Tortuga

Hence the quotation marks! 😜

Popped up on my FB too a couple of days ago. Looks to be mounted on an old 6-wheel tender frame (centre wheels removed) - possibly Webb? I like the “buffer stop” in front - doubt that would survive a heavy shunt!

Or not. Turns out that the equalised timbering of the PECO Y point doesn’t lend itself to reducing the distance between track centres without more effort than I’m prepared to spend on it (especially given that it’s lost the wire to it’s frog); so, guess who’ll be visiting his local model shop tomorrow?

Photos of last night’s track laying - first up, with weights and track protectors (tm) still in place: Will it all still be aligned? With the weights removed: all seems to be as I left it - and stuck solid, which is a definite plus! Next to deal with the centre track, but I’ll need to commit some point butchery a la @LNER4479 first...

Those are lovely layouts.

The first track is laid on the extension board. No photo as it’s currently hidden under plywood track protectors (tm)* and bricks until the glue dries. (*patents pending)

Yep. That about covers it. I said something similar when Klementine’s carburettor started leaking fuel out of both ends of the accelerator linkage last week - a part that was replaced just over a year ago and which has done less than 900miles. The supplier blames “the ethanol content of modern fuels”, although I note that the carb in my camper has not been affected in the same way, despite doing considerably less miles…

Fingers crossed!

Turns out I couldn’t resist a progress photo.

Work on the extension board is progressing gradually, but as it’s just laying cork in the same way as for the inglenook board, it’s probably not worth a photo. I have unearthed the two points which will complete the loop: since both were modified for Gibbs Sidings, they have slimmed down stretcher bars and no locking spring. Fortunately it turns out I did purchase a SEEP motor with a locking spring, so that can be used and save me a few pennies.

Definitely worth the effort. Can’t help but feel I’m neglecting Alsop though. And that this has turned into more of a full on layout rather than what I’d intended…

Cheers Rob! It’s taken a bit longer than intended to get to this stage (about two weeks), but I’m happy with how it’s turned out. Not that the carpentry is completely finished - I still need to make a fiddle yard board, the legs and the backscene and there’ll also be some wood-wrangling to do as part of the scenic work - but for now I can lay some more track and work on some electrics!

Well that didn’t go quite as planned. Having decided to build the extension board before laying any more track and to widen the boards from 400mm to 450mm, I ended up making a new frame altogether. Fortunately I had some 12mm ply going spare and there was sufficient for frames for both the inglenook section and the extension. To reduce weight I’ve bored large diameter holes through all the pieces, except the ends between boards, as these need alignment dowels and holes for connecting bolts. The holes will be covered up by the ply facia / backscene at a later date. Based on this photo (from http://www.whaleybridge.net/forum/posts/t641-Lost-railway-lines-in-Whaley-Bridge--and-other-historical-railway-stuff) I also decided to rework the cut of Randall Carr Brook, which meant replacing the cross braces rather than modifying them. The closest one incorporates a support for the houses that back onto the yard and will be modified when I get started on the scenery proper. The furthest one dips below the bed of the brook, so needed cut-outs to clear the integral legs. A third brace, set at an angle, crosses the full width, roughly in the centre, to support the middle of the trackbed, while two supports mark the outer ends of the bridge arch. I’ll need to leave the whole trackbed removable until I’ve done the scenic work under the bridge as it’s a bit tight to get in there! The front end of the angled brace was shaped in situ using a belt sander, hopefully giving the impression of the ground sloping toward the brook. The extension was much simpler, comprising the frame and the top which has been recycled from the abandoned ‘Gibbs Sidings’ layout - hence the messy top! Next job is to seal the top of the extension board with PVA then plot out the rest of the track plan prior to laying strips of 1.5mm cork: watch this space!

Sounds good. Looking forward to what develops!

We’ve got one of those hand pumps at work! You’ve got the colours and branding spot on - instantly recognisable. Ours keeps leaking hydraulic fluid everywhere and the pressure gauge is knackered so it’s in the “to be scrapped” pile.

Only when going for maintenance - they were based out of Rowsley until 1963.

Hope you’re going to document the construction of the new lighting arrangement - I for one would be most interested to see how you go about it.

Lovely.

Could you use a similar arrangement to what you’ve shown on Grantham, but using a double slip in the position of the Y-point? Wouldn’t that combine the trap and the longer shunting spur?

Fixed that for you.

Cheers Rob. I’d estimated a viewing slot height of 20cm from my photos of Bleat Wharf, so nice to have it confirmed. I liked the high viewing height - made you feel you were part of the layout - though I can see the viewing issues for people in wheelchairs and potential problems manipulating 3-links. I think Whaley Shunt will be around 4’ to rail level as I’m integrating the support legs to fold up into the main board. Since it’s going to sit lower than Bleat, I’m guessing a wider viewing slot might be better, so perhaps either a taller backscene or a narrower fascia might be in order?

Busy month indeed! Hope it all goes according to plan. Quick question if I may: what height do you make your viewing slot and layout facia? Since I’m messing with the frame for Whaley Shunt, I wondered if it was worth integrating the height of the backscene…

Well, Klementine’s back seat is 1200mm at its narrowest point and there’s 450mm between its seat back and the driver’s seat (if I crank that more vertical), so I can make the boards a bit wider.

A bit more space always makes sense, but where do you stop? Well in this case, I’ve got to make sure it fits on Klementine’s back seat because it isn’t going to fit under her bonnet!

I’m also toying with widening the baseboard a smidge (50mm) to allow a little more room for the goods shed on the extension*. At this stage, I can get the ends of the frame off relatively easily and the two cross members can be extended - although they won’t look pretty, they won’t be visible so it doesn’t really matter! * @JustinDean: I know, I know. You mentioned this back on Page 1…