petejones

Ah, sorry - Llanglydwen (285ft/135ft) I can just about get three coaches along the platform, plus space for the loco at the left to run round, but two coaches would be more common I think. Re: the platform faces - yes, the line at the rear face was going to be for goods. I could move that line away from the platform, but then I would need a goods shed.

I was thinking of putting the station building on the far left, with steps down from the back of the station or passengers could exit stage-left off the platform itself. I purchased the GWR station building from Oxford Rail as it's a good likeness of the station buildings at both Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn. As I said earlier, I will be repainting it and will add extra detail, so it won't look like it was just plonked on the layout. As a result, I've had to reduce the length of the track behind the platform.

Just measured the platform and it's coming out at 400ft (1600mm), which is about the same as Cardigan (389ft), but double that at Kilgerran (203ft), Boncath (200ft), Crymmych Arms (216-220ft), Glogue (195ft), Llanfrynach (171ft), Login (185ft) and Llanfalteg (213ft). I could perhaps do with another line behind the station, making it three, but I think that would look crowded as I like the gap between the two sidings to allow carts/lorries in to unload. There were two mileage sidings at Crymmych Arms to the south and one to the north; only two at Cardigan, plus one siding for the loco shed. I suppose I could add a shed to the right? Perhaps Newport couldn't get as much land as they wanted and had to make do?

I took inspiration for the layout from both Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn in that both have a single platform. As to the reason why it's a small station - 'cos that's all the room I have! Probably applies to 95% of people's layouts, doesn't it? I will upload some more details later this evening.

I may as well make this station part of my fictitious Whitland and Newport Branch Line that I was considering last year. So, welcome to Newport Station in Pembrokeshire - a terminus at the end of the line from Whitland (branching at Crymmych Arms), passing through Pen-Y-Groes Halt and Eglwyswrw.

For anyone who hasn't seen these, they may be of interest: 1958 Plain Line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjpYcYgaOCI 1958 Switches and Crossings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EttvbfxIY8Y Network Rail - An Introduction to Switches & Crossings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuR5QTlfOzk Cheers, Pete

This is a gauge for correcting Peco sleeper spacings, should you not wish to build your own track: https://www.englishmodelrailways.shop/set-spacers-for-sleepers-oo-gauge.html

This may be of some use: https://www.thepwi.org/resources/network_rail_track_delivery_update__steve_featherstone/nr_track_delivery_update_28_may_2014/pway_design_guide_2011

Nudged the whole lot up slightly as it was too near the front edge:

For the time being, I will be trying to learn railway parlance and Templot, so I can put a more accurate track plan together. To keep my practical interest going, I am going to re-purpose the 240x44cm board for a fictitious terminus, the reasons for which, and the progress of, can be seen on this thread: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/157807-newport-pembs-station-1930s-oo-gauge/

The grass needs a trim!

This idea came about during the early hours of the morning as I have a baseboard built ready and waiting for a small layout. The baseboard measures 240 x 44cm and as it already has an exit hole at one end of the backscene (actually near the front on the right-hand side), I think a terminus would suit it well. The other purpose of this layout is to keep my interest whilst I work on a plan for a larger layout (I'm aiming for Whitland Station in the 1930s/40s) probably in finescale. There is another consideration I needed to take into account and that is my partner has two old Hornby locos that she wants to run now and again, but she doesn't want them modified (I can't say I blame her!)... so without further ado, here's the plan. I'm going to use Peco Bullhead rail, but as they haven't released a slipswitch yet, I will put a temporary Code 75 one in place, which I already have. To make it a little different, the scene will be set during the winter and will have a covering of snow. Not sure of a name yet, hence the generic GWR Terminus, but it will be set in West Wales, as I have a fleet of locos for that region/era (1930s-40s). The station building and signal box will be ready-made Scenecraft models, but will be re-painted and detailed, plus they will have snow on the roofs, so again, hopefully they will look a bit different. I have sourced the Bullhead track and turnouts (luckily, as they seem to be hard to get hold of at the moment), so will start track laying once they arrive. In the meantime, I need to learn how to use Templot (or more probably, I need to learn permanent way terminology, so I know what people are talking about!). Pete

Yes I've seen that before, thanks.

There is another solution to the sleeper spacing problem - model a dirty old shed and you can get away with covering all the sleepers with muck! Try and spot any sleepers on this 1930s pic of Whitland Shed:

Looks excellent - that's a good idea to get the track plan etched onto the baseboard.

This looks better, by following the terrain boundaries (mud-flats at the top, embankment at the bottom) and would make for an unusual baseboard design. The single line going off to the right would only need a 30cm deep baseboard and could either lead to a fiddle yard, or hopefully one day, another station down the line.

Yes it already has! I just joined the Scale Four Society (I was a member a few years back, but lacked the confidence to try it at the time).

Lovely work, chaps

And a more modest 4m x 1m for Cardigan Station, again at 4mm scale, 1904 map:

This is a 1906 map of Whitland Station - scaled at 4mm, it comes out at 7m x 1m - that would make an impressive layout!

Thanks all, I will give it a go. Interestingly, AnyRail now has C&L track and turnouts available, but I will give Templot a try.

As I've been revising my track plan based on further research findings, I'm getting frustrated with the limitations of Peco turnouts (Code 75). So I'm thinking about switching to C&L Finescale and using Templot to draw up a more accurate track diagram. This is my first attempt at OO gauge (I have some previous experience in N Gauge), so was wondering whether it is a good idea to start making my own track? I do want to concentrate on one layout, even if when I get things wrong from time to time (afterall, they can be put right!), rather than do a basic layout first. I can test techniques on a small plank if need be. Cheers Pete

And here is the Signal Lady watching a through train to Cardigan!

It's nothing much, but has allowed me to try stuff out before I work on the main layout. The turnout is wired up to a Peco turnout motor with accessory switch and powered by a Gaugemaster CDU + controller. I have wired the track up to allow for DC control via the Gaugemaster controller or DCC via the Zephyr Express. I will landscape it as well soon. I tested the 45XX Small Prairie just now and it runs smoothly using DC or DCC.

In the meantime, I've been working on a very minimal shelf layout (180cm by 15cm) to test some ideas on. I will upload some pics later this evening, but this is the very basic track plan: