turtlebah

Thanks Dan. I’d earmarked something along those lines for my warehouse in front of the fiddle yard. Was lucky enough to see Birmingham Moor St exhibited at Derby last year. Awesome layout - although the high level goods shed isn’t a huge feature (the wagon lifts are amazing).

Hi All, Quick update - i've now got a page up and running for my new project (version 2), Wolverhampton West Park. See link below for some early phase build photos.

I should give a shout out to Martin at Model Railway Solutions for providing me with some great baseboards and fiddle yard cassettes.

Dear Community, As some of you might know, I abandoned my first layout attempt, an urban western region terminus (Bristol - Bath Road or BBR) over a year ago as a result of an impending house renovation. Once our house renovations were complete - including a dedicated railway room - it was time to start again. As BBR was my first attempt at a serious project I learnt there were a few things that with hindsight i would do differently. Two things I especially wanted to do different second time round was experiment with C&L track work and making my own points (I wasn’t happy with the appearance of Peco points), and get the baseboards professionally made (my homemade attempt with BBR was a disaster). With that all in mind below are a couple of snaps of my new project, WOLVERHAMPTON WEST PARK. Wolverhampton West Park is a fictional city terminus set in the 1960s. Built by the Great Western Railway as the original terminus in Wolverhampton, West Park quickly became a secondary station after Low Level opened in 1854. By the 1960s, West Park primarily served local services to keep pressure away from Low Level (LL). A junction east of LL at Priestfield passing under the LNWR line to High Level near Walsall St Goods runs into the terminus near Molineux football stadium east of West Park. There was one intermediate station at Queen Square. Running out from West Park there is also a connection with the GWR line to Shrewsbury at Dunstall Park (not via Queen Square). There is a further connection north to Stafford on the old LNWR line, which back in the day also had running rights into West Park. There was no link into Low Level without reversing trains at Priestfield, a major factor in the decision to close the station. The convoluted history enables Midland Region rolling stock to pop up at West Park from time to time. The main services are local semi fast and stopping services to nearby towns / cities including Shrewsbury, Birmingham Snow Hill, Stafford, Swansea Victoria, Kidderminster, Hereford, Leamington and Worcester. There are also through coaches to Penzance and Paddington every now and again. Unfortunately by 1960 West Park is very run down. Unloved and earmarked by Dr Beeching for closure the station is seen better days. Steam is still the mainstay of motive power, but on the way out and some local services are beginning to switch to DMUs. Although the station doesn’t have any goods facilities, other than an extensive parcel service, there are a couple of warehouse sidings that see a light daily freight service. On occasion, engineering trains reverse here near their storage sidings just north of of the station (off scene). On my previous layout attempt i was intent on modelling all station throat track work, but for West Park I’ve ignored this. From the fiddle yard we pass straight into platforms 2 & 3. Less is more in this case, something inspired from one of my favourite layouts, Earls Court. A few photos of progress so far..Platforms are almost down and i’ve started mocking up the grand station buildings.

Dear RM Web, I'm currently building a western region secondary city terminus set in the early 60s. I wondered whether colour light signals would be appropriate at this time as on other parts of the system and particularly in suburban areas. If so, are there any on the market that offer a solid resemblance. Warm regards, Nicos

Hi RM Web, I'm currently upgrading my layout track to C&L finescale turnout kits. I've had no trouble building the kits, which look great, but what's the best way of configuring my cobalt slow action point motors. I've heard about soldering an additional copper sleeper to the switchblades as 1 option. It seems that attaching the point motor pin to the cosmetic tie bar isn't really going to work long term. What's everyone else's preferred method? Cheers, Nick

Unfortunately due to an entire house renovation which started in November this project has ended up in storage. On the upside, the renovation works have included a new dedicated railway room! With this being my first attempt at building a model railway of my own i think it's safe to say that there are many things i would do differently second time round. With that in mind, I've decided to rectify those mistakes and start a fresh. The setting will be the same, an urban terminus set on the western region. Baseboards are currently on order and the railway room will be finished in a couple of weeks so watch this space and thanks for all the advice, comments and encouragement thus far - RM web really is a wonderful community and resource. Looking forward to cracking on with version 2! xxx

Hi Banger Blue, It's this one... http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/43349/44-011X-Bachmann-Scenecraft-GWR-Type-7-Signal-Box---Truro Based on Truro and a very nice starting model to add modifications to.

A quick questions - does anyone know where i can pick up some signal pulley posts and what's the best way to connect them? I was thinking of using fine fishing wire, but wondered if there were any decent kits out there like the point rodding made by Wills.

The retaining wall is coming along - needs a lick of paint etc. (3MT waits in the warehouse siding before assembling the empty vans in platform 1 for the daily goods back to Avonmouth Docks)

Hi Phil - Thanks for contributing. To be honest i kind of wish you were around earlier as i really like the first plan. It reminds me of Birmingham Moor Street approach. Sadly I'm too far down the road now to go back and make any fundamental changes to track layout, which i am quite happy with. Given that this is very much an Urban terminus with only 1 van freight service a day the lack of pathing from the warehouse siding on to both lines isn't such an issue. The train would be formed in platform 1 during a lull in commuter services before departure. I'm sure at some point there will be a bigger, better and more accurate version 2 of Bristol Park Street so i'll certainly keep the plans on file.

A busy day in the modelling room yesterday means that Birstol - Park Street is progressing nicely. Platforms are pretty much complete and work has started on the retaining walls and embankment. I've used a light GWR stone wash as the base for the walls before finishing with a sooty, heavily thinned coast before finally adding some dust and bits of foliage. (A Hall class waits in Platform 2 after arriving with a semi-fast service from Exeter, whilst a BR Standard Class 4 waits to depart from Platform 3 with the 2.38pm stopping service to Bath - Green Park. (A busy scene at Park Street early in the morning - The Class 4 waits in the loco stable siding before taking on it's next duty. A Class 101 DMU waits in Platform 3 with a local service to Portishead via Bedminster. A 56xx has just finished shunting a suburban set into platform 2 ready for departure Weston-Super-Mare. The Hall is still waiting with the semi-fast service to Exeter.) (The DMU awaiting departure as the 56xx concludes shunting duties).

This morning i managed to install the Dapol signals for the goods siding and platform 1. The double bracket starter for platforms 2 & 3 i'm going to have to kit bash from a couple of Ratio round post junction bracket signals until Dapol finally release their motorised version (if they ever do!). A BR Standard Class 4 waits for the all clear to depart with a semi fast service to Bath Green Park via Mangotsfield.

Thanks for the encouraging words, Clive. As I've mentioned before somewhere in this thread your work on Sheffield Exchange, particaurly the track plan, was a great inspiration for Bristol - Park Street. Progress has been slow, I'd never have imagined everything thus far would take as long as it has, especially when modelling for the first time.

A short update this evening: Ballasting complete (and dry) on the station throat section - it's needs a good going over with the airbrush tomorrow though. I've also decided to rename the station as Bristol - Park Street. Park street is located slightly further to the west of the city near Brandon Hill Park, which i think is a more realistic setting given the grass banks on the station approach. The area historically lacked a station and would have made an excellent location for an urban terminus given its proximity to Bristol University and the old city centre. Broad Street (the original name) would have still been an intermediary station after Temple Meads Junction. 56xx #6639 leaves Bristol - Park St with a local stopping service for Weston-super-Mare. #6639 navigating the station throat pointwork

Hi All, By pure chance my first week back at work from annual leave has been much less full on than expected and so I've managed to get down to some modelling in the evenings. Embankments Completed The focus was on completing the structures for the grassy embankments last night. The layout finally feels like it's coming together, but i'm anxious to get the platforms and ballast down so it really starts looking like a railway. I find the trouble with railway modelling is resisting the urge to purchase new stock. Unfortunately the urge got the better of me last week so the completed embankment structure pictures are graced with a couple of new additions to Bristol - Broad Street courtesy of The Model Centre. I do find their weathered locomotives wonderful. I'm fascinated with the design of the BR standard class locomotives, hence the reason why I picked Bristol as a location. Looking at the shed allocations for Bristol It seemed to offer the perfect mix of Western meets Standard Class (and the odd Bullied thrown in). (BR Standard Class 4 pulls into the goods siding with a short parcels train from Bath whilst waiting for a platform in the station to become available. In the loco siding a BR Class 3 tank awaits instruction on its next duty (probably shunting the parcels train). (Showing the finished embankment structures) My Slater's Plastikard is waiting for me at the post office so i should be able to make a start on getting those embankments covered in a combination of brick and stone over the weekend.

It's very frustrating. I've now replaced any remaining Bachmann decoders with Lenz, which seem to work fine. I've recently purchased a Bachmann Standard Class 4 so maybe i'll try a Gaugemaster in that and see how it runs. It seems that the match between loco and decoder is a bit of a dark art!

Hi Everyone, It's been a while since the last update. A combination of work and holidays has meant modelling days have been at premium this past couple of months. Luckily i managed to find a few days off work to get stuck in to Bristol - Broad Street once again. Scenery underway After an order of foam modelling sheets arrived in the post i decided to have a crack at the embankment and retaining wall section of the scenery. With this being my first attempt at building a model railway i wasn't quite sure how to approach it, but decided in the end to using foam modelling sheets and plaster of paris cloth rolls. I must say, i'm pretty pleased with the results thus far - i find the foam sheets really easy to work with (if a little messy). (A pannier waits in the goods siding with a small works train) I'm planning on using Slater's Plastikard to cover the embankment walls. Originally i'd build a Metcalfe red brick retaining wall, but it doesn't really fit the layout. Inspired by Bradfield - Gloucester Sq (one of my all time favourite layouts) i decided i'd have a crack at my own. Bodge Job Goods Shed The other little side project i've been working on is the warehouse goods shed. Although the layout is predominantly a busy passenger station there is a single goods siding and warehouse depot to serve a nearby factory (which you'll be able to see in the background behind the platforms). (Metcalfe goods shed bodge) Seeing as this is a busy city terminus I thought it warranted a longer goods shed so i combined two Metclafe models, but built a new roof using Slater's Plastikard. It needs painting and weathering, but overall i'm pleased with how the model looks. What's next Really hoping to take the plunge and get some ballasting done this weekend. I've chosen a brown ballast, but recently purchased an air brush so it's going to get plenty of sleeper grime to colour it. Seems like a terminus deserves some very dirty track and ballast, which will also add to the air of Bristol - Broad Street being a neglected station (it would have almost certainly been on Dr Beeching's closure list). With this being my first project i really struggle with knowing what order to do things in so end up flitting between different tasks. I've still got two point motors to install on the station platform boards! Not looking forward to doing that. Hopefully i'll be able to post some ballast pictures this weekend. Luv, Turtlebah

Thanks Karhedron, I can't say that it would have remotely crossed my mind to use MDF and IPA. Guess i'll give it a bash. I might even have a cheeky IPA (of the beer variety) whilst doing it.

More general ramblings of a first time modeller: Finally all the track is laid, point motors fixed and wiring completed. Sometimes i'm flabbergasted that i have even got this far, but that quickly subsides with the disappointment that the layout still looks bare and not even close to resembling an urban terminus. The daily internal battles we face when modelling i guess. For now, and more by luck than judgement, everything works like a dream (just about). I can't believe how long it's taken Bristol Broad Street to get to the point where i can actually run an engine on it. Everything takes so much longer than I think it will, which i guess is partly due to the fact this is my first project. I have encountered a few issues and conundrums over the last couple of weeks, which i've rambled about below: BLOODY Bachmann DECODERS After receiving a lovely, weathered modified Bachmann hall from The Model Centre last week, i fitted a Bachmann 8 pin decoder. After no jerky running on DC as soon as the decoder was installed the running was awful. It constantly jerks, especially at low speed, so much so that the tender constantly vibrates against the pin and rod connecting it making the most awful din. I've tried, as suggested, playing around the with CV 54 and 55 values, but to no avail. The recommended values for a hall don't make a difference. I've resorted to ordering a Lenz decoder to see if that makes a difference - can't say i'm totally convinced by these Bachmann decoders, although they seem to work fine in my DMUs and pannier tanks. PLATFORMS, PLATFORMS AND MORE PLATFORMS With the electrics now complete i can finally concentrate on the scenery with the first objective being to get the platforms in place, which i thought i would do before ballasting, although i'm now not sure this is the best way round to do things. I was planning on using Scalescenes platform sheets for the sides and tops with peco platform edges and thick card card tops for support. RETAINING WALLS I'm also on the look out for some good retaining walls, something along the lines of Bath Sydney Gardens. Some nice stonework that i can grime up, but it's difficult to find something that's easy enough to work with, but allows some scope for creativity. TRACK CLEANING The main reason a couple of engines didn't run smoothly over the track was because it's got so dirty during the build process. What are the best methods for giving it a good clean. My dad always used methylated spirits and a rag, but i'm sure the world has moved on since then. And what about cleaning the wheels of engines - is it worth buying a specialist piece of kit to get the job done? Now for a couple of token photos of progress, but any thoughts on the above are always welcome. What a huge learning process this all is! A view down the platforms from the station throat - from left to right you have; warehouse siding, platform 1 (for fast services), platform 2 (local services), platform 3 (local services), pilot engine and loco stable is on the right. The station throat from a different angle, a 9F and hall are waiting in the warehouse siding, whilst a pannier tank sits in what will be platform 1. 9F in front of the signal box sitting in the warehouse siding General ramblings over...I must say that despite the daily frustrations with something not working or going to plan all this model railwaying is great fun.

I'm also a bit of a sucker for the realism of slow action over seeps. I guess i wouldn't bother the motors at all on a smaller layout, but having said there would always be the need for a polarity changing switch for DCC.

Agreed John. I think there is a place for SEEP motors and they are very cost effective. I just don't think they work well with single or double slips. Being a bit of a novice with electrics I like the plug and play nature of the Cobalts - i'm not exactly handy with a soldering iron you see.

Hi Kevan, Your platforms shape looks great in this picture. Can i ask what method and materials you used? Kind regards, Nick

Just to close this one off via an update... I decided the best thing to do was sack off the seep point motors and splash out on the cobalt digitals. Fixed all my problems. Unfortunately i think that the seep motor contacts are just not reliable enough for the smaller code 75 single and double slip points. It can be really hit and miss as to whether the polarity actually changes when the point is thrown. I'm sure better modelers than I made a better fist of it, but I really like the plug and play nature of the cobalts. No extra decoders or wiring.

Hi RM Web Community, It's been a while since I last posted an update. Unfortunately work commitments have meant modelling time has been very limited the last few weeks, but there's plenty to update on. Below are the headlines: POINT MOTOR MUDDLES I have come to the conclusion that it was a huge mistake to use seep motors, especially given that I have some fairly complex point work (for a beginner) in the station throat. The seep motors just don't seem to work well on the code 75 double and single slips. The contacts on the bottom of the motors are far too haphazard in their connectivity and I could see big problems occurring further down the line (god forbid if i wanted to exhibit at a future point). The frog not changing polarity when the point was thrown was very frustrating and meant that my pannier tank and auto engine couldn't make it across the throat without a little push. After reading some very helpful blogs 3 weeks ago I took the plunge and removed them all. In the post arrived 10 shiny new cobalt digital motors. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I can't speak highly enough of these motors. Dead easy to install and work like a dream. No contact issues with these beauties. Seeing as this is my first layout project I guess that there will always be bumps in the road. TRACK WORK AHOY! With fully functioning and pinned down point work in the station throat now completed I've now (finally) started laying the remaining track, namely the track in platforms 1 and 2 and the two remaining points for the run around. Hopefully this should be finished this week. I'm leaving the fiddle hard section until most of the scenic section is fully completed. We're having some building work on the house completed soon, which may provide the opportunity for a slightly expanded "modelling room". This in turn will mean I actually have the space for a functioning fiddle yard as supposed to a couple of tracks on a board resulting in a lot of stock handling. A modified hall waits in Platform 3 to depart with a rake of mk1s to Cardiff. A classmate waits in Platform 2 for instructions to return to the shed for turning. A rake of 5 mk1s sit in Platform 1 awaiting their loco for a return working to Taunton. A few ale vans sit in the warehouse siding. A view of the station throat point work with loco spur, water tower and coaling stage (use your imagination) on the left. BRISTOL BROAD ST, ALL CHANGE PLEASE I have finally decided on a name for the station - all change at Bristol Broad Street. The back story is a small urban terminus situated right in the heart of Bristol (Broad Street is a real street) with the line branching off from the mainline just before Bristol Temple Meads. Services from Bath, Taunton, Cardiff, Bedminster branch line to Frome and further afield provide leverage for some interesting operations. The imaginary station was built to ease Western Region commuter and local traffic in and around Bristol Temple Meads. With a bit of modelers license and given the location you might even see the odd S&D or Southern loco (coming up from Weymouth, Yeovil or Bournemouth. PLATFORM 3 FOR THE 10.20AM TO BATH SPA Once he track is down I've got the arduous (and slightly daunting task) of building the platforms to look forward to. I've got to get these down before balls sting can commence. The plan of action was to go with stiff card as a base covered in scale scenes platform print outs. If anyone has any words of wisdom regarding platforms they would be greatly appreciated! GREAT CENTRAL MODEL BONANZA Finally, I've just returned from a great weekend up at Loughborough and the GCR Model Rail event. What a wonderful show! So many exciting layouts to provide inspiration. Despite the sweltering conditions inside the main tents I had a fabulous time, but spent far too much on bits and bobs. It was particularly great to see Bath Green Park in the flesh and I always struggle not pick something up from any TMC stand at an exhibition (I love that place). The real treat for me was Bradford City Road. A urban terminus setting after my own heart. Was anyone else there this weekend? ----------- That's it for now. I'm gagging to get on with the scenery. All this track work and electrics really isn't my bag at all. Thanks for all your comments and help on the journey thus far. I hope to be able to show you some more scenic photos of Bristol Broad Street at some point in the not too distant future. Kind regards, Nick