GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

……………mind you my knowledge was somewhat curtailed (:lol:) ……Latin 'O' level  1953 (failed)

……………………………………..

You sound like a doctor from the days of the Raj - Indirah Singh, MD Dundee (Failed) ………………….:lol::lol::lol:

No offence intended to those who passed………………..;-)

Hi John,
Well the plan sounds exciting. Incidentally, I didn't plan to put an extra tower onto the Scalescenes Station Building. I actually did something similar to what you are proposing by adding an extra wing each side of the central tower which, IMHO, brings the building more into proportion with the tower.

Sorry Trevor I must have been thinking of someone else:oops:  Nevertheless what an elegant solution you have devised…..and if I may say….brilliantly executed….and in N gauge:roll:

I wish I had thought of extending like that….very neat

Regards

Yes, very clever and  eatly done, CH.

Doug

That's nicely proportioned Trevor but then we'd expect no less from an ex QS ………………..:roll::roll::roll:

I think it might have been me suggesting an extra tower John - I had a vision of the "office" part of the building with a tower at each side - rather like the old Wembley Stadium.  I think Trevor's version is a far better option. :thumbs

Ah, ha.

I wondered why you were covering the storage sidings John.

Makes sense now, you're moving the parcels depot and it does look better with the second siding.


Ed

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

I think it might have been me suggesting an extra tower John - I had a vision of the "office" part of the building with a tower at each side

So it was:oops: but I see you have now solved your station problem in an equally elegant  manner……and far less time consuming:lol:

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

Ah, ha.

I wondered why you were covering the storage sidings John.

Makes sense now, you're moving the parcels depot and it does look better with the second siding.


Ed

Thanks Ed…….that was a bit of a bonus with the shed placement linking the baseboard with the new bit

I  was originally planning an Army Barracks or disused  AA site……common sight in 1947 but I really needed to add the second siding to make the parcels movements less cumbersome

The plan is to have both passenger tail traffic and a dedicated parcels/newspaper train dropping off and picking up……the second siding will allow me to do some preparatory shunting clear of the main lines

[user=434]John Dew[/user] wrote:

……………………………………………………….I see you have now solved your station problem in an equally elegant  manner……and far less time consuming:lol:

Mojo's station isn't for the terminus John - it will still have the Scalescenes one you built.

"Bradford Wheregate" will form a new through station but with the platforms underneath the buildings. 

I'm not sure how prototypical it is to have large buildings like this built over hidden underground platforms but that's the plan.  Afterall, Maxmill will end up with a Leeds tram circuit, a West Country watermill AND a London tube station - there's prototypical for you ……………………:roll::roll::cheers

Nice developments with Granby John.
That extra board adds a lot of operating potential and gives the station area that busy look.
Cheers,
Derek.

Thanks Derek glad you like it. Its astonishing what a difference the addition of two relatively short sidings has made

Best Wishes

Hi John,

It is amazing how many changes you have made to Granby over the last couple of years. Granby just gets better and better. As they say, a model railway is never really finished…!  ;-)

Cheers, Gary.

Thanks for your kind comments Gary (I somehow lost my earlier reply:oops:).  I think that as the track, or most of it, got laid the opportunities for actually running trains increased dramatically…..with the result that development slowed. I finished most of the overall roof almost two years ago but am only now getting around to installing the station building which will support the final roof module. I just seem unable to have the self discipline to allocate a given period each week to modelling and a similar period to operating …….with me it is 100% of one or the other.   

Most of this post shows how I inserted the point for the second parcels  siding……I had some doubts about writing it up….teaching my  grandmother to suck eggs etc……..but on the other hand it might be of  use to some…..after all I learned this technique some years ago, from  a similar post by Rick (Gwiwer).

Iif you are bored or like Derek (Shunter1) and the other Canadian John (Brossard) have beautiful handmade track I suggest you scroll halfway down. There you will find, for a change, a few not bad loco shots


The first cut is the deepest! 



I use a square and masking tape to mark the cut line and then use the square again as a guide when cutting

On the second cut I tend to undercut slightly and file the ends back to minimise gaps.


The siding was laid on foamboard so it was quite easy to scalpel up the top sheet complete with ballast and debris.



Note the cleaned ends on the cut siding rail and insulated joiners ready on the new point


One sleeper is removed from the toe end and metal joiners, opened up  lightly, are slid on to the rail leaving only the tip exposed.



The insulated joiners are quite flexible……insert them into the rail  at a slight angle….lower the point to the track bed and using pliers  slide the metal joiners along to connect with the  points…….simples…….  honest! 



Once satisfied I have a good fit, I remove the point and solder dropper wires before drilling holes and reinserting the point.




These Peco surface mounted solenoids may not look very prototypical but  they are definitely ideal for retro fitting. They are very reliable you  just have to make sure they are mounted level and square.

The downside, of course, is the inability to change frog polarity. In  previous exercises I have been reluctantly obliged to insert insulfrog  points

However for this exercise I discovered this little gizmo



Its a twin output DCC Concepts solenoid decoder. It throws the point  motor, switches the frog polarity and has connections for push buttons  and LEDS on a switchboard (albeit redundant in my case as I use  RR&Co).

Its very easy to connect up (no soldering) and very simple to programme.  I have not been a great fan of DCC Concepts in the past but this is a  well priced useful piece of equipment .



Here is the siding done and dusted……ballasted and rails/sleepers weathered





Long shot before starting work on the removeable cover





I am using Scalescene printed setts for the Parcels depot yard (more on  this later) and, in the foreground, the foundations and walls for the  first terraced houses are in place

In the background, you can see I have repaired/replaced the wall over the cutting that leads into low level storage siding.





As I was preparing this post, it occurred to me that I sometimes get too  focused on reporting the project in hand. I forget that other areas,  which I see every day, are rarely shown or repeated in this forum.

So here is a little diversion. The next few shots have little to do with  the current project but are of areas that I probably havent written  about for 3 or 4 years


Bit out of focus but a linking overall view





The Autotrain, which you last saw at Canal Street approaches Brewery Lane Halt.

I am eagerly looking forward to a new 14xx next year ???








 
Finally a close up of Collet 2259….lamped up as Station Pilot with  coal, fire irons and lots of lead…..so much so that I am struggling to  find a place for the crew!

 



To justify the Hawksworths etc the layout has to be based just a few  months after nationalisation   Spring 1948……so here is one of my time stamp  attempts …..the initial temporary British Railways Logo…..

On the prototype, in1948, the war time GWR logo was removed and the  temporary "British Railways" applied……In 2014 it was roles  reversed…. I had to painstakingly remove the the BR early crest that  the model came with!

Lovely railway scenes John,Granby looks a busy place with lots to interest.
Neat job on the turnout as well and that saw gives a more accurate cut than a disk cutter.
Thanks for showing more of Granby.
Derek.

Lovely stuff John.
I too use a razor saw in preference of the dremel disc cutter in such situations. The dremel is awefully hard to get straight, level and at right angles. It's even harder keeping it that way.
I do use a block of wood, suitably routed to accept 9mm track, to hold the rails firmly and in gauge as I cut.

cheers

Marty

[user=477]shunter1[/user] wrote:

Lovely railway scenes John,Granby looks a busy place with lots to interest.
Neat job on the turnout as well and that saw gives a more accurate cut than a disk cutter.
Thanks for showing more of Granby.
Derek.

Thanks Derek……I didnt think you would read about the turnout….in fact I warned you off :lol:…….I am very envious of your trackwork

Marty wrote:

Lovely stuff John.
I too use a razor saw in preference of the dremel disc cutter in such  situations. The dremel is awefully hard to get straight, level and at  right angles. It's even harder keeping it that way.
I do use a block of wood, suitably routed to accept 9mm track, to hold the rails firmly and in gauge as I cut.

cheers

Marty

Thanks Marty

You guys are so right about the Dremel……its a handy tool but I no longer use it for cutting rails……talk about "Mind the gap"  :shock:

Thats a neat idea with the block of wood…..why didnt I think of that??


Kind Regards

Hi John,Thanks about the track,I don't mind Peco track its reliable and quick to install,I just fancied more freedom of choice when it came to turnouts and angles.
Cheers,
Derek.

Looking good John, I especially like the busyness that's going on in pics 7 to 10’, there also looks like the sun is breaking out between the shadowed cloud areas.

What is the blue effect on some of the pics, another (different) light switched on?

Phil

Phil has said it all John - superb shots of a busy Granby. :thumbs

I hadn't really noticed the sun creeping out over the northlight mill building but it does look just as if it is.

After the canal scene, I think my favourite area is the warehouse corner …………….or maybe it's the large station roof………………or maybe it's the new station building …………..or maybe it's that wonderful high street ……………….or maybe it's the coaling facilities……………..or maybe the train spotters …………….or maybe the engine sheds …………………:thumbs:thumbs:thumbs:thumbs

It's very hard to get enough of this layout - just a pity about the colour of the stock . :lol::lol: :cheers

[user=753]Phil.c[/user] wrote:

Looking good John, I especially like the busyness that's going on in pics 7 to 10’, there also looks like the sun is breaking out between the shadowed cloud areas.

What is the blue effect on some of the pics, another (different) light switched on?

Phil

Thanks Phil……………I think that was genuine watery sunlight…….the railway room is at a lower level and only gets sunlight at certain times of the day……..its not an issue in fall/winter but in summertime it can be a problem

I think the blue effect was me failing to adjust the white balance properly:oops: . Generally I rely on the LED track lighting in the room but I have a daylight neon magnifier that I can sometimes use.  Proper consistent lighting is one of the many items on my must do list!:roll:


Petermac wrote:

Phil has said it all John - superb shots of a busy Granby. :thumbs

I hadn't really noticed the sun creeping out over the northlight mill building but it does look just as if it is.

After the canal scene, I think my favourite area is the warehouse corner  …………….or maybe it's the large station  roof………………or maybe it's the new station building  …………..or maybe it's that wonderful high street  ……………….or maybe it's the coaling  facilities……………..or maybe the train spotters  …………….or maybe the engine sheds …………………:thumbs:thumbs:thumbs:thumbs

It's very hard to get enough of this layout - just a pity about the colour of the stock . :lol::lol: :cheers

Thanks Peter……………as always you flatter me:oops::oops:……….particularly in regard to the High Street which is destined for the Axe.

I am afraid I have no Apple Green Locos……I dont think too many were seen West of the Pennines but I do have a solitary LNER loco in black which will shortly make a cameo appearance……oh and I have a lovely teak brake van…..the problem is it is far too lovely and pristine for Granby but I have not yet summoned the courage to weather it :roll:



:doublethumb:doublethumb

I see the thread has broken the 50,000 hit barrier which must be a milestone of sorts ……mind you it has been running on and off for 5 years now

Thank you for your interest and support guys   :cheers