Matloughe

Thank you all gents, sadly as the layout is getting to the scenery stage and I very much doubt I could make alterations to it. (Besides there is no space for expansion at the moment) I will have to keep it as it is track-wise. This is it currently I did run a mixed EPB/CEP service a while back which was interesting is somewhat implausible. My plan is to base the layout in the immediate pre-WW2 era, looking at 1938 using primarily exLBSC motive power - naturally with the odd flight of fancy. I won't be going any newer than Southern Sunshine wartime black normally although the malachite M7 I have was too good looking to refuse! You've all given me some things to think about.

Yes that's right Talisman I suspect the electrification to Horsted Keynes never justified the cost on expenditure. How different things might've been if the East Grinstead line was electrified sooner.

No i've build a single branch line terminus with main platform with run-around, bay/siding, and two other sidings. It looks very much like this photo from Disused Stations the branch line itself would be single track very much like the Horsted Keynes Branch, or Wimbledon - West Croydon. The vague idea I had would be to electrify it as a 'why not' as part of the Brighton Line electrification works a bit like Horsted Keynes was electrified to provide a space off of the mainline to turn back or divert EMU's, but the primary service would be offered by steam-hauled trains normally. I think as others have said if there is a juice rail it is unlikely to have any meaningful steam powered service for passengers. So perhaps I will for now just keep at a steam hauled line lets face it, it'll be more operationally interesting with a mix of Push-Pull, normal passenger & freight etc. Kind Regards, Gary

Thank you to all who have commented, your views have re-enforced what I already thought was correct that once a line was electrified unless a vital service passed over it (for example diverted trains via Horsted Keynes) the steam passenger service was abolished. And being the little end of a small twig of the Brighton system unless the juice was turned off (for repairs or damage) or a special was needed it would only be steam-hauled freight. I'm going to ponder - I might lay the 3rd rail but my station layout only allows the Main Platform to be electrified as the bay road is actually the main goods siding and likely to be blocked. Many Thanks to all! Gary

Good Evening all, I am having a problem so thought I would ask the pool of knowledge that exists here on the forums to answer a question I cannot find in my books or online. I am building an ex LBSCR Branchline in Southern days, based loosely on Devils Dyke but if it had continued on past its closure date - but the site of the station is potentially linked to the Brighton Mainline via a junction just south of Clayton Tunnel rather than via the West Coastway notionally it is a Triangular junction with tracks facing both Brighton & Hassocks - but I've not decided. Now onto the actual question, I am mulling over whether or not to 'electrify' my Branch as part of the original Southern Railway Brighton Mainline Electrification in 1933. What I am trying to find out is are there any examples of a joint Steam & electrified Branchline to Southern Railway / Region practices with steam powered "pull-push" trains running alongside 2-BIL's or 2-NOL's that are terminating clear off of the mainline. I know Horsted Keynes's sole reason for electrification was to turn back the Seaford service clear of the Junction at Haywards Heath - and I know the East Grinstead - Lewes line was still steam powered at the time but did Steam Passenger local services run regularly over electrified tracks other than diverted expresses or scheduled London-Brighton trains avoiding the Brighton Mainline. Its probably a resounding no, especially in later Southern Region times but - earlier in the thirties when electrification was less widespread could it have been a proposition to 'share' passenger services on a branch line. Or would steam be more relegated to specials or one-off passenger runs & freight primarily. Kind Regards, Gary

Hello Neil, I've been lurking watching this thread for a while, and just wanted to say - keep up the brilliant work! I moved house and no-longer have space for my current layout and after some wrangling with the Domestic Authorities I have permission for a smaller layout and the lure of 009 has been calling for a while. Your layout has certainly ticked a number of boxes for me with layout design and operation. I love the atmosphere you've created with this layout and I look forwards to seeing more. I can only apologise if I end up pinching some of your design as it is brilliant! Kind Regards, Gary

Good Morning, I am in need of some help I've picked up a Bachmann LT liveried 57xx Pannier however it's missing the smokebox door! Can someone point me in the direction of a replacement Smokebox door? The supplier is looking for the missing door but I'd like a backup incase it doesn't materialise. I can try and post a photo if needed but I don't think it's warranted. Thanks in advance! Gary

Good Morning, I've recently fitted an 8 Pin Bachmann 36-553 to my Hornby T9. I bought the decoder in error and thought well why not give it a whirl, so I've clipped it into the tender and set it going on the mainline under #3 to test it and found out it has an interesting tendancy that I hope can be removed with the help of someone on here. When moving off the loco seems to me to run in full speed for an inch or two, then stop and move off as per my controller input. Its the same when stopping the loco comes smoothly to a halt and then runs off for an inch or two at full-speed its not ideal for smooth running. Now I use a Digitrax Zephyr controller and the aforementioned Bachmann 36-553 decoder. I have had a quick cursory look over the forums but not couldn't see anything I am hoping that someone can tell me its just a CV alteration that is needed. Many Thanks! Gary

Good Evening, Firstly I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and input. I haven't decided as of yet no, I like the idea of building something that is 'finescale' and that I cannot just shake out of a box and run with it. I think more research is needed and to think about what I want before I go any further. I am going to read the 3mm Society and have a look at their membership costs & literature I think. Thank you for all your input, I'll keep you posted. Kind Regards, Gary

Afternoon, Now I hadn't thought of that. I have no issues building my own track. As for Era most likely it'd be Steam, either Grouping or BR Steam. I'd only be looking at a locomotive of 0-6-0 size & few wagons as a test piece. As for the track width - I don't mind, I read the 3mm Society "Getting Started" pages and 12mm gauge seemed to be the easiest to start with. I'd probably see any work in 3mm scale as a 'Photo Plank' or similar rather then an actual layout. Cheers, ~ Gary

Good Afternoon, I've been modelling on & off for at least a decade or so and I really fancy having a crack at 3mm scale. It does seem like the ideal compromise between 4mm & 2mm scale, now I'll honest I'm not that experienced I've built mainly plastic kits in 4mm & 7mm scale. I can solder, none of my wiring on my 00 Gauge has failed - but I haven't attacked a kit at all yet. I've got in my head a small fork layout that can be broken down & stored into a boxfile out of the way as a 'test' piece. Now I've browsed the 3mm Society webpages & on 3smr page for ideas/reassurance. And have decided to come here for more ideas. I like the idea of attempting things that aren't in my usual comfort zone and creating this small tester sounds like a good way to cut my teeth on different aspects of modelling. I've thought out using thick artists foamboard for a light baseboard and am leaning towards 12mm gauge track for ease of introduction. What are others experiences in starting in the scale, i'm not overly wealthy for spending money superfluously on anything more then the essentials. (Newborn baby in the house) So please I am looking for help/guidance on what may be a rather slow burning project. Kind Regards, ~ Gary

Good Morning, I love reading these updates especially when on my lunch break at work. My own LBSC/SR layout isn't anywhere near this level. You've given me some interesting ideas about the Gladstone & coaches etc. I am modifying a set of Ratio Midland coaches into a LBSC Pull-Push set myself. But I am particularly interested in your R1 refurbishment, I bought one myself off of Ebay years ago described as a Wills P Class in need of a touch up, it was infact a Dublo R1 that had been crudely converted to EM Gauge - its languished in the projects box as it needs a new chassis (the current one being EM and in bits, I don't even have all of the bits!) and repairs to the bodywork to become a runner again. I await the next update :-D Kind Regards, Gary

My Hornby T9 was fitted with the TCS DP2 direct fit chip. Worked a treat, a little expensive perhaps but I've not had any issues with TCS products. Tender body refitted no issues.

Well I've received two of the clip on lamps I wanted - unfortunately one of them has been appropriated by SWMBO for a 'temporary bedside lamp' for when the baby arrives. Hopefully it wont be too long and will have the new sproglet and tech them all about the LBSCR ;-) Light Level before lamp Lamp On Overall design of the lamp, can be powered by either 4x AA Batteries or via USB power cable. I have bought a 4-way USB extension lead of sorts and am intending to run the USB Lamps off of this system with a rechargeable power bank or a mains-powered USB charger to power the ensemble. I am fairly pleased with it all - the only concern I have is with colour perception - this shot is from a 'conventional' Tungsten Filament Incancescent Lamp on the middle board and highlights the much 'warmer' feel this lamp unit has. But to be honest I'd rather have some lights rather then fumble about in the dark on the layout. Nothing spectacular for an update; all I need to do next is to get the rest of the lights set up. But at least I'll have a non-lethal light source should I cut the wrong cable under the board by mistake! Enjoy your modelling.

Hello! Welcome back to the 'Summer Project' - which started in 2013 is probably no longer considered a summer project I'll need to come up with a name for it. Suggestions on a postcard please! With the help of my father-in-law to be I managed to move the layout from my Grandparents house to my own house and erected it in the garage along one wall. With a quick wire-up of the connections and the first train in over two and a half years has run! Fittingly the duty fell to Bachmann E4 number B473 to re-open the line, everything ran flawlessly with a minor clean-up of the track - this was the first duty of the E4 since it was bought in 2015 and has never run on this layout beforehand. A view along the length of the layout (excuse the rest of the garage) after initial testing a rake of Pullmans which have also never run on the layout were pulled out and the track was checked for alignments and to ensure smooth running of the rolling stock, later on a few wagons were positioned on the layout to test if it is level (which it is) as the adjustable feet as of yet have not been fitted. Some of the collection has been slimmed down as money has been tight, and I have refocused my attention on the Grouping Era - plus a few odds & sods from the early BR era. Although little physical work has taken place - I have thought up and planned an ingenious lighting system that will clip on the back of the baseboards and make heavy use of USB powered lights & power supply. I have tested a much smaller scale version on a test boxfile and results seemed promising - I just need to secure funding to buy the barebones system as its 'expandable' I plan to run it to the furthest board first and then make my way back to the fiddleyard which is currently far better lit. Currently a 60w bulb on a 230v power lead is the lighting rig and I am anxious to eliminate all mains power on the board and keep it on the floor with the transformer box. Thats about it really, I am prioritising the order in which to sort items. The lighting rig has jumped up the list because its rather dark in the garage, hopefully the layout will be basking in warm white LED's over the coming months. Until next time, enjoy modelling!!

Watch this space, this layout isn't dead. After two years in a new house and lots of grafting getting the house sorted and throwing rubbish out & tidying up. The lady of the house is permitting dedicated allocated space in the garage for the layout to have a home. I still have more work to do tidying & plugging gaps around the garage door and rigging up some more substantial lighting + some form of heating but my layout may well be on the move from storage at a family members house to here! Exciting times ahead. Watch this space, the Brighton Line terminus with no name will be back and will show off my E4.

Hope you guys have a fantastic weekend looking forward to seeing any snaps of the show. Cheers, Gary

All wired up & working! Although it is being run off of a standard Hornby DC Controller Auxillary output. Although any idea on how I can cut through the actuator through the tie bar of the point? All the best, ~ Gary

As promised some actual progress - although my back is now killing me!!! I've fitted the lever frame to the top of the fiddleyard baseboard; for each of the six levers I have drilled three holes for each of the switch positions & the power into the lever. The CDU has been fitted to the underside of the board - and as I couldn't use the second fixing for CDU and I had to fit a strap made out of plastikard to keep the CDU attached to the underside of the board - it works I put the board the right way up and it didn't fall off which is a bonus. I have fitted the first lever to the frame with the wires soldered to the tags on the underside - I did leave the soldering iron on a little bit too long and one of the tags moved slightly - a quick re-position when the plastic was still malleable and hopefully everything still works. I have started on the next board over with the first point motor however with several planned doctors appointments I will have to put the work to one side until at least thursday. Nothing exciting but nevertheless some progress :-) All the best, ~ Gary

Hello Rob, Its good to hear from you :-) I haven't done too much on the layout as of yet - I got as far as warming & tinning the new soldering iron today but thats about it - the back is absolutely atrocious at the moment and I keep banging on about it just nothing seems to be happening with it. To top it off I've been off for so long that all of my sickpay has dried up. I will be looking forwards to our Warley Trip if you'll have me once again? :-) Will give me something to look forwards to :-D I am slowly getting back into the modelling lark, there have been other things going on recently in the family. And I have only recently set the layout back up again - I am hopefully going to take the plunge and attempt the point motors that I keep saying I am going to do. As I have enough bits & bobs to complete the locomotive release crossover at the platform and the first point leading into the layout to give 'hands free' running around hopefully :-) Thank you for your kind words, I look forwards to seeing "Tresodditt" if I have learnt one thing about my ABM Signalbox... its that I still have no clue how to put the roof on it!!! All the Best, ~ Gary

Thanks Rich, The back is okay today; but each day & night is different so just have to take each day as it goes. Bishops Park is/was an experimental layout which has been a stop gap between a 'train set' and my attempt at a 'real layout' it is planned for a replacement SR electric layout in the future. Thanks for the encouragement. ~ Gary

Evening, Apologies for the lack of an update. Its been rather hectic recently and I've not had much of a chance to post or do much in the way of modelling. However thanks to slipping a disk at work which has now rendered me unable to do much except drink tea and pop enough pills to rattle I thought I might as well use some of my free time to do a mini update. The current state of play, I have designed and built new legs for the layout enabling it to stand freely rather then rest on the tables that I had used previously. These legs are made of 2"x2" wood, and feature adjustable legs of a design me & my grandfather made up. At the bottom of the leg there is a hole drilled up in the centre to take a long bolt with a captive nut rebated into the bottom of the leg. The feet are simple blocks with the head of the bolt rebated and fixed into it - the foot simply screws up into the captive nut in the bottom of the leg providing an effective means of adjusting the height of the layout - simple and home made - and it actually works which is even better. The legs need a coat of paint on them - but I've decided to do this when the weather is more amenable to painting outside. In other changes, the freebie from Railway Modeller last month the p-way wooden hut is gracing the end of the siding running towards the tunnel mouth - it looks rather effective; its still in the raw plastic I havent decided on its final location yet. A new station building is a work in progress and sitting in more or less its final location on the platform - it still needs some finishing touches adding to it however my back simply will not allow me to work on it further today so its simply 'plonked' in location in order to be photographed. http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3/Matloughe/LBSC%20BLT/2014-02-13191757_zps37f16ecc.jpg Its a very good match size-wise for the corrugated iron structure that stood at the Dyke station. The signalbox from ABM Railcraft is still awaiting its roof - I might tackle that tomorrow provided I have a clear enough head to make sense of the instructions & parts provided for the job. I apologise for the pictures they were taken on my camera phone as I couldn't hunt for my normal camera to photo it - plus the lighting isn't very good either. The next stage is to build the third fiddleyard board and to tidy up the wiring and add point motors. I've decided that all of the power & control will be housed on the FY board and simply be cables heading to the two scenic boards. I am quite happy with the size & weight of the boards it seems that I have stumbled accidentally onto the right construction method and rough dimensions to be manhandled by myself alone. In othernews, Bishops Park my SR Terminus looks like it will be dismantled - it hasn't been used since this project started and the track etc on that board is perfect for use in the FY of this project, In a way this is good as I still have plans for an SR Electric layout but possibly a slightly more modest one which I have planned - no doubt will also carry the name of Bishops Park :-) In that project the main issue I forgot to take into account is that sheer size of the boards when being unfolded, which stands at nearly 5' high and often this swing only just misses the lights etc in whatever room the layout is set up in. 2014, onwards & upwards. Hopefully I will have this layout (which still is unnamed) in a more finished condition as time goes on - the only structural thing left to build will be some form of lighting pelmet but that is for another day as I already have a rough plan of how I am going to do that in place. Many Thanks to all! ~ Gary

Others have said it, but I am going to say it again the EP looks absolutely superb with those curves the model looks delicious. I can't wait for it to arrive; currently splashed out for the LBSC Marsh Umber, and Southern Green E4.... and also the Southern H2 as well... whoops.

Hello there, Mini update bite here. After what seems like an eternity finally seen some progress on the layout. I haven't been very well recently probably due to working all the hours work will send me in the run-up to the Christmas period. Plus a trip away for an anniversary and Warley - I have finally returned. I have been doing some terraforming on the layout and carving (rather messily) hills out of polystyrene sheets; as I have progressed I think I have managed to get more of a hang on the art of carving the stuff. The idea is for this to be the foundation and probably to skim the whole lot with plaster or poly filler for the final surface of the hills etc, that way any inconsistencies will look more natural after being skimmed with something and will help to 'seal' the foundation for further scenic work. This is a shot from the station area looking towards the exit off scene, the idea is for the track to have the impression of being carved into the hills, on the right I am planning the hill to have a chalk-like face whereas as can be seen on the left is a much more gentle slope which will be grass covered. This is still a work in progress I need to increase the height of the hills towards the tunnel portal and I also need to remove the unsightly L bracket from the corner and replace it with a longer one that I have already obtained to go on the back. I have also been deliberating about possibly installing a fascia board with lighting - thinking of using LED strips in a warm white colour to give an even balance of lighting as well as sketching the idea for a set of legs to make the layout portable so exciting times ahead. Another overview shot; I will get a piece of hardboard or similar to finish off the front of the layout & protect the polystyrene from damage once it is all sorted & formed how I like it. Any gaps or lines in the polystyrene will vanish after it has been skimmed and as you can see I still need to build the ground level up one more level towards the tunnel and a little bit more then that above the tunnel portal. On the rolling stock front I have obtained a Bachmann Wainwright C Class in SR Black with Sunshine lettering - it looks brilliant however possibly a little out of time period for a pre-war layout but hey the whole time period is flexible :-) The Pull-Push set is also progressing well a running mate has joined the Driving Brake Third and the two of them have both been mounted on Bulleid Bogies from Bachmann to ensure good running. At Warley I also took advantage of Dapol's wagon offer and got a number of Private Owners & other wagons as well as a couple of kits from parkside including a PMV which will be painted up as a Brighton allocated 'air control' piped van to run with the pull-push unit. Anyway not too much excitement going on, thanks for watching. Cheers! ~ Gary

Wow, the fantastic Summer Project is still carrying on despite it being well & truly winter now. Have had some progress with the layout, last time I left it I was debating if I should go entirely down a fictional location for the layout - whereas now I think I've settled more or less on a freelance attempt of a real location based upon my original plan of The Dyke station. I have done some dabbling with some scenic work experimentally having completed a Wills Tunnel Portal to mask the exit off the layout and have been dabbling with carving up some polystyrene to make hill formers after my experiments with cardboard wouldn't stand up to what was required. So please keep in mind this is very much a work in progress. Taken under incandescent light - the sky looks fairly neutral which is good. I need to remove that corner bracket in the future. The land here will be built up to about the height of the tunnel parapet and will fall away on the open ground to the left of the siding with the Guard's Van on. I also have started to build an ABM Railcraft LBSCR Signalbox based on Grange Road - is an intriguing little kit, I have decided that it will sit on my station platform just like the one at the Dyke Station hopefully it wont look too odd. I have another work in progress shot of the signalbox it has just been placed in its rough location for when the platform is completed. The SR Terrier and kit-bashed LBSC Pull-Push Driving Brake Third are posing in the background as well The camera can be so cruel the signalbox doesn't look quite so wonky in the flesh for other station buildings I have a Wills Timber Station shelter awaiting construction and am thinking that despite the rural location the building might be too small and so might add the timber station building adjacent to it to bulk it out a little - I haven't started on those buildings as can be seen in the picture above the platforms need to be finished with their bracing and surface added to 'plonk' the buildings onto. A final structure that is known to be making an appearance will be a grounded carriage body - based on photos of the prototype location it looked like a grounded short coach (4-wheeler or very short bogie stock) was grounded behind the station to act as a refreshment room for crowds visiting the Dyke. A similar coach will be in place here for the same purpose. That concludes our visit to the branch, hopefully more news much sooner. I have Point Motors, a CDU, Wires etc and am preparing myself to wire the layout up correctly and construct a control panel for the points so hopefully there will be a news post about that as well as further news with scenery progressing - and maybe even a purchase from Warley in the future - all exciting. Thanks & All the Best! ~ Gary