Steam Revival

Hi @ACR2023 thank you for the link, very interesting! Cheers Andy

Hi all, sorry for the late response - there are not enough hours in the day at the moment! @Mopoke thank you for your message and for the link to the track plan, certainly food for though and as you say - anglicising! @DCB firstly, sorry to hear about your back - feel better soon!! Thank you for your thoughts, all very valid points. I am lucky with my planned space as it is effectively an ordinary room (albeit with no natural light) accessed via a normal domestic staircase. Coincidentally, there has just been an advert on the T.V. for Stiltz home lifts, imagine arriving in the centre of your layout from below..... but in all seriousness, the access does need to be given serious thought.

You got it in one! I felt it better to bow down on this one, rather than him snag the building works! New Kitchen 🤣 Intrigued!! I have been researching Helix and have to say that the idea of having an 'off scene' storage area is really interesting. I also like the idea of having a technically challenging project with something that I can develop. The multi level approach is fascinating and something I hadn't considered before. @Schooner & @Harlequin I think my description of 'diorama (or series of dioramas) with a railway in it' was clumsy and apologise, scenes would be more accurate description of the look that I am going for. @Harlequin thank you for those links, I have seen Little Muddle & Chuffnell Regis before, but not Stoke Courtenay. Right back to today's project to keep my wife happy.... installing an engineered wooden floor downstairs, it is murder on the knees, but looks superb and the offcuts might come in very handy 😉 Cheers Andy

Hi everyone, well.... some good news and some not so good....... Building control have finally visited for their last stage inspection, the good news is that they can't find anything wrong with what the builders have done (despite trying for over 2 hours!!). The not so good news is that he doesn't think the door to my train room should be moved - but at least he hasn't condemned the space! @RobinofLoxley your point re the width of baseboards is well noted and although I am fairly fit at the moment, I am also clumsy and the thought of wrecking scenery when over extending doesn't appeal. With regard to access, I have seen a variety of different construction methods used for lift up, lift out, and swing door entry systems (including isolating / interlocks to prevent locos going off campus if running when the access is open), all I believe within my skill set. I like the idea of at least one twisty route on the layout as I believe that this will add interest and allow for some really interesting scenery. @RobinofLoxley & @Schooner I also like the idea of a small workbench, but would probably go for something along the lines of a pull-out computer keyboard table beneath a convenient piece of baseboard. I envisage doing most of my modelling in a small boxroom, there is enough space for my needs and it is somewhere I can shut up and leave as is between bouts of creativity (has already been approved by higher management!) It is fast becoming apparent that I will need access to a PC to enable me to program my locos' decoders as well as using track planning software. @Nearholmer thank you for your message, unfortunately, although very appealing, this isn't an option for me as I already have a collection of OO rolling stock and track. I am afraid that neither finances or the Wife would allow the investment in another gauge. Thanks again Andy

Good evening everyone, Thank you for all of your inputs, you have already given me much to think about, with a couple of options I hadn't thought about...... a fresh pair of eyes has certainly been beneficial. I will try to answer your questions in the rough order that they were asked: & @DCB Yes, the room is full height throughout to be honest, I hadn't thought about using a helix, but I am certainly not adverse Currently, the door opens outwards. I say currently because I am waiting for a visit from a building control officer about a different matter, but during my investigation and attempts to gleam more space, I have noted that some of the wall to the left of the door is studwork, whereas to the right it is brick. There is no additional space to be had, but it might be possible to move the door over to the left by 3 or 4 feet, but I want to check with building control before I do anything silly! My newer locomotives state that the minimum radius is R2, however, I would prefer visible curves to be greater than this if possible, mainly for aesthetics I am being realistic with train lengths and don't really envisage having a rake greater than 3 or 4 coaches. A very important question! Fortunately, and without meaning to blow my own trumpet, my carpentry skill are good, I tend to over engineer, but it certainly won't fall apart. I would probably build the layout using an open frame. I like the idea of incorporating gradients and possibly multi layers. Access will not be a problem to the minor areas and I will remain flexible with regard to the entrance depending on the complexity of trackwork etc... My vision is more that this will be a diorama (or series of dioramas) with a railway in it rather than a mass of tracks with a scattering of scenery. My apologies, this reply is rather clumsy, but I hope that it answers peoples' questions. Once again, thank you for all of your suggestions. All the best Andy

Hi everyone, We moved home last year and I was made up that I could finally have a hobby area all of my own, free from bikes, washing machines etc.... The space feels huge when there is nothing in it, but the shape is really difficult and to be honest I am banging my head against a brick wall (literally!) with regard to a design. The room is in the loft, fully insulated and lined but there is a chimney breast intruding into the space. It is a working chimney and cannot be moved, but on the plus side, it does provide background heating in the winter. Unfortunately, there is no scope for enlarging the space and as such, it is what it is! I am thinking of an end to end as I don't think I have room for a tail chaser, however, if anyone thinks I could incorporate one, I would be very interested to hear your ideas. As I have said, I have spent a lot of time sketching out different ideas, but nothing really stands out as something I would want to build. Therefore, could I ask the collective mind for ideas please? I am hoping that a fresh set of eyes might help. OO gauge, GWR / SR between the wars - DCC control - rural villages possibly a small industry such as a gas works. Please excuse the plan, it is drawn in excel as work doesn't permit me to install anything on my computer. Thanks, Andy

Do you mean that your arms are not 12 foot long? 🦧 🤣🤣🤣 point taken lol!

Hi Rus, Take a look at these two images from Pinterest, which I came across after reading your post. The dimensions of the colour image are about the same as your space, not sure about the b&w image. Good luck

I don’t think you need to apologise, this is your layout, you will be paying for it, building it and living with it, therefore, you must be happy with it!

You are very welcome! It was a fun thing to do! I wasn’t sure how to design the mainline station, perhaps too simplistic as it stands. I guess it would benefit from storage, shunting, goods and coal yards.

Hi, Just had a quick play with Scarm, sorry no points etc, I am still trying to learn how to use the program. Fully realise that boards may be too deep for access to rear track, but all curves are min R3. Red (branch line) dips below main line, max gradient 2.2%. Haven’t drawn in your branch line terminus……. Might be best to reduce the width of boards and curve the edges to give a flowing design - but what do I know !? Andy

Hi guys, thank you for your help and recommendations all very interesting and informative. This, my first layout for nearly half a century, will not be based on a specific location but I would anticipate that as time goes by, will change and evolve. For now, I hope to be able to give a glimpse into what life was like in a rural setting post war. @M.I.B Thank you for the greatwestern org link - it certainly is addictive

Good morning gwrrob and The Fatadder, Many thanks for the information, really appreciated. I feel myself being drawn ever more into this hobby! Stay safe Andy

Good afternoon, This is my first real post, so please be gentle with me. I am looking for suggestions as to a suitable rake of coaches (4 or 5 units) for a Postwar ‘GWR’ lettered Manor class loco please? This is probably a dumb question, but I have been driving myself crazy trying to find out what this class of engine would have hauled in the Green GWR livery. Thanks for any help you can offer ATB Andy

Hello all, Firstly, seasons greetings to all. Just a quick introduction, have just moved home and finally have a hobby space to call my own - free from lawn mowers, bikes and similar clutter! As an added bonus, a steam locomotive came through the village on the day we moved in. I had a small Hornby Triang layout over 50 years ago and have hankered for something larger for years. I would like to build a scenery rich, (very) loosely based on the post war / pre-nationalisation era, probably GWR as I already have a couple of OO gauge locos which I hope can be resurrected, or if not, used as static displays. Looking forward to learning more about the hobby Stay well and stay safe ATB Andy