A layout in progress, slow progress...

:thumbs

With the weather taking a turn for the better, for me, a chance at last to make some progress with the timetable – the afternoon rush hour is now well under way. At Woodside station it is 5.20pm with the semi-fast for Chester just pulling out of platform 1 behind a Stanier tank. In platform 3 another Stanier tank waits with the 5.45pm for Helsby, and in 4 the Standard 5 with the 5.39pm to Shrewsbury. I reckon this engine can work through to Shrewsbury as it has a 15 minute wait in Chester – just about time for the engine to be turned while additional coaches are added.



The standard 5 does look good in green, although not obvious from the picture, Birkenhead did have a couple of these engines for a few years up to 1960, after that examples from Chester, Shrewsbury and later Wrexham, some in green, were frequent visitors.

Meanwhile three minutes later at Hooton, another Stanier tank arrives in platform 1 with the 5.23 semi-fast from Chester to Birkenhead, departs 5.24pm – and at the same time in platform 2 a Fairburn tank arrives with the s/f Birkenhead to Barmouth, departs 5.25pm. Waiting in platform 3 is a Fowler tank with 5.17pm arrival from Rock Ferry which forms the 5.42pm to Helsby .…interesting, one of each version of the 2-6-4 tank in Hooton – no, not planned! Also in the background waiting in the goods loop is the 2P with the 5.00pm Hooton - Rock Ferry service - all Rock Ferry 'arrivals' wait in the goods loop until the stock can be dealt with in the coach sidings at Woodside, from where all trains starting at Rock Ferry depart.



Within a minute of the Chester train leaving platform 1 the 5.25pm from Stanlow – another train terminating at Rock Ferry arrives – this then waits three minutes before departure. I assume this train is linked to a shift change at the refinery and the wait is possibly to add another coach or two. Five minutes after that departs the 5.33pm from Paddington arrives – definitely the busiest period of the day for Hooton.

After 6pm it starts to slow down again, and I can get some freight moving, if the weather holds, which is not the case just now….

Keith

Hi Keith  From 17.17 to 18.00 is really a very busy time at Woodside. The station staff must be really busy. Best wishes Kevin

So much going on… fabulous. Enjoy. 
Go on, throw some static grass on that cutting bank, it will make such a difference in that second photo.

  S’mae Kevin

  Yes, Woodside was always a very congested station during the rush hour – the actual station layout and approach had to fit in a relatively small space – which is why several rush hour services terminated at Rock Ferry, there just wasn’t the capacity at Woodside. With the frequent electric service to Birkenhead (Hamilton Square) and Liverpool Central (Low Level) from the adjacent platforms at Rock Ferry few passengers stayed on to Woodside most of the time anyway. Throughout my trainspotting days on trips to Chester, Shrewsbury, Birmingham etc., only once did I stay on to Woodside – just because I fancied a trip on the ferry!

  Keith

  S’mae Marty

  You’re absolutely right about the static grass – I nearly started on that bank after my first attempt at static grass that I made at the south tunnel mouth, Hooton…. just checking back – posted on 7/5/19, more than two years ago!….. but then the trains started running again. The bank is removable, in two sections, as is the main line approach to Birkenhead as it is directly above the loft access, just in case I ever need to get something ‘big’ into the loft.  That means I can attack the bank off the layout and avoid getting static grass on everything. But as I’ve mentioned, on the odd occasion, my main interest is the operation of the layout to the official timetable, and at the end of the day that tends to win out most of the time. There is the added attraction that for the next run the clock goes back to 1956 – the West Kirby branch was open, passenger and freight, which will really test Hooton’s ability to cope with the additional traffic, all very tempting.

That said it really is time I made some sort of an effort to make Woodside look a little closer to the standard of other layouts on the forum, so once I’ve finished this run of the timetable – it is 5.33pm on the layout, it should only take a couple of months or so to finish it, limited loft time in the summer – I’ll make a start on the green bits. Don’t expect anything even close to the standard you produce – and you are working in N gauge, amazing – but hopefully Woodside will look somewhat better than it does now.

I just have to stop checking the ’56 timetable……

  Keith
   

At last it looks like this weather may soon be getting back to normal, for the last two weeks the only activity in the loft has been to get the fans running and the window open each morning.

With the ’56 timetable looming on the horizon I have been thinking, always results in another ‘project’, about the track layout for access to platform 5 and the coach sidings at Woodside. At present all traffic uses the head of platform 5 road before the crossover to access the coach sidings – this is also the route used for all services which have officially terminated at Rock Ferry. That crossover means that when access to the coach sidings is needed platform 5 can only hold a three coach/tank engine train – particularly relevant during the rush hour when several trains to/from Hooton terminate at Rock Ferry. The ’56 timetable will also include West Kirby services which can only add to the problem.

All that thinking has resulted, hopefully, in a workable solution… replacing the left hand point indicated in the photo with a single slip



 and moving that point across to the first coach siding. The marker indicating the end of the slip/new point connection…



…. some ballast will have to go, pity…. and the point wire in tube will need modifying as well. What I thought would be a quick swap is turning into a bit of a project. However once done platform 5 will be able to hold a four coach train + loco without blocking access to the coach sidings, and the first coach siding will also hold an extra coach. I can leave the original crossover as it does form a loop with the other reverse crossover, useful for running around a two coach train when the same engine is rostered to make the return trip. In addition there is also the big advantage that services terminating at Rock Ferry do not encroach on Woodside station itself, just the coach sidings – very much an ‘anoracky’ point, but one that has bothered me, a fully paid up anorak, for some time.

Upshot of all this thinking, I decided that this was not a bad idea, and so the slip was ordered, and has now arrived – only Insulfrog unfortunately, no Electrofrog to be had just now. Must admit the price came as something of a shock….. the majority of the track for Woodside was bought way back in 2008 – then code 75 slips were around the £12 - £13 mark….. now I’ve managed to buy an Insulfrog slip at a bargain price of just £36…. for the list price, add another ten quid! If I was starting now, I simply couldn’t afford anything like trackwork that Woodside has today. When I first started I hadn’t opened an account with any supplier, so I’ve no invoices for the track purchases, but from late 2008 I can check other previous invoices…. In 2008/9 I picked up a J94 for just £37, Standard 5 in green for a mere £63, a BR type 2 for just £41 and the best bargain – a Britannia for £64….. those really were the days!!

Meanwhile I have noticed that if I do a straight replacement I’ll end up needing a seriously short piece of rail to bridge the gap to the existing track. I reckon that is better than moving up all the other trackwork to meet the new slip, with all that ballast to move. Just hope the forecasted return to ‘normal’ weather over the weekend happens and the loft becomes available again. I may well finish off the timetable before starting on the track, I already know that the existing track can cope with the current timetable.  And then of course, there are those green bits….

Keith
 

Good to see someone else has the track changing bug.....and it makes a nice change from working out timetables.

Putting a slip in there will make a big difference to ease of operation and flexibility Keith.  Ballasting can wait ……………and wait……………..and wait …………

The after effects/concussion following that bang on the head are taking an annoyingly long time to fully clear, so my apologies for the delayed response…..

Ron, this is the first change since the track went down back in 2010, but probably will not be the last, I keep looking at the marshalling yard entrance…..

Peter, yes a small change but as you say it will make a big difference, just wish it could all happen as quickly as the idea appeared. In future I need to ensure that only ideas involving plain track – preferably unballasted – are considered   …and if you reckon the ballasting can wait, that’s good enough for me!

---

Meanwhile I have managed to advance the timetable, very slowly, when the weather permits – however trying to run the layout in the rush hour with a malfunctioning grey cell is not that straightforward. Thankfully the rush hour will soon be over, but for now, at almost 5.52 this view shows no less than six trains in action…



…..at Hooton Station, Platform 1 has the 5.55pm (arrived 5.49) stopping train from Helsby to Rock Ferry, unusually behind  a 4F which travelled light engine from Chester to Helsby, and in Platform 3 the 2P with the 6.00pm stopping train to Woodside. This loco and coaches arrived at 5.49 as the 5.31 from Rock Ferry. Hopefully nobody will question how the 2P was turned with no turntable at Hooton…. suffice to note that this is usually a tank engine! Leaving the fiddle yard is the standard 4 with the 5.39 express from Chester, due Hooton at 5.52. Waiting to enter the fiddle yard is a Stanier tank with the 5.39 ex Hooton stopper to Chester and, just visible, waiting at the previous signal a Fowler tank with the 5.42 stopper from Hooton to Helsby . Finally in the goods loop is the 5.10pm stopper from Stanlow to Rock Ferry, due 5.44, now waiting for access to the coach sidings at Woodside.

Out of sight, there are more…..

…in the loops below Woodside : on the up line, the 5.37 s/f to Shrewsbury , standard 5, due Hooton 5.57 and the 5.45 s/f to Helsby with a Stanier tank in charge, due Hooton 6.03. On the down line ready to begin the run to Woodside is another Stanier tank with the 12.10 Paddington service due 5.52.

In Woodside station, platform 1 is the 5.42 arrival – 5.08 s/f from Chester.

…and finally in the fiddle yard the Derby lightweights will form the 6.12 from Helsby (6.33 Hooton, 6.54 Woodside)…… by then things start to slow down…… and I can operate the layout somewhat closer to real time.

Keith

By 'Eck Keith, it sounds like you've got your hands full with all that rush hour traffic hitting the Hooton area - that signalman needs all his wits about him to get that lot through and safely on their way. Sounds like you could do with an apprentice up there with you. I bet he'll be glad when the grey cell become fully functioning again; don't get downhearted young sir, it'll sort all in good time.

I dare say you'll be glad to get that single slip put into place. No doubt it will make some movements much easier to cope with - and no doubt faster to implement. Personally, I can't be bothered with making track changes - having said that, there are a couple of ideas running around the empty spaces upstairs. Regrettably, I have a lot less space to play with than your Hooton/Woodside allows and the changes I'd (maybe) like to make are all in the hidden areas, simply to allow somewhere to stable a train or two before it re-appears back from whence it came. But then there is so little space to get my hands into to make those changes; and then there's the signalling I'm still trying to get sorted for what I've already got. But that's my problem.

The issue of the day is for you to be getting plenty of R&R so we can get you back to 100% and getting that timetable up and running. So, put your feet up (nowt much on telly these days now the footie is done with, which is a shame), relax and enjoy the good summer weather (good?, come on, it's summer!). Hopefully, the sun will make an appearance down your neck of the woods this coming week as we'll be heading that'a'way in the caravan - to Porthmadog hopefully.

So take care Keith - looking forward to the next update.

Keith,
You might have to learn to live with the after effects of a bang on the head. I might have put this on here before, but I was driving an artic (semi over here) when I fell of the trailer banging my head on the concrete. This happened in about 2006 and I still get good and bad days and bouts of dizziness and nausea. It comes with the territory of head injuries.

I can only offer my wishes for a speedy recovery of the grey cell. As Peterm said, it doesn't always fully recover. I had a ladder collapse on me over 3 years ago and my head hit all sorts sturdy metal objects on the way down. I still get dizzy moments but they did improve at first to the point when I know which head movements would, and still do, set it off. I treat it as just another of lifes adjustments as one gets older like never running the 4 minute mile again (oh wait that must have been in a dream).

  S’mae Dave

  â€¦ long time since anyone referred to me as ‘young’….

  Yes, a second operator who knows what he is doing would be a big help - could explain it all to me. I too am not a big fan of making changes to the track, the existing track layout has lasted over ten years – but the modification will make a significant difference operationally – just a matter of getting down, perhaps that should be up, to doing it. Priority for now is getting the ’61 timetable finished so that I can turn the clock back a few years, change some of the motive power/stock, and start again…after getting these minor track mods sorted, possibly even getting the static grass started (assuming I can find it), at least that is the current thinking, all subject to change….

  Weather here for most of this week has not been too kind unfortunately – hopefully better for you down on the coast, still, a good excuse for a run or two on the Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland.

  Keith

  S’mae Pete a Dave H

  I’m beginning to think that you’re both right, voices of experience. I suspect that as we pile on the years the recovery time grows, and by how much we recover reduces. The main problem is that we’re all getter older….

  GP still organising tests (CT scan last week, been wearing a heart monitor all week, etc.), he is nothing if not thorough which is a good thing. Meanwhile progress is very slow but at least there is some discernible improvement, unfortunately patience has never been my strong point. I have always preferred instant solutions and a few sessions in the loft would help.
Keith

Hi Keith,

I know we've strayed off topic but thinks it's reasonable in this case. Has your doctor considered BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)? I had this in the early days after my injury and had treatment from a specialised physio. This involved treatment with the Epley Manoeuver which did improve things for me, but wasn't a complete success because something else is going on. I hope I'm not trying to teach you to suck eggs.

[user=1798]Woodside[/user] wrote:

All that thinking has resulted, hopefully, in a workable solution… replacing the left hand point indicated in the photo with a single slip

Upshot of all this thinking, I decided that this was not a bad idea, and so the slip was ordered, and has now arrived – only Insulfrog unfortunately, no Electrofrog to be had just now. Must admit the price came as something of a shock….. the majority of the track for Woodside was bought way back in 2008 – then code 75 slips were around the £12 - £13 mark….. now I’ve managed to buy an Insulfrog slip at a bargain price of just £36…. for the list price, add another ten quid!
Keith
 

I had a peek at Hattons / Rails prices and note that PECO appears to have pushed through price increases for all the items I'm interested in or have bought recently. For one example, SL-108F I bought just last month has since gone up 12.5%, bulk pack 16+%; points, slips etc likewise.

That's a big increase, perhaps recouping losses incurred thru their extended shutdowns?
 

  S’mae Pete

  I’ll talk to the GP again when the results from the heart monitor are available. Just so all this medical stuff doesn’t take over things, I’ll let you know via PM.

  Keith

  S’mae Colin

  Yes, prices are getting ridiculous now – just glad I started back in 2008. No doubt everybody has suffered this past eighteen months, but low funds at home because of Covid and significant price increases just prolong the agony. That said, with the way prices have moved in recent years Railway Modelling is starting to look more and more like a rich man’s hobby.

  Keith

I'd agree with you - prices are climbing at an alarming rate.


Not sure how it works for the manufacturers but, over the last couple of months, they've lost orders for 3 locomotives from a French based modeller simply because I'm not prepared to pay their asking price…………… :roll:

I know they won't lose any sleep over my non-orders but if I'm typical, then they need to recoup whatever profit they would have made on similar lost sales from the reduced number they do sell.  I'd call it a viscious circle ……………….. :roll: :roll: