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Pannier Tank Man

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  1. Pannier Tank Man
    Hello everyone below is an image of my first layout design currently named as the North Downs Heritage Railway. (Made with AnyRail)
     

     
    The layout is a fictional preserved line set in the heart of the North Downs.
     
    The design is relatively simple as i am quite new to the modelling scene.
    The scenic part of the layout is 6ft x 3ft (fiddle yards are yet to be decided) and will be DCC controlled on 00 gauge.
    Most of the fleet will consist of 0-6-0 tank and diesel locomotives and single/2 car DMUs.
     
    Any tips and constructive criticism is welcome.
     
    EDIT: I will put in a realistic level crossing rather than using the Peco one this one is on the plan for visualizing it.
  2. Pannier Tank Man
    The first design of the layout has been altered slightly after some feedback (thanks RJS1977) as seen here

     
    Due to the run-round being to small and not really serving a purpose as this is not a terminus station it has been removed. Platform 1 (shuttle) is still entered from the 2nd fiddle yard side.
     
    The goods shed has been renamed to a restoration shed where rolling stock is restored.
     
    The goods siding still exists but will mostly be used to place any type of rolling stock that is waiting to be restored or just to add operational interest with shunting (bringing empty wagons out full coal wagons back.)
     
    The layout will use Peco set track but i might use flexi track for future layouts.
     
    The name of the station is still undecided but it will be the station before then end of line terminus.
     
    The next step is to take in more feedback for the design and then making room for the layout to be built and stored in.
     
    I will update with progress as often as I can.
     
    Thanks for reading
     
    PTM
  3. Pannier Tank Man
    As college is nearly finished for the year I will be able to go to my local model railway club for a couple of weeks.
    With this I hope to try and get some of my locomotives chipped (at least 4) ready for the layout which may have to wait until the weather warms up to begin any sort of construction. So I'd thought that I would give you a glimpse into some of my collection that I am planning to run on my first layout.
     

    <Hornby R3354 0-4-0 DIESEL "BARABEL" SENTINEL LOCOMOTIVE>
     
    When I first saw the first batch of these little diesels I thought they looked quite quirky and was considering getting one but when I heard Hornby were releasing a second batch (with outer crank) I decided to wait for them to hit the shops. Why it's not the best detailed model out there, I believe for the price the detail is still very good. When testing it on DC on the club test track, after being run in, I wondered how slow it would go and I was amazed that when I thought it was not moving that it was so slow that it looked like it! I have yet to test it on points but if I plan to make the points electrofrog it shouldn't be to much of a problem.
     

    <32-106K CLASS 08 601 "SPECTRE" LMS BLACK EXCLUSIVE TO THE Bachmann COLLECTORS CLUB>
     
    Shortly after Christmas I was browsing the Bachmann Collectors Club site out of curiosity of what it was about and I saw this beauty on the the front page and shortly after signed up and purchased this model. I had been after a class 08 for a while but could never seem to find one in a livery I liked or I would find one but already spent my model budget on other items. As well as incredible detail the model is a smooth runner under DC and is more than capable of hauling any train I will run on my layout.
     

    <Bachmann 32-129A CLASS 46XX PRAIRIE TANK 4545 BR BLACK EARLY EMBLEM>
     
    One of my favorite locomotives in my collection. Getting one of these was a pain to get at the time as everywhere I looked at the time had sold out of this model and this version was being discontinued until I went to my local-ish model shop in Addlestone and they had one left. It hasn't had a good run for a while but as far as I'm aware it is a good runner as well although it's slow speeds aren't the best under DC but should improve after being chipped. I am thinking of getting another prairie tank in the future but for now i am happy with just one of these lovely locos.
     

    (This is an older image due to reasons explained later)
    <Bachmann 64XX BR BLACK EARLY EMBLEM>
     
    As my username suggests I have a certain soft spot for Panniers and this was my first 1. I wanted a Pannier since I first got back into the hobby but could not find one that was brand new (I was a bit cautious with second hand locos at the time) then one day after picking up a modeling magazine I saw that Bachmann had released these amazing models and picked one up when I went on a mini spending spree at Alton. Even the shop keeper was amazed by how smoothly it ran out the box. Sadly I have seem to somehow misplaced this model (my room is a tip to be honest!) and if I can't find it soon I will have to get another of my 6 pin locos chipped in it's place.
     
    As for the layout itself the design currently remains unchanged but when I go to the club in a couple of weeks for our "show and tell" evening I try and get a print of the layout (not to scale) and have them give me tips on it's design and how best to start (once the garage or another similar sized room has sufficient space).
     
    Thank you for reading and I will update as much as I can on the progress and if much doesn't happen I'll make another "introducing the fleet" blog.
     
    PTM
  4. Pannier Tank Man
    Whilst the house is being cleared I decided to play around with my layout design and here is the result:


     



     
    The set track level crossing has been taken out and an annotation on where the level crossing will be placed has been added as I plan not to use the set track level crossing. It has also moved to the right slightly allowing me to extend the restoration shed which has now got an extra siding. The points to the goods siding have been moved back and the siding has been extended. I have also added that Platform 2 will host the main station buildings such as toilets and ticket office as platform 2 is only for shuttle trains.
     
    As I said before the layout will be DCC controlled but the points will not be as I will get a control panel which allows me to switch points without having to number them. I am still deciding between the Digitrax starter controller (which I have had a go at) or the NCE Powercab (which I have not had a go at yet).
     
    The fiddle yard will for now be a simple set of sidings at either end but I have not worked out the length of them but they need to cater for a tank engine plus 2/3 bogie carriages at least.
     
    My next blog will most likely be another one about my fleet for this layout unless any changes to the design or construction begins.
     
    As always any constructive feedback is welcome.
     
    Thanks for reading
    PTM
  5. Pannier Tank Man
    While my model collection seems to keep growing and space seems to be diminishing I did a very minor edit to the plans of the layout:

     
    As you can see there is going to be some modern image stock on my layout this is mostly because of the upcoming arrival of the Class 450 which runs local to me and as most heritage railways seem to run by the main line (e.g. Watercress) I decided to add a double line for some modern image stock to pass by.
    Another task with this layout is coming up for a name of the station. I want a fictional name as even though it is set in the north downs it is not set anywhere particular in that area. Any suggestions will be helpful.
    On another note I have been thinking of building an N gauge exhibition layout set in the BR blue diesel era but that still in the deciding what size it will be stage and will wait until this layout has been built.
     
    That's all for now I will try to make a blog every now and then but life has to take it's priority.
     
    Thanks for reading
    PTM
  6. Pannier Tank Man
    So the apart from a minor update to the plans of the NDHR (which is a simple extension of the layout to allow a larger station) there has been little progress on the actual construction of the layout. After seeing a fellow club member's 009 layout it peaked my interest and now Bachmann have announced more stock for their narrow gauge range, I have decided to build a 009 layout that if it turns out well may become an exhibition layout. This will be more of a side project whilst I will mainly focus on the NDHR when the garage gets cleared when its not so cold.
     
    Again I have used anyrail trial version to design the layout and this is my first draft of the design:



     
    The layout is once again a heritage railway as this gives me more freedom in what stock i can run. The layout is fictitious and based somewhere in North Wales and has no name as of yet. As you can see there is a main line to run a modern image DMU as a shuttle this will use set track whilst the narrow gauge will use peco 009 flexi track. Both lines will be served by a small fiddle yard. The scenic section if 4x1ft. The narrow gauge will have a small station with a loop to allow run rounds from the turntable and allow 2 trains in the station at once. The workshop and loco shed will be used to store 1 or 2 locos and some rolling stock that is "being worked on". The layout will be DC controlled and my collection has already started with a minitrains gmeinder set in blue which I may rename to sound more welsh as its basic look allows for it to be easily passed of as a welsh loco.
     
    As always any feedback is welcome and I hope I can keep making more regular posts in the future.
  7. Pannier Tank Man
    L&YR 2-4-2 Tank 10713 LMS Crimson - This loco was one I was going to get on multiple occasions but either the model shop did not have it in stock or I saw something else to spend my money on at an exhibition. Then last year I went to a local exhibition and saw this at the kernow stand and saw it was at a very reasonable price. The livery on this locomotive is really nice and LMS crimson is probably one of my favorite of the big 4 liveries.

    USA class 0-6-0 Tank 72 'Worth Valley' Black and Silver - When i first saw these I wasn't too sure on them but then I saw a couple of YouTube reviews and that peeked my interest and then again at a local exhibition kernow had a couple available and this livery stood out to me the most and seeing as it is the preserved livery as well. This one will probably be a visitor loco as it already belongs to a heritage railway.

    Wainwright H class 0-4-4 Tank 308 SECR - pretty much as soon as they announced these i had to pre-order one. awkwardly it came out when i already spent quite a bit that month on other things. I am uncertain if i will also get the collectors club one but will mostly like leave it to give other people a chance to get one in such a nice livery.

    Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 saddle tank 16" 2226 "Katie" Lined Maroon - my most recent addition to my collection and yet to have a run in as i have no access to a test track until Tuesday but impressions of the model are good and will go well with my pecket and on industrial galas.
     
    For now i think ill focus less on buying new locos and getting my current on chipped.
     
    Also i finally have come up with a name for the station which is "Sempach" which is the name of the place my late grandparents on my mothers side lived. I have a large vinyl sticker made for me as a station totem which will go above the layout in the garage. im also thinking of changing the name of the railway to the west surrey and Sussex railway (WS&SR) instead of the north downs heritage railway but am not quite sure yet and would like some feedback by readers to answer the poll.
     
    Again thank you for reading and now the weather seems to be getting better I can make some progress on the clearing of the garage and building of the layout.
  8. Pannier Tank Man
    Whilst the 00 layout (Sempach Station) is still far from being started I've decided to start work on the 009 layout as due to it's size and it not being a permanent layout (as in it will be stored away when not in use) and will be about half the size I thought it would be good to start building it. I have got the track for the scenic section and the left over flexi track can be used for the 009 fiddle yard whilst the set track used on the 00 part can be complimented with by abundance of Hornby set track (as that fiddle yard only need 2 sidings for the 150 and 153). The next stage will be building baseboards and working out the size of the fiddle yard. The aim being to get at least the 00 branch line to be operational before my clubs open day. The current roster of 009 locos include a Gmeinder and Bagnall by minitrains and a Bachmann skarloey which will be something to entertain the youngsters. With a Bachmann baldwin on the way the collection is slowly growing.
    I have yet to decide on whether to add the turntable or not as while it may add operational interest it may restrict room and make wiring more complex. This will be decided after advice from club members. Also the layout will soon need a name something related to North Wales but will probably be a fictional name.
     

     
    Thank you for reading and I hope to bring more updates soon.
  9. Pannier Tank Man
    The materials have been purchased and alterations to the plan have been made (it was actually 5 x 2 ft) ready for construction of the base boards to begin.
     




     

    As you can see the plan has changed somewhat from the original to actually fit on a 5 x 1 ft board. Whilst I will have to compromise on the scenery i believe having both lines closer is more realistic as it allows the "passengers" to move from the standard gauge to the heritage narrow gauge line. I have an idea of adding a picnic/play area and a car park on the 009 end and a small pen of sheep. However the amount of scenery will be decided once the track has been laid.
     
    I will try to keep my progress on this project up to date on this blog or on my youtube channel (same as my username).
  10. Pannier Tank Man
    First off apologies for this entry taking so long.
     
    Whilst the 00 NDHR layout has no progress being made, progress on my 009 layout (now named Cwm Cloch) has had some progress made.
     
    The base boards have been built and the 00 track has been laid a wired up. This was done back in August just before the clubs open day where I tested it using my arriva 150 and my Bachmann Percy:

     
    Work on laying the 009 track should take place tomorrow at the club (due to having little experience with flexi track and the lack of space to work on it at home).
     
    I will try and make an update on any progress from now on.
     
    Once the track is laid work will begin on wiring it up and scenery.
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