Little Salkeld
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Thank you for reviving this thread. It has been a long while since I posted an update and I don't really know why. It may be because I have become somewhat disillusioned with the layout due to the number of problems I have had with it. I am beginning to think that it may have been too much of an ambitious project. That said, I have been making progress with scenic work on the side opposite the station. Here is a view of one corner.
https://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...i&img=21505
I realised that a main line descending into a tunnel was unrealistic so I have put the ruined castle here as a reason for it. The idea is that the railway company that built the line were not allowed to demolish it and couldn't easily go round it, so decided to tunnel under it. (I wonder whether there are any real examples of this.)
I will post this now and come back with more when I have checked that I can get pictures posted here correctly.
https://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...i&img=21505
I realised that a main line descending into a tunnel was unrealistic so I have put the ruined castle here as a reason for it. The idea is that the railway company that built the line were not allowed to demolish it and couldn't easily go round it, so decided to tunnel under it. (I wonder whether there are any real examples of this.)
I will post this now and come back with more when I have checked that I can get pictures posted here correctly.
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6,635 Posts
Your locos will love the long sweeping bends, so keep up the good work
QUOTE (Robert Stokes @ 23 Feb 2021, 15:54) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>...I realised that a main line descending into a tunnel was unrealistic...
Not necessarily. The GNR main line descends steadily into the Thames valley on the last 20 miles approaching Kings Cross, but has several tunnels, as it encounters the remnants of escarpments at near right angles to its route. These weren't quite the landforms the Midland encountered in its Pennine adventure, admitted...
Not necessarily. The GNR main line descends steadily into the Thames valley on the last 20 miles approaching Kings Cross, but has several tunnels, as it encounters the remnants of escarpments at near right angles to its route. These weren't quite the landforms the Midland encountered in its Pennine adventure, admitted...
Hi Robert Nice to see your layout making progress i can understand your frustration i think most on hear get that at some point . But looking at your pictures your making some good progress to me this is looking good. I agree with Alan it's your layout and it's not that your going to on tour with it. As long as you get enjoyment from it then all else is irrelevant anyone can pick holes in the best of model layouts most have to make compromises in any case due to space and there lies the crux. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing. Jim
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Well said PAPPA.B
Julian
Julian
It's not just where the engineers went into a tunnel that counts but where they aimed to come out at the other end. There are a couple of tunnels by Bank Hall on Merseyside that begin near the surface at one end and descend to emerge not o far below the surface at the other end. I think the line descends toward some of the remaining docks.
At Crewe the Independent Lines from Salop Goods descend a little (They're already fairly low compared to the station lines) go into shallow tunnels and climb back up to meet their respective main lines at the other (Down) end. In the opposite direction the Up Independents definitely burrow down to their tunnels. On the Liverpool lines the common level is achieved close to Crewe Coalyard Box.
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At Crewe the Independent Lines from Salop Goods descend a little (They're already fairly low compared to the station lines) go into shallow tunnels and climb back up to meet their respective main lines at the other (Down) end. In the opposite direction the Up Independents definitely burrow down to their tunnels. On the Liverpool lines the common level is achieved close to Crewe Coalyard Box.
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Thank you all for the comments. They have really cheered me up. I will now show you some more of the progress made. This time I will try to get the actual pictures posted here. First a longer shot that includes the castle corner.
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O.K. I've got the hang of moving pictures here so I'll carry on from the last post. Next a view looking the other way.
Now the next section to be worked on.
And here is the piece of scenic matting torn to size and just placed in position. (I stuck it down yesterday but haven't yet photographed it.)
I said "torn to size" because I find that tearing the edge from the back does two things. Firstly it gives the edge a realistic wavy shape. (Grass doesn't naturally grow with a straight edge. Secondly the last few millimetres get a chamfer that means it blends in with the ground next to it.
I haven't made much progress on the other side of the layout as I can't finish the goods yard on the up line until I get the bullhead double slip. I have reconstructed the down platform as the one from the previous layout was about 2mm too tall and its curvature was not quite correct. I will remake the up platform when the weather is good enough to work outside and the sunlight is good enough for me to see what I'm doing.
I promise not to leave it too long before the next update.
Robert
Now the next section to be worked on.
And here is the piece of scenic matting torn to size and just placed in position. (I stuck it down yesterday but haven't yet photographed it.)
I said "torn to size" because I find that tearing the edge from the back does two things. Firstly it gives the edge a realistic wavy shape. (Grass doesn't naturally grow with a straight edge. Secondly the last few millimetres get a chamfer that means it blends in with the ground next to it.
I haven't made much progress on the other side of the layout as I can't finish the goods yard on the up line until I get the bullhead double slip. I have reconstructed the down platform as the one from the previous layout was about 2mm too tall and its curvature was not quite correct. I will remake the up platform when the weather is good enough to work outside and the sunlight is good enough for me to see what I'm doing.
I promise not to leave it too long before the next update.
Robert
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Here are some more pictures. First, the scenic matting up to the tunnel is finished. (Of course there's still the higher part in the corner to do.)
Next a picture of my revised control panel. I decided that it would be better to separate the lever frame from the rest. I also decided to replace the lever switches with rotary ones. these not only chain the points to whichever track is selected but they also send power to the push buttons which energise the dead sections on which engines stand. (This was included after a couple of times when I mistakenly energised a track and started the train having forgotten to change the points. I can now only energise a dead section if the points are correctly set.) The LEDs are connected to infra red sensors which light up if a track has an engine on it.
Finally the lever frame. (I'm a bit ashamed of the spaghetti appearance of the wiring.)
There may now be several weeks until I have made sufficient progress to report on it.
Robert
Next a picture of my revised control panel. I decided that it would be better to separate the lever frame from the rest. I also decided to replace the lever switches with rotary ones. these not only chain the points to whichever track is selected but they also send power to the push buttons which energise the dead sections on which engines stand. (This was included after a couple of times when I mistakenly energised a track and started the train having forgotten to change the points. I can now only energise a dead section if the points are correctly set.) The LEDs are connected to infra red sensors which light up if a track has an engine on it.
Finally the lever frame. (I'm a bit ashamed of the spaghetti appearance of the wiring.)
There may now be several weeks until I have made sufficient progress to report on it.
Robert
Like the lighting over the 'castle corner', very reminiscent of walking the Pennine Way in a long ago summer. Much cloud and heavy rain, but when the sun broke through there were powerful 'spot lighting' effects, sweeping across the uplands; and you have it right there!
To echo others, that's looking very fine indeed altogether.
To echo others, that's looking very fine indeed altogether.
Hi Robert Looking fine i like the castle ruin and the way you have blended the your scenics with the backscene. Always impresses me when people get this right and can make or break the overall look. I also like the curved back scene i was not sure about this as i thought i would use this space to fill with buildings and or trees but what you have is very effective. Anyway looking good. Jim
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I realise that it's been months since I posted an update on my layout but here's the next one.
I have continued the scenery around the door end of the layout.
![20200]()
Amd then across the front of the station area.
![20201]()
You may be able to see that the replacement down platform is complete whereas the up platform is still a work in progress.
I have also been working on the far end.
![20202]()
This is not quite finished as the left-hand wall needs its capping stones. The position of the rear plate girder bridge is an attempt at a con trick. I want to give the impression that the lower track runs straight on whereas it really turns sharply to the right. This con trick may not come off very well.
You may also be able to see in these pictures that I have been able to finish attaching all of the green facias over the wiring at the front (but the sawn tops need touching up).
Of course I, like many others, am still waiting for Peco to produce the bullhead double slip before I can get on with the goods yard (although I understand the reasons for the delay). I am thinking about putting in a FB double slip as a temporary measure to be replaced later.
That's all for now. I will try not to wait so long before the next update.
I have continued the scenery around the door end of the layout.
Amd then across the front of the station area.
You may be able to see that the replacement down platform is complete whereas the up platform is still a work in progress.
I have also been working on the far end.
This is not quite finished as the left-hand wall needs its capping stones. The position of the rear plate girder bridge is an attempt at a con trick. I want to give the impression that the lower track runs straight on whereas it really turns sharply to the right. This con trick may not come off very well.
You may also be able to see in these pictures that I have been able to finish attaching all of the green facias over the wiring at the front (but the sawn tops need touching up).
Of course I, like many others, am still waiting for Peco to produce the bullhead double slip before I can get on with the goods yard (although I understand the reasons for the delay). I am thinking about putting in a FB double slip as a temporary measure to be replaced later.
That's all for now. I will try not to wait so long before the next update.
I feel the effect will be improved if you have dense vegetation near completely obscuring the view under the girder bridge, then there is less information about the continuing direction of the double track line. The blend to the 'distant' back scene is good, and should add to the perception that the line runs off into the distance.
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Good idea. I will certainly try putting some bushes beside the right-hand wall. However I still think that the curvature before the line gets to the bridge rather gives the game away.
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I thought I would show you a two minute video of my two latest acquisitions at Little Salkeld. The Hornby DMU stops at the down platform while the Bachmann class 40 pulls an express train through the up platform.
Actually it's not that good. There is quite a wait at the beginning before anything happens and I haven't yet got the hang of stopping the DMU correctly. You do get a good idea of the sound in the DMU.
Actually it's not that good. There is quite a wait at the beginning before anything happens and I haven't yet got the hang of stopping the DMU correctly. You do get a good idea of the sound in the DMU.
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