JCClark

Hi Mick Thanks very much for the information, much appreciated. Having a two level layout is all new to me and looking forward to actually giving some of my locos a run! Luckily, only have a couple of 70s - Colas and Freightliner but have a large collection of class 60s. My longest train will be 16 HTAs and probably the same with an intermodal. The heaviest train will no doubt be the loaded OTAs and, from your comments, unlikely to haul them all up the Helix. By the way Mick - love your layout! John

Really enjoyed watching all the train movements when visiting Modelrail at SECC - lovely layout and thanks for exhibiting it John

Hi everyone Having a bit of challenge tying in helix 2 at the moment, but will post some photographs when completed. Once this is satisfactory, intention is to lay the low level fiddle yard and test all track prior to building the scenic section. I am also part way through re-spraying a Hornby mainline liveried class 60 into DB Schenker red 60001. I have just re-liveried and weathered a class 56 into Metals sector 56060 "The Cardiff Rod Mill" but, after re-fitting the cab inserts I cannot get the lights to work either on Analogue or with DCC decoder fitted - Any ideas anybody? I have tried to improve the connection to lights by soldering wire between connector springs and chassis face plates but still no go!! Meanwhile, I have attached some photographs taken on the old Parkway layout prior to dismantling it. There are Virgin Thunderbirds 57312 "The Hood" in original Virgin livery and 57307 "Lady Penelope" in DRS Cable Thieves livery. Also, 60066 in the attractive Drax Biomass livery and 70801 in Colas Rail Freight Livery - note the retro fitted side fan fitted. Hope you enjoy John

Hi Everyone Some further models and, as before, a mixture of my own re-sprays and Cairnroadworks re-sprays by Andi Walshaw. Hope you like them John

There was a green example there - if memory serves me correctly, it was "Pegasus" and looked really nice

Hi Sam and John Glad you like the 37 collection - I currently have 68 of them with 20+ in Large Logo!! Great advice John and much appreciated. Not enough track laid yet to give the Helixs a run other than test with light engine. See we don't live too far from each other. I will take your advice and let you know how it works out when I get a run. Thanks to you both John

Hello Richard I have been an avid follower of your layout for a long time on Youtube. You are an inspiration and I have learnt much from you. I am currently at the early stages of re-building my layout "Parkway" and posting on the layout forum. I will be driving everything through the ECoS Control Centre this time (I used analogue for points and signals last time) so no doubt I am in for a challenge!! Wish there were more videos on Youtube related to the ECoS Control - the instruction manual tends to give you a headach after a while!! Keep up the great work Richard and thank you for all your information Regards John

Hi John and George Attended the Glasgow show and your layout is excellent - thank you for trecking North!! John

Hi everyone A bit more progress on Helix 1 upper level bypass. Have made the corner piece to bypass the helix and run around to the scenic section (when built). Crossovers will ensure Up lines and Down Lines are linked for alternative running choice. I have also added one or two photographs of some of my stock which will be running on Parkway when the layout is completed. The layout that some of the photos are taken on is Parkway 1 which has now been dismantled due some warping on the board! I used Sundaela on the first layout but 9mm birch ply is being used on the rebuild. The locomotives are re-sprays by either Cairnroadworks (Andi Walshaw) or myself - something I have only recently started to do. I am currently working on DBS red 60001. Any comments or advice will be welcome. John

Hi Mike Must be honest - keeping my fingers crossed that the 1 in 50 can be handled by what is probably my longest train - 16 x EWS HTAs. The set that will be my biggest concern is my 20 x loaded OTAs!! Just have to shorten the rake if they are a problem. HTAs, HHAs and Intermodal sets are all reasonably light really so hope my locos are up for the challenge. Quite a multitude of different locos - Hornby 56s and 60s, Bachmann and a few Vitrain 37s, Heljan, Vitrain and Bachmann 47s so I am sure it will be a struggle for some of them!! I will start to post some photos of my rolling stock as the layout progresses for those interested as a good few re-numbers, re-sprays and most weathered. Even have a full set of Virgin 57/3s, all 16 of them!! How sad is that?? Regards John

Hi everyone, I have been continuing construction on the Parkway layout which is not particularly based on anywhere particular but will be designed to run my substantial amount of stock from both era 8 and era 9 periods. My favourite stock is my collection of Large Logo class 37s which currently stands at 27 and at the other end of the scale, I have just completed re-spraying 37175 and 37219 in Colas livery!! I have just replaced my Lenz system with the ECoS Command Control so hopefully a new learning curve is in the near future. On the old Parkway layout, all signals and points were analogue controlled but intend to have full digital control on the new layout. I will be re-using Peco point motors for the lower deck fiddle yard but Tortoise motors for the upper deck scenic area. You may wonder why the by-pass system has been employed for the layout - it was to ensure maximisation of scenic area in a 20 foot by 6 foot area. Both Roy and myself will keep updating you all with progress so any comments will be more than welcome. John

Hello Clagsniffer Just checked Flikr for class 47 at Penzance and there is an excellent photo of 47715 in Scotrail and nameplate at the Penzance buffer stops. Just make sure you don't do what some retailers do and add snowplough as they never had them fitted Regards John

Hi Lee Once again, many thanks for the response. Your re-spray work is superb and I thoroughly enjoy following your extremely informative thread. Thanks for sharing it with everyone. Regards John

Hi again Lee Many thanks for the advice on the 56 handrails. Have you always used a lining pen for your orange cant rails or do you use water slide decals sometimes? Just that they really look consistently even regarding dimensions and clarity. Regards John

Hi Lee Take my hat off to you with some of these brilliant resprays. Would like a bit of advice with regard the Hornby Class 56 handrail removal for re-spraying please. Do you remove and then re-insert or do you replace? I have struggled removing the handrails in one piece without either breaking them or deforming them!! Similar problem with the Hornby class 60. Any assistance would be most gratefully received best regards John