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RichardS

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  1. RichardS

    Prototyping

    By RichardS,

    Bosmelin will be a railway in a landscape. The track layout will be laid on a spine of baseboards with the main scenic sections added around it in a jigsaw manner. This has several advantages regarding space, manoeuvrability, weight, access and so forth. The visual experience is crucial and the jigsaw enhances this by avoiding continuous join lines. Joins being disguised by field hedges and banks for example in a random pattern.
    To evaluate how large the spine boards need to be and how they need to be arranged – the track alignment is not straight – I am building a mock up of one section.
    At Boscarne the B&WR was built on a ‘shelf’ above the river thus the hillside rises behind the line and falls away quite steeply to the valley floor in front of it.
    Thus the spine boards will be open topped construction. The known unknown I face is how wide these boards need to be as there will be the start of the scenery each side of the tracks.
    The mock up will hopefully demonstrate how things will appear. I’ve used 5mm Foamboard (Hobbycraft) in a gider style for this fixed together with PVA and Solvent Free Grab adhesive (Screwfix).
    Here is a picture of the first stages of construction.



  2. RichardS
    <p>Progress with the trams is now more rapid. Here’s a video of two trams running!</p>
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='700' height='424' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ykVzg4VFJI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent'frameborder='0' allowfullscreen='true'></iframe></span></div><br /> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/thersr.wordpress.com/789/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/thersr.wordpress.com/789/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=thersr.wordpress.com&blog=30226721&post=789&subd=thersr&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />


    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/can-we-cope-with-the-excitement/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  3. RichardS
    <p>The layout I have had in mind for some time was to be based upon the Bodmin and Wadebridge – in all probability Boscarne Junction which I find quite an interesting place. This remains my overall ambition</p>
    <p>I had almost settled on producing the track in 4-SF (OOSF) that is to say EM-2. This gives a track gauge of 16.2 mm, a check gauge of 15.2mm and flangeways of 1mm. For details of 4-SF see “4SF on the Web” at http://4-sf.uk/</p>
    <p>The stated advantage of 4-SF is that rolling stock of standard OO 16.5mm gauge will pass through the points and in fact it is only in the area of the points that the gauge need be 16.2mm. Ordinary rtr track can be used in other places and with the genesis of OO track from PECO and DCC Concepts not withstanding that already available from C&L and SMP the possibility of better looking OO is imminent.</p>
    <p>However, it occurred to me that if one is going to make points to 4-SF dimensions one might as well make them to P4 dimensions.</p>
    <p>Having previously flirted with P4 in the 80s and EM in the 90s it was inevitable that I would find myself gravitating in those directions once I moved away from bog-standard PECO OO/HO.</p>
    <p>So P4 it is going to be. Indeed I have joined the Scalefour Society and have already started to plan my first layout. Essentially a shelf/test layout I am making going to make it to comply with the S4S’s ‘Standard Gauge Workbench’ initiative where a layout is built with a scenic section no greater than 4’8.5″ in width.</p>
    <p>Next time I will introduce you to my first ideas for ‘Oby Staithe’</p><br /> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/thersr.wordpress.com/830/"><imgalt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/thersr.wordpress.com/830/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=thersr.wordpress.com&blog=30226721&post=830&subd=thersr&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />


    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/p4-the-new-adventure/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  4. RichardS

    Welcome to Oby

    By RichardS,

    <p>Oby was mentioned in the Doomsday Book but is now classed as lost village. Look on a map of Norfolk and you’ll find the parish of Ashby and Oby lying east of the River Thurne and south of Potter Heigham.</p>
    <p>Of course the railway never served Oby. Why would it? Apart from Oby Dyke – Norfolk Broad speak for a short waterway usually serving a village ‘staithe’- and Oby Mill there wasn’t much there.</p>
    <p>Ideal then for a ficticious little railway. The M&GN of course served Potter Heigham on the line from Melton Constable to Yarmouth Beach. So a branch line passing through Oby to the other broadland villages is not too unreasonable is it?</p>
    <p><strong>The Standard Gauge Workbench</strong></p>
    <p>The latest initiative for small scale layouts from the Scalefour Society is the Standard Gauge Workbench. Designed to get modellers making something, the visible layout must not exceed 4ft 8.5ins and contain a minimum of two points.</p>
    <p>I have 3 baseboards measuring 1220 x 660 mm ideal for 2 fiddle yards and the ‘stage.’ One yard be a simple headshunt and a return line will pass behind the stage to the other yard. (I believe this idea originated from Ian Rice). The ‘other’ yard will be either: sector plate, traverser or cassettes.</p>
    <p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-926" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro.jpg?w=700"alt="wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro.jpg?w=84 84w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro.jpg?w=169 169w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161020_09_24_20_pro.jpg?w=576 576w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
    <p>At Ally Pally in 2014 I was impressed with the layout Sandford and Banwell the builders of which had used white drain pipes and fittings to make the legs. So I experimented and will be adopting the same principles. This picture shows the idea.</p>
    <p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-929" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro.jpg?w=700"alt="wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro.jpg?w=84 84w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro.jpg?w=169 169w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/wp_20161022_17_15_45_pro.jpg?w=576 576w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
    <p>I’ve set the height at about 4 feet which is comfortable for me to both work and view the model. There’s a bit more to do to make the legs stable. The centre board will have two legs and the yards one each, piggy-baking on the centre.</p>
    <p>That’s it for now. Next time I will share the track plan and track ideas.</p>
    <p>Thanks for looking.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p><br /> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/thersr.wordpress.com/882/"><imgalt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/thersr.wordpress.com/882/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=thersr.wordpress.com&blog=30226721&post=882&subd=thersr&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />


    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2016/10/29/welcome-to-oby/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  5. RichardS

    Oh, Oh,Oh!

    By RichardS,

    4 trams running. Apologies for quality
    This was the first test with 4 trams running. Went reasonably well
    More to do.
    https://www.youtube.com/embed/8ZueI1ojze0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent'
  6. RichardS
    <p>Norwich Model Railway Club hold their annual exhibition on April the 11th at Hellesdon High School on the outskirts of the city.</p>
    <p>This show is a family friendly event with exhibits in all scales with a good selection of traders. I shall be helping on the Train Terrain Models stall. Also present will be Great Eastern Models, Bure Valley Railway Models, Bob Pearmain Books and several others.</p>
    <p>All the show details can be found at:</p>
    <p><a href="http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/10416-NorwichModelRailwayClub_ModelRailwayExhibition"rel="nofollow">http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/10416-NorwichModelRailwayClub_ModelRailwayExhibition</a></p>
    <p>While in the area why not visit:</p>
    <p>Bure Valley Railway: <a href="http://www.bvrw.co.uk"rel="nofollow">http://www.bvrw.co.uk</a></p>
    <p>Wroxham Miniature Worlds: <a href="http://www.wroxhamminiatureworlds.co.uk"rel="nofollow">http://www.wroxhamminiatureworlds.co.uk</a></p>
    <p>North Norfolk Railway: <a href="http://www.nnrrailway.co.uk"rel="nofollow">http://www.nnrrailway.co.uk</a></p>
    <p>Mid Norfolk Railway: <a href="http://www.mnr.org.uk"rel="nofollow">http://www.mnr.org.uk</a></p>
    <div class="action-menu ab_ctl">All open the same day.</div>
    <div class="action-menu ab_ctl"></div><br /> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/thersr.wordpress.com/593/"><imgalt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/thersr.wordpress.com/593/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=thersr.wordpress.com&blog=30226721&post=593&subd=thersr&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
     
    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2015/04/09/norwich-model-railway-exhibition-11th-april/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  7. RichardS
    I’ve always been more comfortable in the flat lands of East Anglia than in the more hilly or mountainous regions of the UK. Sure they’re pretty to look at and can be impressive but I couldn’t live among them unless I was on the coast – where things get flat again.
    Once when looking at a hilly view a colleague commented upon how nice he thought it would be to live there. My response was along the lines that you couldn’t actually see anything unless you lived in top of the hill and that homes in the valley could only see the sides of the hills.
    The flatter parts of Norfolk (not all of Norfolk is totally flat, in fact most of it is only flatish) have one feature that strikes the observer fully between the eyes. The sky. From horizon to horizon it arches over the viewer like a huge dome with a cloudscape painted on the inside. Norfolk skies, like anywhere that is flat, are enormous.
    For a model railway to be put in a place the landscape is crucial. While buildings might convey some aspects of a location it is the topography, the rocks, the soil, the rivers, the hills, and the flora that will really ‘drop the pin;’ to coin a modern phrase.
    Oby Staithe will be a Broadland scene. The modern Broads are far more wooded than they were in the past when reed beds and marshes predominated.  But one area that has hardly changed is Halvergate Marshes between Acle and Great Yarmouth. Travellers making their way along the straight road (on bend at Stracey Arms) between these two places see a landscape that has hardly changed. Cattle and sheep graze the lush meadows which are divided not by fences but by dykes (a Norfolk ditch). While some land has been drained for arable cultivation it isn’t very much and by and large the marshes are a timeless place where the call of waders, the flash of white indicating a swan or two, and the cold east winds have ruled for centuries.
    I want Oby Staithe to capture the essence of this remote and, to some, bleak atmosphere so last week a colleague and I spent some time exploring the area around Halvergate and here are the photographs I took.   
     


  8. RichardS
    Although Oby (see previous posts) is bubbling away my main project is and always has been a layout called “Bosmelin” and it is this that I shall be progressing in 2019.
    I have found the history and operations of the Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway, which linked the two towns after which it was named, particularly interesting. My library of books about the line and related magazine articles has grown over the last decade while the release of several ready to run models that were prototypical to the line mean that making a model of the line is quite feasible.
    With Wadebridge at the western end of the line and Bodmin at the eastern there were  three other mid-line locations of interest. Travelling from Wadebridge the first of these was Grogley Junction where the short goods branch to Ruthernbridge diverged from the ‘main line’ – a generous description for what was essentially a backwater branch line.
    The next location was the Junction at Boscarne named after a hamlet in the Parish of Nanstallon. Boscarne Junction was where the B&WR coincided with a short branch line from Bodmin (GWR.) This facilitated through running from the main GWR Plymouth to Penzance line at Bodmin Road albeit with a reversal midway at Bodmin (GWR.)
    Linked to Boscarne Junction and effectively under the control of Boscarne Junction Signal Box was the third junction at Dunmere where the B&WR split into two arms; the one to Bodmin (LSWR) and the other to the goods only terminus at Wenford Bridge.
    As can be seen Boscarne Junction was a pivotal operating point on the line which had originally been opened in 1834 to transport sand gathered from the estuary of the River Camel at Wadebridge to a series of ‘wharves’ at various villages along the line. The sand was used by farmers and landowners to improve the soil in their fields and in practice was unloaded more or less where it was needed – while the wharves were used for other goods.  In the early days granite from the De Lank Quarry on Bodmin Moor was  regularly carried from Wenford Bridge – the blocks being conveyed to the terminus down an incline from the quarries.
    Later, china clay from the Wenford Dries just south of the terminus was the primary freight carried on the line – most being taken from Boscarne Junction along the GWR lines to the deep water port at Fowey on the south coast of Cornwall. In the early days clay was also shipped from Wadebridge and Padstow. Ball clay from the pits in North Devon also found it’s way over B&WR metals having been transported to Wadebridge via the North Cornwall Railway.
    The line from Boscarne Junction to Wadebridge survived as a freight only line until the 1970s after which the china clay from Wenford Dries became the only goods carried until the pits on Bodmin Moor were closed.
    Today the Bodmin & Wenford Railway Ltd – the principal standard gauge heritage line in Cornwall – runs trains between Bodmin General (ex GWR) and Boscarne Junction.
    Next time I’ll explain how ‘Bosmelin’ fits in to this.
     


  9. RichardS
    Although Oby (see previous posts) is bubbling away my main project is and always has been a layout called “Bosmelin” and it is this that I shall be progressing in 2019.
    I have found the history and operations of the Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway, which linked the two towns after which it was named, particularly interesting. My library of books about the line and related magazine articles has grown over the last decade while the release of several ready to run models that were prototypical to the line mean that making a model of the line is quite feasible.
    With Wadebridge at the western end of the line and Bodmin at the eastern there were  three other mid-line locations of interest. Travelling from Wadebridge the first of these was Grogley Junction where the short goods branch to Ruthernbridge diverged from the ‘main line’ – a generous description for what was essentially a backwater branch line.
    The next location was the Junction at Boscarne named after a hamlet in the Parish of Nanstallon. Boscarne Junction was where the B&WR coincided with a short branch line from Bodmin (GWR.) This facilitated through running from the main GWR Plymouth to Penzance line at Bodmin Road albeit with a reversal midway at Bodmin (GWR.)
    Linked to Boscarne Junction and effectively under the control of Boscarne Junction Signal Box was the third junction at Dunmere where the B&WR split into two arms; the one to Bodmin (LSWR) and the other to the goods only terminus at Wenford Bridge.
    As can be seen Boscarne Junction was a pivotal operating point on the line which had originally been opened in 1834 to transport sand gathered from the estuary of the River Camel at Wadebridge to a series of ‘wharves’ at various villages along the line. The sand was used by farmers and landowners to improve the soil in their fields and in practice was unloaded more or less where it was needed – while the wharves were used for other goods.  In the early days granite from the De Lank Quarry on Bodmin Moor was  regularly carried from Wenford Bridge – the blocks being conveyed to the terminus down an incline from the quarries.
    Later, china clay from the Wenford Dries just south of the terminus was the primary freight carried on the line – most being taken from Boscarne Junction along the GWR lines to the deep water port at Fowey on the south coast of Cornwall. In the early days clay was also shipped from Wadebridge and Padstow. Ball clay from the pits in North Devon also found it’s way over B&WR metals having been transported to Wadebridge via the North Cornwall Railway.
    The line from Boscarne Junction to Wadebridge survived as a freight only line until the 1970s after which the china clay from Wenford Dries became the only goods carried until the pits on Bodmin Moor were closed.
    Today the Bodmin & Wenford Railway Ltd – the principal standard gauge heritage line in Cornwall – runs trains between Bodmin General (ex GWR) and Boscarne Junction.
    Next time I’ll explain how ‘Bosmelin’ fits in to this.
     


  11. RichardS

    A New Adventure

    By RichardS,

    Well after a year of my garage being occupied by ‘that tram layout’ the space is now clear again and ready to be recolonised by my own projects – more of which anon.
    The ‘trams’ have moved back to the premises of Train Terrain Ltd for the scenery work to begin. The electrics have been installed and are working 95% with only a couple of minor issues to be resolved. Although we have fitted the automatic block working equipment this has yet to be commissioned fully. This will be done after the scenic work.
    So closes a chapter.
    Watch this space!
     


  12. RichardS
    The layout I have had in mind for some time was to be based upon the Bodmin and Wadebridge – in all probability Boscarne Junction which I find quite an interesting place. This remains my overall ambition
    I had almost settled on producing the track in 4-SF (OOSF) that is to say EM-2. This gives a track gauge of 16.2 mm, a check gauge of 15.2mm and flangeways of 1mm. For details of 4-SF see  “4SF on the Web” at  http://4-sf.uk/
    The stated advantage of 4-SF is that rolling stock of standard OO 16.5mm gauge will pass through the points and in fact it is only in the area of the points that the gauge need be 16.2mm. Ordinary rtr track can be used in other places and with the genesis of OO track from PECO and DCC Concepts not withstanding that already available from C&L and SMP the possibility of better looking OO is imminent.
    However, it occurred to me that if one is going to make points to 4-SF dimensions one might as well make them to P4 dimensions.
    Having previously flirted with P4 in the 80s and EM in the 90s it was inevitable that I would find myself gravitating in those directions once I moved away from bog-standard PECO OO/HO.
    So P4 it is going to be. Indeed I have joined the Scalefour Society and have already started to plan my first layout. Essentially a shelf/test layout I am making going to make it to comply with the S4S’s  ‘Standard Gauge Workbench’ initiative where a layout is built with a scenic section no greater than 4’8.5″ in width.
    Next time I will introduce you to my first ideas for ‘Oby Staithe’


  13. RichardS

    Welcome to Oby

    By RichardS,

    Oby was mentioned in the Doomsday Book but is now classed as lost village. Look on a map of Norfolk and you’ll find the parish of Ashby and Oby lying east of the River Thurne and south of Potter Heigham.
    Of course the railway never served Oby. Why would it? Apart from Oby Dyke – Norfolk Broad speak for a short waterway usually serving a village ‘staithe’- and Oby Mill there wasn’t much there.
    Ideal then for a ficticious little railway. The M&GN of course served Potter Heigham on the line from Melton Constable to Yarmouth Beach. So a branch line passing through Oby to the other broadland villages is not too unreasonable is it?
    The Standard Gauge Workbench
    The latest initiative for small scale layouts from the Scalefour Society is the Standard Gauge Workbench. Designed to get modellers making something, the visible layout must not exceed 4ft 8.5ins and contain a minimum of two points.
    I have 3 baseboards measuring 1220 x 660 mm ideal for 2 fiddle yards and the ‘stage.’ One yard be a simple headshunt and a return line will pass behind the stage to the other yard. (I believe this idea originated from Ian Rice). The ‘other’ yard will be either: sector plate, traverser or cassettes.

    At Ally Pally in 2014 I was impressed with the layout Sandford and Banwell the builders of which had used white drain pipes and fittings to make the legs. So I experimented and will be adopting the same principles. This picture shows the idea.

    I’ve set the height at about 4 feet which is comfortable for me to both work and view the model. There’s a bit more to do to make the legs stable. The centre board will have two legs and the yards one each, piggy-baking on the centre.
    That’s it for now. Next time I will share the track plan and track ideas.
    Thanks for looking.
     
     


  14. RichardS
    There is nowhere quite like the Norfolk Broads. Lying between Stalham in the North and Beccles in the South, Norwich in the West and Great Yarmouth in the East this is a land of waterways and ‘broads’, reedbed and grazing marsh. It is flat. Very flat. The skies are vast; stretching from horizon to horizon, punctuated by few trees and the remains of numerous wind drainage pumps.
    The Broads themselves are mediaevil peat diggings which flooded resulting in shallow lakes seldom more than 4 metres deep anywhere and often less. Nowadays The Broads, of National Park status, are a wildlife haven and a destination for many holidaymakers – some hiring boats others following more terrestrial activities.
    From a railway modelling perspective ‘flat’ is very helpful. Fortuntely, in stock I have some baseboards measuring 1220×660 which had been intended for the fiddle yard of a continuous run layout. Three of these modified to connect end to end would be ideal. To support these I am constructing the drain pipe legs mentioned before. These are made form ABS and will be glued together. Sockets for the legs will be fitted under the boards. The drawings of boards and legs follow (click to be taken to a pdf)
    baseboard
    drain-pipe-legs


  15. RichardS
    There’s been a bit of a break in work on Bohemian Saxony. But today we starting working again. First up was getting the shuttle on the mine line to work.
    Can’t post videos here so YouTube will have to suffice.   https://youtu.be/dNlUukoul4I
     


  16. RichardS

    Making Tracks

    By RichardS,

    To run P4 rolling stock you need P4 track.
    P4 track is easy – obtainable RTR from C&L or ‘makeable’ from Easitrack or of course for the really keen made from components.
    But points/turnouts/switches and common crossings?  The more affluent  can get someone to make their point-work but for most folk they must be constructed by hand from components. So that’s the place to start.
    Having decided I needed a test track and that a test track must have at least one point I set about making one. A forage in the ‘odd track box’ that the local area group of the Scalefour Society has rendered a point kit made by 85A (Martin Wynne). The bag held ready filed switch blades and a ready made ‘V.’
    I planned to use Exactoscale functional chairs and ordered the necessary sleepers, slides bridge and special chairs, some rail and fish-plates from C&L Finescale who provided a very quick service. I was ready.
    Having previously experimented with Templot I created a left-handed B7 ‘templot’ to use as the basis for the turnout, stuck this down to a flat surface and positioned the sleepers accordingly. These were affixed with double sided tape.
    Proceeding with great care I eventually arrived at the point where I needed to fix the switch blades. So I proceeded to cut them to length. A length that was too short. Bah!
    I would have to make my own.
    This turned out to be easier than I expected and following accepted practice as expounded in various places I filed the blades down and when satisfied fitted them in place.
    The blades are only held in chairs at the heel end of the turnout. At the toe end the blades rest on the slide chairs and in modelling practice are effectively held down by the operating mechanism.
                
    At this point I was ready to remove the point from the building board. And at this point things started to go wrong.
    The double sided tape was rather more sticky than I expected. But worse was to come. Slide chairs do not hold the track and I had forgotten to glue the slide chair to the outside of the stock rails. Thus several sleepers fell off. Re-fixing the sleepers shouldn’t have been too hard. A little dab of super glue on the outside make sure the gauge is right and Hey Presto! all done.
    3. But, I managed to stick the  track gauge t the rails. It set like rock.                                             4. Removing the gauge destroyed the switch end of the point. Aargh!

    Fortunately the closure rails and the crossing were unaffected. Two quick cuts with the Dremel and the damaged rails were excised. New stock rails were cut and chairs fitted. Some of the ‘special chairs’ were ‘lost’ so I cobbled some together from bits.
    This time I left the sleepers either side of the stretcher bars out to make soldering the various bits in this area easier.
    Here’s ‘take 2:’
    Next job is to make the TOU and affix feed wires.
    Thanks for looking.


  17. RichardS

    I’m Still Here!

    By RichardS,

    It’s been a while since I ‘penned’ a few words to describe happenings at TheRSR. I have not been idle but have been otherwise occupied. What follows is a brief resume of the various projects previously mentioned in the blog.
    Bohemian Saxony – the continental tram layout. The team decided to leave this project in the hands of the shop proprietor once all the electrics and control panels had been installed. The aim being that he would finish the scenic works and install the layout in the owners home. It was a shame not to see this project to completion but circumstances dictated otherwise.
    Newcome Road – construction has been progressing on this pre-grouping layout. The owner has been scratch-building various structures, tunnel mouths and buildings while work has also commenced on the scenic elements. The hot summer of 2018 curtailed activities but with cooler months now imminent we plan to recommence work soon.
    Oby Staithe – My own little Broadland layout has seen no progress until a week or so ago. This has been due to my decision to enlarge the ‘railway parlour’ by taking over another 3 metres or so of the garage. Structural work has been concluded and some layout planning taken place. More about this in another posting.
    Bosmelin – Plans to build a model of, or based upon, Boscarne Junction continue but such is the magnitude of this project that it remains in abeyance but is in no way forgotten.
     
     


    So that’s a brief update for now. But I will be adding more information and updates on Oby Staithe principally soon. (The picture above by the way has a NE station and LSWR signal box just for sizing – don’t think this is what Oby will be like. In fact I might change the name as well.)
     
     
     


  18. RichardS

    Plausibility

    By RichardS,

    I’ve been contemplating whether planting a fictitious station at Oby would be in context with the other railways in that part of Norfolk. Although I’m happy with a make believe scenario I still like to think it will be plausible. This is one reason I have a liking for ‘might have been’ subjects.  Oby was never a might have been.
    Imagine, therefore, my delight when reading ‘The Norfolk Railway – Railway Mania in East Anglia 1834-1862’ by John Barney, pub. Mintaka Books 2007, to find reference to ‘The North Coast Continuation Railway.’ Running from Reedham to North Walsham via Acle this speculative proposition was not heard of again after 1845 – there being no actual demand for a line such as the NCCR.
    This is my sort of prototype but a quick look at the map suggested that – in the absence of any details of a potential route – my choice of route would miss Oby. However at this time of course the Great Yarmouth and Stalham Light Railway that later formed the eastern end of the M&GN and which would not be opened until 1877 was not a consideration.
    The Island of Flegg – http://www.fleggisland.co.uk/Villages.html – would therefore, be an ideal destination for a branch line. I imagine this branch would have left the NCCR and crossed the River Bure in the vicinity of Upton on the west bank and Oby on the east bank. Oby Staithe would be the first station on the branch.
    Plausible? I think so.
     
     
     
     
     


  19. RichardS

    Plausibility

    By RichardS,

    <p>I’ve been contemplating whether planting a fictitious station at Oby would be in context with the other railways in that part of Norfolk. Although I’m happy with a make believe scenario I still like to think it will be plausible. This is one reason I have a liking for ‘might have been’ subjects. Oby was never a might have been.</p>
    <p>Imagine, therefore, my delight when reading ‘The Norfolk Railway – Railway Mania in East Anglia 1834-1862’ by John Barney, pub. Mintaka Books 2007, to find reference to ‘The North Coast Continuation Railway.’ Running from Reedham to North Walsham via Acle this speculative proposition was not heard of again after 1845 – there being no actual demand for a line such as the NCCR.</p>
    <p>This is my sort of prototype but a quick look at the map suggested that – in the absence of any details of a potential route – my choice of route would miss Oby. However at this time of course the Great Yarmouth and Stalham Light Railway that later formed the eastern end of the M&GN and which would not be opened until 1877 was not a consideration.</p>
    <p>The Island of Flegg – <a href="http://www.fleggisland.co.uk/Villages.html"rel="nofollow">http://www.fleggisland.co.uk/Villages.html</a> – would therefore, be an ideal destination for a branch line. I imagine this branch would have left the NCCR and crossed the River Bure in the vicinity of Upton on the west bank and Oby on the east bank. Oby Staithe would be the first station on the branch.</p>
    <p>Plausible? I think so.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>


    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/12/27/plausibility/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  20. RichardS
    <p>I’ve always been more comfortable in the flat lands of East Anglia than in the more hilly or mountainous regions of the UK. Sure they’re pretty to look at and can be impressive but I couldn’t live among them unless I was on the coast – where things get flat again.</p>
    <p>Once when looking at a hilly view a colleague commented upon how nice he thought it would be to live there. My response was along the lines that you couldn’t actually see anything unless you lived in top of the hill and that homes in the valley could only see the sides of the hills.</p>
    <p>The flatter parts of Norfolk (not all of Norfolk is totally flat, in fact most of it is only flatish) have one feature that strikes the observer fully between the eyes. The sky. From horizon to horizon it arches over the viewer like a huge dome with a cloudscape painted on the inside. Norfolk skies, like anywhere that is flat, are enormous.</p>
    <p>For a model railway to be put in a place the landscape is crucial. While buildings might convey some aspects of a location it is the topography, the rocks, the soil, the rivers, the hills, and the flora that will really ‘drop the pin;’ to coin a modern phrase.</p>
    <p>Oby Staithe will be a Broadland scene. The modern Broads are far more wooded than they were in the past when reed beds and marshes predominated. But one area that has hardly changed is Halvergate Marshes between Acle and Great Yarmouth. Travellers making their way along the straight road (on bend at Stracey Arms) between these two places see a landscape that has hardly changed. Cattle and sheep graze the lush meadows which are divided not by fences but by dykes (a Norfolk ditch). While some land has been drained for arable cultivation it isn’t very much and by and large the marshes are a timeless place where the call of waders, the flash of white indicating a swan or two, and the cold east winds have ruled for centuries.</p>
    <p>I want Oby Staithe to capture the essence of this remote and, to some, bleak atmosphere so last week a colleague and I spent some time exploring the area around Halvergate and here are the photographs I took. <img data-attachment-id="1208" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/grazing-marsh-big-big-skies/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688/#main"data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="5125,3786" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"10","credit":"Richard Slipper (47J)","camera":"NIKON D7200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534863143","copyright":"Richard Slipper (47J) NR50RQ UK","focal_length":"34","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.0025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Near Halvergate (1), 47J_5688" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1208" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" alt="Near Halvergate (1), 47J_5688" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-1-47j_5688.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><img data-attachment-id="1209" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/grazing-marsh-big-big-skies/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688/#main" data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="5585,2827" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"10","credit":"Richard Slipper (47J)","camera":"NIKON D7200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534863340","copyright":"Richard Slipper (47J) NR50RQ UK","focal_length":"75","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.003125","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Near Halvergate (2), 47J_5688" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1209" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" alt="Near Halvergate (2), 47J_5688" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-2-47j_5688.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><img data-attachment-id="1210" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/grazing-marsh-big-big-skies/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688/#main" data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="5196,2736" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"10","credit":"Richard Slipper (47J)","camera":"NIKON D7200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534863358","copyright":"Richard Slipper (47J) NR50RQ UK","focal_length":"58","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.0025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Near Halvergate (3), 47J_5688" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1210" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" alt="Near Halvergate (3), 47J_5688" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-3-47j_5688.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><img data-attachment-id="1211" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/grazing-marsh-big-big-skies/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688/#main" data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="6000,3041" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"10","credit":"Richard Slipper (47J)","camera":"NIKON D7200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534863437","copyright":"Richard Slipper (47J) NR50RQ UK","focal_length":"18","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.003125","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Near Halvergate (4), 47J_5688" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1211" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" alt="Near Halvergate (4), 47J_5688" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-4-47j_5688.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><img data-attachment-id="1212" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/grazing-marsh-big-big-skies/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688/#main" data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="5520,2937" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"10","credit":"Richard Slipper (47J)","camera":"NIKON D7200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534863542","copyright":"Richard Slipper (47J) NR50RQ UK","focal_length":"105","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.003125","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Near Halvergate (5), 47J_5688" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1212" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" alt="Near Halvergate (5), 47J_5688" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=1398 1398w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-5-47j_5688.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><img data-attachment-id="1213" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/grazing-marsh-big-big-skies/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688/#main" data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="5410,3034" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"10","credit":"Richard Slipper (47J)","camera":"NIKON D7200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534863901","copyright":"Richard Slipper (47J) NR50RQ UK","focal_length":"58","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Near Halvergate (6), 47J_5688" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1213" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" alt="Near Halvergate (6), 47J_5688" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-6-47j_5688.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><img data-attachment-id="1214" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/grazing-marsh-big-big-skies/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688/#main" data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="6000,2794" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"10","credit":"Richard Slipper (47J)","camera":"NIKON D7200","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534863991","copyright":"Richard Slipper (47J) NR50RQ UK","focal_length":"18","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.0025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Near Halvergate (7), 47J_5688" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1214" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=700" alt="Near Halvergate (7), 47J_5688" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/near-halvergate-7-47j_5688.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
    <p> </p>


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  21. RichardS

    I’m Still Here!

    By RichardS,

    <p>It’s been a while since I ‘penned’ a few words to describe happenings at TheRSR. I have not been idle but have been otherwise occupied. What follows is a brief resume of the various projects previously mentioned in the blog.</p>
    <p><strong>Bohemian Saxony</strong> <strong>–</strong> the continental tram layout. The team decided to leave this project in the hands of the shop proprietor once all the electrics and control panels had been installed. The aim being that he would finish the scenic works and install the layout in the owners home. It was a shame not to see this project to completion but circumstances dictated otherwise.</p>
    <p><strong>Newcome Road </strong>– construction has been progressing on this pre-grouping layout. The owner has been scratch-building various structures, tunnel mouths and buildings while work has also commenced on the scenic elements. The hot summer of 2018 curtailed activities but with cooler months now imminent we plan to recommence work soon.</p>
    <p><strong>Oby Staithe</strong> – My own little Broadland layout has seen no progress until a week or so ago. This has been due to my decision to enlarge the ‘railway parlour’ by taking over another 3 metres or so of the garage. Structural work has been concluded and some layout planning taken place. More about this in another posting.</p>
    <p><strong>Bosmelin</strong> – Plans to build a model of, or based upon, Boscarne Junction continue but such is the magnitude of this project that it remains in abeyance but is in no way forgotten.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><img data-attachment-id="1204" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/im-still-here/railway-parlour-2/#main"data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=700" data-orig-size="4160,3120" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2","credit":"","camera":"Moto G (5)","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534766342","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.59","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Railway Parlour 2" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1204" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=700" alt="Railway Parlour 2" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-2.jpeg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><img data-attachment-id="1203" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2018/08/25/im-still-here/railway-parlour-1/#main" data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=700" data-orig-size="4160,3120" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2","credit":"","camera":"Moto G (5)","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1534766331","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.59","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Railway Parlour 1" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=700?w=300" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1203" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=700" alt="Railway Parlour 1" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=300 300w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/railway-parlour-1.jpeg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
    <p><img data-attachment-id="1205" data-permalink="https://thersr.wordpress.com/img_20180823_114546770/"data-orig-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=700" data-orig-size="3120,4160" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2","credit":"","camera":"Moto G (5)","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1535024747","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.59","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.02","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_20180823_114546770" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=700?w=225" data-large-file="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=700?w=700" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1205" src="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=700" alt="img_20180823_114546770" srcset="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=700 700w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=1400 1400w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=113 113w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=225 225w, https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_20180823_114546770.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
    <p>So that’s a brief update for now. But I will be adding more information and updates on <strong>Oby Staithe</strong> principally soon. (The picture above by the way has a NE station and LSWR signal box just for sizing – don’t think this is what Oby will be like. In fact I might change the name as well.)</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>


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  22. RichardS

    Making Tracks

    By RichardS,

    To run P4 rolling stock you need P4 track.
    P4 track is easy – obtainable RTR from C&L or ‘makeable’ from Easitrack or of course for the really keen made from components.
    But points/turnouts/switches and common crossings? The more affluent can get someone to make their point-work but for most folk they must be constructed by hand from components. So that’s the place to start.
    Having decided I needed a test track and that a test track must have at least one point I set about making one. A forage in the ‘odd track box’ that the local area group of the Scalefour Society has rendered a point kit made by 85A (Martin Wynne). The bag held ready filed switch blades and a ready made ‘V.’
    I planned to use Exactoscale functional chairs and ordered the necessary sleepers, slides bridge and special chairs, some rail and fish-plates from C&L Finescale who provided a very quick service. I was ready.
    Having previously experimented with Templot I created a left-handed B7 ‘templot’ to use as the basis for the turnout, stuck this down to a flat surface and positioned the sleepers accordingly. These were affixed with double sided tape.
    Proceeding with great care I eventually arrived at the point where I needed to fix the switch blades. So I proceeded to cut them to length. A length that was too short. Bah!
    I would have to make my own.
    This turned out to be easier than I expected and following accepted practice as expounded in various places I filed the blades down and when satisfied fitted them in place.
    The blades are only held in chairs at the heel end of the turnout. At the toe end the blades rest on the slide chairs and in modelling practice are effectively held down by the operating mechanism.

    At this point I was ready to remove the point from the building board. And at this point things started to go wrong.
    The double sided tape was rather more sticky than I expected. But worse was to come. Slide chairs do not hold the track and I had forgotten to glue the slide chair to the outside of the stock rails. Thus several sleepers fell off.

    Re-fixing the sleepers shouldn’t have been too hard. A little dab of super glue on the outside make sure the gauge is right and Hey Presto! all done.
    3. But, I managed to stick the track gauge t the rails. It set like rock. 4. Removing the gauge destroyed the switch end of the point. Aargh!

    Fortunately the closure rails and the crossing were unaffected. Two quick cuts with the Dremel and the damaged rails were excised. New stock rails were cut and chairs fitted. Some of the ‘special chairs’ were ‘lost’ so I cobbled some together from bits.
    This time I left the sleepers either side of the stretcher bars out to make soldering the various bits in this area easier.
    Here’s ‘take 2:’
    Next job is to make the TOU and affix feed wires.
    Thanks for looking.



    Source
  23. RichardS
    <p>There’s been a bit of a break in work on Bohemian Saxony. But today we starting working again. First up was getting the shuttle on the mine line to work.</p>
    <p>Can’t post videos here so YouTube will have to suffice. <a href="
    rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/dNlUukoul4I</a></p>
    <p> </p><br /> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/thersr.wordpress.com/1015/"><imgalt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/thersr.wordpress.com/1015/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=thersr.wordpress.com&blog=30226721&post=1015&subd=thersr&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />

    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/meanwhile-in-central-europe/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  24. RichardS
    <p>There is nowhere quite like the Norfolk Broads. Lying between Stalham in the North and Beccles in the South, Norwich in the West and Great Yarmouth in the East this is a land of waterways and ‘broads’, reedbed and grazing marsh. It is flat. Very flat. The skies are vast; stretching from horizon to horizon, punctuated by few trees and the remains of numerous wind drainage pumps.</p>
    <p>The Broads themselves are mediaevil peat diggings which flooded resulting in shallow lakes seldom more than 4 metres deep anywhere and often less. Nowadays The Broads, of National Park status, are a wildlife haven and a destination for many holidaymakers – some hiring boats others following more terrestrial activities.</p>
    <p>From a railway modelling perspective ‘flat’ is very helpful. Fortuntely, in stock I have some baseboards measuring 1220×660 which had been intended for the fiddle yard of a continuous run layout. Three of these modified to connect end to end would be ideal. To support these I am constructing the drain pipe legs mentioned before. These are made form ABS and will be glued together. Sockets for the legs will be fitted under the boards. The drawings of boards and legs follow (click to be taken to a pdf)</p>
    <p><a title="baseboard" href="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/baseboard.pdf">baseboard</a></p>
    <p><a title="drain-pipe-legs" href="https://thersr.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/drain-pipe-legs.pdf">drain-pipe-legs</a></p><br/> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/thersr.wordpress.com/952/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/thersr.wordpress.com/952/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=thersr.wordpress.com&blog=30226721&post=952&subd=thersr&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />


    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2016/11/01/the-unique-broads-foundations/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  25. RichardS

    A New Adventure

    By RichardS,

    <p>Well after a year of my garage being occupied by ‘that tram layout’ the space is now clear again and ready to be recolonised by my own projects – more of which anon.</p>
    <p>The ‘trams’ have moved back to the premises of Train Terrain Ltd for the scenery work to begin. The electrics have been installed and are working 95% with only a couple of minor issues to be resolved. Although we have fitted the automatic block working equipment this has yet to be commissioned fully. This will be done after the scenic work.</p>
    <p>So closes a chapter.</p>
    <p>Watch this space!</p>
    <p> </p><br /> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/thersr.wordpress.com/812/"><imgalt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/thersr.wordpress.com/812/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=thersr.wordpress.com&blog=30226721&post=812&subd=thersr&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />


    <a href="https://thersr.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/a-new-adventure/"class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
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