bimble

As I'm hoping to actually get some building done this summer I figured it would be a good time to start a layout thread in the hope I'll might even have some trains running by Christmas... With space in the shed for a layout of 3m x 0.7m (10' x 2 1/3' in old money) I took some inspiration from the Raurimu Spiral in New Zealand to fit a longer run than might otherwise fit on the baseboards.

It's going to be German N gauge, mostly because there is just something I love about German railways and the locomotives. And by setting it in the 1970s I can run steam, diesel and electric all at the same time! Not only that, looking through old photos and seeing 2-10-0 class 52's (such as the locos in the last photo) hauling 4 coach local passenger trains... it's almost like DB in the 70s just ran with Rule 1. I've even seen a photo of a Class 01, Pacific express loco, pulling double decker commuter stock tender first. As you do.

The thing is, we would quite like a layout that has a slight roundy hint to it, because sometimes it is nice to just watch trains run. But with a station, even in N, being at least a meter long, with then the station throat, then the hiding the returns to the fiddle yard... that doesn't leave a lot of space. At least on the flat.

So I'm going up!

A combination of a 4 1/2 loop helix, a 1 1/2 loop spiral (just when does a spiral become a helix??) and three complete traverses of the baseboards gives around 15m worth of running.

The two large baseboards will be scenic, where as the small board (with the helix) will be left open, because 1) it'll make access easier, 2) helices are pretty cool. The first two traverses are done at a constant gradient of 1:50, whereas the helix/spiral are up to 1:32 (unfortunately the are limited by baseboard size).

There has been a few tweaks in the station area, I have moved the rightmost points further right to increase the platform length. The pair of sidings going off towards the top are going to be to a hidden mine. So empty wagons will disappear and then later full ones come out.

And even though it's not for the layout I thought we need a photo of a train.

I've no idea how often I'll get to update this thread, but I'm hoping to get a lot of building done over the summer and maybe have trains running by Christmas. Or at least by a Christmas!

Does this count as a flat crossing?? A SWT Desiro at Ash Vale Junction, coming off the Ascot branch.

If it does, shall we have something else in blue??

EDIT - though missing four tracks in one direction, so don't worry

As long as its not a race! I'm not going to get anything done quickly. Happy building.

Not a problem... I started building last spring, currently have a couple of baseboards and the helix built... hoping to get more done over the summer

My trackplan, which I have attempted to attach but have no faith in my ability to succeed runs like this:

 

Trains leave the fiddleyard at the back heading right, loop through 180 degrees and climbs along the front of the layout until it is high enough to cross over the FY entrance at the left end. Then they curve around again 180 degrees again to reach the station on the middle level (height gained about 140mm). Heading right (again, a one-and-a-half turn spiral gains another 100mm to pass right to left along the back of the station. Then a 4-level helix returns them to the fiddle yard.

 

 

All this – spirals, changes of direction etc – are prototypical. If you look in the right place. My main inspiration is Wassen on what is now the ‘old’ Gotthardbahn in Switzerland, which uses spirals, switchbacks and shortened freight trains to get to the 1100m-high summit tunnel, all chock full of impressive but necessary engineering.  Wassen sits between two 180 degree curves, so that the village is passed 3 times, from below, level with, and above. The station, on the middle level, is facing the wrong way – to get a train to Milan, you get a on a train facing Zurich, and vice versa (these are in opposite directions, for those of you unfamiliar with the geography). See the map at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_railway. There is also a good video at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1380/entry-12071-4-hmm-what-does-aussichtspunkt-mean-wassen/

 

So have I solved the 50:50 conundrum? No. Instead of trains passing through the scenic section once, they pass across 3 times. But the return spiral uses so much track that the visible/staging ratio is still 50:50. But I still get a lot more track in the same space.

 

As I think I might have said already, this has much potential to go horribly wrong. But its going to be fun until it does.

 

I found this quite amusing as I was thinking about starting my layout thread and our trackplan descriptions are very similar.

"Leaves fiddle yard, crosses layout on up slope, goes around helix, crosses layout again (still on up slope), goes up a smaller spiral, crosses a third time, then descends helix back to fiddle yard". Though in my case it's a mirror image and the station is on the top level!

I wish you luck with your build!

or Legoland....?

If it isn't Thomas I am going to be very disappointed...

From Warley in 2006 (I think)

How about a miniature railway, ie - anything big enough to haul people

Now, when we say "relic" would something like the Montrose Viaduct count?? Rebuilt in the 1880's, in the modern era with a Scotrail 170 (I think) crossing

If it is, shall we stay in Scotland... maybe something from the Far North...

Well, as George is one of the five, then yes in my view.

 

What's next Bimble? 

 

cheers

You know... I didn't even consider that angle.... in that case, something that is new.

Would this count as a "famous five"??

hat, coat, hitting the road!! 

Today, the Mumbles Road is packed solid with traffic, whilst the route of the railway lies, more-or-less, idle alongside.

Not quite idle, it is part of the Wales Coast Path, and indeed is a lovely cycle route around the old route. Though they have totally wasted the footbridge from by the Brangwyn Hall by just "dumping" it opposite the Rec Gound car park. I still can't believe I didn't bother getting any photos when they lifted it though... it might have been too dark for my camera.

They may also still run one of those land train things. I know they were popular when they did run them.

Red electric

how about something with mountains??

390038 - City of London, climbing Shap

assuming a Pendolino counts as a "locomotive", how about something green??