HeatonLodge40

You make some valid points James. I’m probably guilty of doing too much on my own to be honest, I hate asking for help. Defo a learning curve this !

Thanks for the compliments Steven. One thing I have learned (about doing a two week stint operating a layout) is that initially trains start in the morning with tail lamps and no rear loco lamps. However after locos fail/wagons fail/heavy trains split (because of coupling failures) and new wagons quickly slotted in, it’s impossible with two operators to make amends. It is a shame there’s not enough variety of stock in O but that’s manufacturers for you

Thanks again…few issues in the morning as I shorted the whole layout by mistake which sent the automation haywire. Apologies if you were there. As a result the 9F & it’s charter routed itself the wrong way and came to grief on a switched diamond and 4 freights then collided! Sorted it but had me running around for a while. Only two of us running it all day though. Lots of modifications due as a result of this experience including far stronger coupling to prevent trains parting. And I’ll never do a 2 week exhibition again it’s totally exhausting!

Thanks for the comments. In answer to the points raised : re stock/ train formations : I have every type of rolling stock on the layout available in RTR O gauge so it’s impossible to increase the variety of it unless I do more kit building. Alas, kit built stuff doesn’t last more than 3 hours on HLJ & I haven’t the time. Coffee shop.. great idea but dealing with the council who owns the building they weren’t happy with offering refreshments simply because it encouraged a ‘congregation of people’ which because of covid was off limits. It’s all I could do to allow them to open the toilets. Traders & exhibitors - this was always going to be a show case of HLJ itself and a shakedown of it. Next time it will be far more layouts and the trade - as well as HLJ

Once again thanks again for the great response. Yep I have to say the accident pictured was caused by a VAA van hand brake detaching on points and derailing the whole set. I initially expected derailments every half hour but it’s becoming about every two hours now. Definitely settling down . Only thing is I don’t tend to reattach the wagons from an accident so the trains are usually shorter by the end of the day!

Thanks very much for a great video and for travelling all that way! And for the great comments. Must fix the double headed ‘50’s setting off a bit too quickly though

It’s a learning curve having a layout continually run for 2 weeks. So how has it been? Setting up Took 2 full days with 4 of us. This was half the time I’d factored in. Although I way underestimated the time for fitting the 50m backscene, assembling the lighting gantries and attaching the PVC drop down banners. Operating I was very worried the whole layout would go bang once assembled but …it was running hours after first set up. Glitches were track alignments & I also broke a piece of rail in the only 2ft section under the scenery I couldn’t get at. Soldered it together holding the soldering iron like a pen. After day 1 we were concerned locos were dropping like flies. Had to make a frantic phone call to a mate to borrow 15 more. Turns out it wasn’t the locos - the decoders were over heating whilst all the locos were idling in the fiddle yard. Switching the lights and sound off once they’d entered the fiddle yard sorted it. Coupling - keep breaking with long heavy trains. Have to sort this in future. Track - has held up well. Had one really frustrating episode on Sunday when trains started derailing on switched diamonds onto the dive under. Had a good look at it and couldn’t fathom why the point bladed were levered up splayed against the outer rails. Snipped through the laboriously made stretcher bars before realising that it was the outer main rails which had lost their gauge and sprung from their chairs. Was furious for destroying my detailing! So I solved the problem by screwing in two small screws into the ballast to keep the outer rails at the right gauge. Can’t use the down dive under till I’ve properly fixed this Had less and less derailments daily in fact today didn’t have one for a full 3 hours of running all 29 trains. I’m still bemused that Thomas the Tank Engine is the most requested loco on the layout !

Yes there are seats around the perimeter

Going Loco is in Wakefield- actually quite a good model shop for a local one

Yep, but the layout runs in full auto at this event to give visitors the full effect of constant heavy freight negotiating different converging routes etc. Any manual running would cut the traffic flow by 80% or more which I don’t think would provide much entertainment to people watching.

I just can’t accommodate this at this event I’m afraid. All the locos on the layout have their CV’s synchronised with the automation to run to preset braking and acceleration etc

HLJ is on BBC breakfast just after 9am tomorrow

Thanks very much for the great comments. Yes I’m sorry the 124 has died. It overheated after I put in more lead so it could get up the dive under. It’ll be repaired before long. Thanks again

Not yet just advised. But the situation might change

More pics from the last couple days. Mr Waterman gets everywhere!

I don’t mind doggies but the council don’t allow them in any of their building so apologies

Thanks to all for the kind words. On day one the numbers were a tad less than what I was expecting but on the other hand the website is still getting strong e-ticket sales - especially since the BBC put the above article on their website. For me though it’s the first time I’ve really watched the model operate for hours on end in full automatic mode. About every 15 minutes there would be some epic manoeuvres on the front with 2 long MGR’s taking the crossovers whilst a pair of class 50’s roared up the bank on a charter. On one occasion I could see a head on collision looming between two long freights, and was just about to belt it back to the control desk when I saw the feathers on the signals indicating both trains were in fact crossing the switched diamonds avoiding each other. However I wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that when Thomas the tank engine appeared on his hourly run round the layout, more people got their cameras out than they did for anything else! Thanks to all that helped today, very much appreciated

Well despite Saturdays atrocious weather the trucks arrived on time and we got the layout shifted on 3 full loads. It’s now up in its new home awaiting connecting up to electrics, lighting gantries, backscene and a ton of other stuff. Way in front of the strict time schedule we’ve got so far. Hope it continues as fast. Can’t say I’m not a bit anxious it’ll all run ok again but soon find out I guess!

The 44 carts are beginning to form a queue for the trucks tomorrow.. I haven’t forgotten to prioritise the loading order

I’m pushing it Andy, it’s got wheels! Meant to say ..The new Heljan 73 will be making a debut as will the 56 (pulling a huge MGR train). An outrageously loud Class 55 ‘Alycidon’ will be on a special with double headed ‘50’s on another

52 locos altogether and 8 spares!

Lots of activity as HLJ gets packed up. Some very late nights ahead! Locos are going in these flight case trunk drawers, can you spot the odd one out?

Yes what the local council say and what they do are two different things. Might be worth mentioning to those of you you who are planning to come along - there isn’t any catering but plenty of coffee shops within 100yds. Council are very keen to get a ‘throughput’ of people which I somehow doubt will happen. West Section is a typo in the local paper - yes meant to say Westgate Station

Allan started to hate Colron wood dye after it went from oil based to water based. He’s probably shaking his fist from above at the very mention of it right now!

There are days when I walk in the basement and wish I’d been a postman instead. Today I’ve started speed weathering on a large scale..I’ve set myself 6 Heljan Class 40’s & 20 Dapol Bogie Bolsters to do. I’m also modifying the Motorail flats to run more reliably by altering the back to backs and adding some washers to the bogie pivots. They’ve been derailing regularly which is not fun. These mods are working well and seem to fix it. I’m aiming to speed weather 25 wagons a day for the next week. Plus steel & coal loads to add to them too.