Three interesting layout designs….

Posted on January 28, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

‘Ian from Cumbria’ linked to his layout blogs on RMweb.  He has developed three excellent plans, and I reproduce them here.  The location is somewhere in the West Country, but the principles could be moved almost anywhere.

First, Tredethy Wharf, a what-if on the Bodmin and Wadebridge….

Though Tredethy Wharf has been a good introduction to Scalefour modelling it has not been a layout that I’ve been tempted to operate at home. When set up at home it’s normally just there as a static diorama collecting dust. That said I have enjoyed taking it to shows along with helping out on other layouts at shows. I’ve become to realise making an exhibition of myself in front of a layout is a rewarding experience. Meeting up with friends who help, the meeting of fellow modellers along with the public who ask questions, or just seeing peoples/children’s facial expressions makes the whole event worthwhile.

Tredethy_Wharf_scenic

Next, Rospeath Lane MPD, a GWR engine shed.

Rospeath Lane was been design to give me these challenges but it is a layout that has not really been designed as an exhibition layout. With two main baseboards being 4’6”x3’ it will be difficult to handle and transport by myself. By the time it’s in a state to exhibit I’ll probably be too infirm to manage it. Even though progress has stagnated during the last 18 months I’m still very committed to continuing with Rospeath Lane but only as a home based layout.

Rospeath Lane v18

And finally, Boscarne Junction, a real junction in deepest Cornwall….

Back in April 2020 I posted a blog titled ‘Deciding on the next project’. At that time all five were designed to fit in the ‘Man Cave’ at the previous house. In revisiting these ideas one stands out more than the others as a possible exhibition layout….. the project to look at in more detail as a successor to Tredethy Wharf is Boscarne Junction. It will follow on nicely from Tredethy Wharf, keeping in the family so to speak. All the rolling stock I have build and likely to build for Tredethy Wharf will potentially be used on Boscarne Junction. More importantly it will give me many new challenges to overcome especially represent a real location.

Boscarne Junction 12wagon exchange siding-layout only

Boscarne is an interesting location, not least in that it doesn’t have a station there.  Though I did rather like his earlier simplified version of Boscarne.  Smaller, simpler, and something of the atmosphere of that IOW favourite, Smallbrook Junction.

Templot Pages

Templot Pages

So three, rather four, excellent track plans to generate some more layout ideas.

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Potpourri #1063

Posted on January 26, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

Slow progress on the Minories – I’ve had a few days reading some good books.  But I have made up and laid the track for the three platforms.  The 4-CEP is to check that it will fit into the shortest platform and to give an impression of how things will look.  Room for a buffer stop at the platform end.  I’ve started to build the next crossover, but I’m taking it slow to avoid mistakes… 

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Potpourri follows!  Can’t remember whether I’ve posted this layout by Andrew Knights before.  Southern third-rail junction, with a lay-over track on the branch.  Very simple, but looks good (I saw it at an exhibition last year.)  Halving dimensions for N gives a very compact layout.

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Whoops #1 (Photo: Adrian Thompson.)

o8-adrianthompson

Whoops #2

whoops

Whoops #3.  Pinched from RMweb – can you get penguins in N for a similar cameo?

penguins

Cannon Street in 1958 with a Hastings DEMU leaving (photo: Richard Riley.)  Hopefully my Minories will give similar vibes, albeit on a smaller scale.

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A loco that I’d love to have on the layout.  CC1 passing Merstham in 1941.  Note the way the windows have been reduced in size with steel plates in case of shrapnel. 

cc1merstham1941

And a Maunsell shunter would be preferable to an O8!

MaunsellD3shunter

A T9 in early BR livery (as a Royal Engine?) at Dorchester.

T9dorchester

And to finish, a video about that most elegant of fairly modern EMU’s – the Wessex electrics.

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Canterbury MRS exhibition 2023

Posted on January 24, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

Last Saturday, I paid a visit to the Canterbury show with Messrs. Dawes and Atfield.  Visiting shows like this is also good for the drive there through the countryside.  Saturday was no exception, and a cold, sunny morning was best viewed from inside the show.

There was a good selection of layouts on view, included a selection of N gauge and plenty of small layouts – probably a result of covid!  There was also a minor crisis when we adjourned for a bacon roll – the caterers had run out of the stuff!  When will school and outside caterers learn that at the average show the exhibitors can eat their way through the usual bacon supplies, even before the doors open?

Great Endon in OO, set in Lancashire, is in some ways a routine continuous layout, but it had some interesting cameos, including this PW depot.  Mr Dawes commented that he’d love to see the track machines made in N.

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The Lemanis Light Railway in OO9 is an excellent first narrow gauge layouts.  We saw it at the Bredgar show, and I commented then that it was a ‘real’ narrow gauge railway with no hint of ‘twee’.

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I’m a great fan of micro layouts, and there were a few on show.  Hoppers End in OO had (predictably) hops as main load for the goods yard.  This little layout was set apart by the home designed and 3D printed buildings.

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The ‘Docklands LIKE Railway’ in OO does what it says on the can.  A fun little operating diorama.

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So to Graham Bridge’s ‘Southwark Bridge’ in N.  Graham has continued to develop this lovely layout through the pandemic – to the extent that it now has real EPB’s on show.  Mind you, Dr Who is yet to escape from the area.  We’ve booked this layout for the September ESNG show, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with it.

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Tanners Hill in N is very compact but again captures the feel of the suburban lines out of the south London termini.  It models the Network South East era, rather than Southwark Bridge’s BR blue.

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Some N gauge American running on Cedar Canyon Junction, and more OO micro shunting on Lancaster Lane and Lockdown Sidings.

Prize for the most unusual layout, and some lovely modelling on ‘Ulvaryd’ (hope I pronounced that right!)  Modelling a southern Swedish 2′ gauge in HOe, some of the stock does look familiar as the line opened with imported locos and rolling stock – available in HOe.  I really liked the harbour, and the way the layout has been split diagonally to include a fiddle yard.

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Freshwater in 2mm fine scale is a perennial favourite of mine, and it has been great fun watching the model develop with more and more scenic detail, plus more and more accurate rolling stock for the Isle of Wight.  Every time I see it, I want to build something off the Island in 2mm!

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Sybil Road in OO is a working diorama with some good scenic work.

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Medway Quay in O showed the detail possible in the senior scale.  But as Mr Atfield sagely commented, it’s no use having a glowing firebox in your Terrier, when there’s no crew…

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I liked Parrot Hall in OO, set somewhere in South Manchester.  Small, but well executed, and I always enjoy blue electrics and detailed overhead wiring!

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Holt Street in N is the Canterbury club layout.  Very much a work in progress (and from the exhibition guide the design has changed from time to time.)  But there’s a lot of promise here, and the loco shed area shows what they will achieve.

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Finally, Wellbridge in OO.  Again, a fairly standard continuous run, but a chance to entertain with a string of trains passing by.  I guess that’s what we do with the ESNG modular layouts, anyway…..

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We also ran into a few old friends, and made some minor purchases.

Overall, a good exhibition, and a pleasant morning out (except for the bacon.)

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ESNG Open Day 2023 – publicity!

Posted on January 22, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

Here’s the flyer for April.  Black and white so that I can run them off at home – though of course my laserjet cartridge gave up when I tried to print a batch.

2023 open flyer - small

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s running session included a slight problem away from the fiddle yard.  Note the slight step in the rail in the extending joiner between boards.  A quick repair needed….

And here’s another bit of bad tracklaying….

And let’s finish with the ultimate prototype for everything!

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ESNG meeting – 18 January 2023

Posted on January 20, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

Another working afternoon trying to debug the fiddle yard.  A few broken wires, a few dry solder joints, and some incorrectly wired plugs.  We’d just about given up, then a plate of fish and chips gave new inspiration, and suddenly it was all working – this week, anyway!

Five members turned out, plus a flying visit from Ian, that was probably longer than expected once he started chatting.  We tried out a 3×0 layout, with the full fiddle yard on one side.  This worked very well, and will be repeated on club nights.  No room to work inside the circuit, but it leaves plenty of room outside to operate and circulate.

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Simon was testing large numbers of Santa Fe diesels, mostly in multiple….

Allan ran some continental stock…

I had just brought the T9 and train I ran on Sunday….

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And Derek ran a short GWR goods train….

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And as four of the five members present had been there from 2pm, we packed up at 9pm and went home, quite pleased with the day’s work.

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ESNG exhibition 2023 – what’s happening

Posted on January 18, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

We were (or rather, I was) a bit slow getting a show together for April, so we’ve moved our annual show to the end of September this year, and will hold an Open Day at our usual time around Easter.  More details to follow……

East Surrey Open Day 2023

We will hold a club Open Day on Saturday 15 April 2023, 1000-1600.  As last year, it’s at our regular meeting place, in Redhill. The hall is close to Earlswood station and bus routes, and an easy walk from Redhill station. It has level access and plenty of local on-street parking.

We will be running a modular layout (including our new fiddle yard) as we do most club nights.  We have a guest appearance from the original Königshafen plus one or two other layouts.  These will be supported by the club second hand sales. Refreshments (including the famous cakes and real coffee) will be available.  For more details, http://www.esngclub.com

Details of the Open Day are:

East Surrey N Gauge Open Day
Saturday 15 April 2022, 1000-1600
Earlswood Baptist Church, St Johns Road, Redhill, RH1 6DZ
Entry: Adults £2.00 Children £1.00 Family £5.00.

East Surrey Exhibition 2023

We will hold our annual exhibition on Saturday 30 September 2023, 1000-1600. It’s again at our regular meeting place, in Redhill. The hall is close to Earlswood station and bus routes, and an easy walk from Redhill station. It has level access and plenty of local on-street parking.

Work is in progress on the show, but there will be around 6 ‘N’ gauge layouts on display, including an N-club modular layout from East Surrey N Gauge. These will be supported by 2 specialist traders and second hand sales.  Refreshments (including the famous cakes and real coffee) will be available. For more details, http://www.esngclub.com

Details of the show are:

East Surrey N Gauge Open Day
Saturday 30 September 2023, 1000-1600
Earlswood Baptist Church, St Johns Road, Redhill, RH1 6DZ
Entry: Adults £5.00 Children £2.00 Family £10.00. (TBC)

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ESNG meeting – 15 January 2023

Posted on January 16, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

First Sunday meeting of the year, and a whole 12 members turned up.  And a warm welcome to Richard, an old friend, but he’s decided to actually join ESNG.  Good to have you aboard, sir!

We risked life and limb and tried the full 12 foot fiddle yard.  And it almost worked!  There are a couple of tracks that shorted out, again probably with errors in pin placing in the plugs.  Still, a qualified success, and it will soon be in regular use on club nights.

Dave had a large number of Baldwin Sharknoses on show.

Lucas ran a variety of trains.

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As did Richard (membership has its privileges.)

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Thomas escaped captivity!

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And as usual, the initial enthusiasm for running trains ended up with enthusiasm for a good chat!

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Followed, of course, by a good curry.

Martin did bring this slightly-larger-than-N-gauge truck along. RC rather than DCC.

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And Brian added the usual interesting video (as well as making the teas.)

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Potpourri #1062

Posted on January 14, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

Today’s mix is a potpourri of Southern Railway locomotives.  Photos are credited where I know the source.  As ever, apologies if I have missed the appropriate credits.

A perennial question.  Why has no one released an N gauge King Arthur.  Was there a more attractive example of a 4-6-0 express engine?  Beats all those GWR things hands down. (Last photo by Trever Owen).

There might be some votes for a Lord Nelson class, but great as they are, that maximum size boiler seems to mess up the lines of the loco a bit.  Rather like comparing GWR Castles and Kings, perhaps.  This photo is interesting as it has a 6-wheel tender rather than the 8-wheel water carts, that gave the locos a more balanced look, as in the second photo.

nelson

LordDuncan

From an earlier age, the LSWR outside cylindered 4-4-0’s were the most elegant machines.  Here we have a T3 and an X6 class.

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The smaller Southern 4-6-0’s also were fine machines that could be substituted for an ‘Arthur’ on occasion.  Here we have a couple of S15’s.  Note the differences between batches.  Added smoke deflectors, a straight footplate, and a Schools class tender on the later locomotive. 

s15s15schoolstender

That classic LSWR tank engine, the M7, at Bournemouth, Lymington, Midhurst and Nine Elms.  These locos looked antiquated, but were powerful enough to be used on empty stock services into Waterloo. 

An ugly ducking of a USA tank in departmental service at Southampton Docks.

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Finally, a different kind of period piece.  Electrification 1922 style – the Euston to Watford line.  No track laying or ballast tamping machines to be seen here!

eustonwatforddeelectrification

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A sort of Minories of my own – 21

Posted on January 12, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

After Christmas, I got back to work on the layout.  The short extension to the baseboard is complete (but needs another coat of paint.)  I’m hoping that this area will also store all the transformers and electronics needed for operation.

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And a big thank you to Wayne Kinney. I messed up (read destroyed) the bases for the first Finetrax crossover that I tried to build.  So I contacted Wayne to ask whether I could buy replacements, without the rail, as that was all intact.  They dropped through the letterbox today, and no charge!  That’s customer service for you!!!

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The second attempt at a crossover went far better, as shown below.

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There were a number of ‘tweaks’ that I adopted to change the published instructions, and I think that these help construction considerable.  Not least, a dab of solder at the frog and joining the frog knuckle and wing rails strengthens the point and required less droppers for electrical feeds.

Before I start laying track, I checked the track plan and the locations of point motors with the Finetrax templates and my trusty railway curves.  I will, I think, add an extra loco/parcels road – two short sidings might be more interesting than a single long one?

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A passing oddity

Posted on January 10, 2023 by snitchthebudgie

Brian tipped me off that there was a engineers train passing through Redhill on Monday, so I paid a quick visit (having checked that it was actually on the move) to my favourite bridge to watch.  Waiting, i noticed that spring has arrived early in Redhill, as the catkins were already out.

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Just a few minutes wait, then I could see approaching headlights from the Godstone direction, and this oddity passed.

Brian caught the wee beastie at Godstone, and gave some interesting prototypical details on YouTube.  It would make an interesting model – just the right length for the average layout.

I wasn’t sure what the Civil Engineering Train would be between Paddock Wood sidings in Kent and Woking. Turns out it was a Network Rail Harso RGH20C (DR79264), captured briefly here as it glided through Godstone station. Built by Harsco in the USA, they were introduced in the early 2000’s and worked successfully reprofiling rails initially on preserved railway lines, before being let loose on the mainlines. There were at least 5 of these machines introduced to Britain at the time.

Not sure there’s much reprofiling to do with all the trains that have been running recently.  But I did like this topical post from some corner of the interweb….

1 - thyme2

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