HeatonLodge40

Thanks for the kind comments Edward. I’m pleased to say as from this week Heaton Lodge Junction is fully operational for the first time. I’ll be posting some videos up soon showing multiple Trans-Pennine expresses & multiple freights rattling by.

Had a break this week from helping out with the automation so turned my attention to scenic work. I’d been meaning for ages to redo the river and all the water features on the layout as I made a complete hash of it a few months ago. In fact it was in front of some cameras where I mixed the wrong casting hardener and the river almost disappeared in a cloud of smoke and steam. Anyway.. here are the pics from my efforts of yesterday (plus a couple with some new figs from modelU). Used about 2kg of casting resin and mixed them together with two different woodland scenics dyes - yellow silt and murky. Im really pleased with the results and the ‘deep’ appearance of the river. Had a bit of casting resin left so redid all the puddles, the sewerage works and the streams. Glad to say it’s all set like concrete too

Thanks for the video (and the comment Mike!) I am currently still working on the very last of the automation with the software chaps. A couple of weeks should see it all running on its own. Next month is a practise dismantling and setting up. Then it’s two months of testing trains for any track issues etc

Yep I got this wrong!

Now that the best part of 60 Mk1 coaches have landed I’m slowly filling them with passengers. It does make a huge difference seeing full coaches passing instead of the usual modelled empty rakes. I’m using the Preiser seated figs, hot glued into place with their legs chopped off. There’s also lots of standing figures including guards and photographers leaning out of open windows - these from Modelu. Also been busy painting a lot of pipe loads from skytrex, these await the wooden frames painting. Pleased with these too, they fit nicely in the Heljan OAA’s. Finally the timetable is taking shape which shows the date. The date might change when, for example I fancy running a Colas rail Cargowaggen train. Mostly it will show 1983

Apparently BR banned roof racks in later years as suitcases disappeared!

You are right as most Motorail trains had passenger coaches attached too. However I’m told on popular busy routes passengers often went first with a dedicated Motorail train with the cars following behind.

You’re right Simon the cars all should be facing the same way as apparently the flats were all loaded from one end. I just need to swap a few of the flats around as the cars are all facing the same way on each flat (if you know what I mean). There is a great group on Facebook called British Railways The lost Motorail services which has some great photos

I’ve a Princess on there and of course the Minis! Look out for the 1976 Lotus Esprit S1 too. It is a very heavy train, not sure if two 31’s in real life would pull it.

A very quick vid of the Motorail train starting from signals on its way to Manchester via Hebden Bridge. The two Heljan 31’s just managed ok

I don’t think it would have gone up the ramp! Beautiful car though

The 15 wagon Motorail flat train is now complete with 50 x 1:43 weathered and detailed cars. Most are from IXO models and the Corgi Vanguard range. As previously mentioned I file the tyres at the bottom so they sit better and given its winter the windscreen wiper marks are modelled too. I also added a working tail lamp using a CR2032 battery holder, resistor and a Dapol lamp. Looks a bit messy underneath but it works well. Couldn’t resist doing an ‘Italian Job’ flat with 4 minis and a Lamborghini Miura I’m hoping two Heljan 31’s will haul this lot, if not two tractors. I hadn’t realised how expensive these model cars are. After buying 50 I do now!

Been a while I know but here’s an update.. Rolling stock has been landing left right and centre including 60 MK1 coaches from Heljan (which also include 20 GUV’s & 10 BG’s for the Heaton/Red Bank parcels. Dapol delivered 80 16T mineral wagons and Ellis Clarke trains 15 of their Motorail Flats. (I’ve got my weathering work cut out) Can’t have an empty motorail train so just shelled out for 45 x 1:43 cars (everything from Ford Sierra XR4i’s, to Volvo 262’s & Opel Kadetts). Had a break from helping out with the automation today to mount the first car - a Ford Cortina, to one of the Ellis Clarke flats. Each car has its tyres filed on one small bit so they sit ‘flat’, (thanks to the late Allan Downes for that tip), bit of dirty black weathering all over with an airbrush, before the tyres are picked out with Life Color tyre black. I’m making literally hundreds of wheel chocks which I’ll spray yellow. Finally some of the Motorail trains had the cars chained down too so the tweezers will be out and lots of very fine chain. So all in all plenty to see with dozens of ‘80’s cars on a Motorail train consisting of 15 wagons. This will be very heavy so I reckon it’ll be down to a couple of 37’s to pull it. Motorails rarely ran with just the flats (mainly 5/6 were tagged onto the train itself) so 15 will be unusual but quite a sight. Continuing with the rolling stock theme I had something very special land recently. As a kid I used to see the Class 124 DMU’s frequently so had a 4 car set commissioned. The builder is Michael Hughes (J&M Hughes models) whose spent a year building it. I’m really pleased with it, it’s heavy and really well put together. It’ll soon be going for weathering, smoke unit, sound and additional front end detail - windscreen wipers for example & Trans Pennine logos on the side. Michael has promised a Class 110 in the next year or so which will be just as welcome. Really will be Trans Pennine then! On a different note the first outing for Heaton Lodge will be the full month of December at one city centre location. Watch this space.. Heljan will be providing support and Peco with some half built and fully completed layouts. This exhibition will be a twist on the normal theme as I’m aiming to hit the non modelling general public as well as fellow rail modellers hence the city centre locations. As such there won’t be anything ‘specialised’ trader wise but I’ll be posting about what will be there later this year. This exhibition will be a ‘pilot’ as I’m ultimately aiming to run regular large exhibitions at city centre locations during school holiday periods from next year onwards. Partly because HLJ will take 3 days to set up and another 3 to break down these exhibitions will run in school holidays longer than the usual 2/3 days. In the meantime here’s some pics of the 124 and the first weathered Ford being loaded onto the Motorail train .. Ps - We’ll be live-streaming HLJ during the summer with super quality cameras, a zip line with GoPro following trains etc. Quick pic here too as the live streaming and automation control desks take shape

All ok, thanks for asking. Been a relatively mundane month helping out with the final fitting of the automation. It’s been a huge job in itself with the amount of track but a necessary one. I do miss proper modelling I can tell you. Today has been a running session here’s some pics

The safety valves were tried but proved unreliable as they clogged up being so narrow. However the next victim of the new smoke generator- Black 5 45212 will hopefully be more successful

I don’t mind admitting I much prefer constructing scenery. Currently wiring in 5 Digikeijs sensor boards which detect where the trains are. These are connected on the outside by caravan connectors. I’m taking instructions believe me! How I’m going to make this lot tidy I dunno

Chuffin hell

Thought some might be interested in the result of the 9F ‘Evening Star’ being fitted with a new type of smoke generator by TRS trains. This blasts steam/water vapour both through the chimney and between the cylinders. Together with a couple of Black 5’s & an A3 these will run the charter services and be fitted with these units

I don’t model the 2010 era as most know, but I’m determined to build up a fleet of Colas Railfreight liveried locos. This is the new ‘37 in those colours from Heljan that landed today. Not much in O wagon wise in RTR that will run with them apart from Cargowaggens. Still, what a lovely loco

In a couple of months I’ll be starting to dismantle the whole layout before adjusting the catches & dowels and reassembling it all. I just hope there’s no bang and a lot of smoke once it’s switched back on

Not much to report at the minute.. the focus is now off scenery and onto finishing the automation. A new mobile steel control cabinet will carry all the boosters and hardware so I’ve been busy fitting it out ready for the software chaps to connect it all up. Also been assembling the lighting gantries and wiring them. These are steel too and throw the light from the front and at a height of 7ft. Onwards & upwards ..

It was hit by a Greater Crested Tern at approximately 68mph

Since the Daily Mail article ITV news have asked to do a piece about HLJ for their ‘and finally’ bulletin at the end of the news. Anyone think it’s a good idea?

Yes Andrew the hamlet is actually Heaton Lodge itself not Mirfield. Here’s a link to the article in the Daily Mail today. I was very dubious about speaking to them but I guess it’s decent PR for the hobby. Where they got the numbers they quote as in costs etc is beyond me. Least it’s not described as a giant train set etc https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9251581/And-stop-200ft-Man-recreates-rail-junction-Britains-biggest-model-railway.html

Been a couple of weeks of doing mundane frustrating jobs, mainly involving the backscene at the very far west end. Problem is that everything on HLJ has to be dismantled and reassembled so there’s a lot more work in allowing for this. However the backscene is coming on well at the far end and I’ve slowly started working all the way down. Had a disaster with another river pour last week. Unfortunately I added too much activator and right in front of cameras (who are making the episode on HLJ for BBC2) the resin started billowing smoke and set rock hard in seconds. I tried to put a brave face on it but going to have to redo it with a helper. Pretty obvious to modellers (if you watch it on TV) it’s all gone wrong. Oh well.. That said the river should look ok with another pour, as there are lots of depths and colours now! I think I’ve spent £500 on resin so far back scene coming on..river looking ropey it looks fragile but with locks, handles and catches, the rear of the west end scenic break back scene fits well. A black pvc banner will cover all this lot pretty soon