HillsideDepot

Not quite what the OP meant, I know, but my mind went back to this 1991 INTERCITY advert

Wandering towards the end of Cinder Track (the name comes from a footpath in Chippenham through a lineside industrial area - all housing now though - which was my route to the station when still living with my parents), which is now concrete rather than cinders, we drop down to the road entrance to Mortimore's Yard. When I replaced the Peco stop blocks with Lanarkshire Models GWR ones I raised the track slightly under them as this is a feature I recall of the stops in Chippenham's Up Yard. I'm not sure why there were like that; I suppose a short slight gradient might be enough to slow a wagon which is already almost stopped before it reaches the blocks. Or was it that the ballast got compacted by numerous wagons over the years, but not for the last few yards where wagons didn't normally reach? I'm not convinced by either possibility, but can't think of any other reasons aside from "that's just how they were". The stop blocks at Chippenham also had a black hue to them, rather than being "rusty rails" colour, so I have painted mine likewise.

I got the TEST message too. I am subscribed to their notification when they add items to their Pre-Owned stock and the TEST message arrived at about the time the notification usually arrives. I didn't get a pre-owned notification yesterday, but there was a big upload of pre-owned items to their website, so would have expected one. I don't know if the pre-owned notification is a common factor with anyone else who got the TEST message?

Thanks for the likes and comments. My time away from (or more accurately ignoring, as I see it every day through the open door) Mortimore's Yard goes back to before the pandemic, and I have done a few other mini-projects in that time, Drew's Sidings, a Garden Railway and an Army Depot, not Mortimore's. And whilst you might not call it a hobby, much of my spare time is taken up volunteering both as a Deputy District Commissioner with the Scouts and as a church deacon so model trains have to take their place in the queue. Of course the various lockdowns and restrictions could have provided time for modelling, except work has been busier than ever and whilst I've not had anything like the pressures those on the front lone have had working in a local authority Passenger Transport team has had plenty of new demands. Not just repeatedly working out the latest Government guidelines and ensuring bus, coach and taxi operators are complying, but setting up a system for food parcel deliveries (which was then adapted for pharmacy deliveries, PPE deliveries and even Easter egg deliveries to key worker children still in school), keeping parents informed of school transport changes, attending numerus multi-agency Teams meetings as well as doing the day job while the media kept telling everyone that the world had stopped and everyone was at home with loads of spare time, was mentally tiring. Still, enough of the 21st century, let's get back to the 1970s. A time, of course, not without its own troubles and worries, but where in its recreation I can pick and choose what to recall and reproduce in miniature. Mortimore's coal yard, viewed from the "cinder track" (the shot's a bit fuzzy, due to the difficulty of keeping the camera still while leaning over the layout up against the wall, but lets just say its due to the snap being taken by a 1970's instamatic, probably one of those 110 cameras with the cassette films).

The layout's looking great Rob, and whilst all the photos look good this one stands out for me. I think its the way we're looking down that straight, and everything leads off of that, but it has a great sense of "real railway" about it which draws me in. Hard to describe, but it really hits the spot.

Not so much P4 modellers as 4 paw modellers

An update is long overdue here, although to be fair, there has been nothing to report for far too long. For a variety of reasons my modelling mojo just disappeared, and Mortimore's Yard has lain largely untouched for two and a half years. But hopefully things are changing now, my mojo is coming back, and maybe Mortimore's will "live" again. Anyway, something which has always been bit of a bugbear for me has been the Lenz DCC system, not the operational side of it, but the physical units. There is the transformer and the base station, one quite heavy the other (presumably) needing handling with care, wires between them and then wires to the throttle and to the layout. Having a number of different layouts, all of which have at various times been exhibited, and use the same system led me to think that something better could be done. So an open top wooden (MDF actually) box was made to keep the transformer and base station together, safe but still well ventilated (they don't seem to run hot, but better safe than singed). A cable was made up between the box, (which will usually sit in the floor) the layout and a control panel. Control panel??? For DCC? Well, I don't know what else to call it really. Its has a holder for the throttle, an A5 sized clipboard, a tray for track rubber, shunter's poles (assorted, tension lock and 3-link) etc and a double socket to connect throttle units. It took far longer to construct than it should have done as I took a long time over the design, wanting something to hang on layouts on legs, but which would also work laid flat on a table-top for micro-layouts. So, warts and all, here is what I came up with. and in context All I need to do now is clean the track (I probably need the CCE's Dept to allocate a cross between a rail grinder and a snow plough to the job there is so much dust and dirt!) and maybe trains will run again. I have also been tinkering with a few small detail items, which have been quite satisfying to add to the layout, so hopefully Mortimore's Yard is back on track for a while longer yet (plans are afoot for a permanent layout around 3 1/2 sides of the room, with much research still on-going; no rush though as I need quite a bit more to be added to Peco's Bullhead track range before I start).

I've caught the micro "bug" lately, with a few attempts at the genre: Drew's Siding, a point-less wagon repair depot A garden railway And an Army Stores Depot

There was an interesting piece in the news email from Derails today: Usual disclaimer - no connection with Derails other than as a happy pre-order customer

@Riverciderhelped me with likely staffing levels for my 1970's Mortimore's Yard layout when I was adding a staff / office building, and its great to see someone else researching the same sort of detail. When thinking of the figures, remember one or two might spend most of their day indoors, so do you an office for them to work in? Then, what about a mess room, probably combined with a locker room? It wouldn't be lavish, but probably have an age blackened kettle on a permanently lit stove or, if modernised (a Portacabin type building added when the goods shed was demolished?), they might be lucky enough to have a two ring Baby Belling electric cooker. Also, think about who the staff might get to work. Most would live locally, perhaps walking or cycling to work. Few would have a car, but various means of transport would be parked near (or possibly leaning against) the main building. A yellow livered small BR van (Bedford HA, Morris Marina etc) could be a sign that the local manager is visiting, or perhaps someone from the Carriage & Wagon department making a minor repair to get a defective wagon mobile again or, as in the original question, someone supervising the loading of Joe Bloggs of Calne's agricultural equipment. Its all part of the start to finish procedure for conveying goods.

Not so much "why used" but a "how used" to add to the thread. In my on-going studies of 1970's Western Passenger Train Marshalling books, in preparation for a new layout, I note the instruction that:

"LSL Mk3 at Eastleigh" rang a few alarm bells, until I remembered that LSL in this context means Locomotive Services Ltd and not Long Swing Link bogies which are a no-no in 3rd rail territory. The green livery, while not the same, reminds me of FGW's "fag packet" HSTs.

The talk of Hornby's processes for ordering from it's suppliers and their ability or otherwise to supply reminded me of a blog from Palm Equipment who make water sports clothing and equipment. Like Hornby they supply items to the leisure market, and like Hornby have seen a huge rise in demand for their products in the past year. Unlike Hornby the Palm business model is to have the whole range available all of the time, with updates to each individual item every few years, so there is no pre-ordering angst, but there are currently shortages. Palm have their own factory, unlike Hornby, but that doesn't mean that they can up production in an instant, as they explain. So, not exactly Hornby's situation, but I think that there are similarities between the two, even if one is more open about the situation than the other. It certainly made for interesting reading for me.

Platform 5 do have back-issues available of many of their pocket books and combines. Not every year for each version but possibly worth a look https://www.platform5.com/Catalogue/Platform-5-Back-Numbers Click on the publication you want and then you'll get a drop down of the years still in stock.

I've no experience of the Hornby version, but swapping Bachmann bogies is easy, they just unscrew. Bachmann does sell pairs of bogies separately, although supply can be variable. Apart from the Suburban versions, Bachmann Mk1s use a coupling fitted to the underframe, but the spare bogies have a coupling fitted; it unscrews to leave an open end for the coach mounted coupling to fit. I have a surplus of Commonwealth bogies under my Bachmann fleet, and would happily swap for some sets of BR1s.

Hi Johna, the layout is 1 foot x 2 foot and is intended to work with my 1 foot x 2 foot universal fiddle table, not that I've done any work on adapting the table to connect to this particular micro yet. This bird's eye shot should help with seeing where the various elements are in relation to each other. By all means use whatever you can from the layout as inspiration; I'm pleased it is of interest.

Sorry it has taken me a while to reply, but using mapping data I have available through work I have managed to come up with this track plan, as the railway was in 2014. A small amount of trackwork had already been lifted at the northern warehouse complex by then, but the routes were still visible. The red item towards the southern edge of the site is a gantry crane. I'm a little unsure about the connecting curve north of the main road; it looks as if it might have been double track, but doesn't seem to be by 2014. Anyway, I hope this is of use.

Another great set of photos, Kevin, but I especially like this one for the detail of the various buildings, the way the cars are parked and so on. So much there to inspire and inform modelling. I note the 20mph sign against the telegraph pole, a spare for the P Way or one requisitioned to slow the cars, I wonder.

Thank you. Oops! As is obvious, Land Rovers aren't my sphere of knowledge beyond "that one looks good" when Oxford release a model. But, a bus on someone's layout will get my attention, and a jumble similar to my Land Rover faux pas, would certainly raise an eyebrow.

A visiting wagon from another part of the depot. Maybe it's been parked here to have the vehicles properly chocked and chained for onward movement.

And here is the whole layout. There are still a few things to do, not least the connection with the fiddle yard, hence the two tracks over the edge of the board to enable lining up across the joint. Its been a fun build so far, and will hopefully provide some fun "table top" shunting, and be a useful photo background. It's probably now a good time to say thank you for all who contribute on here, many of whom I learn from, and some who I unashamedly nick ideas and techniques from. Season's greetings to you all!

Having used wall filler for the concrete road areas, I had to scribe it into the various sections of each "pour" as it was laid. It's one of those things that we are aware of from an early age - the children's game of not stepping in the joins - but how actually are the sections laid out? How big are they? What about irregular shapes? If anyone was to ever analyse my Google search history they'd find some bizarre topics! Marked out with a thin biro and the scribed with a panel pin held in a pair of pliers the concrete area was divided up. The joints hardly showed up, so a wash of black paint helped highlight them by representing the muck and fine debris which collects there and, although it was well wiped away on the concrete itself, it also darkened the concrete down a few shades. Then I applied some weathering powder, another first. A few experiments soon got me sorted, and with an effect I am pleased with. Another plus for a small layout; its not a huge area to cover and not a big disaster if it all went wrong. Although there are no photos, as I was completing this stage of the build a large parcel arrived from a certain Widnes emporium containing, among other items, some Corgi Oriental Omnibus tri-axle Olympian buses which after unpacking were parked in the corner by the buildings - it looked rather as if the site, disposed of by the MoD had been taken over by a bus dealer who had re-imported these vehicles and was preparing them for sale into the UK market!

Thank you for your kind words. I always find it easier to copy or adapt something from reality rather than designing my own, but there is always the risk that the result is a mis-matched muddle rather than a convincing "might have been". The Ludgershall sheds now have a roof, and numbering to suggest they are part of a larger building as well as safety notices regarding their fragile roofs. The transfer shed is getting there, but still needs more work, It is viewed here from the "off-scene" end The Guardroom and Boiler House is complete and fixed down. Not particularly noticeable in the photos, but some of the windows have a frosted/opaque look for which I've used the thin packing found between slices of some types of Aldi cheese! It is semi-transparent, glues well and, I think, gives the effect. One of the noticeable aspects of the RAF Chilmark site is (was) well kept grass alongside the line; mown but not manicured. The TeleRail video mentions the wildlife on site, so a sprinkling of white and yellow flock added a few daisies and buttercups.

Ah, Dinton. Funny you should mention that.... One of the major inspirations for the layout was the TeleRail video tape (yes, I've had it that long) of the military railways at Marchwood and Chilmark which also briefly covers Dinton. The transfer shed at Chilmark (an RAF depot rather than an Army one) provided detail for my, much smaller, model version, while two other Chilmark buildings provided inspiration for the building at the front of the layout. It might be unusual to have a building right on the front of the layout, but I wanted a view blocker for the fiddle yard entrance. A single-storey building is enough to block the ground level view, but something taller is needed to complete the block. Fortunately, the Google Streetview car wandered up the lane alongside the old railway and a tall building with an even taller chimney was visible further up the valley. It was just what I wanted, and an on-line search produced a few more, closer, photos of it.

Like many of my projects this one stalled for a while. No real problems, but with a few tasks I wasn't sure about, and some where I wanted to make sure I had them in the right order. Eventually enthusiasm returned and work resumed. The edges of the wall filler were trimmed to a proper straight edge and much to my relief didn't break, flake or crack. A few tentative joints were carefully scribed to represent the joints between the concrete sections, and again all worked well. Maybe my procrastination was paying off and the filler had had time to harden properly.