Well after 30 years of wistful planning, some sporadic shopping and minimal effort, construction of the Utherington Light Railway has finally started.
Because my woodworking skills are somewhat poor the baseboard is a plane door from B and Q; ive edged it with 1"x1/2" strip wood to give space underneath for wiring. The legs are from Aldi and themselves are at leat ten years old!
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Trackplan is as follows, end storage loops are peco set track, inner loops 9" radius, outer loop flexi at about 11"
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running line points are peco mainline with Y and smaller 009 points accessing yard on left under trees and small engine service area on the right.
The concept is that the line serves the local remote comunity with a quarry branch continuing on to complete the loop, hence requirement for engine servicing at what looks like a passing station but is an effective terminus.
Track laying starts:
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Main running line complete, yard and service area waiting till ive purchased some more insulated fishplates. As you can see ive deviated from my printed plan a bit to compress the station area.
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no electrics connected as yet but getting a feel for loop lenghts (which i probably should have done before I cut and laid track!)
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trip to maplins planned for early next week, then some soldering and hopefully we will have trains running!
Then I can justify some shopping!
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I like it, curved station area at front is a nice touch and I like the end positioned storage loops. Plenty of running length that way. I look forward to further progress!
Geo S
I like your idea of using a door, those are normally quite light but stiff, so you shouldn't have any warping problems. Also the A-frames - I used this system on my last layout - are a quick and stable method of putting your baseboard into position.
Looking forward to the progress of your layout!
One think to note that caught us out in the past is that 009 couplings do not like coupling up on curves. It is fine if you just run the trains is fixed formations, but if you intend to do any shunting curves loops and sidings can be a pain as the couplings will not couple together again. Obviously this is dependant on the individal loco or item of rolling stock and how tight the curve is.
Brian Meldon
It's not for exhibition, it's for me to play trains so I'll muddle through, some of my stock isn't brilliant at coupling on straights due to my shoddy building!
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I think
Yes, the end storage loops make excellent sense if the layout is for home use and is placed up against a wall. It gives easy access.
Just a thought regarding the "Y" siding on the right. You might want to extend the headshunt otherwise the siding itself is inaccessible, though perhaps that is why you shortened the loop?
That is the reason the loop was shifted to the left, to enable the heads hunt to be a bit bigger, haven't quite worked out what scenic break is going to be used at loco shed end, possibly a retaining wall and building with some pipe work, forestry at the other end.
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After yet another long pause finally (temporarily) laid the remainder of the track. The goods yard at present is using peco set track until my local model shop reopens and I can buy some 009 mainline flexi track.
Mocked up a goods shed and loco shed and laid out some stock, still no juice to the rails so just posed for now.
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Keep up the great work!
As somebody who so far only models in AnyRail I envy you your progress!
Track work all pinned down, may try soldering tomorrow but my tax return is calling which may delay things a bit!
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