M.R.P.G

Using Polystyrene for the landscape along the front of layout. Retaining walls under construction. The high level tracks are the DMU stabling sidings . The lower track is the kick back siding for the station pilot moves.

Using “Wills” brick sheets, for the bridge details with a garage workshop under the arches. 156/158 combo unit and 108 DMU at Middleton Central.

More pictures of the completed ballasting. And completed DMU stabling area with inspection pits. The tracks on the right behind the backscene are the traverser fiddle yard.

A lot has happened since our last updates, the canal is progressing well with sidewalk installed and girders in place. Ballasting has also now been completed. And landscaping along the front of layout with carved polystyrene pieces glued on. Retaining walls fitted and covered with embossed brick sheets.

Work on the infrastructure in progress. Using Plasticard on the walls etc . Also the road bridge is fitted now . But can be removed for maintenance etc. Retaining wall added to the incline . Nearly ready for the ballast.

Last meeting of 2021. We had a running session and all ran with no problems.

Good picture, that girder is something like what we will be doing under the road bridge. And weeds on the platform thanks

Monday evening 13.12.21 progress update . A mixture of polyfiller and black paint was used to cover the disused track so that just the rails are showing, and the area in front a sludgy car park . We used a vehicle to put tire tracks in the messy mixture. Also progress with the bridge. Blocks of wood glued down for supports and a piece of ply wood cut to shape for the road surface. We are using the Hornby Piers for support on the station platforms. The demolished platform end has been sloped off using Das model clay. All this will be painted accordingly at a later date.

Hi Simon, The triangle area in front of the station will be a car park, the platform at the front has been made to look partly demolished as the station has been rationalised.

Canal construction with the side walls added and a bottom piece for the water area. Next we are looking at making a road bridge over the station area, so here’s a mock up to see what it will look like.

More progress on Westfield with the platform surfaces finished with slab sheets. Also backscene boards and front fascia boards fitted to all three baseboards.

More progress with the top surface now being added to the platforms Also a little more work around the canal, with walls and bridge supports.

Some more progress with the platforms. The parcels loading area is also coming along, this will be a tarmac area for road vehicles unloading etc M.R.P.G

More progress with the station platforms, we have used Slaters brick sheets for covering the sides, glued on with UHU. Concrete sections will be over the canal area. Shaun. M.R.P.G

Now the platform sides are all in position, we thought we would have a running session to test clearances. Any excuse to get some stock on the layout Shaun . M.R.P.G

Here’s a few pictures of our progress with the station platforms .

Hi to all The layout has been progressing well over the past few weeks. We have started to build the station platforms and decided to use the Peco platform sides. The two holes are for a new scenic feature idea. We have decided to add a disused canal, this will make the scenery more interesting around the station area. And some stock arrives for testing the clearances. Modified Triang sprung buffer stops are being used for the passenger platforms . thanks for looking MRPG

Hi to all So the new altered track work is all now in place, and after a few testing sessions we have painted the rail sides with Phoenix Precision rusty rails. We have also put the backscenes on the traverser board and middle board.

This picture shows the simplified fiddle yard and the new raised area in place for the DMU stabling sidings. This picture shows the DMU sidings with a Peco inspection pit added and buffer stops. The lower short track is the station pilot kick back siding Thanks for looking Shaun M.R.P.G

Hi to all, Its been a long time since we did an update on our project, February 2019 we had a running session but there was several problems with the fiddle yard traverser. The rest of 2019 we was busy working on members personal layouts preparing and exhibitions , then 2020 came with Covid so still no further progress was happening with the group project. Since we have been allowed to meet again we have decided to make a few changes to the layout , not only to simplify the fiddle yard but also make the scenic area more interesting. We have removed the loco storage sidings from the end of the fiddle yard, so the board is now shorter and easier to set up with no more alignment problems. The traverser board also no longer moves to the running lines nearest the viewing side. The front of the fiddle yard is now going to be a DMU stabling and servicing area , it has been raised slightly to add more scenic interest. A kick back siding has also been added to the plan, this will be at the same level as the rest of the trackwork, this is for the station pilot loco to use when shunting coaches between platforms. These alterations mean that the full front of the layout will be scenic, with a lot more operational interest . The two loco sidings in front of the control panel which would have been hidden are now going to be used as goods sidings so a point has also been added for running round.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OO-Gauge-Micro-Model-Railway-Layout-Shunting-Diorama-Exhibition-Standard/164244707024?hash=item263dbf56d0:g:rDgAAOSwZtpe5keq Looks almost like Depot Lane ?

Operating the layout in the 1970s, 80s era with the smaller loco classes like 08, 20, 24, 25 we normally have around 5 or 6 loco's, and a few wagons to make it more interesting. Here is Pauls "Colas" fleet running just 4 so there's room to move about still. Cheers Shaun.

Cheers Shaun.