TomCrewe

The Conflat P's I made 3D printed. 4 prototype's in picture.

A bit more done. New crane Weathering to do, Lighting and I want to put a fence at front of yard and edge of layout. Lighting and fence must be early 60's so I will have to have a look around for right type.

Progressing - and I have a Corgi Trackside DG226001 Coles Argus Crane 6 Ton British Railways Maroon on the way.

It's a shunting layout meant to be operated not to show anything off. I am not sure what you mean by ' shame about valve gear' there are no valve on the shed or hardstanding area? The picture you posted isn't my layout, did you post wrong picture?

I asked a question on signalling, I got my answers and acted on them. However it came up in conservation that a yard the size of my layout would not have an Engine Shed, idea's were suggested and mulled over. As I have said before my layout is 1959 - 1966 and I like to keep to things I would have seen around Crewe area (for the most part) and I have been leaning towards demolishing the shed and Keeping the Coaling and Fuelling stages, with some alteration to the hardstanding area and shortening the track a little this would make a yard for unloading Conflat's of which I have a few. I believe that Conflat's were being used at the period I want, But I can't find any pictures of an real life operating depot! I was talking to an older railwayman who said in Crewe Conflat operations were at Basford Junction but I can't confirm that! Any thoughts, idea's or pictures?

Now fitted to backboard and lighting fitted ( the picture is deceiving as the camera makes to light a lot brighter than it really is ).

Now you explain I can see what you are getting at. There are doors to fit (I am still making them)

It's a 'Model railway' not real. It's paper and card. It's a nod to the real Goddard Street entrance to Crewe works, (It does not exist now). I was trying to capture the essence of the gateway. I can't add any depth it's a low relief building and at the back is a wardrobe!!

Bus gone, replaced with Market Street junction, Crewe. One more job to fit working light above the arch (Sent for parts)

Further on but may axe the Crosville bus for something else.

I have been planning, measuring, drawing and printing some 3d parts. Time to start cutting card.

Next project is this, at the left side of layout I have a entrance to the hardstanding of the good's yard. It's something I just made up and its a bit on the flat side (it is flat it's low relief but it looks too flat!!) I have said elsewhere I try to model thing around the Crewe area and I have come across a head on picture of the Crewe Works Entrance which was on Goddard Street. Only needs a slight fiddle with scale to fit the gap I am not sure what to do with the lettering 1. leave as is authentic 2. Change slightly from Crewe works to Coppenhall Goods 3. Just make more relevant to layout.

Well that's about it (except I have noticed in picture the right end want gluing again). Also bushes to replace on the right side.

Bit more done, another couple of days perhaps.

No I am not 'ToddTheTrainnut' I am 'TomCrewe' A bit of explanation 'Thingiverse' is somewhere to share your designs and see others for free, use prints for yourself, adapt others and get idea's. Now the design I put up there a few people have printed and used but with my design you needed to drill the mounting holes as I did not know where the user needed it fitting. Then 'ToddTheTrainnut' adapted my design by adding two holes and that's what 'Thingiverse' is all about. Todd's is better unless you need different position for holes. I am not that unhappy about the ebay rip off but just think it's a bit cheeky, for fun I may message them and ask for 20% design fee.......

I just found this listing on flea bay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225871644290?hash=item3496ffc682:g:tXUAAOSwTRJfLr8R Now few years ago I purchased a NCE Power Cab for my layout, I designed a 3D holder and along with the design and picture I put it on Thingiverse a free to share your designs website. That's my design and they have even used my photograph, I just think it's a bit cheeky that something I design and gave away for free which takes a few pence to print someone else has taken advantage. At £10.75 plus £3.20 that's pricy for a bit of plastic.

A little more preparation.

The little factory has gone and the first part of construction has been started with the walls base board.

From my layout room I could see 10 Shop/Erecting Shop Crewe works and I worked in there for many years, The work dwindled and finally 10 Shop was demolished (late 2019 /2020) with its Gable end wall on West Street. It was about 280ft long On My layout I have a small factory which is wrong brick colour, too small and although a good build I think it never fit with the theme so that's to go and a section of 'The Wall' will replace it. Not the full wall that would take about 3.75M. I just want to get the essence.

I have made a blog and added a link in my signature, All good. The Subject of my blog was my layout. Now I want to add more information. Building, plans for future and what I am doing now. How do I do that? 1. Just keep adding to the one blog. (Editing)? 2. Some how link a blog? 3. Just make a new blog (how would the link to signature)??

Well where to begin, 1964 ish My grandad was a guard on the railway and one of these people who knew everyone, I was about 4 and he would take me on his crossbar seat off to places (The station, Crewe works offices, depot's and coal yard) I can't remember for how long and why it stopped I must have been 10 or 11. This of course got me into Railways. When I was 11 We had a big car crash and my sister and me had to live at Gran and Grandads for about 3 weeks at this time I started building Airfix and similar (almost one a day) This got me into modelling. I ended up in Crewe works with an electrical apprenticeship, working on HST new build at the time, then repairing class 37's, 40's, 47's, AL 6's & 7's, 20's and back to new build on 90's and 91's. I still kept up with modelling tried flying aircraft, got kits balsa and tissue spent weeks making them, took them down the field and came home with a box of matchsticks, so got into RC boats then RC Rock Crawlers (Scale) still gluing plastic bits together. One thing and another had to give up outdoor models, sold up and thought Railway!! Some pictures of older models are here - Some Modelling Pictures Coppenhall Good's, well I grew up in Coppenhall and now live in Coppenhall, Good's because or the space I have, it was always going to be a shunting layout. Era late crest 1960 to 1965 that's when Grandad took me sight seeing, the layout is never going to be of anywhere specific in Crewe (the baseboard would have to be massive) Coppenhall Good's is 2400mm x 600mm, OO gauge, DCC (NCE), Megapoints point control. Two locos a Jinty and a Gronk. Most thing added to layout should be something I could of see in and around Crewe with my Grandad (and a few things just because).

Again thank you all for information, A simple (maybe not so simple) question about where to put a signal explodes into much more. The Signal box has been demolished and the point motors are starting to disappear. Looking into point levers. With more information comes more questions MH 'a small ground level hut would perhaps be more appropriate. I would expect it to be sited among a few "grotty hut" structures, for use by shunters, lamp filling, PW stores etc' I like this any examples and notes on positions? TJ 'There will (very) probably be a STOP board at the exit to the tunnel; all inbound traffic stops here to await a hand signal or verbal instruction to proceed. This position may have a telephone.' Again I like this any examples and notes on position? C2632 'If you do away with the engine shed, those kick-back sidings could make a good coal yard,' I also like this idea but will have to wait until I finish revamp of backscene).

Lots of reply's, Help and idea's. Thank you all. I plan to start a blog about the layout and the why and what for and how I have done things (and pictures) But for now the main thrust of information on the signals is not to have any! The spin off from that is that there is no need for a signal box either?? Which brings me to one more question the dummy point motors would it suit better to replace them all with hand leavers??

Thanks Ray. 'To Main Line' should really be to Fiddle Yard, The distance to Main line is what ever my mind imagines (sometimes strange things). I would like to have some signalling therefore the distance to mainline is requiring a signal. Its a well maintained modern (for its time) goods yard 1960 - 1965. What type and where should a signal go bearing in mind a crafty little curve with wall.

Back in Black - Ac-Dc