Echo

Nice to see a model of these locos. Just curious, but should there be 4 safety valves or just 2? Some photos I have seen suggest only 2, but I am not really sure. One day I hope to do one in 2mm scale.

Sorry, I obviously misinterpreted your plan. The idea of creating this thread was for anyone to use it. I was a bit worried to start with that maybe no one else was interested, but resistance seems to be wearing thin now 'DJLC' on its own as a title sounds a bit austere. I will leave it as it is for now.

Looking at your Templot plan again, if it's a passenger line you shouldn't have catch points. Only used normally for access from goods lines and sidings to passenger lines.

OK, I'm definitely having a go at the complex pointwork/telescopic bridge idea as in post #8 If I fail to get the complex part of the pointwork built to my satisfaction, I can always fall back on one of my other ideas.... there's plenty of time I'll probably start a layout-specific topic when I've made a bit of progress - likely October/November time.

I have done something similar before in P4, which worked very well too, but I have no photos. I suggest your standard gauge check rail only has to be quite short unless it is a passenger line. I was told by someone who saw similar "pointwork" in Africa that you need a checkrail on the other side too - a bit like the bottom part in the diagram - LHS in the photo, of the single blade turnouts I have built recently in P4

Nice idea - spelt Guilford though . I think there was an idea that the line might be incorporated in a long distance electric tramway at one time. The detail of the mixed gauge track possibly depends on which lines are passenger and which are goods only. A cheap and nasty goods-only solution might get away with a bladeless turnout, using a checkrail on the standard-gauge-only rail to guide the standard gauge away from the mixed gauge track.

its only 2 sq ft its only 2 sq ft its only 2 sq ft ,,,and yes, it will creep up on us just the same!

In odd moments, I have refined the telescopic bridge idea, making it the front runner for the moment. I moved the telescopic bridge to the right, such that only 2/3 of it is visible in the scenic part of the model. That makes more room for the junction on the left. A bit like this.. An overhead signal cabin on the left, the sea wall (in brown) and a second river bridge would act as scenic breaks. This bridge would be at a higher level than the railway bridge, so could be of a fixed design. Overall, it looks a little more balanced than before. The big attraction for me would be the complex pointwork, which would look a bit like this.. I still have to tidy up the sleepers a bit, but I may do that manually, rather than mess around a lot more on the computer. I had a go at something similar at the beginning of last year and almost succeeded. I don't like to accept defeat, so it's been bugging me for a while. I finally twigged that a sharper crossing angle would make everything fit together better - so that's what I have done in the new version. I would try and make sure that I built it in a more logical sequence, as last time I found I couldn't get the soldering iron close enough to solder in place some of the final check rails. The first diagram suggests what might exist beyond the scenic model - basically a very small seaside branch terminus. I could add that after the DJLC. The complex junction would be built first, just to make sure I can do it. everything else would be easy in comparison. Only a thought for now. I won't be making a start (at the earliest) until October, as I am busy with other things. I may still do one of the other ideas instead, of course. No rush though - we have quite a long time before the deadline at the moment.

Gosport was a terminus with a branch IIRC

I have had a few more ideas, but none as good (in my opinion only, of course) as the original set. Here is Wantage, pretty much in its entirety. The exit trackwork would be hidden behind the small loco shed. As a diorama it would work really well - but the tiny locos would be challenging to build and run reliably. Of the ones so far I think Grimsby or Dudley would make the best models, though Ludgate comes a close third. The big problem with Ludgate would be all the EMUs I would have to make somehow. At least with the other two, there is a reasonable amount of RTR stuff available to ease the burden - some of which I already have. I did this impression of Grimsby, complete with wings to hide the exits. This could easily be incorporated in a larger layout at a later date. The whole station is fairly compact for a main line station as it is squeezed between two level crossings. Dudley, on the other hand would probably work best as a small diorama, even for the long term. The site gets very wide and complicated further north. Further south, the line is hidden in a deep cutting. I would possibly just make the diorama wider after the Diamond Jubilee to accommodate the missing trackwork. I will have to leave this for a while now, as I have other modelling jobs, including urgent work for an exhibition in a few weeks time!

There are several OS maps showing the site in different stages of development, so further research is definitely possible. Shame you don't want to try the pointwork though. It would be an excellent way of learning how to build complex pointwork. I wuld draw it up in Templot first. The sector plate idea would also work well, which is what I was thinking of doing. Don't let me stop you if you want to have a go. I was probably going to do something else anyway.

Yeah, I will have a go - if only I can make my mind up what to do The discipline of squeezing something into such a small space will be good for me. I have a few other things on the go at the moment though, so I may end up rushing one of the simple ones right near the deadline.

Unfortunately, I am getting a little carried away with ideas for the Diamond Jubilee Layout Challenge When it was first announced, with a maximum scenic area of 600mm by 240mm, I thought 'what on earth would fit in a space like that?'. After playing around with one or two, my brain quickly got into the mood and far too many ideas quickly followed. The Challenge is very much set as something for beginners to try as their first step into producing a layout. For the more experienced modeller though, I think it does offer a challenge rather different and refreshing. Every day seems to bring another thought to mind. I have rejected quite a few. It is amazing just how many good ideas are just that little bit too big - and can't easily be compressed. I have also come across a few where the pointwork is just off limits, so doomed to fail as not fitting the rules. Here are just a few I have thought of so far. I don't claim any of them are good, but at least it sets my ideas down on 'paper' for comments and thought. I concentrated mainly on modelling small sections of real locations - more or less to scale. Abstract ideas are far more difficult to convey. Scene blockers (or wings, as Iain Rice calls them) help to cut out the bits off scenic limits - as do bridges and tunnel mouths. Most of these ideas could be extended later. Some would do fine just as they are. Beginning with something simple, the old goods yard at Redruth could be compressed slightly to make an interesting shunting layout. This appears to have a 4-way interlaced turnout which would be interesting to build. Another idea I had was to model the telescopic bridge at Bridgwater. Bridges always make interesting models. Unfortunately, the bridge itself is near enough 600mm long on its own, so no room for a turnout as it stands. By reducing its scale to 80% I found room for a turnout at one end, so the idea could qualify for the Challenge after all. This also has the benefit of narrowing the width for standard gauge trains only. To make the cameo more interesting, I added a diamond crossing for another line. A few subtly placed buildings and an overbridge would make the scenic breaks. The telescopic bridge could be made to work, as has already been done in a larger scale. Later, I could add a small branch terminus on the left, maybe. As well as simple scenes, some surprisingly complex trackwork and scenery can be incorporated in 600x240mm, without much compromise. Here is Aldgate on the Metropolitan Railway This had an overall roof starting roughly where the orange line is on the right. By moving this to the left, a good visual break is added to the already existing tunnel mouths and deep retaining walls. Next, we have the south end of Dudley station. This squeezes some very intense trackwork into a very small space. To get the area into 240mm wide, the down GW platform and trackwork has been omitted. Some minor compression would be required to get an acceptable scene, but not by very much. I would be tempted to move the station buildings slightly to the right. Here are views of the scene The north end of Ludgate Hill station would work quite well too. The station had quite a high walls that once supported an overall roof, so the station itself has a good visual break. At the other end, a tall building on the north side of Ludgate would give a good scenic break. The trackwork is rather complex, but was simplified in later times. Here is a view of how the model might look Next, we have the west end of Grimsby station. This would include a working level crossing. Here is a 3D view of the area. The sgnal box and the overall roof of the station make good view blockers. Finally, something quirky - the old cable tram terminus at Matlock. This would make a lovely scene, if slightly monotonous to operate! That's all for now. I don't claim that any of them are particularly good - but its a start. By this time next week, I may well have another few hundred ideas The problem will be what, if anything I should actually model. No rush, thankfully, as I have one or two other things to progress first. Hopefully, my first thoughts will set a few ideas going in other people's minds.

I don't think that is part of the plan, I haven't received any reply, but somehow didn't expect one. It has not stopped me working on an entry. Nor has it worried me.

The photos arrived this morning by email - what an excellent service!. The ones I found (on the RCTS site) are of slightly later stock with the shorter bogies, but show a lot of useful detail. Apart from one all-third that shows repairs around a lot of the door hinges, most appear to be in quite good condition and a few, at least, have been recently repainted. You can see the shine. There is also some useful lettering, including a set number on the end of one of the brake vehicles at Birmingham New Street. The stock is all electrically lit. Overall, I have gained a lot of useful information!

I have found a few photos on the RCTS site, largely thanks to the clue that some went to the Tilbury line. There are one or two early 1950s shots at New Street. I tried the Warwickshire site earlier, but couldn't find anything useful, unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion anyway, John.

That's brilliant! Many thanks for the info. It had never occurred to me that so much of the stock might have gravitated elsewhere. No wonder photos of them around New Street are seemingly impossible to find. I guess I will have to claim (rather dubiously) that the MR/LMS/LMR kept one or more sets specifically for the 'Thistle Foxham' branch. I am already planning to include Birmingham trams 3 years after they finished running, so why not a few coaches too?

Looking at other captions in Jenkinson's book there are references to gas lighting being replaced on other Midland carriages of the same era. I could perhaps assume that as this is not mentioned in respect of the 48ft suburban coaches, they may have remained gas lit to the end. Good news is that the kits arrived this morning and look very nice! I am just waiting for the wheels to arrive now. I got one of each type - an all first (which also doubled as a composite), a full third, a 4 compartment brake third and a 6 compartment brake third. Measuring the overall length of the rake, they just fit nicely in the run round loop at the terminal platform of my station. The lack of flush glazing may be a minor issue for me - but otherwise, the kits should make up into a very nice set of coaches. My rake will have to have lasted until 1957, to fit in with the story of the layout. I plan to do them in early BR crimson unlined livery, unless facts emerge to contradict that idea. I reckon that after almost 10 years in BR ownership, even these coaches would surely have received a repaint - but I am happy to be convinced otherwise, just as long as it is before I do the painting!

Ratio do 4mm scale kits of the 8ft 6in wide 48ft MR suburban coaches with 10ft wheelbase bogies. According to Jenkinson's Historic Carriage Drawings book, that should be perfect for Birmingham area suburban trains. Problem is I need to model them in mid-1950s BR condition, at the end of their life. I have been hunting for contemporary photos, but to no avail. Can anyone advise me if/where any useful photos exist, please? Otherwise, suggestions of changes I need to make to the kits to get the detail right. For example, did they retain gas lighting to the bitter end? Did some of the panelling disappear, as with other pre-grouping coaches? I am well outside my normal areas of interest and knowledge with this one, so any useful advice would be gratefully received.

I have one to do too. Just wasn't sure if the Laserglaze kits for the Bachmann loco also work well on the SLW loco. I understood that the windows are slightly different - or can you get them specifically for the SLW loco?

The weathering looks great, but those windows look like they need a clean - or the driver sticking his head out of the side window ...or are you going to reglaze them? Not meant to be a criticism - just curious!

Great to see you are progressing so well! One word of warning though - your method of track crossing baseboard joints is far too vulnerable to damage and would be very difficult to repair or adjust. I speak from practical experience! Something far more robust is advisable, even more so as you will eventually have overhead wires and other stuff in the way.

Ravenglass & Eskdale! That one has been done by Peter Kazer(?) - lovely model, but not much fun to watch at an exhibition

That layout is really nice. One problem from your perspective though would be the pure Great Eastern nature of the stock. There were a few other inspirational tramway-type operations in the UK, like the Alford & Sutton Tramway and the Wantage Tramway. Also, let's not forget the Dublin & Blessington Steam Tramway.

I am firmly in the Manning Wardle camp when it comes to locos for light railways - quaint, light axle load and you can double head them in the (unlikely) event of heavy trains. Colonel Stephens will provide references if needed. RT Models do kits of 2 varieties. On the other hand, there is always Boulton's siding...