Newbie2020

A little reworking! Back to a BLT but now with 2 platforms and facility for a loco to run around to take a train back to Lyneworth. Branch line starts at platform 1 and runs around the outside now splitting before rising to Millhampton. Storage loops (I know they look a bit wobbly!) down the left side, with minimal scenic (as thats the lift up section) Plenty of space at Lyneworth, platform 2, 3 and 4 for rotating locos and shunting ECS to and from the carriage storage sidings. MPD and sidings need more work but starting to look like my vision. Clive

Playing around with the current Lyneworth tonight and have had real fun with swapping locos around (Deltic and Class 40 tonight) so I think that this is the way I'd want to go as @Chimer@Zomboid suggested. The small goods/industrial will enable the same with freight trains. So I think small minimally scenic fiddle yard or off scene one may be useful operationally as well. Learning so much (albeit slowly!) thanks to every ones much appreciated input (and patience!). Like how you need 6 hands when you have 2 locos running and need to change points and, of course, not forgetting to change them back! Only 2 derailments - no casualties! Clive

Was just watching a Youtube with a guy that has used plastic boxes with lids, looks simple and sensible.

As I'm starting the layout again from scratch, I'm going to use isulation board on the walls. The main garage door is pretty well sealed against wind with this new electronic door, probably not 100% but pretty close. Clive

Thanks everyone! Your efforts are really appreciated, this is where your experience shows ! Sadly I can see the benefits of both of these and think that's making it more confusing still. The problem with two levels at the gate section is mainly about my competence in constructing the necessary gate there, as @RobinofLoxley says a lift up section wouldn't work. I've just watched a couple of YouTubes on gates, however, and they don't look quite as scary as I thought - more consultation with my joiner friend required! Fiddle yard, I really need to look more at this in an operational way (this is where shows, or clubs that are open would come in handy! Damn Covid!!) As the layout is in the garage, is it sensible to be keeping locos out there all the time? I am thinking climate here as the garage can get quite cold in winter and quite worm in summer? Happy to put some sort of heating in during very cold weather and new "almost sealed" electronic door has reduced the effect of drafts tremendously. Not too worried security wise as both doors have security locks and there is an alarm sensor in there too. Currently, after running locos I return them to there boxes and bring them in. If this is the best way to do it then perhaps too many lanes of fiddle yard are not needed? On the other hand it would make operation a lot easier day to day! (Sounding very much like a LibDem now - this fence is uncomfortable! (No offence intended, other political parties are available!). Thinking through, what I want is good opportunity to model both rail related scenery and countryside (think I'm going to struggle to fit my canal in lol) and some interesting but not too complicated operations. @Zomboidmade a good point that struck me, about the larger station where I can operate locos with changes etc and move ECS around. #confused.com Clive

That looks very interesting!

No rush at all! Thanks

Sounds intruiging!

My only problem with that is where to fit it in! I thought about poutting some storage loops behind a scenic break on the right hand side? maybe this would hide the unrealistically steep incline the branch line would need to clear the tunnels? Clive

I did think about this and the problem would be that down the left side is the liftup/gate section and I think this would be very tricky with any sort of gradient involved.

A fiddle yard is something I could use but just struggling to fit it all in! The gradient was original there to visually seperate Millhampton Halt from the TMD below. As I pushed the branch line further back it made the elevation more tricky and to some extent, you're right, it became dictated by having to clear the tunnels. The door is on the left side slightly closer to the top so there is minimal room in the top left corner, and the liftup/gate section will need to be on that left side.

Late steam/early diesel but with a lot of "Artistic Licence" !! The class 150 is a nod to the trians I used to work some years ago. The Branch line was essentially somewhere for the Class 150 to be whilst being "slightly separate from" the rest of the layout (Thats probably upset a lot of prototypical modellers!!) .

Ahh that makes sense! I did consider, am considering a turntable - could possibly go in between the ECS sidings and the TMD? I keep looking at Millhampton and can't decide lol, sometimes I like the idea of a through station to open up to more varied traffic , but I agree a terminus with commuter shuttle is what I really liked the idea of!

Sort of like a long headshunt???

Already thought of a possible problem with this. Locos picking up carriages from the storage sidings would always be facing the same direction? (one of the advantages of running it in TrainPlayer!!) How could I arrange this some some would be forward facing on the up and some forward facing on the down? Clive

@Harlequin@Chimer@RobinofLoxley@Smardale@DavidB-AU Well that's nearly a whole Sunday used up! The latest plan (Version 2.4) So the Branch Line returns but set at the back now, still slowly rising to go over the tunnels in the bottom left then on to Millhampton Station This is at about 120mm above base level. this then drops and goes around back to Lyneworth. Top right is The Brewery and sidings and down the rigtht side will give space for scenic work including Lyneworth Archery Club! Main up and down lines go around from Lyneworth and at the bottom are the MPD/TMD and refuelling station, with diesel and coal and water, which also has access to the storage sidings for the carriages. All thoughts and comments welcome!! Clive

Well TrainPlayer is fun!! Maybe I don't need to build a layout after all !!!! LOL

interesting! I'll try it out

Hmmmm Think I'm trying to "get things in " without the thought on the operation. Thats where my inexperience is obviously showing Still a work in progress!! Clive

I have access to a very competent joiner/carpenter (Luckily!!). I'm recovering form back surgery so mobility is not too good. The gap neds to span the door gap which is 950mm

The latest version of Lyneworth will mean the track going in front of the garage access door. Therefore I need either a lift up flap or a swing bridge to enable this. Anyone got any experience of, or preference for, either or both of these? Cheers Clive

James, Thanks for this it has definitley helped!! Still not an expert but the latest attempts look a lot better. Cheers Clive

Version 2.3 !

Ok, It's late and still not tried to change the branch line to the background but few other changes made!

Nice idea! Who doesn't love a brewery!!! Clive