GWR/LMS OO Gauge DCC RR&Co

Even allowing for the summer break it is still hard to believe that I last posted on this thread almost 4 months ago. Its also a little embarrassing because I ended my last post encouraging you to "watch this space".

The track finally arrived and I was able to complete the main line circuit. Not a very good photo but at least it sets the scene




The plan is to curve the two main platforms round and the main station building and concourse will  be on the new curved section of plywood. The space to the left will be eventually for the Engine Shed and turntable (which ,perhaps fortunately, Walthers still havent received from their manufacturer) 

The main line now connects with the viaduct.

My holiday project …..the Mill mid scene ….is roughly in place but the bridge connecting it to the backscene and hiding the storage yard entrance has still to be built.

You can also see that a little progress has been made on the last remaining scenic cameo on the branch side……the dairy/creamery now has the track laid and the foundation area painted out




The track was actually laid quite quickly and I could have posted some "posed" shots weeks ago but, in truth, I ran into a number of technical problems……….technical in the sense that the feed to two of the double slips parted from the point motore which lead to a number of panic button issues as RR&Co propelled my long coal trains inexorably towards an abyss in the mistaken belief that the correct route had been set

Another technical issue that delayed the grand opening was the realisation that I needed to install resistive wheel sets on my rolling stock……………….RR&Co relies on current detection from electically isolated sections (blocks) to control train movement………..my longer trains are now about 7' long and RR&Co was releasing blocks as soon as the loco had cleared the block…….less than ideal with some 20 wagons still to go!

I also took the opportunity to get rid of all the plastic wheel sets on my remaining elderly stock………..something I should have done years ago.

All of this was quite time consuming……….but finally I got the outward bound Mineral from Vron Colliery to Wolverhampton to cross the viaduct alongside a a train of empties returning to the colliery.



 



Ignore the construction work under the viaduct……..its part of the approach road to the dairy.

Not particularly good shots but they do represent a very significant milestone in the development of the layout. Its almost 4 years to the day since I started constructing the baseboards……….there is still some fairly major construction……the Engine Shed module at one end and the Goods Warehouse and exchange sidings at the other…….and in between masses of ballasting and scenic work but with the circuit complete I can start moving twards my goal of having 6 trains on the go……with a little help from RR&Co 

To finish……I like to think the next two shots go some way to capturing the gritty industrial atmosphere that I am striving for…….after all Granby is not your typical GWR layout! 

 








   

Always good to see what you've been up to John.
You're right about the passing of time though, I'm thinking I can no longer put things off until tomorrow or it will be next month or the one after. It must be an age thing. :hmm

Great to see your progress, John. You will be in danger now of sitting back and watching trains go by on those long lengths of operational track!! Those long trains of wagons really look the part. Do you intend automatically shunting them at all, like in Max's scenario, or are they "fixed" rakes?

I have been collecting wagons recently ready for my yet to be constructed marshalling yard, but I can't make up my mind just how much shunting I will want to carry out, versus just bringing in mixtures of full and empty wagon trains, and sending them out on different routes.

Do keep the photos coming when you can. Although you are modelling GWR and I the East Coast, we have a similar approach to the layout and it always spurs me on to see your progress.

Great progress John again shaming Ottersford!  I too am striving to complete the continuous run but have stalled dismally last few months - time just flies!  Looking forward to see the Dairy scene unfold.  Keep up the good work.

Mal

What lovely pictures John very atmospheric especially those very long goods trains very very good. IT'S ALWAYS WORTHWHILE DIBBING INTO GRANBY NOW AND AGAIN.

Where did the Manchester Colleries wagons come from John?

I am surprised you had occupancy difficulties in TC, have you not set up your wagons and tain sets correctly…i am ducking now

Thanks for the nice comments Guys.

[user=422]Geoff R[/user] wrote:

Great to see your progress, John. You will be in danger now of sitting back and watching trains go by on those long lengths of operational track!! Those long trains of wagons really look the part. Do you intend automatically shunting them at all, like in Max's scenario, or are they "fixed" rakes?

I have been collecting wagons recently ready for my yet to be constructed marshalling yard, but I can't make up my mind just how much shunting I will want to carry out, versus just bringing in mixtures of full and empty wagon trains, and sending them out on different routes.

Not too much sitting back Geoff………it takes a surprisingly long time to fine tune a simple roundy roundy schedule.

The two long coal trains are basically fixed rakes that do quite an involved circuit but without any changes in composition except I have had to insert a doubleheading routine to get the loaded train up the bank from Cynwyd…….it was originally intended for cosmetic purposes but I have found it to be an actual requirement……….I will try and set some photos up.

I havent worked out precisely what I will do in the marshalling yard but I visualise trains arriving from storage and being re marshalled with some elements going down to the branch……I am thinking of shunting units of identical length to minimise the number of schedules.

One routine that is fairly advanced is a Milk Train arriving…….two tankers being uncoupled and attached to the branch BSet…….uncoupled at Cynwyd and then shunted into the Dairy………….must get on with building the dairy!

[user=450]wogga[/user] wrote:

Where did the Manchester Colleries wagons come from John?

 

I guess they are over ten years old. Bachmann issued a series of Blue Riband Coal Traders wagons in fancy boxes. Manchester is a bit off locale for Granby but at least its nearer than the Midlands set that I got sent by mistake! The Welsh set was all South Wales based…………..I have got a rake of Slaters Vauxhall Collieries Ruabon which are dead right for the location but need a bit of TLC before being set to work.  

I am surprised you had occupancy difficulties in TC, have you not set up your wagons and tain sets correctly…i am ducking now

Very droll. I still have a lot of work to do before I can really operate multiple schedules. I found the resistive wheel sets were a must to prevent the premature setting up of routes for the next schedule 

 

Just seen this John, magnificent, and the GWR did get into some gritty places, think S Wales for instance and those maze of viaducts across the valleys. (Have you got 'great western, Branch Line Album' by Ian Krause,1969, where there are some instances.)

An inspiration to us all.

Great photos John  but no panniers !!

[user=446]John Flann[/user] wrote:

 the GWR did get into some gritty places, think S Wales for instance and those maze of viaducts across the valleys. (Have you got 'great western, Branch Line Album' by Ian Krause,1969, where there are some instances.)

An inspiration to us all.

You flatter me again John………but I am glad you like it…….I always appreciate your posts.

I havent heard of that book before……I will check it out on Amazon or maybe Ian Allan…….thanks for the suggestion.

Best Wishes

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

Great photos John  but no panniers !!

Thanks Dave……………you are right…….I will try and remedy it next post…………..if the chips finally arrive from Oz maybe I can line them up in 3 ranks!

Regards

3 ranks? yes please,,
:doublethumb:lol::lol::cool:

Corporal, Sergeant and Major ? :roll::roll::roll::pedal

Very good Peter……….although after my post lunch nap it took a while for the penny to drop and I was about to write something about doing it by numbers.

Incidentally thank you for nice comments about Granby in your Header post

Cheers

Very impressed, John.
Long rakes of wagons always look good - as does your modelling.

Congrats on the header picture, John.
Well deserved.

I`ve run out of green for my envy! For starters… all those 6 metres (18 feet for you, Insulars) and ten parallel tracks. But that, as it were, is the luck of the dice: What really hits me under the belly is the fact that, like most (all?) other railroad nutters (my coarse translation of "ferrodementes", which I apply to myself and my fellow nutter countrymen) in our forum and down here in Argentina, you are actually the Cretor of your world: I simply had it made - a bit like if God had outsourced (which he must have, I guess. judging for the mess he got us into).

By the way Nobel prize winner Portuguese writer Saramago has a wonderful descriptions of us: A railway modeller is a person who has brought order to 100 square feet of the Universe inside which he reigns supreme among the chaos around: Within his realm, everything is and works according to his will, and when it is or does not, he -supreme- intervenes to set things right.

It is, indeed, our microcosmos: In our world, trains can go merrily around in circles, liveries and epochs mix unabashedly, motionless people inhabit flat houses, motorcars and buses are eternally caught minutes away from their points of departure or destination… And when we are not there, everythings stands or sits still. A bit like in Borges's dreams, reality only sets about to exist when we, the dreamers, dream of it - and then it exists for us alone.

sergio

A worthy winner John.

Your efforts are to be admired and your ever present enthusiasm infectious.

Many thanks for all the kind messages and particularly Petermac for the nomination. There is something very satisfying about receiving this sort of accolade from ones peers......................much appreciated:cheers:cheers

Congratulations John on a truly wonderful header shot.  I can pay you no higher compliment than to say I thought it was part of Tetleys Mill when I first caught sight of it.

A crackin' pic, well done. :cheers

Wow Gordon…………that is praise indeed…..I am very flattered  :cheers