OO Fictitious Layout depicting my boy hood memories of Warrington/Sankey circa1950 - 69

Hi all,

I thought I would kick off my build log with:
1. An introduction:

I was born in Great Sankey Jan 1954, (then in Lancashire). Went to school at Penketh Primary, then Penketh and Sankey secondary modern (failed my 11+  :sad:) for a year before being sent to the colonies :thumbs Raised by my Maternal Grandmother until we left for Aus. I was born in her upstairs front bedroom and I loved her and my Grandad to bits. I missed them terribly after I left and I never saw them again.

From about the age of 7 hung around the old disused railway around Sankey Bridges, Sankey Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal. On many occasions went to Crewe on a 2 penny platform ticket and once made it as far as Shrewsbury - big day. One special high light was getting my first kiss under the 7 arches viaduct in Sankey!

2. An explanation of the name
Dentith was my Grandmother's maiden name, and of course the last point in 1. should explain the bridges bit :cool wink

5. Aim
To recreate some of the memories I have in my mind's eye - Nothing prototypical - just fun for me and my grandkids

6. Some technical bits
Space currently available 3.2m x 3.5m
DCC - NCE and DCC Concepts booster - this may turn out to be a limiting choice
Will use a Mimic panel to control routing but hope to introduce automated control at some point. To this end block detection will be a feature
Layout will be three levels - lowest level Fiddle yard and storage. Middle level perimeter incline/decline from the fiddle yard to the upper level. Upper level main station, multi platform, goods facility, engine shed, turntable and industrial setting.
Rolling stock will not be weathered. Hope to scratch build/print ,most of the scenery and track side stuff (my other hobby is/was building 1/72 scale radio controlled model warships from scratch)

Per Colin's list: 
Frame-work design style - open frame, 12mm ply, 9 mm ply bed.
Operating Height(s) bottom layer at approx 30cm above the ground, middle 50cm, top 60cm
Inclines which will work effectively to access your three levels - Max slope 2%, minimum clearance 10cm
electrofrog points, purchase directly from Peco, ok with the electronics and frog switching
DCC
Room conditions - internal to the house, temp and humidity reasonably static. Will avoid any sudden changes.


A lot of words so far, but that is the back story . I will post my Anyrail plans in the next few days - just need to finish up some of the details.


Regards,


Andrew

An interesting introduction Andrew.  you have clearly done your research as to the type of layout so will look forward to the progress.  Your previous modelling skills will certainly help in the railway modelling.
Michael

Following along.

Same here, we're all behind you.

Bon courage,

Bill

Wow - that's a great opener Andrew - really looking forward to seeing more.

Was the kiss under Sankey viaduct unique to you or should I go there too next time I'm in UK ……………also, do I understand you made it to Shrewsbury on a 2p platform ticket ?   Did they make you walk back or was it a return platform ticket ?   

Your "other interest" in building RC warships is also interesting - I too had that as a hobby in UK - mainly WW2 German warships in either 1:200 or 1:100 scale.

The names of some Australian places take some getting your tongue around - where in Queensland is Mudgeeraba ?

Peter, have a read

Mudgeeraba, Queensland - Wikipedia

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

Wow - that's a great opener Andrew - really looking forward to seeing more.

Was the kiss under Sankey viaduct unique to you or should I go there too next time I'm in UK ……………also, do I understand you made it to Shrewsbury on a 2p platform ticket ?   Did they make you walk back or was it a return platform ticket ?   

Your "other interest" in building RC warships is also interesting - I too had that as a hobby in UK - mainly WW2 German warships in either 1:200 or 1:100 scale.

The names of some Australian places take some getting your tongue around - where in Queensland is Mudgeeraba ?

 

I was a very young "likely lad", but I think that "under the arches" was a popular get a way from it all spot……

Re the trip to Shrewsbury, my recollection is that the 2p ticket got me as far as Shrewsbury and my mate and I had the devil's own job getting off the platform. We gaave in for the return trip and bought tickets back to Warrington - one week's pocket money gone for "burton"

Mudgeeraba is a nice little village in the Gold Coast Hinterland (not far from Surfers Paradise) and at one point we had a railway station, unfortunately it was closed and the line lost in 1961. One can't even see the old right of way anymore.

Hi,

Would like to share my track plan with you all, for interest, comment and advice as required - Please go easy on me I am new to this  :new

It seems that I can only attach one file per post?  So there will be three more post following this one, wit the files for bottom, middle and top layers in order.

Also, I am happy to share the Anyrail file with anyone who is interested, I assume we will have to do that by pm or email. Please let me know if you would like to see it.

Andrew

[user=2199]Andrewdonald[/user] wrote:

Hi,

Would like to share my track plan with you all, for interest, comment and advice as required - Please go easy on me I am new to this  :new

It seems that I can only attach one file per post?  So there will be three more post following this one, wit the files for bottom, middle and top layers in order.

Also, I am happy to share the Anyrail file with anyone who is interested, I assume we will have to do that by pm or email. Please let me know if you would like to see it.

Andrew

[user=2199]Andrewdonald[/user] wrote:

[user=2199]Andrewdonald[/user] wrote:

Hi,

Would like to share my track plan with you all, for interest, comment and advice as required - Please go easy on me I am new to this  :new

It seems that I can only attach one file per post?  So there will be three more post following this one, wit the files for bottom, middle and top layers in order.

Also, I am happy to share the Anyrail file with anyone who is interested, I assume we will have to do that by pm or email. Please let me know if you would like to see it.

Andrew

[user=2199]Andrewdonald[/user] wrote:

[user=2199]Andrewdonald[/user] wrote:

[user=2199]Andrewdonald[/user] wrote:

Hi,

Would like to share my track plan with you all, for interest, comment and advice as required - Please go easy on me I am new to this  :new

It seems that I can only attach one file per post?  So there will be three more post following this one, wit the files for bottom, middle and top layers in order.

Also, I am happy to share the Anyrail file with anyone who is interested, I assume we will have to do that by pm or email. Please let me know if you would like to see it.

Andrew

I have collected the materials I will use for the a trial section of the lower level, the fiddle yard piece. Initially I will build 2 x 1m²  frames and the corresponding 2m x 2m board. I will then lay some track with points etc., and then trial run the DCC track bus and the various accessory buses I intend to use - more to come later.

The following pic shows the materials to be used - please note the grey acoustic pin board. I am going to trial this as an underlay over the the 7mm ply. 9mm is maybe a little thick to develop a "scale" look ballast profile? If the underlay does prove to be too thick I might consider building up the profile between adjacent tracks, with some thin ply before ballasting. For the scenery sections there should not be any problems in phasing in the levels.  If the experiment fails on this lower level, then little to no harm done, and I will revert to either Woodlands Scenic underlay, or "TrackRite" (an Aussie product) for the remainder of the layout.

For the eagle eyed observers, the model warship build in right of centre is a scratch built 1/72 RC scale model of the Varyag (Russian Guided Missile Cruiser) The model on the left is a type 45 British Destroyer and the middle ship is a British Leander Class Frigate, both scratch built in 1/72 scale. All are WIP.



Below is a close up of the Acoustic board



The final picture shows a piece of flex track placed on the board.


I hope to be able to commence construction work on the weekend.
Cheers

Here a couple of picks of Boards 1 and 2. Apologies for the clamps, I did not have the correct bolts to hand. Currently chucking it down outside so not able to bring the acoustic layer out of the workshop.





Sorry about the rotation issue with the pics, don't know how to fix that yet. All the furniture in the pics will be going out to new homes somewhere I hope.
:cheers

Looks like you are making some good progress.

I'm also impressed with The gear in the workshop.

Cheers
Evan

Looks good to me Andrew.Will be interesting to see your progresss.

Hi Andrew,

Ah, another '54 Lancs lad  :thumbs

Great start and I too am impressed with your workshop toys and your table saw looks much more useful than mine!

Besides the glue, it may be an idea to screw down the boards along the long central joint to prevent warping in the future. 

Looking forward to your next sitrep.

Best,

Bill

[user=2089]Ssamm[/user] wrote:

Looks like you are making some good progress.

I'm also impressed with The gear in the workshop.

Cheers

Thanks Evan,

Progress is a bit stop start at the moment, spending a bit of time helping out neighbours after the big wet. I collected the "tool kit" over the last 10 years or so of my working life. They come in handy from time to time now. :cheers

[user=1814]Longchap[/user] wrote:

Hi Andrew,

Ah, another '54 Lancs lad  :thumbs

Great start and I too am impressed with your workshop toys and your table saw looks much more useful than mine!

Besides the glue, it may be an idea to screw down the boards along the long central joint to prevent warping in the future. 

Looking forward to your next sitrep.

Best,

Bill

Thanks Bill, the table saw is my most expensive tool, but very glad I invested, it has improved my ability to cut at right angles………, well more than improved, I can now actually cut a right angle  :oops:

Yes, I will screw down the center line of the boards, logistics skills let me down a bit. Ran out of the right size screws as well as the bolts for the legs………. :cheers

Hi everyone,

A tiny bit of progress can be seen below. This is my first, ever, piece of flex track that I have laid out - pretty pleased with it for a first try, even if I say so my self.



There will not be any progress over the Easter weekend and a little beyond. My Daughter and Son in Law, together with the three Grandchildren, will be up from Sydney - arriving in the early hours on Friday. The dropper wires are soldered on to the track, so I may hook up the NCE power cab and run my little shunter up and down the short piece of track, for my Grandson of course

Wishing every one a safe and happy Easter break.

Andrew

  Hi Andrew,
 
You are a planner, well done, as you have a good understanding of the systems you’ll be working with, so are ahead of the game  :)
 
John has years of well earned experience on automated control, so there is nothing I can add to his comments, particularly as I’ve always liked to drive rather than be driven. I can comment however on your item 2 comment about RR&Co referring to the NCE Power Pro and not the Power Cab. This is due to the Power Cab being just a 2Amp system, good for a few locomotives at a time, while the Power Pro is a 5Amp system, designed for larger layouts with many locomotives. NCE’s SB5 Smart Booster provides the 5Amp upgrade for the larger layout, where the life of automation usually exists. This upgrade gives you the same effectiveness as the Power Pro, just in a different black box. More information of course on NCE’s website.
 
My own layout is starting with the branch line, where I’m testing and developing the knowledge to build the larger part of the layout and has a Power Cab, at the moment.
 
Looking forward to your developing layout.
 
Best,
 
Bill