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Nice idea upnick so here goes.
My chosen modelling theme is firmly set in GWR territory in the early Summer of 1946. Why 1946 ?? Cos that's when I was born. Why GWR ? Because I still have vivid childhood memories of those beautiful little green 0-6-0 s gently chuffing their way through the countryside with a couple of carriages tagging along for company and seeming in no great rush to get anywhere. Maybe my memories are selective but I believe life was a lot simpler then and certainly a lot less hectic. Trains were not just a way of getting rapidly from A to B. Although they were machines they seemed to live and breath and each had a character of its own. I don't think the same can be said for modern locos though someone is bound to feel differently
My layout, which is presently in the early stages of construction, is basically a folded dog-bone which will run around 3 sides of my study/railway room and give a continuous run of over 20 metres. (31/2 minutes at a scale speed of 50 mph.) A twin track spur leads from the main line to a 4 platform terminus plus goods yard, MPD etc. A single track branch line rises from the main line terminus line and again goes round 3 sides of the room, crossing a 1.5 metre long viaduct to a typical GWR branch line terminus which is based on Ashburton. Very predictable I know. There is also a small spur from the main line terminus to a gas works/coke plant. I have built a 1/5th scale model of the layout to help with the design of the topography and pictures of this are in my MRF Album for public viewing.
Loco control is by DCC using an ESU ECoS controller, though all pointwork will be operated from a conventional mimc panel with switches and LED indicators rather than by decoders. The panel was originally just a stud & probe type but is presently being rejigged into an all bells and whistles affair.
My present loco stock comprises the following:-
2 No. Class 14xx 0-4-2 Tanks (One attached to an autocoach fro branch line running)
1 No. Class 57xx 0-6-0 Pannier Tank
1 No. Class 87xx 0-6-0 Pannier Tank
1 No. Class 94xx 0-6-0 Pannier Tank
2 No. Class 45xx 2-6-2 Small Prairie Tanks (One with sloping tank tops and one with straight tank tops)
1 No. Class 61xx 2-6-2 Large Prairie Tank
1 No Collet 0-6-0 + Tender
1 No 4-6-0 King
1 No. 4-6-0 Castle
2 No. GWR Diesel Railcars (1 No. shortly due for conversion to a Parcels Express Railcar)
These are shortly to be joined by 2 of the new Ixion 4-6-0 Manors.
Future plans include the construction of a 2-8-0 kit which will fit onto a Graham Farish chassis and possible a Class 42xx.
Rolling stock is predominantly goods at the moment comprising almost 90 wagons of varying types but all correct for the time and place. Correct passenger stock is a bit thin on the ground at the moment (just 6 No. Collet carriages) as I am waiting for Dapol to do another production run (this is promised for later this year.) I have a few Choc. & Cream MkIs which have been re-liveried with GWR crests though I know no such things ever existed. I just wasn't sure if/when Dapol were going to manufacture another batch of Collets and I had to have something to put behind the King & Castle.
Well I think that just about sums up my layout.
Happy modelling,
Expat.
My chosen modelling theme is firmly set in GWR territory in the early Summer of 1946. Why 1946 ?? Cos that's when I was born. Why GWR ? Because I still have vivid childhood memories of those beautiful little green 0-6-0 s gently chuffing their way through the countryside with a couple of carriages tagging along for company and seeming in no great rush to get anywhere. Maybe my memories are selective but I believe life was a lot simpler then and certainly a lot less hectic. Trains were not just a way of getting rapidly from A to B. Although they were machines they seemed to live and breath and each had a character of its own. I don't think the same can be said for modern locos though someone is bound to feel differently
My layout, which is presently in the early stages of construction, is basically a folded dog-bone which will run around 3 sides of my study/railway room and give a continuous run of over 20 metres. (31/2 minutes at a scale speed of 50 mph.) A twin track spur leads from the main line to a 4 platform terminus plus goods yard, MPD etc. A single track branch line rises from the main line terminus line and again goes round 3 sides of the room, crossing a 1.5 metre long viaduct to a typical GWR branch line terminus which is based on Ashburton. Very predictable I know. There is also a small spur from the main line terminus to a gas works/coke plant. I have built a 1/5th scale model of the layout to help with the design of the topography and pictures of this are in my MRF Album for public viewing.
Loco control is by DCC using an ESU ECoS controller, though all pointwork will be operated from a conventional mimc panel with switches and LED indicators rather than by decoders. The panel was originally just a stud & probe type but is presently being rejigged into an all bells and whistles affair.
My present loco stock comprises the following:-
2 No. Class 14xx 0-4-2 Tanks (One attached to an autocoach fro branch line running)
1 No. Class 57xx 0-6-0 Pannier Tank
1 No. Class 87xx 0-6-0 Pannier Tank
1 No. Class 94xx 0-6-0 Pannier Tank
2 No. Class 45xx 2-6-2 Small Prairie Tanks (One with sloping tank tops and one with straight tank tops)
1 No. Class 61xx 2-6-2 Large Prairie Tank
1 No Collet 0-6-0 + Tender
1 No 4-6-0 King
1 No. 4-6-0 Castle
2 No. GWR Diesel Railcars (1 No. shortly due for conversion to a Parcels Express Railcar)
These are shortly to be joined by 2 of the new Ixion 4-6-0 Manors.
Future plans include the construction of a 2-8-0 kit which will fit onto a Graham Farish chassis and possible a Class 42xx.
Rolling stock is predominantly goods at the moment comprising almost 90 wagons of varying types but all correct for the time and place. Correct passenger stock is a bit thin on the ground at the moment (just 6 No. Collet carriages) as I am waiting for Dapol to do another production run (this is promised for later this year.) I have a few Choc. & Cream MkIs which have been re-liveried with GWR crests though I know no such things ever existed. I just wasn't sure if/when Dapol were going to manufacture another batch of Collets and I had to have something to put behind the King & Castle.
Well I think that just about sums up my layout.
Happy modelling,
Expat.
