009 Society Members Forum

Hi All,

I've just joined the society and might see a few of you in person at ExpoNG on Saturday. I'm an N Gauge modeller now starting to dabble in 009. I've already posted some layout details on the "As yet un-named spiral layout" thread on NGRM http://ngrm-online.com/forums/index.php?/topic/14958-as-yet-un-named-spiral-layout/ (http://ngrm-online.com/forums/index.php?/topic/14958-as-yet-un-named-spiral-layout/). The layout has now been provisionally named Bryn Tegid, which will probably become permanent if I don't have a better idea. For the benefit of people here who aren't on NGRM, here is a summary of the plan (which I've been meaning to build for about the last 10 years) and some early construction pictures.

The grid on the plan represents 10cm squares, with a total area of 80x120cm. The total height difference between the lowest and highest point is 7.3cm, with a ruling gradient of 3.6% (1 in 28). Curves are no sharper than standard peco set track parts (although I'll be using flexi-track throughout for the actual construction). The storage yard is going to be a pull out 4 road traverser underneath the top station. The boards for the top station bolt in place and can be removed to enable easy access to the storage yard for construction work. Covering the traverser isn't ideal, but since it will pull all the way out, accessing the stock won't be too difficult (I hope....). If it really proves to be a problem, bolting on an extension at the back isn't going to be too big a deal. The layout itself splits down the middle and bolts together with the two halves facing to form a 40x120cm box.

The track link between the road bridge and tunnel is going to be as hidden by scenery as I can make it, this allows for continuous running when I'm feeling lazy. The limiting factor on stock size will be the clearance allowed for under the bridge where the lines cross. The bridge is being built as low as possible in order to minimise the gradient.

Heights and gradients have all been worked out using AnyRail and I've done some tests to hopefully prove that the locos I'm intending to use can haul my trains without grinding to a halt. The Corris line had a 1 in 35 grade in the middle of some sharp reverse curves and the Golfa bank on the W&LLR is 1 in 29, so my arrangement isn't that far off reality for a real passenger carrying line. The whole design was printed out full size prior to baseboard construction and I think it's going to work...

The basic premise is of a present day heritage railway which uses quarry style locomotives to operate short trains on a steeply graded line. The layout shows a railway spiral which was opened about 5 years before the "present day" in order to circumvent an un-seen road improvement scheme which has blocked the original trackbed. The "original" line is the inner part of the spiral and the siding at the lower station represents the old route prior to diversion. The upper station is the "original" station, however, the building of the new line effectively cut this station off from road access and restricted the site, since there is now a deep cutting through the old station yard. So a new larger station has been built on a lower part of the spiral. The original station has been retained as a temporary terminus pending the re-opening of the next (and final) stage of the line, after which the loop will be removed and the station downgraded to a request halt.

The Quarry incline is assumed to lead up to a visitor attraction similar to the Centre for Alternative Technology. This is going to be made as a removable unit, since it will be too high to be stored in place with the layout. This also gives me the option to make several versions of the incline: A disused one, a "replica" quarry incline, and a water balanced incline like the one at the CAT. If I have time...

Likely train formations will include:

- Two 3 coach passenger trains using Ffestiniog style stock.
- An engineering works train for general line maintenance.
- A track materials train carrying rail+sleepers to the existing terminus for use on the extension.
- A "replica" Penrhyn quarry train with freight vehicles and an open coach.
- A "replica" slate wagon train.

If progress on my N gauge layout is anything to go by I might actually manage to finish this in 10 years time... Though I'm hoping this will be a bit quicker.

Hi Tim, welcome to the Society.

I think I've already asked you this in the slate modeling thread on NGRM Online, but what do you mean by NGRM on Saturday?

I'm assuming you mean ExpoNG at Swanley?

Regards,
Darren.

Yes, ExpoNG. I'm getting my acronyms in a twist. I think I've spent far to much time staring at pictures of slate walls the last few days.

Quote from: Tim Williams on October 28, 2015, 17:53
Yes, ExpoNG. I'm getting my acronyms in a twist. I think I've spent far to much time staring at pictures of slate walls the last few days.

No worries, that happens to me sometimes (most of the time actually).


I'll see you there, I'll be on the A1 Models stand most of the day.

Regards,
Darren.

So it's been a while since I last posted an update here on layout progress, which has been significant. A selection of photos from the past few months developments:


As you can see there is still quite a bit to do, but it's come on significantly since my first posting.

I've also got a reasonable selection of stock, some kit built and some 2nd hand from 009 society sales. Most importantly I have 3 proper working locos now (1 steam, 2 diesel. Actually 4 locos if you count the powered gunpowder van for the gravity train), and just enough stock to operate a reasonable sequence of trains. The coaches can (optionally) have lighting units placed inside them for night running, you'll find the design of these in the May 2016 Railway Modeller (the N gauge ones, the article should have said "also suitable for OO9" no "OO").

I've also started to build an "alternative" home for the quarry incline, called Chwarel Tegid (Tegid Quarry) which is a very small quarry shunting layout. This layout is intended to operate independently of Bryn Tegid, but could be connected up using a connecting siding where the incline normally lives on Bryn Tegid (this space was designed to allow for alternative "drop in" components). The incline is fully operational and shuntable, so a proper demonstration of incline operations can be made, followed by a gravity slate train. The gravity train is far more convincing on the gradients of the Bryn Tegid spiral, than doing the short shuttle on the track at the back of the quarry section.

I've not been very good at keeping this thread up to date, so here's a quick update of recent developments. Firstly, the alternative home for the incline in my quarry section, Chwarel Tegid has been "completed".
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20160529-3.jpg&hash=f32cbcdd755476b1a3614504656e617200d10901)

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20160529-4.jpg&hash=489a612ae7349c452cf14dc02ec78e8b22234f8d)

Anybody who went to the Narrow Gauge West Midlands show last year (2016) will have seen it in operation. For those of you who missed it, this is a video of a complete operational sequence:

http://www.my-place.org.uk/models/chwarel.html (http://www.my-place.org.uk/models/chwarel.html)

The quarry has also been undergoing a radical expansion into a modular layout which can be assembled in 3 different forms:

Straight:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20161026-1.jpg&hash=dbc95891df2660af2c26e32f6d8b9133a3083704)

"Inside Viewing L"
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20161026-2.jpg&hash=b7097271377cca664b15024ac37ab55cfe89c1ef)

"Outside Viewing L"
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20161026-3.jpg&hash=b594cc69473946e01c8e534aa6d27257531f261f)

The new scenic board contains a cutting shed (as yet unbuilt) and a working Blondin ropeway. You can see a video of the Blondin operating here: http://www.my-place.org.uk/models/blondin-20161201.html (http://www.my-place.org.uk/models/blondin-20161201.html) The video was made before track laying was complete and prior to the addition of scenery. Right now, it looks more like this:

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170312-5.jpg&hash=1b216c4e07c70daa3b458bca3d84f6c48b9d780e)

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F%2F009-20170312-6.jpg&hash=0d4ba5b0ccb5d384502ec52eb1be8872624d15ce)

The second half of my update concerns Bryn Tegid, which has also seen steady progress with the installation of fencing, more lights and working level crossing gates for the lower station. The upper level crossing will be motorised in due course.

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170305-1.jpg&hash=aafea631dee41d75945d384b10a785aa05469e33)

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170305-2.jpg&hash=43fb6bcbfb2da33c0334d7e1052f6f11a8b676e1)

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170226-2.jpg&hash=ee786ef7cdb2e46da4f9af7b3b7b9462ae45d4f5)

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170226-5.jpg&hash=451640592995915aad91a1b12c2c78fda673fd3d)

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170226-6.jpg&hash=5ec64b05a0cb9ed742707712267fec0c534e5fa7)

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170220-1.jpg&hash=ad13c12936aca6a3394059ff199110e841bbe27e)

Bryn Tegid has also acquired a "Mobile Beer Garden", to provide refreshment for guests where ever it is required:

(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.my-place.org.uk%2Fmodels%2F009-20170226-4.jpg&hash=2d6dbd3ea5a58850709dd93d2f141f4a6a7dac85)

Finally, I've shot a video of my gravity slate train travelling the full length of the spiral:

http://www.my-place.org.uk/models/gravity-slate-feb-2017.html (http://www.my-place.org.uk/models/gravity-slate-feb-2017.html)