Ted-ish

Sorry if this is boring, but I find it exciting. Printed to scale, a 58 and the signal box in position for reference. Timber will be ordered from my local merchant tomorrow.

Revised Shirebrook station and shed layout. I've refined the track to as close to prototype as I can get, to scale. So I've removed the down line headshunt near the station, one less point to worry about. Again, the top left double-track will roll off behind trees/landscape to a hidden siding. That siding could be considered storage and/or a destination (the train will come back later). I'm much happier with this now.

Further measurement and inspection of the loft (with some better lighting) has shown I can't go behind the chimney. There are also some obstructions structurally, so I've decided to cap the width at 12ft. This means compromise for now, however I've made the layout flexible. The important area is two 4x2ft boards. I will then add a fillet board on the left side, this can be scenic but is also 'less vital' in a future move. On the right side I'm thinking a 3ft board, which can easily be extended to 4ft when I move in the future. That shoots off to the cement works and another helix. Note the tip of the TMD actually reaches across the second board, but I've kept it to scale and this should be okay (slot in place)? This gives me a decent running area, with two yards fed from the helices. Trains can't loop, they have to reach a destination and return. Any feedback would be brilliant, I am a novice at this!

One careful owner!

Totally agree. There seems to be a standard approach of smothering in dark grime, which is fine for MGRs but not all locos were caked in soot! Now that I've an airbrush, it does mean I can apply a nice light dirt weathering to the boggies and lower third to complete the model. I have a soft spot for the 25, the way it looks and the fact in reality it had decent power (the model performs well too). Oh and this was the first (and probably last) loco where I de-soldered the DCC socket and direct soldered the sound chip to the Farish PCB. It was a horrendous job, I'm not even sure how I managed it - but it runs great!

My part-time job is collecting photos on Flickr of the prototypes from different angles. My first weathering attempt on a CL25. It was all brush work, I didn't own an airbrush at this point. *sorry Duncan, feel like I'm hijacking your thread now!

Oh now I see, an actual pro at this! I don't feel so bad now at my lack of pace. Another thing I lack is courage, I will put something off in fear of doing it wrong. I guess you just have to practice and be prepared to bin a few failures.

This is my idea for the right hand lower corner of the layout. Based on "Northenden Cement Terminal" which isn't in the area, however I really like the simplicity and odd(?) setup, in that shunting appeared to happen on the main line? I prefer it to Beeston which is 'up the road' from the area. Notes: It would make for an 8foot section of mainly scenic. The cement terminal would have capacity for 24x preflos on each siding. A modest opposing gradient would add a little interest i.e. not flat. Plenty of opportunity for industry in front of the line. A bridge either end. I'm wondering if this is a good use of space. Also, it makes for an unusual scenic as the bulk of the operation will be in the foreground in front the running lines. Any issues in doing that? edit: here's the present day arrangement -

Incredible pace of modelling here Duncan, and maintaining a high standard too! Awesome.

Thanks Duncan, I ended up cutting the video - I needed more than one hand to operate this time! What I found is that at around 18 wagons the covhops would randomly decouple. Up to 15 was absolutely fine, then 18+ is a gamble. A runaway train is not what I want, especially if it happens at the top of the loop... ! I tried a CL37 and that did the same. So, I need to either reduce the height between levels down from 50 to 45mm, or even less, or consider what you've suggested. I have the space and really like the idea of gradient on the straights, curves running flat - or at least a very mild (1% perhaps) gradient. This would ensure I could run 25 wagons without a worry. I'm ordering some plastic pipe that I will cut to lengths of 41, 43 and 45mm to test again. I know at 41mm the clearance will mean I can't easily get my hand in to right any derailments. However, good track laying and clean gradients will reduce the risk of derailments (I didn't experience any whilst testing at various speeds).

Just testing my first loops of the helix. Stopping and starting on the gradient with 11 pieces of stock and my trusty Class 25. 3rd degree radius Peco set-track (for testing) Not cleaned, straight out of the box - 1 power connection Gap between levels is 50mm Clearance is at least 15mm, so plenty of room As a result, could lower the gap to 45mm to soften the gradient some more to be safe. It does however show the small BoBo loco having no issues whatsoever on a 2.5% gradient with 11 wagons. Next, I'll do 24 wagons...

Today I've been building a helix. I'll be testing going 'up' on 3rd degree tomorrow. Don't judge my woodworking, this isn't scenic.

When you see/hear a pair of class 20's (in N Gauge no less), throttling up with a large rake - to me sound is worth every penny:

Yes! I've ordered a few loops to test with 2nd and 3rd degree bends. Down would be 2nd and coming up the helix would be 3rd. I think the smallest loco I have that would be prototypical is a Class 25, so that's going to be first up the loop. The Class 20's are smaller but will probably double-head.

Got my rake of 15 and they're awesome, thank you for putting these together! Hard to believe these are N Gauge.

Okay, so here's the first step - working out the space. I do have drawings of the layout, but this is painting a picture. I have a sizeable detached house, however it's hipped roof on all sides which means the loft space headroom is reduce by 8-10ft each side. Denoted by the hard grey lines on the drawing. Until it's fully boarded up there, it will be hard to say precisely how much room I have - but I've estimated 14ft (1ft per grid square). I'm very tempted to use helices to run trains under the layout to staging/storage areas. This is a an A to B to C layout, not a big loop. A helix allows me to run a train off scene and then back from the same place again later on. The storage yards could even be loops of 8-10ft themselves. Any pertinent information such as this I'll update the very first post with, so in time, there's an overview/reference to the entire topic which will grow.

Swearing, sweating, tears... I went through it all to get that one built. I think I'll pass, for now! Track plan is in the works. I'm starting from one corner to the other and will explain my thought process, hopefully for you wiser hands to pick apart and explain where I might come a cropper. Thank you Jo, appreciate it.

Some images of the modified Midlands signal box I've been working on - a bit of kit bashing as you'll see, it's reduced down a third in size from the original with alterations to glazing, roof and walkways. It needs weathering and some final details, but nearly done:

Hi folks, I wanted to start a thread to share my plans, progress and thoughts on my new loft layout. It will run through Shirebrook (big nod of inspiration goes to Duncan for his Shirebrook layout on here). Freight loads supply/demand: Locations (on/off scene) for supply and delivery: Oxcroft Coal Disposal Point Long Eaton Oil distribution depot Knottingley or Worksop Glassworks Stanton Ironworks Cement Terminal at Beeston Scrapyard WH Davis Mansfield Sand Charringtons Fuel Terminal Ironbridge Power Station However, due to the Covid19 I'm not able to have the loft kitted out by the carpenter just yet. The Velux and insulation panels are on hold until we're safe to let people in the house. Therefore, I'm building models and components for the layout, ready to go up. It will be a 2 x 5ft open board, modular design on DCC. Totalling an approximate space of 10 x 14 x 10ft. I started collecting N Gauge locos and paraphernalia 18 months back. I am a novice by most standards, so please do provide your feedback where appropriate. --- I will update this first post with layout diagrams as I go. --- An overview of the space I'm working with: I have a detached house with hipped roof on all sides. This means the loft space headroom is reduce by 8-10ft each side. Denoted by the hard grey lines on the drawing. There's a bloody great big triple chimney stack off-centre too - but that has to stay! ;-) I've estimated 14ft (1ft per grid square). I'm very tempted to use helices to run trains under the layout to staging/storage areas. This is a an A to B to C layout, not a big loop. A helix allows me to run a train off scene and then back from the same place again later on. The storage yards could even be loops of 8-10ft themselves.

Thanks Eamon. Yes I knew the 26's were Scottish based, both have the little Scotty dog emblem. I really like the models though, so I might just bend the rules for those. Otherwise, they'll go up for sale! I'm aiming for a time period, not specific year as it gives me some flexibility. So I'm happy for it to be 85-90 for example, which allows me to run a bit more locos in the area including the class 37 in Dutch, which is perhaps my favourite looking loco (also sounds brilliant)! My mistake on the 56, it was actually a 57 - "Pride of Crewe":

Hi chaps, I was watching this video with interest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4AbI7KMP9Y It's US focused obviously, but does the UK run a similar system - or did it in the late 80's? RIP track - repair in place TWD - trackside warning device The video creator adds a nice piece of randomisation and interest to his freight operations by pulling a TWD card, some will have a warning, which requires that wagon/car be removed from the rake and repaired. The rest of the train continues onwards.

Explosives added to my list to research! Loads to research here, really helpful. Thanks for the clarification. Thanks - I'll dig around for more images to get an idea of the track layout.

Aviation fuel to Rolls is a good one! Thanks for the info, I didn't know about those other locations.

Thanks Charlie, Do you know if they would have been seen around the late 80's? Or are they later than that?

Thanks that's really useful, I'll do some more search on Flickr to see what I find! I didn't order the Castle Cement from Realtrack because they look like later liveries (as they mention Heidelberg), i.e. post 1995.