A small 00 Branch Line

I understand your dilemma Bob.

Although I'm from "oop north" and therefore a die-hard LNER/LMS fan, I do like the sleepy GWR branch lines so often modelled.  The industrial north usually suggests those "dark satanic mills" of urban and industrial landscapes requiring quite large layouts to create the proper image whereas anything "south-west" can so easily conjour up pretty little villages served by the occasional shiney locomotive bringing a few passengers and collecting cheeses, the odd milk churn and a bunch of spring onions - all clean, green, dainty and flooded with sunshine as opposed to my black, soot covered noisy clanking monsters spitting nasty steam everywhere……………………..

Hmmm - I've almost presuaded myself to change to "GWR" …………………"almost" being the operative word !!

I do however, wish Hornby would get fully involved with TT120 - it should, and could be a fantastic scale to work in.

Petermac said

I understand your dilemma Bob.

Although I'm from "oop north" and therefore a die-hard LNER/LMS fan, I do like the sleepy GWR branch lines so often modelled.  The industrial north usually suggests those "dark satanic mills" of urban and industrial landscapes requiring quite large layouts to create the proper image whereas anything "south-west" can so easily conjour up pretty little villages served by the occasional shiney locomotive bringing a few passengers and collecting cheeses, the odd milk churn and a bunch of spring onions - all clean, green, dainty and flooded with sunshine as opposed to my black, soot covered noisy clanking monsters spitting nasty steam everywhere……………………..

Hmmm - I've almost presuaded myself to change to "GWR" …………………"almost" being the operative word !!

I do however, wish Hornby would get fully involved with TT120 - it should, and could be a fantastic scale to work in.

From “Post #290,011”, 3rd April 2024, 5:01 pm

a
Just to add to my thinking.  Last year I decided that I would order a TT:120 Class 08 in BR Green.  While not GWR, I thought I could run it with some wagons and use it to test the track until something more suitable is available. However, looking at the latest catalogue, it is unlikely to be released until Autumn this year.  The promised GWR Castle does not even feature in the  listings.  The announcement of the J50 was very welcome news, but that too will not be available until at least November this year if it arrives on schedule.

I could buy one of the Pacifics currently on sale, but that would not really suit a sleepy branch line, nor would it really prove the track that will be used by smaller locos.

Another Rethink……

I sat down, rather frustrated a couple of nights ago to decide where I wanted to go.  My heart is not in another 00 gauge layout as I really want to try TT:120.  As mentioned above my progress has been hampered by the lack of suitable locos and rolling stock for the layout that I wanted to build - a GWR branch line.  Then the light came on.  Why was I so interested in such a narrow subject?

I began to rethink and at the end of the process I concluded the best option would be an east coast mainline setting.  In TT:120 there is a reasonable range of of items available and more in the pipeline.  An 8 x 4 board should give me enough space to  build a busy through station with a double track mainline and maybe a branch leading off and some goods workings to a nearby shed or industrial facility.

So, Blossom Hill could well turn out to be something entirely different.  On reflection, my original intent was to remember Sparky and the original Blossom Hill.  Hardly a branch line:

I can understand your concerns Bob.

There's a massive difference between the East Coast Mainline and a sleepy GWR branchline - I originally had that same problem - which do I opt for.

Whilst I loved the idea and track simplicity of a branch line plus the huge scenic potential, I grew up near York and well remember drooling over the wonderful A4 "Streaks" and other Gresley masterpieces hissing at the platform during their brief stops between London and Edinburgh so mainline it had to be.

Until 5 years ago, I had the space but now think a branchline would have been more suited to my present truncated "train room".  However, the dice had been cast and, as the second hand value of stock makes one cry, I had little choice other than to stick with north eastern region albeit with smaller locos and trains.

Provided you don't attempt to model the whole of the ECML, or Kings Cross pre "modernisation", I'm sure you could select a smaller, intermediate station, all of which had goods facilities coupled with branchline connections, I'm sure you'll have great fun, particularly as you say, the RTR stock is already available.

Really looking forward to seeing what develops.
 

What are you going to use for control Bob, DC, DCC or the new Hornby HM7000?


Ed

We had a member many years ago & Petemac will remember him  - Owen Lotfhouse with his MN&S  Railway & I asked Own what is stood for - Midland, Northern v& Southern & this allowed him to run anything.
The owner of Kernow Model Shop was a member & a staunch GWR man but did say. if he likes a loco of any parentage, it can run on his rails.

Ed said

What are you going to use for control Bob, DC, DCC or the new Hornby HM7000?


Ed

From “Post #290,090”, 18th April 2024, 2:42 pm

It will be DCC.  I have a couple of Prodigy systems from previous layouts. I am not going to bother with sound as I found it quite annoying and ended up turning the sound off after a while of running.

Bob

Last week I sent off for some locos as I am keen to get something running.  They are all secondhand but listed as new and cost around £100 each.  I have quite a bit in the kitty from the sale of my N gauge stuff, so it seemed like a good idea to reinvest in the layout.

There are two A4s and an A3:

Sol said

We had a member many years ago & Petemac will remember him  - Owen Lotfhouse with his MN&S  Railway & I asked Own what is stood for - Midland, Northern v& Southern & this allowed him to run anything.
The owner of Kernow Model Shop was a member & a staunch GWR man but did say. if he likes a loco of any parentage, it can run on his rails.

From “Post #290,091”, 19th April 2024, 5:56 am

Not a bad approach as there is always that bargain out there that needs a good home!

Oooo… this is exciting! A4's and A3's and a mainline! Bob… Reg would be equally excited. Bring it on.

All the best

Marty said

Oooo… this is exciting! A4's and A3's and a mainline! Bob… Reg would be equally excited. Bring it on.

All the best

From “Post #290,101”, 24th April 2024, 2:12 am

Thanks Marty. I am still accumulating the additional track that I will require.  I will also need some lengths of flexible track and curved platforms.

Wish you luck with curved platforms Bob, my N gauge Metcalfe ones are becoming a bit of a nightmare    



Ed

Ed said

Wish you luck with curved platforms Bob, my N gauge Metcalfe ones are becoming a bit of a nightmare    



Ed

From “Post #290,105”, 24th April 2024, 8:42 am

I have an idea that I wish to try out Ed, that I will reveal once I have sorted out the track plan

Bob,
     Way back in the 70's when I was. still at school,I acquired a superb  Triang TT GWR set-up from a schoolfriend who was going over to N gauge,and sold me his TT stuff to finance his new N gauge stuff.In those days the locos were pretty basic though, and wouldn't pass muster by todays standards.In many ways 3mm is the 'ideal' size.Not too taxing on the old peepers and yet small enough to create a decent layout in a smaller space than you could in 'OO'.The only problem currently is they are a bit slow in bringing new locos out in 3mm scale.You might have to rely on kit building locos/stock to get what you wanted in TT.At least with OO you have an almost limitless choice.

Cheers,John.B.

georgejacksongenius said

Bob,
     Way back in the 70's when I was. still at school,I acquired a superb  Triang TT GWR set-up from a schoolfriend who was going over to N gauge,and sold me his TT stuff to finance his new N gauge stuff.In those days the locos were pretty basic though, and wouldn't pass muster by todays standards.In many ways 3mm is the 'ideal' size.Not too taxing on the old peepers and yet small enough to create a decent layout in a smaller space than you could in 'OO'.The only problem currently is they are a bit slow in bringing new locos out in 3mm scale.You might have to rely on kit building locos/stock to get what you wanted in TT.At least with OO you have an almost limitless choice.

Cheers,John.B.

From “Post #290,168”, 2nd May 2024, 4:51 pm

Thanks John.  The old Triang TT had quite a good range of locos and rolling stock and naively I thought I could run run it alongside the TT:120 stuff until more items appeared in the range.  How wrong I was.  The size difference is very significant and the old TT items will not run  very well on TT:120 track.  I see that the cottage industries are already producing items and there is an 0-6-0 steam shunter body shell that fits directly onto the 08 shunter chassis.  I am hoping that the new J50 will be out soon from Hornby.  That will make things much easier.
Good to see you back on here too.
Bob

In my last post (May 2024) I expressed hope that the TT120 J50 might be released by Hornby.  Well a year on and still no sign of it.  The Hornby online catalogue has loads of items listed, but nearly all are 'ready to pre-order'. I have become frustrated with the very slow production of TT120 items and have completely lost my mojo.  I have now packed all of the TT120 stuff away and have been running a small 00 loop, just to get some trains on the go.  I am not sure whether I will return to TT120 any time soon.

I understand your frustrations Bob, TT120 seamed a risky move by hornby but the initial launches were well recieved. If they lose too much momentum, more and more may give up on it and return to N or OO

Getting a loop of OO going is a good idea, at least SOMETHING is happening, and actually getting some trains moving may help you to re ignite your interest. I was frustrated with the lack of progress on my layout and had pretty much abandoned work as circumstances mean we may have to move and the layout be dismantled. Then I thought 'Sod it' Just run some trains, and i'm enjoying things again.

Just run something  

Cheers

Matt

Know what you mean Bob.

I've not done anything with my TT120 plank for a few months, but that's really as I'm too busy with other things and any modelling has taken a back seat

Like you, I wanted a J50 but it just hasn't appeared.

There is also a Terrier, which if you sort locomotives on the Hornby site shop by release date, is due to arrive before the J50.

Looks like there may be some sort of announcement on 24th July.

TT120 Announcement 24th July 2025 10am - Page 3 - Hornby TT:120 - Hornby Hobbies Community

I'm not holding my breath.





 

Thanks all for your comments.  For me, the problem is that currently with TT120 you can run a train set with your BR Blue HST running alongside LNER Pacifics for example, but if you want to run a model railway that is vaguely pro typical there is just not enough being released on time.  There is very little for the great Western for example, and as far as I am aware no locos at all.  Sure, I could run the Terrier, but it would look a bit odd next to the large LNER 4-6-2s.

Fo now, I will run some GWR tank locos on my 8 x 4 oval just for a bit of fun and play around with DCC and close couplings.

Ed said

Know what you mean Bob.

I've not done anything with my TT120 plank for a few months, but that's really as I'm too busy with other things and any modelling has taken a back seat

Like you, I wanted a J50 but it just hasn't appeared.

There is also a Terrier, which if you sort locomotives on the Hornby site shop by release date, is due to arrive before the J50.

Looks like there may be some sort of announcement on 24th July.

TT120 Announcement 24th July 2025 10am - Page 3 - Hornby TT:120 - Hornby Hobbies Community

I'm not holding my breath.

From “Post #292,322”, 14th July 2025, 8:44 am

Hornby do seem to make lots of announcements, but the stuff just does not appear.  Most of their stock is 'available for pre order'.