N Gauge Tempsford
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Eastern Region themed mainline
Those who read my 00 gauge Upton to Dunton layout thread will know of its demise and of my plans for something new. I have a heap of N gauge track used in previous projects and a good sized base board so I thought I would have a go at developing a a DC, BR 60s Eastern Region themed, N gauge layout with a mainline flavour. The layout not will be based on anywhere in particular, but will be influenced by some mainline locations such as Ipswich, Peteborough and (although LMS) Bletchley. Essentially a two track mainline with several platforms; it will also be a junction serving a rural branch that feeds several factories. That area will act as a storage yard for some decent length freight trains.I have called the layout Tempsford, which is a village not far from me sitting on the East Coast Mainline. It has no station; but the name sounds good!! It is where I can sit and watch the Flying Scotsman and other high speed trains.
The station will need to be able to cope with several (minimum) 8 coach mainline trains as well as local services and I want some long runs so that big express trains can stretch their legs. Here is the overall base board:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_100744_260000000.jpg)
The track I am using is Kato N gauge Unitrack. I have inverted one board to give me a river crossing and, at the moment, I have roughly set up the station area as below:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_100746_560000000.jpg)
As constructed it could handle 4 x 8 coach trains plus two shorter ones (I may change this). The Kato points are good in that they are fitted with motors and pre-wired, they just need to be plugged into the switches, which in turn clip into the controller for power, so no wiring needed. The points have about a 30 inch radius and provide lovely smooth transition.
The downside of Kato track is that it has fixed curves, and although quite generous for N gauge (12 -13 inch radius) they still look very tight:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_100756_300000000.jpg)
I would not be happy with this angular look. Fortunately Kato do a conversion piece of track which allows you to connect to Peco, so I bought a couple to experiment with:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_100758_560000000.jpg)
It works quite well, so with some Peco flexi track I can create a nice sweeping 36 inch radius curve:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_100800_400000000.jpg)
This has potential. I need to buy a couple of scissors crossings for the station area. Until I have those I will continue planning and adjusting before laying the track. Here is the river crossing area - scope for a nice long bridge or viaduct over an east coast estuary as inspired by the Colchester area:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_100804_000000000.jpg)
Great fun!
Bob
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![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_201733_520000000.jpg)
The next step here will be a goods yard that will run down past the signal box. Here is a J27 by Union Mills on the relief line:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_201733_530000002.jpg)
I Have also done a bit more on the bridge, adding girder trusses:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_201733_530000001.jpg)
With a J25, again from Union Mills, at the head of a coal train:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_201733_530000003.jpg)
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![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_251127_370000002.jpg)
I also started work on a station building using the Kestrel kit, still to be painted and finished off:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_251127_370000003.jpg)
And finally, a bit of testing, I dug V2 Green Arrow out of its box and gave it a run around. Looks nice, runs well but quite noisy - like many of the older Farish locos.
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_251127_370000000.jpg)
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Good progress as well.:thumbs
Toto
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:thumbs;-):cool:
web-cam 2.2.74.174:8081
if the lights are off no cam
if the lights are off no cam
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'HOWZAT'
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The scope for scenery is making me itch to get at it!
Keep it coming.
Marty
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I know your still developing the layout Bob but I reckon the signal box would be between the goods yard throat and the running lines and turned around 180 to give the signalman a better field of view. Just a thought.
The scope for scenery is making me itch to get at it!
Keep it coming.
Marty
Thanks Marty, I think you are right. In fact it is where I had it earlier. I will rethink the location when the ballast and scenery goes in.
Bob
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![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_011649_110000000.jpg)
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_011649_110000001.jpg)
The second building, which will sit in the sidings is a goods shed. Again from Kestrel, which makes up into a large shed:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_011649_110000003.jpg)
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_011649_110000002.jpg)
In the meantime I have been weathering the track - more on that later.
Bob
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I also envy your ability to work in "N" Scale - it offers so much more space for "proper" trains but alas, neither my hands, nor my eyes could cope with it.
Looking forward to watching this develop. :cheers
'Petermac
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Before:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_031015_520000000.jpg)
After:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_031015_520000001.jpg)
These are the paint sticks:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_031015_520000002.jpg)
I have many yards to do yet, after which I will add ballast.
Bob
Last edit: by Bob K
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Ian
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Marty
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Nice job on the Kestrel Station Bob.
Marty
Thanks Marty. Apart from Metcalfe offerings it is really the only kit available of a decent size station. The rest tend to be village types. I suppose you could expand the Peco station by adding more sections.
Bob
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![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_040903_390000000.jpg)
The first thing I did was to give it a wash with matt black acrylic and, after removing the wheels, I painted them brown. They too were given a wash of black when dry:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_040905_010000000.jpg)
Next I used a Tamiya weathering kit to tone down the van:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_040907_230000000.jpg)
Here is the result:
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_040908_460000000.jpg)
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_040909_250000000.jpg)
Bob
Last edit: by Bob K
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Ed
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![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/11/11_161032_300000000.jpg)
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Bob
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If it wasn't for the bits around the points, you wouldn't know from the pictures it was Kato track :thumbs
Ed
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Max
Port Elderley
Port Elderley
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it was already on fire when I got here, honest!
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