barney121e

Just a little update. Although planning on software can give you a really good idea of a plan, when putting the track together sometimes it doesnt fit the space as you would expect. So after some replanning the track plan is this:- The blue circles are power connection 1, then the green and red circles are connections 2 and 3. The plan is very loosely based on Crianlarich on the West Highland line and one thing i have realised is to remember i am not not doing an exact copy of place, but a take on it. Still time for adjustments as the dreaded man flu has struck.

So nearly an embarrassing issue. As will be a West Highland line inspired layout will use the Rannoch Moor station kit from peco. Luckily when looking at the kit saw the station is 114mm wide so had to increase the space between the tracks. Thankfully found it out now.

Sorry, should have said i know i need a power feed on the headshunts but wondered if a extra power feed for the mainline on both plans would help at all. Obviously will only be running one train on the mainline at a time, so probably 2 feeds might be overkill. I think realism is a compromise i have to make, but definitely skewing the plan would help, will have a play.

Hi As i only have a 6x4 layout area i had come up with a plan loosely based on Crianlarich. But i am wondering if less is more, and have done a plan loosely based on Rannoch Moor. Not after doing a direct copy. Just wondering what peoples views are. Also the layout will be DC. Now done a test and one set of droppers on the mainline is fine, but wondering if a second would help or make a difference at all. Any views much appreciated.

So this is the way the layout looks. Still might make small adjustments but looks about there.

Just wondering if people ballast first and then paint sleepers and rails or do you do it the other way around? Cheers

So after a false start at the weekend have finally got a plan that works for me. Due to being only 6 x 4 there had to be compromises but for me i can work with them. The trackplan is loosely based on Crianlarich but could be a few other places around the country, although with start with a scottish scenery feel, well that is the plan. On the single line at the top i may turn it into a fiddle yard. Someone has suggested a kick back but struggling to understand exactly what is it. I have a varied stock at the moment, one or two with a scottish possibility but can run it as a heritage sort of line and then when i acquire some more appropriate locos could run it as a West Highland line station. Have laid the track and given it a test run and all seem to be working well. So next steps are to underlay, pin the track to baseboard, weather and finally ballast. Got a couple of suitable buildings to put together, and of course the platform area. Signalling i understand a little after some help from another forum member, coupling also needs to be looked into. Plan is below.

From a lead flashing point of view, what type do you use?

Hi Having checked ebay for weights to no avail, does anyone know where i might get some. Tried a couple of places but no luck.

Colours look the same but hard to tell. I think what I have is a tender which is on service sheet 213 and 306 but the loco is different. Guessing I have the a tender driven loco and an engine driven tender

Well was no motor in it when i opened it up, just some metal. It is a Hornby tender, so wondering if the loco is a Hornby one. Or if they are from different models?

Had just had a quick look but tender feels very light, so thinking motor might be missing. But knowing it is an airfix one gives me a starting point. Thanks.

Picture if that helps

Hi Strange question. I have got a castle class steam locomotive as a non runner in a group of locos. I believe it is R2498 but did Hornby make and earlier model, as there doesnt seem to be any space in the loco for a motor. Does anyone know if there was a earlier one and the code to find the service sheet at all?

Exactly what i need, was going to do pencil thing but wasnt sure if there was a set measurement. Thanks

So i am using oo gauge code 100 track and wondering how far from the track the platforms should be. Is there a set measurement? There used to be a guide somewhere but i cant find the link.

Thanks. Flexi track is possible, got a few lengths of it but prefer to use set track curves and then Flexi on straight bits if needed.

Thanks @DCB That all makes sense. I think with my small space I need to make a list of what I want most to least and then go from there.

@The Johnster So have come up with plan below, is this more of what you had in mind? What would you put in inner circle, the goods yard or an engine shed? Would you use outer sidings for shunting? Any help much appreciated

@The Johnster okay some of that makes sense, so swap the front area of plan 3 for plan 2 I understand. The other suggestions aren't totally clear to me but is late and brain has had enough for today so will revisit tomorrow night.

Thanks for the reply. I only have older RTR stock which i think all handles R1 curve hence the reason plan 1 was a possible. With reference to your preferred plan 2. When you mention a straight road, do you mean literally a road, a a rail line? I was thinking of a having an engine shed in the bottom right hand corner, do you think something else would work there? The inner sidings i hadn't really thought about as would have the station that side of the track so adjusting the lines could impact space available. Have attached an amended plan which i think is what you mean.

Hi All So returning to start my layout and been looking into plans as only have a 6ft by 4ft space. After lots of looking, laying it out to see how it looks etc have come down to the three plans attached. Plan 1 is one i have seen on youtube which i love, plan 2 is a Hornby plan for a branch line and plan 3 is based on Crianlarich, but can be used for any similar scottish lines. Now this will be my only layout and will be DC. Plan 1 uses 1st and 2nd radius curves which nearly all my stock go around, plans 2 and 3 are both 2nd radius curves. Plan 1 does give 2 trains running at same time but the other plans do give me a branch line single track feel which works for me as well. Just wondering what others think, have I missed anything?

So after leaving in box for 3 months, i decided to revisit the black 5 this week. Ordered a couple of small parts and then began tinkering again. First worked on the silver seal engine and gave it a good service. Still rather noisy, might go down the cd conversion route to hopefully get it running better. Then put new bushes in a couple of the wheels, gave the chassis etc a real good clean and tested and train ran. Only issue left was the coupling rods, but after a few attempts have got them working as well. Just goes to show that with a little perseverance i can resurrect a dead engine.

Followed your advice and got one up and running. Also saw a youtube video on a dead one that was helpful. Thanks for everyone's advice. Lima are so much more straightforward to work on.

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