MartynA

Not really considered that. Is there much difference between the two? Bachmann are still waiting to release the LNWR loco and its listed at £175. I can get an early Bachmann BR loco brand new for £56. Just thought the £110 difference was worthwhile. If it will be miles apart I'll wait till the release and pay a bit more. What would you do?

After a bit of time out due to Summer commitments I have modified things a bit more whilst taking on board your suggestions. By having a low relief station building and goods shed a turntable will just fit. It's all a bit tight but would give lots more scope to model and run trains. The mainline needs to leave as close to top right as possible as it will head to a balloon loop and return. The coal merchant and engine shed on the right belong to the exchange siding company. Thoughts please.... Attached Thumbnails IMG_5977.JPG

I have the possibility to get a new Bachmann 30xx in early BR Livery but actually want a LNWR MM to go with my Webb Coal Tank. Is it possible/easy/effective to take the cycling lion off the tender and number off the cab and replace it with LNWR markings? Any advice greatly appreciated. Thank you!

After a bit of time out due to Summer commitments I have modified things a bit more whilst taking on board your suggestions. By having a low relief station building and goods shed a turntable will just fit. It's all a bit tight but would give lots more scope to model and run trains. The mainline needs to leave as close to top right as possible as it will head to a balloon loop and return. The coal merchant and engine shed on the right belong to the exchange siding company. Thoughts please....

The screws on the outside of the boards are at 6" spacing so I calculated that there was about 34" clear in the middle. Will that be enough? I've also considered a three way point at the end of the exchange sidings instead of the two single ones. What do you think?

Thank you all so much for your halp so far! Taking on board lots of your valuable advice I have now arrived here! Still bits to do though. May change the cattle dock and an end load for the engine shed and put the shed on a spur where the dock was. Change the industrial siding to R2 to give more space. Not sure I have space for a headshunt so may just use the ( not very busy) mainline. I may try rotating a bit to see how it sits. The servicing depot has a water tank with it so that's covered. Over to you chaps - thoughts and improvements please!

That's great advice again. Thanks so much. Is this the sort of changes you were thinking of?

Thanks, David. I may just get rid of the spur altogether then.

After much thought with all of your suggestions, I have reviewed my plan and gone for a 8x4 over two boards. I would love to hear your thoughts and advice. Two pictures split near the board join. Mainline goes from top right to a balloon loop. Exchange sidings are for the second radius curve that will go to an industrial site with a Lilleshall Peckett. My requirements were a exchange sidings and a 3 coach platform. Small goods sheds and cattle dock. Thanks in advance for your input!

After much thought with all of your suggestions, I have reviews my plan and gone for a 8x4 over two boards. I would love to hear your thoughts and advice. Two pictures split near the board join. Mainline goes from top right to a balloon loop. Exchange sidings are for the second radius curve they will go to an industrial site with a Lilleshall Peckett. My requirements were a exchange sidings and a 3 coach platform. Small goods sheds and cattle dock.

Thanks, Rob! Reset everything and all is now good. Your help is much appreciated!

Hi all, I have a Hornby select controller and have just got a Bachmann Webb Coal Tank with a next 18 decoder. Unfortunately, the loco just trundles off whenever I put it on the track (irrespective of controller address or speed selection). Because of this I cannot put an address onto it to run it as DCC. Is this a known issue or is there a fault somewhere? Incidentally, I know the Select is a basic tool but it's a start for me in DCC. Thanks for your help, Martyn.

That's brilliant! Was struggling to get the industrial yard spur in before but that nails it! The short points make quite a difference to the length if the station too, seems to get a lot more in. The three way really helps and I even get to use a trap point. Seems to be a much more useable platform length too. It is certainly a vast improvement on my humble idea! I know there is a lot going on but I want to use this as a test bed to try out lots of new modelling on. I've been a bit 'plug and play' historically so this is a chance to build sheds, stations and scenery. It's also an opportunity to play with DCC. Thank you so much for your efforts with this!

Thanks Phil. It is going to be 1st radius as I'm only going To run a pecket and Pug from a 3x2 industrial diorama to the exchange sidings. Main traffic will be direct into the station. Should have said it's a Victorian theme with LNWR stock and Lilleshall company exchange sidings.

Thanks for all of your help so far. I have decided on points, baseboard and DCC. Now a quick thought on the layout. A 6 x 2 country terminus with exchange sidings, goods shed, engine shed, cattle dock and a station building. The old fashioned way of paper and pencils I'm afraid. Measured the track and buildings so I'm fairly confident it will fit. Any advice on my plans?

Thanks so much for the help so far. I'm off to get the wood for my 6 X 2 baseboard tomorrow. Two very quick questions. 9mm ply or 9mm MDF? Cover in 2mm Cork or no cork at all. Thanks again for the advice!

I am building a small (6' x 2') terminus Victorian era station. Nothing too fancy, just a runaround loop, a few sidings, engine shed and goods shed. Mainly short trains such as a Webb coal tank and a couple of coaches or seven wagon freight. On Peco 75 rail, what are people's thoughts of short points? I had intended to use medium length for aesthetics but the short ones are easier to work with. Would a mixture (e.g. Medium on the platform roads and short on the sidings) be a better compromise? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Thank you so much! Looks like I've got plenty of reading to do...... ;0)

I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times but I could not find a thread so sorry if it duplicates one. I have a 16mm garden Railway and played with Hornby stuff thirty years ago but I'm now thinking of making a small DCC layout this winter. I'm completely new to DCC and intend to do a small yard with a 08 and an 060 shunter from the Hornby Mixed Freight set (that Santa is getting me for Christmas) but will also have a Black Five on the loop. The main thing is, before I start building, what track should I use? I will use code 75 rail but should I use insulfrog or electrofrog? What are the pros and cons of both? Thanks in advance for your help, Martyn.