Progress (or otherwise) on Jeff's new layout

Newton Broadway seems to have fallen through a worm hole and ended up in the Sydney (Australia) area, sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s, at a guess!

Interurban V set V4 in original 'blue goose' livery passes one of the first batch of Mercedes 0305 buses in original livery. The V sets were built in batches over nearly 20 years, with the first sets, to a slightly different pattern, entering service in 1970, while the last build went into service in 1989. Early ones have been withdrawn, but quite a few of the later ones are still in service. The model is from Auscision, and was a little bit of an extravagance on my part (tax refund!).


P_20190110_112510_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190110_112555_vHDR_On cropped by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190110_112414_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Moving back to southern England, and just after the end of steam on the Southern Region, around 1967/8. A class 33 D6520 hauls 4TC set 416, probably heading for Weymouth. For the return journey, the set will be driven from the 4TC cab with the 33 pushing. At Bournemouth, the TC will be attached to a 4 REP EMU at the London end, probably with another 4TC at the Weymouth end. The 33 will uncouple and the REP will take the TCs on to London. The 33 will wait at Bournemouth for the next incoming REP/TC/TC combination, and pull one or both TCs to Weymouth … and so on. This went on until the mod 1980s, when the class 442 5-WES units took over the services, by then electrified all the way to Weymouth.

The 4TC units were versatile and, while their main reason for being was the London - Bournemouth-Weymouth service, they did pop up elsewhere, with a couple of (re-formed) units even finding their way into London Underground Limited's ownership for special services after BR had finished with them.


P_20190111_185753_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190111_185859_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Nice Jeff ,thanks for sharing. :pathead

A very nice collection of rolling stock… I remember the red EFEs from my childhood and I’ve ridden the V4 sets from Sydney to the Blue Mountains and back I think?
Marty

Here we go again, this time with some more modern diesels and an electric. All of the named examples have etched plates fitted, either as supplied by the manufacturer, or bought as third party add-ons.

Listing them in numerical class order, class 58 is represented by three Heljan locos:

58 017 is in the class' original "red stripe" railfreight grey livery.

58 004 is in the pre-privatisation Mainline livery adapted from the previous Railfreight 'triple grey' livery.

58 024 is in the privatisation era EW&S livery, which was later simplified slightly to just EWS.


P_20190117_214652_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_214856_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_215559_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Next is my solitary class 59, 59 005 Kenneth J Painter, which has a Lima body on a newer Hornby chassis. I have fitted head and white marker lights at this end only. I will try to do a neater installation at the other end in the future, but I don't see the need to waste my efforts on working tail lights.


P_20190117_212230_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Class 60 is next, with three Hornby examples in my collection:

60 077 Canisp is in the intermediate triple grey Mainline livery.

60 078 is in the 'proper' Mainline aircraft blue, and is heavily weathered.

60 048 is in EWS maroon, with the later branding style than 58 024.



P_20190117_215007_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_215201_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_215407_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Class 66 is well represented, with all being Bachmann examples.

EWS 66 089 came to me as a very heavily weathered example - a bit too heavily weathered for my liking. I de-weathered it a little and renumbered it while I was in the process of repainting sections.

66 701 Whitemoor is in the attractive GBRf blue and orange livery.

66 522 is in the very distinctive Freightliner/Shanks livery.

66 610 is in standard Freightliner livery and has the later style headlamps.

66 407 and 66 412 are in DRS 'compass' livery. 66 412 is a little bit of a hybrid with a later body style but an earlier chassis fitted - bought like that with sound fitted so worth the asking price.

66 425 Sunderland is in First GBRf livery.


P_20190117_212429_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_212700_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_212919_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_213020_vHDR_On (1) by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_214025_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_213248_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_213445_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


The new Vossloh class 68s from Dapol are attractive models. 68 002 Intrepid and 68 003 Astute feature next, with both in DRS livery.


P_20190117_214238_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190117_214422_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


The GEC Class 70 can not be called attractive by any stretch of the imagination, although Bachmann's model is superb. The real ones earned the nickname "Ugly Bettys". 70 003 shown here is in Freightliner Powerhaul livery.


P_20190117_213624_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Based on the class 60 styling, but with more rounded contours, class 92 dual voltage electric locomotives were slightly more attractive. 92 022 Charles Dickens is in Railfreight Distribution livery. This is a Hornby body with a modified Hornby class 60 chassis and modified lighting. I do have more accurate 3D-printed pantographs to fit when I get around to it.


P_20190117_215816_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Finally, and on a completely different tack, a new addition which cost as much as a locomotive is the CMX track cleaner from the USA.


P_20190117_215922_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Nice group of locos there Jeff Those Shanks/freightliner KMRC 66's where going for a stupid price a few years back for some reason.

That CMX cleaner was a good buy i have had one for many years and works really well mind you they require a good diesel to pull them.


Brian

The CMX Track Cleaner wagon had its first test run this evening. I top-and-tailed it with two Heljan class 33/1 locos, although one was more than capable of shifting it, as the second half of this video demonstrates.

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Just spent a very enjoyable half hour or so catching up Jeff - what a lot you've been up to !!

The first thing that grabbed me was just how much stock you have  :shock:   Several pages back, Max asked if you'd changed rooms because he'd noticed you have a fair old collection there.  Have you any idea how many locos/power cars you have ?

Some fabulous sound files too - very authentic and, IMHO, add a massive amount to the realism (provided you don't try to run them all together).

The CMX is a brilliant addition.  I've got one too and it's an absolute life-saver on any sizeable layout where you can't easily reach all the track for cleaning.  Not only is it easy to use, it's fun and very efficient too.  You won't regret the investment.   :thumbs   Because I model (or was modelling) steam to diesel change-over, I don't have any diesels with the umph to pull it solo so I either use 2 locos or a US outline GP40 on mine.  I need to buy a green Class 37 for the purpose but  they're either like hen's teeth or stupidly priced………………..

Looking forward to the next installment.  :cheers

The recent spell of hot weather means that I have not been doing much in the train room - that remains hot because I have to keep the doors closed because of two certain young cats who love to poke around in there given half a chance!

I did get a few more road vehicles under way - some John Day and TPM CarKit 4 models. More about them later. I also started on one of the more permanent buffer stops to replace all the temporary ones from various different sources. The Peco ones aren't too bad so may remain in places, but the others have to go. I dug out one of a batch of Mike's Models buffer stop kits (type C) which represents at least some of the Southern constituents' practices. I used Araldite to assemble it, and it is a little rough but that was a learning process. The sleepers have come from a short off-cut of Peco bullhead track. There's a photo of it on the workbench in unfinished state, and a couple of it in a finished state in place, but not anchored, on the layout. I will have to re-ballast that area too.


P_20190127_105744_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190127_134314_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190127_134325_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


These also show a little bit of fencing I have been playing with at the end of the siding, and protecting the level crossing access. This is a bit of Ratio spear fencing with a gate (in black). All of it is in raw plastic but I haven't decided what colour the fence and gate should be in yet: obvious ones are white, black or green. Here are a couple of earlier shots showing the arrangement in more detail. Note that it isn't glued down yet. These also show the earlier, unsatisfactory (to me) temporary buffer stop. The new, slightly shorter stop means the gate looks as if it actually has room to swing open.

You can also see that I have commenced work on the remaining four-rail fence, with the top rail glued in place.


P_20190126_215429_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190126_215446_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

As a slight divergence from the fencing work, I have 'bitumened' the goods yard/engine shed roadway, and the occupation crossing leading in, using a textured spray paint.


P_20190128_103931_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190128_103943_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


Continuing the development of the lineside fencing, I have added the railings to the posts over a few sessions to help preserve my back. The first photo shows the tools and materials involved. As can be seen, I decided a green suited the fences at the level crossing end.


P_20190128_123658_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190128_123613_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190128_123623_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190128_171723_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190128_171613_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190128_171704_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

The fencing off of the public footpath from the railway is almost complete now. there are a few spots where railings have pulled away from their posts and will have to be re-glued, and a few very minor paint touch-ups required, but otherwise I am very pleased with the overall effect.

I want to add some appropriate signs and a few cast iron (white metal) bollards at each end of the path t complete the scene.


P_20190130_220053_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190130_220117_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


 Trying out a slightly different viewpoint, class 700 0-6-0 30315 passes the same location with a mixed goods train with 20 wagons.


P_20190202_114349_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


The modern class 68 in the upper left of the above photo spoils the illusion slightly, but was on track cleaning duties with the new CMX track cleaning tank wagon. I am also trying out Track Magic fluid in it for the first time. So far it has now cleaned all of the outer track and loops, but still has some of the inner loop lines to traverse.

And now for something completely different!

I enjoyed my rides on Danish IC3 DMUs so much I wanted a model as a momento. The only model of these units in HO scale has been from Heljan in the early 2000s. They had some mechanical problems and weren't especially detailed, but they looked reasonable. There were several livery variants released, including two different DSB (Danish state railways) versions, a Swedish (SJ) one (their class Y2) and an Amtrak one, marketed as a Walthers model. They are all as scarce as hen's teeth!

I managed to locate one in the Swedish 'Kustpilen' livery (literally 'coast pillow', as far as I can ascertain) at a reasonable price in France, and it arrived today. I may, at some stage, repaint it into DSB silver with dark blue window strips, but for the present it will remain in SJ livery. I have already done one modification to improve reliability, and that is to tap a small screw into the base of the centre car at each end to locate the bogies, which previously just rested there and tended to pull out the drive shafts (a known fault with these models). The centre car has a central motor and flywheels, whereas the real ones have the outer, driving cars powered (with two Deutz engines each) and the centre section unpowered. It was DCC-ready and now has a Lenz Standard+ V2 decoder fitted.

The unit has run successfully around Newton Broadway, but still needs a little adjustment and fettling before I can say it is totally reliable.


P_20190212_213559_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190212_213614_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

I would guess that they motorized the center car to keep the force even in either direction while only having one motor.

Yes, definitely better balanced this way. The original release had a Tenshodo SPUD motor bogie and wasn't at all satisfactory. My one has the "mark 2" arrangement, but apparently there was a further improvement later, along the lines of what I did with the screws.

I have done some further re-engineering of the IC3 unit, and it now runs happily around the layout, including through reverse curves with no problems. Improvements/modifications have included adding self-tapping screws to locate the inner ends of the centre bogies (replacing useless little moulded plastic 'pips', adding a fair amount of lead weight to the outer driving cars, extending the spigots on top of the powered bogies to ensure the leading and trailing cars can't pop off, thus keeping the weight on the powered bogies, and bending the rather stiff wires to keep them clear of the pivot points (the wires really need replacing with thinner, more flexible wiring, but that can be done later).

The result is a DMU that I can set off running, and sit back and enjoy. I have uploaded a short video to YouTube to show it off.

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As an aside, the Swedish livery doesn't look too out of place against some of my Network South East stock! To give an idea of the size of the real things, the Heljan model is HO scale, and doesn't look all that small against the British OO stock, but the fairest comparison is to put it side by side with the HO scale NSW interurban V set.


P_20190216_110950_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr

Good to see  NSW suburban stock on the layout -  :thumbsDo you have any "red rattlers"?

Hi Dave.  I don't have any red rattlers, although I was around in Sydney at a time when they were still running. I like the Berg's models but cannot justify the cost.

Continuing with the Danish/German theme, I landed another rare beast in the form of a HobbyTrade DSB ME class Co-Co diesel electric, to haul a short rake of DSB coaches from roco (I'm not sure how prototypical the formation is).

It is seen here side by side with a Piko (budget range) DB Bo-Bo electric loco of class 186, which will haul a mixed rake of European wagons, when they arrive. Both locos are now fitted with Lenz Standard+ decoders.


P_20190226_170559_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190226_212100_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190226_212047_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


The Piko locomotive seems to be mainly in self-coloured red plastic, but the effect is quite acceptable to me. I did paint the insides of the nose ends with some light grey paint to stop any light bleed through the red plastic around the headlights. On the other hand, the paint finish on the ME is deep, opaque and lustrous. Both locos run with a slight growl but very smoothly, and both are quite powerful.

Random thought for the moment: Seeing as I am dabbling with Danish railways (with German locos travelling through too), should I be listing the layout as Newton Broadway/Nyton Bredvej?

:hmm :hmm :hmm

Work in progress: weathering the European wagons. I am happy with the very light weathering on the tarpaulin wagon, but the telescopic steel wagon needs further work.


P_20190302_124011_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr


P_20190302_124029_vHDR_On by Jeffrey Lynn, on Flickr