stivesnick

Dave My understanding is that the E-W platforms would be on the east side so the station building and car park will be affected along with the carriage sidings south of the station. I agree that dedicated tracks north of the station would be very difficult. Hopefully more will be revealed in the next few weeks. Nick

The current editions tend to end up in larger branches of WH Smith but often a few months after publication. Nick

The 14.40 bus was full by around 14.30 so left early along with the second bus also busy. Hopefully they got back in time for the 15.10 bus. Nick

Now that a certain Mr Grayling is no longer involved - electrification is much more likely. The intention is also to have dedicated platforms at Bedford so that the route is more independent from the Midland Main Line. It would be worth people contacting both the East West Rail Company (who are delivering the scheme) and the East West Rail Consortium (the Local Authority group that provide input) to ensure that the route is electrified and there are decent length platforms, goods loops etc built in the next stage of the project. Nick

I did the later part of the journey (Naples to Sicily) as part of a Ffestiniog Travel escorted trip many years ago. It was an interesting journey. The company web-site has this trip as one of their un-escorted, we can arrange whatever you want trips. Would be interesting to hear how their prices compare with an arrange it yourself trip. Nick

Steve Fame at last! If you didn't see it, there was a picture of you and the layout in the Observer newspaper yesterday. Regards Nick

Hi Nick If the backscene is displayed as mid-winter, are you going to create your trees to match? Just a thought. Nick

Hi Looks like an interesting choice of prototype from what I have read and pictures found on the internet. I think you will struggle to fit this onto a 4 x 2 board as a continuous run. The route through the loop has six points in a row, add in a 2-3 coach platform and curves at the end - more like a 6 foot layout. Nick

There are a number of small layouts in the layout thread, based on a modern theme that allow a bit of shunting. Here are some details of a prototype location that might inspire someone to use it as a basis of a layout. Lincoln Terrance sidings are located to the east of Lincoln station between the current lines to Grimsby and Sleaford. The sidings are what is is left of the former Washingborough Branch and adjacent to the former Lincoln motive power depot. (now a Stagecoach bus depot) The yard is connected to the Sleaford Line and has three tracks. Tracks 1 and 2 have a crossover to create a runround loop. The third track is for scrap metal loading run by European Metal Recycling. The Freghtmaster book 84 for early 2017 indicated there was a weekly Saturday only train of scrap for Cardiff Tidal. Passing the site yesterday on the train, there was a track machine stabled there. To develop the use of the site, the second siding could be used for other traffic or for PW use. The sidings could also be used for DMU stabling between passenger trips. To model the sidings full size would be around 6 foot in N but can the plan can be shortened to suit the space available. Extract from google map below: Nick

Richard I did not spend a great deal of time adjacent to the railway so difficult to judge. The freight yard at Trier was empty. There appeared to be a daily general freight in each direction, Class 143 hauled with between 10-20 wagons. The two coal trains heading west through Cochem passed through within an hour of each other. In contrast, during an hour and half trip down the Rhine from Boppard, I saw freight trains every 5-10 minutes. Nick

Some of the best model photos I have seen - great stuff! Nick

Some more pictures taken this week around Lof and from the top of valley overlooking Hatzenport Nick

Some pictures taken along the Mosel Valley Christmas 2019. The Class 442 units are still there and a mix of 4 car and 2 car sets work the hourly stopping service between Trier and Koblenz. There is also an hourly regional limited stop service usually formed of a DB Class 429 coupled to a CFL 3 car double deck unit. The train splits at Trier with the CFL unit going to Luxembourg and the 429 going to Saarbruken. No obvious freight terminals along the line - but some coal trains both DB and privately operated and some general freight trains with a mix of high sided open wagons, steel flats and long wheel vans. First lot of pictures taken at Cochem -showing station, old goods shed and trains (with my usual just coming up the stairs when the freight train arrives!) Nick

Hi I have traveled on some of the lines in Peru many years ago (2001) , and also considered building a layout (in N). From that visit I was given a set of hand drawn track plans for the Peru railway system and have a copy of a english magazine called Latin Lines which had some good articles about the current railways in South America. Again from many years ago, visits to Motor Books in London did reveal a number of books on South American subjects. The layout, if built, would have ended up as a fictitious country and based around a zig-zag as a reason to keep train lengths short. American style diesels and a mix of American/ Japanese freight cars. The main problem was finding some coaching stock - the Peru railways coaches are much shorter than those found in America or Europe. I would say go for it. It the layout makes it to an exhibition, those with an real interest will be delighted and happy to talk and provide useful information. Others will not know if its totally correct or not. Nick

Really enjoyed watching this layout at Warley over the weekend. A layout that looks different, some excellent modelling and plenty of trains moving ! If only all exhibition layouts were like this. Nick

To meet the requirements of the original brief: Why not assume that the line between Lincoln and Doncaster was reduced to single track, something that was likely considered in the past. Perhaps somewhere around Saxilby area. You could have the Northern service, plus if you move some junctions around Lincoln, run some East Midlands Trains. The route is used by freight, including intermodals avoiding the East Coast Main Line. Regards Nick

Thanks Dave The elephants are popular with the children at exhibitions - the houses are at the front of the layout so easier for children to see into, they start with the garden with the bouncy castle, then the house extension, caravan and then ... mummy/daddy why are there elephants in the garden! Hope you also spotted the alien. Nick

All Some pictures of the layout taken at the Newbury Show Enjoy Nick

My own thoughts on the subject. I have been to the Spalding show today where there was lot of good modelling, but why did some layouts stand out? 1) Prototype operation- as someone who is not an expert on railway operation, something that feels right will keep me hooked, the question I tend to ask myself is who would the real railway have built and operated this line? To that end I tend to find most "depot" based layouts with locomotives aimlessly moving around annoying. 2) keeping things moving - thinking about how you would operate the layout at a show and then lots of practice is key here - having a simple control panel that guest operators can quickly learn is essential. On my own layout Molinnis, when things are working well, there is no need to touch/handle any stock and getting the next train moving is simply changing a few points or section switches. 3) additional information - agree with above comments, something simple and in large text is usually worth reading. Stuff about the background to the layout and its setting is more useful than detailed construction or supplier details. I have considered having a automatic slide show which can contain layout details and also some during construction photos to help explain the layout. One for my next layout perhaps. 4) Operator chat - in my experience this is often social or "how does this work" and is off putting. Having a spare operator to talk to the public is useful. There are some fully-automated layouts, where the operators are then free to talk to the public and start a conversation. When operating, I am often concentrating on the train movement or setting up the next train that I find it difficult to chat at the same time. 5) Effects - does not bother me one way or the other, many sound effects are drowned out by the general hall noise . Day /night lighting can work well, but overscale lights can be an issue. A couple of extra points to your original questions: Worth considering active viewing frontage - some layouts especially terminal layouts have a longish section of main line - someone viewing at that point, can't see the shunting going on in the station, but also has to wait sometime before a train passes by. In choosing a layout, it is worth considering what already appears at your local shows and then doing something a little different if possible. Hope this is helpful. Regards Nick

Hi There is a model of the double deck car available on the Shapeways web-site which might help. https://www.shapeways.com/product/7M9S52YHA/n-scale-rocky-mountaineer-a-series-8-3-platform Regards Nick

All Molinnis will be at the Newbury Model Railway Exhibition this Saturday 26 October. The exhibition is at St Bartholomews School, Buckingham Road, Newbury RG14 6JP. The show is open 10.00 to 16.30. This will be the layouts last appearance. The need to start building something new is getting strong. The rubbish skip awaits unless anyone wants to the buy the layout. Nick

Some photos taken at the Warrington Show including the new fascia and lighting. Layout generally behaved itself - next show Biggleswade Feb 2020 Regards Nick

A new photo 7th Street Terminal after the end of service. Nick

Congratulations to Team Grantham for their win last night. I can understand why some people may not think it a proper railway, but the ideas used, especially the unloading rail knight, is something that could be adopted on other layouts, so good railway modelling as far as I am concerned. My concern over some of these layouts, is how they might be seen at exhibitions over the coming year. What is being produced is based around a 2-3 minute presentation to the judges. But how does this translate into an appearance for perhaps 6-7 hours at a show as many of the actions are not easily repeatable (the earthquake scenes come to mind)? Will we end up with set demonstration times, every 30 minutes or even 15 minutes, when crowds would appear to see the layout operating? In between the operators are busy setting up the next "show" rather than talking to people. Not sure how this would work, but would welcome the thoughts of those who built the layouts and have no doubt starting to get the invites. Nick

All 7th Street Terminal will be at the Warrington Model Railway Club show next weekend. Venue is the Warrington and Vale Royal College, Winwick Road, WA2 8QA. Close to junction 9 M62. Open Saturday 10.00 to 17.00, Sunday 10.00 to 16.30. Layout wise I have replaced the platform lamps with some that look a bit more in keeping with the period. Photo below which also includes the second Parlour Car (green this time so not to confuse the operators). Do say hello if you visit the exhibition. Nick