Traintresta

I had the opportunity to observe and operate a small S scale switching layout at the NMRA British Region convention in Bournemouth around 10-15 years ago and I was very impressed with the size/scale of it. The one thing that stops me modelling in S is the lack of availability of products to get running. Now, I know what you're going to say: scratchbuild and kitbash. I have scratchbuilt and kitbashed stuff and as enjoyable as it is, I don't want my whole hobby to be about that, I don't want to have to spend all my time doing that just to get up and running. I wouldn't mind hand-laying my track with Peco products or by soldering to copper clad but I'm not wanting to have to build absolutely everything. Anyway, the OP's question is an interesting one given that Peco have just released a range of TT track products to help the 3mm scale modellers along their way. It begs the question (in my mind) do we have too many scales/gauges? Or does the market need to saturate all of the scale/gauges to satisfy everyone in the hobby? Certainly if TT modelling was to become more mainstream people would start to ask the question of why would I make the jump to HO/OO when it's not that much larger? So then S becomes a more attractive proposition but I can't help but feel it's going to take far longer than I have on this earth (I'm not quite 40) before it becomes a realistic possibility. And with that I plod on making models of North American prototypes in HO, in a medium sized bedroom in Yorkshire.

The interesting thing is that the EE engine has always been very solid and often wasn't pushed to the limits because the Sulzer had suffered from being pushed too far, but they both ended up giving good service in the end. EMD suffered the same problems at the top end of the 567 and 645 ranges as they tried to obtain more power so the same problems would have existed using EMD products, and they weren't getting to higher power ratings any quicker than EE or Sulzer were. I was always curious why they didn't push the 31's to a higher power rating by fitting a new generator. I would have thought that the old generators could have been sold off or put to good use elsewhere, even as spares? There were plans afoot to make them type 4's by uprating the Mirrlees engine, that would have required a new generator so to add a new generator when they were re-powered wouldn't be too far a stretch, except maybe for the accountants! But it might have changed the landscape a bit in terms of the power requirements and orders.

I would agree that a transload facility is a great idea because of its versatility, and a ‘outside world connection’ is in my experience a must to help it feel like it’s got a reason, traffic comes and goes to and from somewhere else. The cassette idea could be useful.

I have done the same.

Surely with the haul lengths (and shorter trains, in particular freight trains) in the UK, having such large locos would benefit us very little as we wouldn’t be able to utilise them that well? I appreciate trains lengths are somewhat limited by the length of passing sidings, historically speaking, but I would imagine the case for improving those, hence increasing train size would suffer from similar problems of cost because it would inevitably require increased capacity.

Despite looking like a 5MT boiler, that looks like it might work. Which boiler are you using, it looks like the Clan boiler?

I quite agree but I think this is one I may struggle with. I might move on and come back to it at a later date.

They did go to Stratford for major works once on the LNER books. The LNER would have had tender and tank locomotives to a basic Maunsell design, could have made the LNER stock a tiny bit more interesting, for me at least as I’m a big fan of the Maunsell moguls and tanks derived from it and a huge fan of the LNER.

Ah an EM1. I’m kicking myself for not realising that lol, I’ve always wanted one in green. Waiting for the etches when Mike edge gets round to it.

That’s because as time went by the price dropped to try and offload the stock of parts. I’ve included a photo from the book about Maunsell moguls and tank locomotives classes.

What is 6052 in the background?

Cost for a start! When the government sold the parts off cheap they still weren't much of a bargain either.

I'm not fining it particularly difficult, I just haven't enjoyed it. I have to admit its starting to look really nice but I'm struggling to get motivated to go back to it. I think I have realised that I am much less about detail and more about the ability to construct something functional.

I have progressed my first effort, but I have to say I have not enjoyed the process at all! I still need to put the switch rails and check rails for the frog but so far I have found this hard going and have found myself reaching for the copper clad....

All the book references I have indicate it was length and weight that were the real factors for the proposed West Highland 2-8-0's. As for the P2's, it's a real shame they weren't re-deployed to where they could have been most useful, but it's also a shame that Bullied couldn't convince Gresley to use the Krauss-Helmholtz bogie on it to ease this issue. The K4's weren't able to attaint he same speeds that the K3's were on the flatter sections nearer to Glasgow, this was the only drawback with the K4 on the West Highland line but was a result of using smaller driving wheels for greater traction. Hence the proposed GCR 2-6-0 might have been a suitable solution if it was as close to the drawing as possible.

I have taken photos of the layout space. It is still under construction and the outriggers that are sticking out show where there will be a slight horizontal increase in the real estate of the layout. The door... is to a cupboard that is rarely used. We have every intention of clearing out the cupboard and re-arranging the internal storage to pack more in and get rid of what we don't need, but we don't intend to access the cupboard very often. The outriggers lie at the ends of the boards so you can see that the portion in front of the cupboard door is designed to slide out and considerations for this will be made when I add the backscene and lighting valance that will be [art of the baseboards. The two lengths of track cross at the corner where the upper level tracks will cross over the lower level freight lines. As you can probably tell from the positioning of the coaches, the station will be on the left and I need lots more Southern Ry rolling stock! I do, however, intend to run plenty of LNER stock too.

Interesting idea that fits right in with the early era of Robinson loco's for the GCR. Given that the GCR had American built moguls it is reasonable to think they would have developed their own version of the concept (even though all of the American built moguls used in this country were considered unsuccessful) as did the GNR. Certainly the proportions of the boiler length to the standard sized firebox used by Robinson would probably have made for a more successful locomotive than some of his 4-6-0's, just like the Directors. It was to have 5'2" drivers, a 5'6"/5' taper boiler and a tractive effort 50% higher than the K2's but would have been too long for the turntables and too heavy for the bridges. More interestingly, in 1947 a K6 was proposed with 5'2" drivers and a tender cab, with only a 15t axle load limit. It was to be used on lightly laid branches but much like the Std class 2's, it probably would have been a bit late to the party. What is even more interesting is that if the GCR had built the proposed 2-6-0 (drawing included) it could have served the West Highland route, probably better than the K4's, as it's larger wheels would have allowed faster running but it could have been as powerful as a K3, and it would have had a similar weight. In the drawing attached, the maximum axle weight is the same as that of a K3, but overall weight is less so it would have been feasible.

As I have had nothing but time to think about how I want my layout to look, whilst my mother-in-law has occupied the spare room over the festive period (and hence hindered access to the layout), I have moved my goal posts. In fact I have move the whole layout just outside of the scope of the widened lines and started to focus on Holborn Viaduct and Blackfriars goods, moving out of joint LNER/LMS (or BR Eastern and Midland regions dependant on the timeframe I settle upon) and into Southern territory, for two very good reasons. Firstly I have a passion for the Maunsell moguls and tank engine variations and using the basis of a station elevated above other lines allows to me to follow better, the original concept of having lines at differing levels to allow me to make the most use of the awkward space I have. I suppose at this point it would be helpful to show you what the layout space looks like so you can see what I see, unfortunately it is now dark and a photo using the light provided by the typical room light probably wouldn't show it at it's best. The intention now, is to have a Holborn style station, probably four platforms, on the left, running off scene to the right towards staging. At a lower level, appearing on the right hand end of the layout but from underneath (and behind) the upper level, will be a small goods area that will bare some resemblance to Blackfriars goods and/or some of the coal depots that the GNR and MR had south of the river. The staging for the goods trains will be on the permanent part of the layout that forms the bottom of the L, the staging for the upper level will be removeable or if I can harness my inner carpenter, folding. Now I've been on a bit of a mental journey to arrive at this point, having dabbled with the idea of scrapping any stations for a flat goods yard type layout, looking at (among others) Canada Road and Canada Street for inspiration, but I keep coming back to the multi-level option and the stations. Finding out that Holborn hosted ex-SECR D1's helped as I am also a fan of these, and that there was parcels traffic to add operational interest also gave more reason to keep a station. Finally I realised that being in Southern territory, I could run EMU's, which is a huge bonus and fills the void left by choosing not to model the Met Railway, the later decision taken on a cost and feasibility basis.

Something tells me this needs photo shopping like the MR Compound that somebody did earlier on this thread, to shorted the distance between the leading and centre coupled axles.

To be fair i could still do some things on the chassis but I’ve been so busy preparing for the festivities I haven’t had the time but my main focus is getting track down so I need to be in the room to do that.

To be fair I am only following the principles laid down by Mike Sharman in his book, it's nothing I can take the credit for. It took about three days to put together, working out a few wrinkles along the way and a couple of false starts. I have been studying compensation and springing for a few years but this is the first time I have put it into action, however, I'm pleased with the results. Unfortunately because my mother-in-law occupies the spare room over the festive period, I will not be able to complete this untilt he new year but it's ready for painting, I have a larger cutting broach to open out the motor opening in the gearbox to finish that so I should be able to completely assemble and test the chassis early in the new year.

Some tight clearances through those tunnels!

Thank you all for the advice. I’ve considered this a bit more and think it would be a waste to throw in the towel before really giving this a proper go. I think I’ll order some of the exactoscale chairs from the EMGS and persevere at least with this switch and see how I feel.

I’m working to OO-SF so EM chairs wouldn’t be a problem. I feel like I’m giving in too quick but I know within copper clad I can get up and running reliably and quickly.

I had another look at the C&L website and it appears I forgot to ask for the slide chairs to be added into my order. I also forgot to obtain some check chairs, which I was going to do from the EMGS, but by the time I add it all up and think of the time it will take, I’m not so sure I want to continue. I’m very quickly getting the feeling that track is less of a special interest to me than I thought and the idea of copper clad construction really does appeal so much more than it did before.