Good work @reddragon.
The addition of details about engineering possessions really adds to it all @reddragon. The scale of your layout also never fails to amaze me - it might not be as massive as some large club layouts but for a personal layout, it's pretty good going to say the least.As long as they are DCC, I have the siding space . . . . .
Rakes are 10 coaches / 15 wagons, they need to be up to it!
Friday
A possession of the UP main came into force last night and the track gangs lifted the tracks. The points needed cutting out as track pins had been used.
P5/6 are now closed and services are using the UP relief.
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By 1am, the new points were being placed and electrical contractors were on site.
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Updates to follow once pics are available from site.
Again - loving the little details. Are all the workers being kept fed and watered?The UP main was completed and powered up on time. Up services await the glue to dry for the possession to be lifted. The double slip in the middle will connect to the down main next, followed by the curved right & a Y for the down relief.
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Its warm up there! EWS are providing the wagon and a Network Rail rake of JNAs are due to arrive on the railway tomorrow. Maybe some track ballasting or scenery work may be planned soon?Again - loving the little details. Are all the workers being kept fed and watered?
-Peter
HahaIts warm up there! EWS are providing the wagon and a Network Rail rake of JNAs are due to arrive on the railway tomorrow. Maybe some track ballasting or scenery work may be planned soon?
Not sure yet other than the area to start. Maybe a hill?Haha
Sounds interesting - what kind of scenery work might you have in mind?
-Peter
That's 2016 ballast, but yes I have some to do some more ballasting.Looking amazing from that angle. The ballast looks good too. How are you getting on with that?
That would be cool. I suppose the main issue is the track to begin with!Not sure yet other than the area to start. Maybe a hill?
Looking good! Would there be a case for connecting the line the Western crosses onto over to the platform line it leaves? The sort of thing you'd get on the real railway for quicker departures I guess?So the track was opened just on time and the possession lifted. Note how straight the departure line is now.
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The first Up service of the day is a semi fast service.
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I'm liking the shots of the long trains passing. Really goes to show how a large-scale layout makes realism easier to achieve!View attachment 98781
Followed by a Freighliner service
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Arrangements are in for the next possession to install the double slip on the down main
I was running 3 trains at once tonight. The 52 + 9 Mk2s, the 66 + 14 wagons, then 411 8-car, then 70 + 18 wagons, then 42 + 7 crimson / cream, the 53 + 8 maroon.That would be cool. I suppose the main issue is the track to begin with!
Looking good! Would there be a case for connecting the line the Western crosses onto over to the platform line it leaves? The sort of thing you'd get on the real railway for quicker departures I guess?
I'm liking the shots of the long trains passing. Really goes to show how a large-scale layout makes realism easier to achieve!
-Peter
@reddragon - Any chance of you giving a run through of how you fit stay alive capacitors to your locos?
I’ve got a Farish 47 that stalls on points quite frequently (it’s quite a common problem with that model), but I’ve got no idea how to go about doing it?
I don't know if you follow Chadwick Model Railway, but this episode gives some advice on stay alives.
Glad it works and so small & compact!I forgot to update on this actually.
I fitted the one that I’d ordered from Rails and what I’ve noticed is that after a few minutes of running once it’s warmed up there’s a fairly big difference in how it runs. It’s a lot better basically.
I’ll have a look at that video later though, thanks for that.
All very nice indeed. The lengths of those rakes just goes to show why loco pulling-power (i.e. traction, not if they can attract other locos to go out with ) is so important on your layout.I was running 3 trains at once tonight. The 52 + 9 Mk2s, the 66 + 14 wagons, then 411 8-car, then 70 + 18 wagons, then 42 + 7 crimson / cream, the 53 + 8 maroon.
My 6 coach rakes are currently 8 Maroon, 7 Red & Cream, 9 Mk1 BG set 1, 9, Mk1 BG set 2, 9 Mk2 ,6 Mk 2de; + spare + 2x HST 7 & 4 car
Freight 3 rakes are 18 open, 14 container, 11 tanker
You're certainly working through this all at quite a rate of knots @reddragon! All looks very nice. Just out of interest, do any manufacturers make points/crossovers with concrete sleepers in OO gauge? Every layout I've seen with concrete sleepers uses points with wooden sleepers, which still fits in and looks good but could pose a bit of an issue for those wanting really realistic layouts?09.010 is shunting the latest arrivals the NR wagons up the new track.
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At the work site the down main has reopened and returned to service for a down freight service. P8-9-10 remain closed
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Since this shot the Down relief has also been connected but has yet to reopen.
This is quite a major weekend track possession that has resulted in some wrong direction workings and unusual platform alterations made possible by the new crossovers.
In the real world most points have wooden sleepers but Peco do some fine scale code 75 points in concrete although they only seem to do medium LH/RH points like that.You're certainly working through this all at quite a rate of knots @reddragon! All looks very nice. Just out of interest, do any manufacturers make points/crossovers with concrete sleepers in OO gauge? Every layout I've seen with concrete sleepers uses points with wooden sleepers, which still fits in and looks good but could pose a bit of an issue for those wanting really realistic layouts?
-Peter
In the real world most points have wooden sleepers but Peco do some fine scale code 75 points in concrete although they only seem to do medium LH/RH points like that.
When you have all you need then track laying is fast. Tracks, bits, glue, weights & tools!
Ah OK - I looked into it a bit after making that post and found their concrete-sleeper points. They look alright but it's a limited range, as you say.In the real world most points have wooden sleepers but Peco do some fine scale code 75 points in concrete although they only seem to do medium LH/RH points like that.
When you have all you need then track laying is fast. Tracks, bits, glue, weights & tools!
I have a magnifying headset with light and a track cutterIt’s not so quick in N gauge especially when you’re using Peco finescale!
ThanksWell done for the work you’ve put in to get this far @reddragon. The effort is there for all to see. Some of the trackwork looks beautiful actually.
Thanks
I just now how the substantial remodelling of the suburban station area to do, but first some scenery and point motors! Just need to work out how to wire up DCC points that activate signals too.
Hey you must have just missed my edit above!Any thoughts on the scenery then? Have you decided which area you’ll start on?
Hey you must have just missed my edit above!
Scenery, err yes where to start . . . . .. Be assured there will be pictures when I do
It will be somewhere left of the viaduct. I have 2 start location options, 1 LH end of viaduct & then viaduct, the other further to the leftWe must have posted at exactly the same time.
I am curious to see how you go about this, you’ve got a lot of area to cover but there’s no need to do loads at once. Just concentrate on one area for a bit until you’re happy with it I guess?
Blimey - that's quite the rakeFriday
I decided to do a haulage test today. My Bachmann class 70 was hauling the 20 wagon open rake so I added 11 tankers and it ran with 31 wagons. Next I tried adding 12 Container wagons. It was able to move a rake into the upper 30's but stalled. I replaced it with the Hattons class 66 and that successfully ran with 43 bogie wagons in tow. It was very heavy.
That = 11 TEA + 4 PTAs + 6 YGH + 4 JNA + 1 MBA + 5 MCA + 2 KFA + 6 FKA + 4 FEA = 43
The 66 runs very well with huge haulage capability. There is the slight 'hattons wobble' but nothing too serious.Blimey - that's quite the rake
Have you had (m)any issues with your Hattons 66? They can be quite temperamental from what I've heard.
-Peter
That's good to hear. I might look into getting one - but the chance of it having a wobble or other issues puts me off. The Dapol 52 also looks really nice.The 66 runs very well with huge haulage capability. There is the slight 'hattons wobble' but nothing too serious.
I had to get someone else to solder in the speaker as it was too tricky for me and that was an epic task including a heavy wiring job to get it in.
The 66 is currently my best loco and the Dapol Class 52 in second.