Edinburgh Junction

No progress so far, other than track going down that I currently have.... will ballast when all of the track is down. The depot track will be inlaid track all the way, sidings will just be ballasted neatly. Been doing some plans of the motorway area, and come up with this (a birds eye view, a side and front view)...

Thank you Richard! Much appreciated! Hi Georgie! Thanks for taking an interest. Where I mention '...fiddle yard will be very simple... no points, no sliding things... just somewhere...', I was talking about the actual fiddle yard, I didn't actually say no points for the main depot. I was thinking of that, but I decided I want atleast one point in it. Regarding Exhibitions, at the moment, with homework, events etc, I am unable to get my layout to some kind of exhibition standards, and I'd rather wait until I have a job, and money, and time to do a proper layout. This is a test, not a full depot layout. But thanks for the offer. Thank you Jack

Now, your probably wondering what the hell this is! Well, some of you may know, I have a small, long board in another room, which was intending to be EDJ south TMD, but, I thought this would be the opportunity to test out running an end-to-end layout. The TMD will be diesel to start off, but when Peco release their Catenary range, then It will be an electric depot. The plan has always been, 4 lane siding with a 2 lane depot. The depot building will be the Peco train shed, and the two lines meet from the depot to a point, where a fueling point will be situated. Then the line swerves over slightly nearer the siding, then go under a motorway, disguising the 'fiddle yard'. The fiddle yard will be very simple... no points, no sliding things... just somewhere to take the trains out of the scenic view for videoing reasons... This is a test layout, and will be done to the quality on EDJ, the main layout. I hope everyone likes the idea... any comments? Just a quick and simple track plan. Some of the track is already on the board. Enjoy! More news will be available soon... This will be a 2010/11 project for me to keep me going whilst work slows on EDJ... Cheers Jack

Very nice blog you have here... following with great interest.

UPDATE: I have now officially ordered 1x pack of the platform lights from Kytes lights. I cannot wait to get these installed.

That looks really good! Now I know what the layout really looks like. Love it all!

Very nice there... just a question though.... Why can I see a blue 3 aspect signal

That looks very nice matey! Really does! The track plan is lovely and complex, great for doing loads of running around on the layout

Fantastic work Danny! Really is coming on! I like your new trackplan... your layout is really coming on now! Keep it up!

That 50 does look the beast! Very well chosen Jon! Happy New Year! All the best for Brooke Stone!

I love that LoadHaul one... so do I love that WSR 170... but best of all, 'Kevin' the stobart duck.

Thanks Richard and Fred! Much appreciated!

Im tempted towards the loadhaul too... very nice livery it is.

The last post for the day, and its a good'n. I've spent a good 30 minutes on the layout with my glue, lichen and bush clumps, and started away sticking this and that to some parts of the platform, to see if I can achieve something that I find is hard to do - give buildings/platforms a 'good old life' and make them a lot more realistic. After that good old time spent up working on the platform, I have to say, I think every second spent doing it was well worth it. My lordz! It looks amazing! The far left hand side of the platform, the scenery gets tough, and the weeds are really overgrown! Two workers talk about the work to be done, whilst one of them does it! A lovely bush is starting to grow near the DRS sign The exit ramp that I scratch built today, has merged into the platform, as the plants have grown a lot over a few hours. A lovely bush is forming on the side of the ramp An overall of the new platform, showing everything I've attempted at tonight...

I got myself a Hornby one, and its a real beauty. Gonna get a Bachmann one next.... very good wagons they are...

Getting the hang of these entries for blogs.... but getting carried away lol. This is the entry for all scratch building projects I have done on the layout. The first one I did, were two little ramps for my footbridge behind the warehouse, which were quick and simple. No pictures im affraid, but I have just done a little lovely ramp, for my Direct Rail Services platform, which has had a gap for some kind of ramp or set of stairs, but never have got round to doing it. But I got everything measured up, cut and got the glue out, and started sticking loads of bits together. So, with it built, found a spare trackside worker lying around on the layout an stuck him on it and voila! Its done. Very pleased with the results. The componants are from the Metcalfe red brick platform kit to match the platform itself. From the front From behind, in the (what will be a) beer garden for the pub What does everyone think?

Happy New Year Jon! All the best. Your 2010 layout is really taking shape now, and certainly would be one of the top for the competition. I wish you all the best in getting your layout prepared in time for the compeition, and also Im sure you will feel a lot happier when you get round to running your stock.

All of the work getting my new ballast down on the extension platforms and loco siding has payed off. Weeks and weeks of spraying down diluted pva and water (4:1 - Water:Glue), got the ballast into the position, then 1 big huge spray of the 4:1 solution with a bit of Fairy up liquid and boom! Its solid ballast! very happy with result... Above: Looking to the platforms, with the units in awaiting passengers Above: The ScotRail mk3 sleeper is stabled in the lovely new loco stabling point Above and below: My latest major work, was the loco stabling point's buffer stops. Loads of lichen and bush clumps were glued on... im pleased on how it looks.... very pleased. The white bar going across the buffers is to allow stock such as carriages and wagons to stable. The layout is on a slight slope, and the stock just doesn't stay, so they can hook their coupling up onto it whilst it stables Lovely bit of new scenery, and im pleased with how it looks...

My ModelZone voucher didn't stay long on my computer desk. Yesterday, I visited my local store to see what I could spend my money on. Was tempted for a FGW 'fagpacket' liveried mk2 brake carriage, also, a few details like bins, and people.... but no. The one that caught my eye, was Hornby's YGB 'Seacow' in a weathered Mainline livery. I asked if they had an EWS liveried, but they have been discontinued. Bachmann are the only ones left to do Seacows in EWS livery. Anyhow, I got out my money, and bought this very finely detailed wagon, which is a fantastic little beasty, and how I have missed out on them, I do not know. This is the first of about 5 I hope to get. Just the down side is the price of these cows. Anyway, time for some pictures. What does everyone think? Enjoy! [PLEASE NOTE: THIS ENTRY IS CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS WRITTEN IN 2009, DUE TO 2010 NOT BEING ON THE LIST. IT WILL BE CORRECTED, AND SEEMS TO BE EFFECTING EVERYONE. IT WILL BE SORTED. VERY SORRY ABOUT THIS]

My output on m' controller short circuits the controller, (as if something metal is touching both of the rails)... so decided for a seperate transformer.

Right, as I try to get my blog on the new RMweb together (doing it the old way, like I did on RMweb3) I might as well make a start. One of the most important things about layouts, it the lights. Not the lights that light up the room where the railway is, but the lights on the platforms, car park, street, trains etc. So, over the next few weeks, I intend to purchase some Platform lights, and some building lights so I can light up the station part of the layout. All of the lights will be purchased from Kytes Lights, who specialise in Model Enhancements. I would have gone for Viessmann, but their range is for a single light is just under a tenner, where for the double platform lights, are in packs of 10 for 10 quid, which is a lot better than Viessmann. The Kytes lights for the island platforms (2/3 4/5) will be using their awo6w/150. For the buildings, I will be using their 6 white shad, which are really nice from the pictures. For the car park, I can't use standard lights, as the layout is supported on tables, and one is directly below the car park. I will be using 2x plaza 12v. So, thats that sorted. The platform and building lights are 6v, but will be connected up to the signal's 12v supply, but I will be using resistors that are supplied with the lights. The plaza runs directly off a 12v supply. So folkes, thats it from me. I hope to get the lights fitted over the next few months.

My DRS 20/3 conversion can contine (though its stopped atm), as Shawplan have now released the multiple socket thingy in the middle of the 20 cab. Meaning that I need to buy these things to complete it: RailMatch thinner Lancaster City Models transfers (the current ones are flaking off - masking tape's problem) Shawplan cabside window frames (i may not bother)

That 4CEP looks stunning! Well done you to get one of those!

Looks good matey! Doing my ballast, and the scatter method may be harder than foam ballast underlay, but the results are way better!