Hello all,
I have just recently joined the society and thought I'd give a sneak peek at my 80cm pizza layout, the Little Himalayan Railway.
"The LHR is an ultra-compact 009 'pizza' layout with the sights, sounds and spirit of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway firmly at its heart.
With interleaved loops of track it depicts a typical set of switchbacks as the line steeply winds and climbs its way up the terrain via tunnels, cuttings, bridges and an interim rural station. Over 5 metres of running line are packed into a layout of just 80cm in diameter, the majority of which is scenic, illustrating the parallel road route and the mountainous, wooded terrain.
The rolling stock roster includes prototypical engines, freight and passenger typical to Indian Hill Railways. The Little Indian Railway was conceived as an 009 challenge to maximise operational value and observer interest in the smallest form possible."
I'll be at Statfold in September with the layout and look forward to meeting lots of you then. In the meantime here are a few pictures over on my Instagram @trainssleeprepeat
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpInGCvIb9-/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= (https://www.instagram.com/p/CpInGCvIb9-/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
See you in September!
How have you made the excellent tea bushes?
The tea bushes are Jarvis Flexi hedging which were laid on their side, trimmed to make them less angular, doused in PVA then flocked. It's not ideal but gives a pretty good representation I think.
Giles
Quote from: Giles Perkins on February 27, 2023, 08:57
The tea bushes are Jarvis Flexi hedging which were laid on their side, trimmed to make them less angular, doused in PVA then flocked. It's not ideal but gives a pretty good representation I think.
Giles
So noted for my layout ... when I get to that stage ... one day. Thanks, Giles!
Major progress with the construction of the superstructure of the station building which sits on one of the Z-reverse sidings.
Needs a stack of detailing and bedding into the surroundings - but great to have the final major piece of the puzzle in place.
Giles
A productive weekend between DIY jobs, the station building is all but finished now - just waiting for a paint pen so I can finish the glazing then it will be "planted"
More progress...
Photo 1 shows the station area - now complete apart fir teeny tiny extra details
Photo 2 - reverse angle showing the water tower and coal pile
And Photo 3 showing the operational (boring) side the three levels of the pizza clearly in view along with the wire in tube for the two turnouts.
The Hornby Bluetooth DC controller (using my smartphone) is wired and working allowing for two trains in operation running either up or downhill over two circuits connecting at the Z switchback, itself selected via the DPDT switch.
Such fun!
The LHR is into the final straight now of super detailing. I reloaded when looking thru others threads last night I haven't posted an overview photo of where things are at.
The line enters from the lower left in this photo, climbs with the adjacent road before tunnelling under the higher level station. Behind the back scene this climbs further to emerge from the tunnel which is just behind the rail over ridge to enter the Z siding at the station. It then climbs further (in reverse) to cross the tunnel it emerged from before reversing again to take the final climb past the tea plantation to the final tunnel and the end.
Some 5 metres of runnning packed into and 80cm pizza!
I like the track configuration! When I first saw it I thought it was a 'standard' circular pizza with extra zig-zag topping but seeing the full picture this is far more interesting. Certainly a lot of running potential in a small space.
After pineapple and sweetcorn, zig-zag is my favourite tipping! :)
I will try and draw up a proper track plan as that picture isn't the best.
Here's a track plan in 3D, which makes things a little easier to visualise
Green - lower track, spiral (light green in tunnel)
Yellow - z interchange track
Red - higher track (light red in tunnel)
I like it. Very nice.
Hi Giles, I saw your layout at Statfold and was very impressed. I am a big fan of compact layouts and like what you have managed to do.
Nigel
We now have a website - with details of upcoming exhibitions, rolling stock roster and loads of pictures! Have a look!
https://www.littlehimalayanrailway.uk/ (https://www.littlehimalayanrailway.uk/)