doddger10

I think, that is where Phil thinks the dry, chimney goes.

Following Brian's advice I have just had a copy of The Book of Shaugh Parish, it's a Shaugh thing, delivered from Amazon, £20. I have just had a quick flick through it and there are a couple of useful photo's of the clay dry and the mill. Thanks Brian for the tip on the book. This will probably be my last post for a bit as I am due to have an operation on my Left hand on Friday and I won't be able to use it until it comes out of plater in 8 weeks time and yes I am left handed too boot, so it will be a right sorry left pain in the ****. Steve.

Sorry Brian The delay in replying is due to my involvement with the Plymouth show, this last weekend and having guests staying in connection with that. I don't have the book, I didn't even know it existed. Yes we know that things are not in their geographically correct places, hence my comment that Phil had to do some Terra-reforming too suit our purposes, the mill was an after thought and was put where it fitted in best. We are only building this for the challenge and a bit of light relief, it was never our intention to be prototypically or historically correct, hence the use of the name "Dewerstone", just to give a sense of place for those that know West Dartmoor. Steve.

Ok a little more info. This is my first EM gauge layout and so I will be sourcing appropriate stock, mostly kits for the layout. Phil has some unbuilt kits and has started to build a rake of Parkside China Clay wagons, he also has a pair of Plymouth Auto trail sets, that he intends to build to help the project along. Here is the track plan. The Tavistock branch is to the front and will be on an embankment at the Plymouth end crossing both the freight only line and the Plym to enter Shaugh tunnel on the left, it is our intention to mostly operate this as an auto train shuttle, to give interest whilst nothing is happening in the goods yard. Phil has included a halt which may or may not get included and if it is then it's position is open to change. The buildings are only a guide to location at this time and are in no way accurate. Here is a link to photos of what exists today, the cottage was at the right hand end as mentioned by Brian earlier. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=shaugh+bridge+china+clay+dry&client=firefox-b&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiS8fa-8tPUAhVqLcAKHVSHB00QsAQIJw&biw=1280&bih=612&dpr=1.5 Steve Edit. To add the link.

Brian Phil said that there were some pictures of the dry whilst it was still working, on the web, but which he is unable to find now. Do you know of any photos which show the dry with the cottage attached to the end as it would help us to get the right feel and also makes it stand out from the usual dry. Thanks Steve.

Dewerstone A 4mm scale EM gauge layout. The layout is set on the GW Tavistock branch at around the 1930s date. Layout size 2400 x 750 mm plus fiddleyards etc. Phil and I had one or two discussions on what to do for the challenge, Phil said there used to be a clay dry at Shaugh Bridge which used to take it's clay up to Shaugh Platform by horse and cart, why don't we make it rail connected, but we will leave the mainline above the river at the front and put the dry a bit lower so that you have too look down at it a bit. OK said I, go away and Templot it. Phil was back within a couple of hours with the first incarnation, it wasn't to bad, but we thought it lacked a little operationally, well said Phil there was a mill a bit further down stream I'll put a siding in for that, we might have too use Slartibartfasts powers and do a bit of Terra forming too make it fit. Phil did and to save confusion we would call the Layout "Dewerstone", which is a local land mark a little further up stream. Further up dates and a track plan when I can add attachments. Steve

I have recently sent an entry form to Simon and will be starting a thread shortly, the layout will be called "Dewerstone", The Dewerstone is a large rock in the Plym Valley near Shaugh Bridge. I have tasked Phil with the track plan, as the layout will be in EM and I don't get on with Templot, but Phil will knock something up in an hour or so I expect. Steve.

Tipham operates with a piece steel plate over the electro magnet as described by SS and I have not had any problem with my DCC chipped loco's, I have had other issues with the chips, but non connected to electro magnets.

The Gremlins were out in force over the weekend as several of my locos failed at the Exeter Show, but we still managed to keep things running just about. The DCC locos were a pain for me as a novice in this area and despite the combined efforts of several heads with more knowledge than mine failed to get the locos back in service. At least the remaining 3 engines managed to last out, I'm certainly glad I took my full complement otherwise I would have been up the creek. My thanks to those for your technical assistance. Steve

Just a brief update, the layout has now been converted to DCC and Phil has done an identification sheet so that we know the chip code for each engine as some of my loco's are a bit grubby and it's difficult to read the last 2 digits. Hope too see some of you over the weekend at Exeter.

Just a reminder that Phil and I will be at the Exeter show next weekend. http://www.exemrs.co.uk/Exhibition.html

Adam Read, a student at Plymouth University, has produced this video of my layout. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/15586f0169f74e9d?projector=1

Hi All Phil and I will be venturing down into deepest Cornwall on Sunday to the Carnbrea show with Tipham. Phil is protesting that he doesn't want his arms shortening and his pockets deepening to fit in with the locals. Please say hello, NB. Phil doesn't bite if you give him plenty of beer to drink, he prefers dark ales or HSD. See You Steve.

The other day Adam was in the clubrooms to do some more filming for his documentary, part of which was filming of Tipham in action, so Phil brought his camera over to get a few more shots to put on here whilst I was operating. Here are the first few. This one is a very cruel close up of the awaiting passengers sitting on the bench. And the young mum with her baby in the pram. One of the rail bus Thanks Phil A few more will follow later.

Here are a few of my Merryfield Lane photos Thats all, back to the bathroom. Steve

Hi All I have managed too escape from the bathroom too add the last photo's that I have of Tipham Steve

Sorry no more photo's for a day or two, as I have too sort out the bathroom before the M.I.L. moves in with us. I'm looking for exhibition invites, so that I can escape for the odd weekend. Exhibition managers please note, the layout goes in the car with two operators. Thanks Steve.

Here is a rough sketch of the layout with dimensions The layout started at 7foot including a two road fiddleyard accessed from a sector plate behind the backscene, but this proved to be a limiting factor at shows. The sector plate was removed and a fiddleyard with cassettes was installed instead, this makes operating a lot easier. Steve

Thanks All for the accolades, they are much appreciated. I have attached a couple more photo's that Phil has taken. Steve

Thanks Andy You have put up some good pictures of the layout. Steve

I must have done something wrong as the bottom picture should be before the last writing.

Hello All I have been persuaded to put a few pictures up of my exhibition layout Tipham. Tipham is a small bucolic branch line terminal set in East Anglia. Last year Tipham was invited to the RM Web members day, which Phil and I enjoyed very much. I think the layout was well received by all. I will post more later, if you would like too see more. Steve