Laughton & Beddingham Railway

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

I agree with the 'rectilinear' remarks BUT I have discovered that you need a much smaller deviation angle than I had previously expected to fix the perception.  I compare this to the way curves in roads look much straighter on a map.  If you can rotate most of the track along that edge just TWO degrees I think it will look much better.

[Dave Cooper]

Hi Ed

With reference to the use of a tunnel as a scenic break, they were avoided as far as possible on full-size due to cost. (Cuttings being much cheaper and NG lines generally short on funds !).

I have one on my diorama (multi-level) and am still struggling to make it look convincing - you need a lot of height...

On the other hand, if you have "HS2"-type budgets (blank cheque ?) then feel free !

Merry Christmas

[WALLSHIRTS]

I would eliminate the upper loop and extend the lower loop, and incorporate the turntable and loco serving facilities into the engine shed sidings. You could still have a bay siding where the upper loop was to hold another train. It may take a bit of shunting to get two trains ready to go, but that's the fun of it!
Mal.

[Ed Raw]

So this is version 2, I hope everyone can see the improvements based on the original feedback! I'm really liking this track layout.

Let me know your thoughts, and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

[Peter Boulter]

The changes you have made make that look a much better looking layout.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Yes indeed. Looking good.

Seeing it, I'm imagining your embankment idea from the original version being applied here. The ground behind the station with the pub, houses etc. being raised up with a retaining wall marking the railway boundary. The height would add interest and the wall a good backdrop to the railway.

I would not worry about railway access at the top, though pedestrian only access might look good. A passenger overbridge would be quite unusual for a NG line, but if it was tied in with access from  raised ground at the back it would give a reason for it as there would need to be steps down anyway.

[Ed Raw]

Thanks guys, the embankment is a great idea, and yes should add a nice depth to the layout!

[Barry Witteridge]

Much better looking layout, and should you want to extend, it could become a through station.
By the way did you design this from the free version of anyrail?

[Barry Witteridge]

Ed, Just had another thought, I'm not sure if you know, but forgive me if you do, the turntable at Pilton Yard was used to turn rolling stock and not locos, they always faced towards Lynton. I'm assuming that your layout is to represent the present day ,but as you have no goods facilities it might be better to replace the turntable with a goods siding and have goods stock on display as at Woody Bay?

[Graeme Dunbar]

Within the context of a present day heritage railway in East Sussex though, a turntable to turn locomotives could well be regarded as an essential attraction!  ;D

[Barry Witteridge]

Good point Graeme, I had forgotten the layout is to be based in East Sussex, so yes the turntable is probably an essential feature. As most heritage lines also seem to have displays of goods rolling stock maybe one of the loco shed lines could be used to display this stock?

[Graeme Dunbar]

Modelling a heritage railway has much to recommend it. It opens all sorts of possibilities from visiting locomotives, Victorian days, various galas, festivals and local events to film sets and steampunk conventions as the mood takes.  :)

[Ed Raw]

Yes this was with the free Anyrail trial, Not bad for a free trial.

And thanks for the further comments, I take on board about goods sidings but yes I feel the turntable will suit this railway better :)

More than happy to have some goods wagons on display somewhere! Also quite like the idea of keeping a maintenance wagon set just to represent the idea of regular maintenance that a heritage railway needs to survive.

[Ed Raw]

Construction has started, ignoring any old N Gauge track that is being temporarily positioned to allow for spacing to be calculated, I have started laying down my new mainline peco points to map out the rough layout.

[David Banks]

Oops the file was too big, so here's one within limits.
David B