70/80s layout - advice needed

[blackettstreet]

The other option is a Speedlink yard which, again, could feature HEAs with domestic coal, VGAs with any commodity, OTAs timber etc..

I was thinking of that, sounds like a good idea. What sort of facilities could I use for loading/ unloading? Is there any way to make a small hand operated crane?

 

[Winterbournecm]

There are: You could have a loading platform with fork lift trucks for the VGAs. There are small cranes & ratio and an overhead crane from ratio.

http://craigmunday.smugmug.com/Trai...6190413_MTxhKv#!i=1216072702&k=opCvn&lb=1&s=A

 

[PinzaC55]

If you set your layout in (say) Northumberland with a connection to a colliery you could have a Class 14 on an NCB train as here at Eccles Colliery, Backworth in 1979 http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinzac55/3148271956/
And a Met-Camm 101 in white livery as here at Newcastle http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinzac55/3481392906/
Its an enormous subject really! In the Newcastle area you had nearly every concievable class including 20's , 37's, Deltics etc. Something like a small through station such as Widdrington would give you an excuse to have a Deltic on a stopping service ( they were regulars on the local services 1979 - 1980) and a colliery connection at Widdrington North signalbox. There were no freight facilities at Widdrington but I guess "artistic licence" would cover that.

 

[IanB]

108s were regular visitors to the coast line via Hartlepool (I grew up living beside the line in Billingham!). They'd generally be covering for 143s with gearbox faults but I think there was a booked daily turn through from Carlisle to 'Boro. They lasted longer than the 101s and there was even the green celebrity one kicking round at the end of the 80s/ early 90s.

Because of the gearbox issues loco-hauled sets regularly appeared- I had 31196, 31264, 31278, 31283 and 31285 on Darlington to Hartlepool services. The coast services were also regularly loco hauled- a few rarities appeared including 37501, 45128, 47053 and 47522. They were all nearly always formed of 3 coach sets, mainly blue & grey mk1s.

There was an influx of totally knackered ex South Wales units in '88 too but they were only there 'till early '89 when the 142's and 143's illnesses were cured.

Also remember (I think it was 1991) 158714 toured every line in the area (and most of the UK!) fitted with little cameras at each end checking clearances at the stations!

Thornaby locos give a massive livery choice- from 37501 in BS blue, through 47305 in br blue with a yellow stripe to 37358 in freightliner blue! Also dealt with cement, speedlink, coal, oil, hydrocyanic acid(!), steel, potash so would heartily recommend it to model!!! Especially looking at the Bachmann 37514...

Good luck!!!

 

[blackettstreet]

thanks for the advice everyone