grid56104

Many thanks for this - will have a look and see what they have. Max

Work to date has only consisted of building the fiddle yard baseboards and legs which are of conventional construction. See pictures below. Since these photos some of the track on these boards has been laid - photos to follow. The fiddle yard is only 1 foot wide and there are 2 4 ft long boards and 1 3ft long board. I have tried to stack them (for movement) by bracing them between the legs as can be seen in the 2nd picture. I have also attached a sketch showing how I wish to build the main boards to allow me full flexibility as regards scenery etc. None of these boards have been started. Max

Alex - I have attached a couple of pictures of the mock up of the tower. Its size is more in keeping with Knockshinnoch rather than Renstrie which appears to be taller but is no where near as long. I need to refine the internal chute though - it nears to be more of a funnel before it goes above the wagons. The eventual tower will be build from plasticard etc although I am unclear where I will get the ladders that go up the side of the tower. I may also introduce a glazing band around the tower - I have seen this in a few of the Rapid Loaders from south of the border. The first picture is the non public side while the second shows the wagon height relative to the tower height. A locomotive also 'just' fits under it just like the real thing!!! Max

Track plan concept added below. In essence, the line exits the fiddle yard on double track this reducing to single track beyond the abandoned main line junction - I will leave some overgrown track and have some lifted track to represent this. Beyond this junction, a single track will run off behind the backscene to 'another different colliery' and then the main single track will meander through countryside to reach the loading point via a new piece of track coming from the original colliery line which also runs behind the backscene. My next post will have some photographs of single line coal routes from Scotland - some still open other long closed - which are being used as reference and ideas. I will also post details/photographs of constuction (albeit limited) to date of this layout. Max

When I posted recently in the 'new members' section, I referred to my intention to set up postings re my new layout. This is the 1st one. The layout will reflect my life long interest in coal traffic from Rail Blue to the Present Day. Currently the layout will be known as the 'Maxwell Colliery Loading Point' but this will probably change in due course once I think of a better name. The layout will be a rapid loading tower arrangement such as that at Renstrie (or Ravenstruther) and formerly at Knockshinnoch and Blindwells (refer my photos of these locations). The intention is to have the tower built in such a way (close to the backscene) that as the locomotive pulls empty wagons throught the tower they can be filled up and come out the other side full. In addition to the above, I want to model some single track branch line to/from the tower similar to that on the former Bilston Glen branch and currently seen on the line to Chalmerston and Killoch. The setting of the layout will allow Rail Blue, Large Logo, Trainload Coal, Transrail and Loadhaul locos to be used with Haa's and off course EWS/DBS and Freightliner to run with the latest wagons. It is my intention to use boards only 18 inches wide and use open frame construction to allow much more realistic scenery. At present only the fiddle yard boards are built. I have also attached a 'not to scale' concept plan of what I want to do. Hopefully you can see what I want to achieve from the plan. Due to the proposed shape of the layout the plan has been split into 3 to get it on the page - simply go from the letter at the end of each part to get the next part. Each line represents a single track. Unfortunately this hasn't worked as I hoped and I will put the 'concept plan' up on the next posting. Sorry about that. more postings to follow on my thoughts and photographs for the inspiration for the layout. Max Fowler