Andrew Cockburn

Very nice! A rather simple but effective concept, nicely modelled ....

Very nicely modelled, I'm most impressed.

@ TechnicArrow. Thanks for your feedback, and its nice to know that I might have inspired you! The boxfiles on both layouts were "inseparable", ie they were fixed to a framework of 2" x 1" timber, making them completely rigid. Also, re the inside of the front wall, I can't remember TBH, whether I left it blank, or whether I created/added a scenic backscene. But all-in-all, I was pleased with them both, and I dare say I may attempt a similar venture in the future ....

A few years back, I built a couple of boxfile micro layouts, as a sort of challenge to myself. These were rather aptly named “Filey road” (a small passenger terminus & goods/coal yard), and “Filey Yard” (a small industrial setting, consisting of a goods/coal yard, private factory siding & a small locomotive shed). Both layouts moved on to a new home a while back, though not without having given me a fair amount of pleasure, and below are some photos of the layouts, which I hope are both interesting and informative ….

Really like this, some excellent scenic work, well done!

Looks good so far, I like the iron shed, it will be interesting to see how it progresses further.

Looking good so far, I like the corrugated window, it looks really effective. I also like the Airfix/Dapol engine shed, I've got one on of my layouts, suitable modified. Attached are a couple of photos, which you may find of interest/a source of inspiration for your own model.

Another former boxfile layout of mine, called rather aptly "Filey Road Halt". As with Filey Yard, it consists of two boxfiles (but in this case, one is used for the actual layout, and one for the fiddleyard/control lsection), once again with a plywood sub-base for track etc., and supported on a framework of 2" x 1" timber, to add extra strength/rigidity. Hopefully this also may served as a source of inspiration to you!

Heres a boxfile layout I built a few years ago, called rather aptly "Filey Yard", and which has since moved on to a new home. It consists of two boxfiles, supported on a framework of 2" x 1" timber, to add extra strength/rigidity, while I used a plywood sub-base, on which the track was laid/scenery was built. Hopefully it may served as a source of inspiration to you ....

Very nice little layout. Simple but effect shunting layout/puzzle, just the sort of theme I like myself ...

@ HillsideDepot. I've also got a Dinky Toys version of the Johnston sweeper, which I can recommend as a source of reference, having referred to it occasionally when I built my OO version ....

@ HillsideDepot. Thanks for your feedback, and I thought the road sweeper might just catch your eye! To answer your question, these vehicles are currently available, but unfortunately not (at least to the best of my knowledge) in OO Gauge, either in kit or ready-made form. Therefore, the only solution available to myself was to kitbash one. The cab/chassis are from a Langley Models whitemetal Ford D kit (the chassis was actually shortened, for reasons of scale/realism), while the rear body was scratchbuilt using balsa/card - a slightly painstaking business, but I got there in the end! Details such as pipes, brushes, rear flashing light etc. were formed from "odds and ends", ie scraps of plastic/balsa, offcuts of wire, pipe cleaner etc. etc. It took me about a month or so to construct, and I feel the effort/time that went into it was worthwhile, while I hope I've been of help/been able to inspire you to have a go at your own version. I've also attached one or two (close-up) pictures of the sweeper, for further reference ....

The track plan for TY, before and after modifcations ....

@ SteveyDee68. Thanks for your feedback. And yes, the layout has provided me with hours of fun/a great of enjoyment, I've found that even simple layouts such as TY, can be just as interesting as larger-scale projects. Re the fiddleyard, its not actually a traverser, just a continuation of the main running track with an isolating break at the end, and a couple of "dead" sidings for the storage of wagons and locos. In all truth, I didn't feel that a layout of this size really justified having a traverser (though I have used one previously), and I've found the arrangement I have serves me well.

Turner’s Yard is another of my compact, “limited space”, OO Gauge industrial shunting layouts. The layout is based around F. Turner, a fictitious small engineering company, which relies on rail transport for the import of raw materials/the distribution of finished goods. A small goods/coal yard help to add to operational interest, and the era is mainly BR blue/occasionally BR green/black. The rather simple track plan is “Inglenook-like”, and was recently enhanced by addition of a kick-back siding, which adds to operational interest, after I’d discovered a spare Peco medium-radius left-hand point in my spares drawer. Structures are a mixture of scratch and kit-built, track work is Peco code 100, while control is achieved via a Gaugemaster panel-mounted single track controller, though a hand-held version from the same manufacturer can also be used. The layout measures 4’ x 1’, and is completely self-contained, with the layout, fiddle yard and controls all incorporated onto the same baseboard, which is “breakable” for ease of storage/transportation.

Looking good so far, some very neat modelling ....

I like the look of this, even though it's still very much in it's "infancy", and it will be interesting to see how it develops ....

I like the look of this, it will be interesting to see how it develops further ....

@ jcm@gwr. I've employed a similar principle with one of my layouts, which follows the Inglenook principle, and which is designed for audience participation of all ages/operates from the front. Its called "Short Street Sidings", which you may/may not have seen on this site, and actually lives in a flight case when not in use!

@ DanielB. I had a look on your video post, re the chain shunting method, it looks really good/interesting. Something I may just try myself at some point in the future. And you're right, running a shunting/Inglenook layout at a show can get a bit repetitive/tedious (I've only attended two-day shows in the past), but overall, I still tend to find it enjoyable ....

A slightly unusual track configuration, but its looking good so far, and it will be interesting to see how it progresses.

In reply to jamest’s query re how I’d shunt the kickback siding, I have a simple but what I also consider to be a quite ingenious method. First of all, what I term a “yard loco” positions itself at the end of the goods siding, this is then isolated (picture 1). Next, another loco shunts several wagons (three would probably be the maximum, what in view of space constraints) into the siding, so that they couple onto the “yard loco”. This second loco then uncouples and departs back to the fiddleyard (picture 2). The “yard loco” is then de-isolated, and shunts the wagons into the kickback siding, uncouples from the wagons, and returns ready for it’s next duty (picture 3). Hope this helps. 　

Re the road sweeper - how did you actually convert it to R/C? And still on the subject of road sweepers, I've got a "working" one of sorts for one of my own layouts, "working" in the sense that it has a flashing amber light at the rear, formed from an LED. Attached is a picture ....

Looks as if it will develop into an interesting little layout.