TravisM

The Northern passenger services are either Class 156 DMU's, or mainly Class 37's either top and tailing or with a DBSO. The Network Rail trains, again top and tailed Class 37's or with a DBSO, but the nuclear flask traffic will probably need another set of loco's which can be backed onto the arrived flask train, and the loco's that brought it in can either sit in a holding siding or run back light to the other fiddle yard.

This is the complete revised plan for the layout, and though it still needs tweaking, mainly on the lower level curves, but you get the idea of what I'm attempting to achieve. I'm hoping to use 3rd and 4th radius curves on the helix, and from the helix to the hidden sidings because of the Mk2 coaches, but it might have to be slightly tighter because of the room size.. The track on the scenic section will be Peco code 75 flat bottomed rail, but on the helix and hidden sidings, code 100. Any sensible suggestions will be warmly accepted.

I think @Matt37268 reply was said ‘tongue-in-cheek’ given West Coasts ongoing problems with the DfT over fitting CDL to their Mk1 stock

Without actually being there and asking the signaller, there's no definitive answer on this. It's probably been like this for years and standard working practise, well within the sectional appendix, but as you said, it appears to be in conflict with with Network Rail rules and you can bet your bottom dollar that it will changed eventually, possibly to something similar to the operation at Maiden Newton.

I took my Bachmann Network Rail Windhoff MPV and West Coast Class 47, 47245 for a test run at Market Deeping MRC's test track, and both performed really well considering they had been stored for ages. Both will go to GC Weathering to be 'breathed on' with suitable weathering for the MPV and gentle in service weathering and updating to it's current condition with yellow/gold numbers and the shed code beneath the data panel for 47245. I'd like to thank @woodenhead for telling me how to post the video clips properly.

I have to say that what I wrote are my observations from watching many, many YouTube video clips, though they probably only show the 'highlights' with sequences shortened.

I've got this Oxford Diecast Mercedes ambulance lettered for East Midlands NHS Trust and had the lights done by Kyte lights, and when it's lit up, looks great. Ideally, I'd like one lettered for North West NHS Trust's vehicles but I can't find suitable decals to re-letter the vehicle, so I spoke to several ambulance crews about the model and they've told me that it's not unlikely that one of theirs could be up in the North West taking a patient home from a hospital stay in the East Midlands area, and on it's way home, could be called upon. I did think of selling it but with the information told to me by the ambulance crew, I think I should keep it and maybe slightly hide it on the layout so it's not so noticeable. Suggestion?

I think your just nit picking as the Class 56, 58 & 60's were built AFTER the Class 13's were converted. I think you need to read the post in the context it was written!

That’s why I said ‘one of the heaviest’, not the heaviest

Thank you for that, much appreciated

As I grew up near Weston-super-Mare in the 70's, I was told by station staff there at the time that London bound and cross country trains, plus HST's generally used platform 2 (the station building side and longest platform) because they were generally the longest, and platform 1 was tight for a full length train with engine and coaches. As I'm modelling St Bees in the present era and has a similar track plan with passing loop to what the OP has drawn out, the Carlisle to Barrow trains use platform 2 (station building side), and the return workings use platform 1. It has a signal box and uses tokens from St Bees to Whitehaven and St Bees to Sellafield. Generally the signaller closes the road crossing gates and the Carlisle bound train arrives first on platform 1, then the signaller sets the route for the Barrow train via platform 2, and takes the token from the driver. Then will walk to the end of platform 2 via the pedestrian bridge and waits for the Barrow bound train to arrive. When it arrives, they swop tokens and the Barrow train is free to depart and the signaller walks back to platform 1 and hands the new token to Carlisle bound driver. Once that is done, the signaller returns to his cabin to pull the signals off and the train can depart. I've been told that it's not uncommon for the crossing gates to be closed up to 10 minutes should one train be late.

I'm trying to find out what stock was used on the 2018 'The Lakelander' between Oxenholme and Windermere. They are all Mk2's and appear to be a BSO and 2 TSO's, top and tailed between 47245 and 57316. Any help would be most welcome.

The Class 13's were specially weighted and from what I read, they were one of the heaviest diesel loco (or loco's) on BR at 120 tons.

A better revised plan showing the approaches to the helix and the whole layout will be built in sections. Once the station board is firmly fixed to the wall, the left hand 5'x1' section will be added (Towards Carlisle) as well 3'6"x1' section along the opposite wall, plus the triangular pieces. The rest will be built once Tim Horn has done the final measurements for the helix. There was supposed to be a lift out section but after discussion with Tim, I've decided to have the layout at Sternum height as you'll look at the trains as you would do in real life and it would disguise the sharper than normal curve at the station. If anyone has any sensible suggestions or comments, I'd love to hear them.

Had a better go at drawing out the track plan, still needs 'tweaking' but getting there.

Puts my bus driving in Peterborough to shame 😳, especially on the 2’s and 3’s 🤣

Thank you as I wasn't able to do that, it must be a knack to it.

I thought I would give my DRS loco hauled sets for my Cumbrian Coast layout a run, my Accurascale 37402 and 409 either top and tailing between Bachmann 2 Mk2F TSO's and BSO

I'm struggling to dismantle a Network Rail Mk2D BSO to remove a corridor connection at one end, as per the prototype as well as fill in the blanked off windows properly. I've done the usual things but the damn body won't come off the chassis. Anyone had the same problems?

Best person to answer this question is Tony Wright, I suggest sending him a PM or asking this question on his thread 'Wright writes'

I took these pictures a few weeks ago of my Accurascale 37423 and 37609 along with their KUA's on the Market Deeping MRC test track. I'm still waiting for the MK2E BSO escort coaches from Rainbow Railways to make this train complete.

I think the last four BR blue Class 56's were lined up at Leicester depot (I think) for a photoshoot in the early 90's. I can't remember the numbers of them but I think 006 was certainly one of them. I seem to remember that Rail magazine had a pull out picture of them all lined up within the magazine.

I recently bought two Hornby Mk2E's, a BSO in Virgin Cross Country livery which will be de-branded and weathered by GC Weathering, to similar to when DRS were using it. The other is a TSO in DRS livery and will go into the loco/DBSO set. As you can see, I now have two set of loco hauled coaching stock, and I do plan to create a third but not sure if to have it top and tailed with Class 37's or with another DBSO. I also decided to replace the points at the west (south) end with curved as they worked better, though straight is more prototypical but I just don't have the room. I lined up the two trains at the eastern end, to show where the level crossing, signal box and rail footbridge will go. I'm still dabbling and I think I'll move the tracks about 3-4 inches further away from the back scene so there's less in the foreground, even though St Bees station will be positioned within the arc of the curve (if that makes sense) Helpful suggestions would be most welcome

After a lot of procrastinating, I've decided to abandon my Sellafield layout mainly because it was planned to go out onto the exhibition circuit, and I honestly feel, because of health issues, I would struggle loading it into a large car or van. So the idea is sadly no more. On the upside, I've decided to reuse the baseboards I had and go with my original plan of St Bees during the time when trains were loco hauled with Class 37's and later, 68's. The baseboards will be hung off the wall and to get the full length along the wall, Tim Horn is going to create a 6inch 'filler', so I get the full 8'6". I've started roughly laying out the track plan for the station to give me a sense of perspective, though I'll probably move the tracks away from the back scene and nearer the front and put the points on another board. If anyone has any sensible suggestions, I'd like to hear them.

I saw this today on a model railway shop facebook page and I nearly spat my cornflakes out. They are very, very naughty people 🤣🤣😎😎