MarshLane

Hi Steve, How are you progressing wit the layout, or is work getting in the way? Regards Richard

Thanks Martyn, Thats great - yes I kept hitting bl**dy Samsung phones .. I'm Apple through and thought! Hehe! I'll drop Paul and email, and as for S7 - no fear, I'm happy with where we are! Rich

Sounds nice and looks a good layout too! Do you have any details or a thread on here? Rich

Thanks Martyn, Do you have any contact details or web address for the S7 group member? Rich

Are the jigs the S7 ones on the C&L website? Rich

Hi Jinty, Ah i must admit I did mis-understand you there. Sorry! Right, thanks for that Quentin .... Martin mentioned the S7 shop, i'll have a dig around and have a look. Rich

Hi Quentin, Ah! I see what you mean now - so the rail marked in deep red on the graphic below should be straight inline to the rail join with the switch blade ... and the blade then curves round to meet the outer rail? Rich

Martyn, Thanks for these, i'll go take a look. Initially i've only got another four points to build, but for the big layout, there are loads, including three-ways, double slips, single slips and outside slips! This might be a daft question, but how do these work? I cannot quite visualise the method of working with them? Obviously not got the brain in the right gear. Rich

Hi Ian, Welcome onboard! Thanks for your kind comments, i hope you enjoy following alone ... and if you can - make the move to 7mm, you'll never look back! Ooh what a superb image - 47501 Craftsman I think it is, lovely. Quite remarkably how there were so many slight differences on the livery variations, such as the black headcode panel during the 1980s. Oh to be able to pop back to the those days! Its scenes like this that I'm hoping I can get to recreate on Marsh Lane. We've now come across two Marsh Lane, one in Leeds and one in Preston! Not bad for a fictional name, i'm going to have to start to come up with the history behind this little depot, so i'll see if I can do some research around these two and Ladywell Stabling Sidings as a basis, even tho mine is set in the North East! Rich

Hi Quentin, Thanks for your input, before I reply, can I just say that single slip looks superb! With regards to the set in the diverging stock yes and no - i looked at various pictures, other peoples and a couple of commercial Marcway points that I have here and couldn't decide if it should be there or not, so i'll be honest and say I chose not to ... which may end up being a mistake! I'll have to go and have a look more at that before i do the next one. With regards the point blades, yes your right on that one, they are a few mm too short, and should have extended onto the next sleeper (which should have had slide chairs), that was a mistake - i mis-read the Templot diagram a little bit, but as they say forewarned is forearmed for the next one! Thanks for the link to Martin's post on the TemplotClub with regards to the 'v'. I have made it differently to that suggested by Martin in your linked post (although as this was the first, its all trial and error for me) but I think the angle is right, as its spot on with the Templot diagram. I'll certainly take a look at the filing blades and jig links that you'd added, thanks for those. Thanks also for the feedback, all appreciated. Rich

Hi Brian, We probably do! The big layout will be based around a steelworks/speedlink exchange yard called Millfield Sidings, with locos supplied by Marsh Lane Depot of course, so i'll have a chat with the Depot Manager and see at some in the future if we can get 406 allocated to it ... trouble is Bescot tend to keep the good'uns, and you have a devils own job getting them back north! lol I really should stop, but i like to see variety and too many ideas for locos, liveries and examples lol! As for point blades .. where's the ban button! Thanks for pointing that out, good to know for reference next time, i'd missed that on the Templot drawing, but now you've said, yes its clearly visible. Always welcome positive negatives (if that makes sense) and constructive criticism, if not, how do we learn for the future? Cheers mate Rich

Jinty, That wouldn't happen to be this one would it... From http://www.6g.nwrail.org.uk/inmemoriam.html Rich

Wow .... just ... wow! Rich

Well, the P-Way crew have had a good afternoon and completed the first of the Depot pointwork yay! The point that i've been working on was all stuck together with blue-tack, as it turns out it was a good move for the first one, as it allowed tweaks to be made and things re-sited as people waved in with comments and suggestions. All part of the learning curve. Well this afternoon, i've taken it all apart, replaced the blade that was wrong, made two new wing rails so that the knuckles came in the right position, made the two check rails, put it all back together and glued it. I have to say there was a very big smile and a feeling of joy when a 16-ton mineral wagon free wheeled over the length of the point, with no catching, bumps, knocks, wheel drop or anything! It was as smooth as an iron running over both routes, so I can quite honestly say I've achieved another first with the construction of pointwork. I've added all the various chairs and cut others to fill gaps. I know some of the chairs may be wrong for the positions (i.e. three bolts, rather than four etc, but it works and (to me anyway) looks good! I've ordered some tie-bars from JLTRT, having spoken to Laurie this afternoon, so they just need adding, together with one missing chair, then final tasks will be to solder the power connections that will go underneath the rails, and finally spray and weather it. Hopefully tomorrow, may see a start made on the next one! In all honesty, I really can say that I agree with everyone's comments. Its not as daunting as it first seems, and as long as you take your time, its very enjoyable and rewarding. Surprisingly, the blades and 'Vee' that I thought were going to be the hardest ended up being relatively simple, getting the wing rails right either side off the 'vee' was the bit I found the hardest, both interns of getting the 'kinks' right and keeping both sides a mirror image of each other where possible. A big thank you to everyone who has chipped in with help, advice and comments on this. I doubt would have achieved the outcome I have without that input. Rich

Hi Brian, Thanks - 2017 is looking like being an expensive year isn't it!!! Im fortunate, that i've been able to add several locos to the fleet this year as i've been using funds from the proceeds of getting rid of the remainder of my OO gauge collection. Can see the opportunity for RR to visit Gosty Hill, one day when we're both further on with layouts, with a trip working from Bescot! If I can find another Heljan 47, then the next one should be a real celebrity! Trouble is I always said I would stop when i got to 15 locos ... the next acquisition will reach that point, but there's no way I cant go for next year's 37, 45 and 03 is there!! ops ... I'm just running out of the pennies ... so desperate saving up needed, ah well family members don't really want pressies this Christmas Rich

Let us hope, neither of you reach that point! Rich

On another topic has anyone tried fitting a working DCC version of the high-intensity headlights to locos in O gauge? If so, any hints/pointers on how its being done? Obviously a small LED wired into the decoder, but what are people using for the headlight mousing and lens? Rich

Hi Jinty, Already have one reserved with Tower Problem is there are there locos i'd like to recreate ... it used to be no room to model, then it was lack of time ... now its not enough cash to do it! In the words of Cleggy from "Last of the Summer Wine" its just one damm thing after another! We need to push Peter to recreate Llanborne in O Gauge hehe. Talking of which, id love to see anything you have on 31199 Peter - thanks. Rich

Thanks Peter. Very pleased, I wish I had the skill to tackle similar, but Andi does such a good job (and there's loads to do on the layout) there is less incentive to find out how to do it myself! But remembering them double-heading the oil tanks out of Immingham Docks does mean that 199 looks a little lonely without a classmate! Lol! Cheers Andrew - I'm a bit the same, and i own it!! Think that 31 might be the next to be sound chipped. These things come with a high price tag, by the time the various things for modding them and paint, transfers and names etc.. are included, but to me I can see the money in them, and should the need arise in the future - they are certainly not losing any value, so I'm treating it as an investment in someways. Trouble is I have a list of the locos i'd like to see (bearing in mind i'm putting the fleet together for the big layout as well as Marsh Lane Depot) and the total cost makes me fall off my seat! Haha With the 45 being out in July - oh my! Rich

Lol! Was just going to say thats one hell of an oil lamp burning away in there! I've got the same problem with the pit lighting on my model - I need to research resisters a bit in order to dim them down, but it looks really good, and as you say, very little light leakage. Well done, love the night shots too. As you say scratch building (as i've found) once you achieve it and get it right, really goes put a big smile on your face, not to mention a really good sense of achievement inside! Looks great. Rich

My god thats some serious woodworm you have there Rod! Hmm.. should it be plastic worm? Seriously tho, definitely sounds better to me. I've yet to tackle the sound in my Heljan 25 so am watching closely to see what you come up with! Rich

That signal box really does look good - can't wait to see it weathered and sited on the layout! Rich

Evening all, Well just a quick update on the pointwork ... and an announcement, i've been waiting to post pics of for a while! Firstly.... Paul, Thanks for comments - I have to say, I have enjoyed it and being something of an impetuous guy have a habit of wanting to push on and do something, then when I cant do it, or I run out of time, it falls by the wayside and gets redesign, new plans and I never get anything finished! This layout, seems totally different - never in my years of modelling have I spent so much time on getting it right, buildings/trackwork/baseboards, without actually running anything ... yet, its not bothering me at all and Im really enjoying it! Maybe hitting 38 in just under six weeks is having a calming influence! OH god, I've just realised that 40 is only just round the corner But anyway, I am enjoying it so thats a good thing. I keep aiming high, so if I can get within reach of all those who have offered help and advice on trackwork, and the inspiring trackwork on Edge Lane Junction, I shall be a very happy chap. Must say, your use of point rodding and the like really has pushed me to make sure I include it on the pointwork and signals that will be ground frame operated. Mike, Many thanks for your very kind comments. I'm very pleased with the creation to date, still work to do on the shed building and the like, but its coming - slow and steady. I'm hoping that being 7mm, the weight and free running of the vehicles should help over come any such things, but I am going to take your advice and see if I can get the point blades a bit thinner at the ends. One has to be replaced anyway, as I managed to do it upside down! Moving on, not much to say at the moment. I've taken a quick look at the 'vee' and working on the advice given here previously, have updated it a bit as suggested and I think it looks a lot better now. Still needs proper aligning (but this was only a quick look) and hopefully it should be ok. In other news, regular followers may recall that Marsh Lane was allocated a 'Generator' and a '31' a few months back - more of a paperwork allocation as the time, as both were assigned works attention for various things - namely respraying, naming in the case of the '47', and weathering! Well I'm delighted to announce they have now arrived at their new shed, apparently the Depot Manager is thrilled at their addition, easing the motive power shortage for Trans-Pennine duties and engineering trains respectively! So, may I present to you ..... 47406 'Rail Riders' ..... which I remember from days at York on the TP workings, when I was a member of the said club. And Class 31 No. 31199 ... which brings back memories of the double and single headed 31s on tanks through Barnetby, during the hours spent there with Dad. Both have had significant work done to them (not my me I hasten to add) with Pete Harvey's etches being used on the 47 (which included plating over the headcode panel) and fitting a dummy headlight, while the 31 has had a new buffer beam fitted (again PH Designs) and been quite heavily weathered. The friend who has done these for me, has done a superb job and I really am delighted. He's cost me money however, as 31199 really needs a red-stripe classmate to go with it! Lol!! Having collected these two this afternoon, the Heljan model of 60021 Pen-y-Ghent has gone the other way for repaint. When it returns, it will be slightly out of period, but as my dad use to work for British Steel, the chance to roll it out as 60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster was too good to miss! More of a spur to get on with the layout, so some proper images can be done - talking of which, I have also now identified the best Focus Stacking software for using the DSLR to do model railway photography, so once Marsh Lane is at a reasonable state, I shall move from my iPhone which took the above pics, to the Nikon DSLR and hopefully achieve better results. Back to the trackwork tomorrow hopefully, so a further update then, or over the weekend. Rich

Hi Peter, Thanks for your kind comments. Today has been manic, hardly stopped flying around since 8.30 - its now 00:30! So not got back to tweaking that point, but do keep looking at it, a little in awe that i've managed anything that actually looks like a point! Challenge for tomorrow, is to redo the blade and get it all stuck down! As for the servos - sure no problem. I'm hoping, depending on Phil's workload, that he may just possibly get the 'production' version over to me early-mid next week, so watch out for some pics and I may even do a little video! Corrrrr! This is getting modern! Rich

Hehe!! Seriously, it's going to look really good! Following with interest! Rich