GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

Hopefully I have now sorted the the Down signalling for Platform 6.

By way of a reminder here is the track schematic…….the two outstanding signals are #3 and #4




Mike, my signalling professor (emeritus), using a skiing metaphor, explained that local operating divisions could, occasionally, stray "off piste" when resolving a particularly tricky signalling problem.

Sadly, he felt that my suggestion of two ground signals to cover the facing point at #3 was more like entering avalanche country:oops::oops:

I now know that running lines must always be protected by a conventional arm.

So here is the proposed solution…..an off set bracket placed on the "wrong" side ( no space on the platform side plus issues with the roof). A ground disc at the base signals entry (in emergencies!) to the Shed exit  road  




The principal purpose of #4 is to provide a starter for Platform 6 and secondly access to the carriage sidings.

The starter has to be as far forward as possible in order to accommodate 4 carriage trains. Visibility because of the roof line and curving track make siting the signal very difficult!

I hope Mike will judge my solution is, at worst, more akin to a Black Diamond run than venturing out of bounds.:lol:




A double bracket ……starter on the left……large disc for the carriage sidings ……on the right, the relocated shed exit 

Here they are in situ. Hopefully this shot is clearer than my explanation……..




Heres is a close up……I am afraid, as Mike feared, they do seem rather close together…….but needs must.



You may wonder why I have spent so much time attempting to get P6 correct.

 When I first planned (?:lol::lol:) the layout, P6 was a mere by way….the down relief. Once I started operating it became much more significant. I realised, somewhat belatedly, that it had easier access than the main line P5, to all the key sidings….Engine Shed, Goods yard and Carriage Sidings. I can shunt P6 while running roundy roundy expresses through P5.

Here is an illustration



7802 Bradley Manor crosses Granby Viaduct with the 10.05 am express from Phwelli




The Manor Class was in the top 5 of the RMWeb wish list…….I do hope that Bachmann notice before my elderly locos expire

This model must be at least 15 years old. They are super reliable runners but like all split chassis locos the plastic bushes have a finite life.






Her shed mate 7805 Broome Manor rolls off the Turntable bridge in readiness for a swift turn around



In order for the passengers from all four carriages to alight, the incoming loco edges just beyond the platform. In the RR&Co routine I have the turnout preset to allow this




Once the passengers have alighted the loco moves forward to the uncoupling magnet……this forward movement clears the shed exit point so that the relief loco can couple up.

This is a lot more difficult than it sounds with RR&Co:shock:



Once coupled the new loco pulls the train forward so that all four carriages are along side the platform again




Of course all this could have been avoided if I had made the platform longer in the first place…….hindsight is a wonderful thing!

While all this is going on a Chester Races special passes through Platform 5……..I have some photos but I have exceeded my self imposed limit………next week perhaps

 Meantime, to finish, Broome Manor awaits the start of its return to Phwelli
 

Excellent as usual John and the description says it all, glad you're sorted. Terrific modelling to your usual high standard!:):)

Cheers
Ron

lovely pics as per,I think you have got the signals covered now,even proto had to compromise in places,
:thumbs;-):cool:
Owen

Thanks guys

Particularly glad you liked the pictures. Normally I just point and shoot using the automatic everything idiot button……this time I tried something new with the camera on a tripod, remote control and aperture priority……to get more depth of field I set the aperture as small as I could F22………the shutter time took forever…….Some of the results do seem better than usual although I had to revert to my old system for the close up…..the background was too sharp!

I keep promising I will spend more time with photoshop to eliminate window frames and the like…..one day perhaps.

Very nice pictures John ;-) It's worth spending time with the camera, it pays off!

You mentioned the background being too sharp with closeups, just reduce the aperture ;-)

Phil

Pride of Panniers waiting to pounce !!

Phil,can you post photos from the gallery as attachments take a lot of forum webspace.

What a difference!   :doublethumb









Thats brilliant Phil   (I am sorry if I got you into trouble with the Management:shock:)

Its precisely those techniques that I have to work on. I sort of understand the principle I just need to put the hard graft in:oops: .

I wonder if you could recommend a site where I could download a few "stock" back scenes



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

Very nice pictures John ;-) It's worth spending time with the camera, it pays off!

You mentioned the background being too sharp with closeups, just reduce the aperture ;-)

Phil

Comments like that from you are very encouraging…….thank you!

When you say "reduce the aperture" do you mean a smaller stop# ? I always get confused with the numbers. I thought that to increase the depth of field I needed a smaller aperture (and longer exposure) so I stopped down to the smallest aperture on my lens f22……..when I took the (not very good) close up of the Manor I stopped up(?) to f8 to make the locos at the back less sharp……..did I get this wrong?

Kind Regards

John

[user=540]gdaysydney[/user] wrote:

Pride of Panniers waiting to pounce !!

Indeed!


The downside is that these are working locos……after the shoot I put them back on their assigned blocks and in my short sighted old age almost created some very unexpected results!:oops:

Sorry John, I meant stop down numerically, f8 for example is good.

If you have a manual setting and a meter in your screen then you're laughing, as you can set your aperture and view the meter, you then adjust the shutter speed to get the meter level right. Aperture Priority also works good.

Pics 1 & 2 show great depth of field, the main thing here is to make sure the items (signals in this case) are in perfect focus which you have done, by the way manually doing this is the best way.

As for images, I just browse Google images.

Adding the image in PS is not difficult you just need to know what to do, the picture took about 5 minutes to do but it can take much longer depending on how much needs to be cut on the original.

Phil

I cant believe I didnt reply to your last post Phil……I do apologise.:oops::oops:

Hopefully I have incorporated some of your much appreciated advice in the photos below


While repairing the roof of the Train Shed I decided to have a big  drive on people painting so that I could also finish the detailing of  the station interior.

I hesitate to say that its now completely finished….there still seem  to be some rather obvious empty spaces…..its amazing how the project  sucks up people……at a rough count there are now nearly 150 people,in  the station and adjacent street…… all hand painted

I am somewhat embarrassed at the amount of time I have spent on  this…….the 3' rule was totally ignored…….despite the fact that  to see most of the figures one has to stand on a foot stool and peer  down through the the roof

So, before I put back the Roof (now repaired ) here is a rare opportunity, to see these works of art

Overall view from the south over Newyd Engine Sheds






And in the reverse direction, looking towards the engine sheds and station concourse.




You can see through the connecting corridors of the buildings…..hence  the apparently random positionings………here is a closer shot





Still zooming in





Mostly third tier figures here….the 3' rule applies and you will have to stand on a foot stool!

The Lowry figure in the foreground is set up for the view through the station entrance

Similarly, the figures below are not top tier (ie Monty's) but the aim is to produce an overall sense of bustle.



The Bay Platforms (1-3) and the Up main (4) can be accessed direct from  the concourse……….but the only way to get to (5) Down main and (6)  Local is via the Subway 




Its a modified Scalescene Kit  that I built 2-3 years ago……you can find the details a few pages back!

Here is a Platform shot including the subway on Platforms 5 and 6



In addition to people added detail includes…..Lamp posts, Platform Indicators, Newspapers, Parcels, assorted trolleys.

Close up of the Subway




This is a very faux subway……the wall conceals the absence of any steps at all…….. the lady whose head can just be seen in the prior shot inadvertently lost her legs some time ago but now helps to create the illusion.

Platform 5 is quite visible so most of the figures have been upgraded.

The shortened pillar next to the lady in grey is a compression marker  for the roof…….you will have to be very acrobatic to see it once the  roof is back

A few close ups 



Dave Parry……relief Engine Driver




There was a suggestion I was service biased (Shock! Horror! ) so here is a Blue Orchid…. Aircraftman Tom Jones on his way to Hooton…….. specially for one of my Australian Internet Buddies




The Reverend Dylan Hughes on his way back to his Chapel at  Cynwyd……….included to show how anal I can get……..look closely  and you can just see the pages of his bible are gold leaved …….well the brush was loaded with brass paint after making the RAF guy tolerably smart

To finish here is a black and white shot which hopefully captures the atmosphere



Best Wishes from Vancouver

So…. just a quiet day at Granby station then! 150 people, wow, imagine how many you'll need to show a football special or summer Saturday holiday departure!?
It looks alive John and the last black and white shot is super.
Platform level photos with the roof on next please.
cheers
Marty

I can hear the general 'babble' of people talking, escaping steam and doors slamming, and smell the smoke.

Really creates an atmosphere John :thumbs:thumbs:thumbs

One occasion where I actually prefer one of the colour shots, the scene around the WH Smith kiosk is brilliant. Brings back memories, although not much steam at the time.

Sure I been here somewhere in deep dark mists of time.

Can't wait to see the roof on.


Ed

[user=19]Marty[/user] wrote:

So…. just a quiet day at Granby station then! 150 people, wow, imagine how many you'll need to show a football special or summer Saturday holiday departure!?
It looks alive John and the last black and white shot is super.
Platform level photos with the roof on next please.
cheers
Marty

Thanks Marty…….one of the problems with static people and moving trains is determining an appropriate day/time that covers all the trains one will be running……….I am guessing with all the school boys and businessmen I have settled on late afternoon……probably in late spring with an uncertain weather forecast judging by the assorted attire:lol:  It will all look a bit out of place with the Night Owl Newspaper train:lol:

The roof and buildings are back on…….hopefully platform level photos will follow at the week end

Kind Regards

John 

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

I can hear the general 'babble' of people talking, escaping steam and doors slamming, and smell the smoke.

Really creates an atmosphere John :thumbs:thumbs:thumbs

One occasion where I actually prefer one of the colour shots, the scene around the WH Smith kiosk is brilliant. Brings back memories, although not much steam at the time.

Sure I been here somewhere in deep dark mists of time.

Can't wait to see the roof on.


Ed

Thank you so much for that post Ed……..that first line summarised so well (and far better than I ) exactly the impression I was trying to convey.

Glad you liked the WH Smith shot……it  was one of my favourites…..normally I just point and shoot using the green setting:roll: but for most of these shots the camera was on a tripod using a remote with the smallest aperture possible.

Under the roof shots of similar quality will be a challenge……I am thinking of using an Iphone with flash

Kind Regards

John

Wonderful stuff John, my first impressions were, those pictures look pretty good aspecially the sharpness of the B&W one.

Great atmosphere with all the people it really adds to the scene! The figures might not be Monty's (by the way, what make are they?) but they look good, a really bustling station!

Phil

A Frosty Foggy Morning.

Hi Phil

Well those comments certainly made my day  Thank you :thumbs

I am trying to spend more time setting shots up with the camera on the tripod rather than point and shoot…….I still have a long way to go ……particularly with lighting.

The Black and White conversion of the overall station shot is brilliant…..thank you so much…..another screensaver.

Regarding the figures…….. they are a mixed bunch…….this shot has an example of each manufacturer



Extreme Left:  City Gent with hands behind back is Montys (as were all the individual close ups)

Sitting figures : are all Slaters as is the guy in the foreground leaning back. The Slaters figures are probably the crudest….best viewed from a distance but they do provide some different poses and groupings

The figures by the bookstall……Left to right

Army Officer ….Peco Modelscene   They sell a Service personnel pack which I found very useful as long as I kept them away from Montys!  The soldier on the far right is also from this pack.

Lady…….Langley Models…….they have a wide range of people doing a variety of functions. All the housewives a few pages back came from them. They are nicely detailed with no flash but somehow the proportions are not quite right (the guy standing in front of the subway is a good example)

Little Girl, Man with coat, Porter pointing……..are all ex Airfix now Dapol. I would guess the most widely used people in 00 so they tend to be a bit of a stereotype and instantly recognisable. They are very well detailed (second only to Monty's I would think) but lots of flash and mismatched mouldings in addition to the all too common hole in the back:twisted:  I guess the tooling must be almost 50 years old now  

Hope this helps

Thanks again for being so helpful and supportive with my photography.

Kind Regards

John


 
  

John,

I should have Photoshopped out that angle poise lamp on the right if that is what it is…but someone once said that's cheating  :)

I avoid buying figures that are 00/HO as they are usually under scale, I have a bunch of them, they are fantastic in detail, but only good for distance.

By the way, tripod is the only way to go ;-)

Phil

John,

Just thought I would mention, when Chris Nevard came to photograph my layout, one of his camera's was a Canon G12 it's small and has a vari-angle LED screen, so you can position the camera in the tightest of places and still focus because of this screen.

I decided to buy one as a birthday present to myself..coming up but they are out of production, however, I bought an ex display one, practically new, you can pick second hand ones up for around £150, some are cheaper, the retail price was about £350.

Phil

Watching…Enjoying…Envying  

Doug