 44.jpg

Conwy 45.jpg

Conwy 46.jpg

Conwy 47.jpg

 

Dear PGH,

Your photos are great and will be of immense assistance in constructing some of the more difficult aspects of the layout. It is amazing how many photos you need when you start to model an area. I realise the creek line is not right and too deep in my layout. I will have to see how I can fix it.

I have put in part of the ditch road in Conwy and have been focussing on the hidden track area. I have modified the hidden track layout, deleting the giant road turntable but creating a permanent fiddle yard with two single track traversers to run the loco and tender around the rake for the return journey on each fiddle yard. This will mean I don't have to operate the turntable for every departing train or handle the loco. There are also two 3 level giant helixes almost running the length of the sides of the layout. I have moved all of these tracks to the outside of the layout to give better access to the fiddle yards. I may post my hidden track plan again as it has changed considerably.

My mother in law has been painting again and added detail to the houses on the far bank of the Conwy river. Photos to follow later. She has done a great job.

All comments are welcome.

Regards,

Anthony