A Winter project

[Tony]

I went to the model railway exhibition on August 13th 2011 in Plymouth. I was drawn to one tiny layout; "Polpendra" (see Dec 2011 RM) which gave me inspiration to build my own layout. I live in a tiny one bed flat where space is at a premium.
I decided that I had space for a layout 5' x 1' with a 15" cassette extension. The basboard was built to my specifications by a local carpenter. Several track layouts were sketched out when Peco announced their 3 way point in N gauge - the answer to many prayers. Track was pinned directly onto the baseboard using veneer pins, holes being drilled for point actuating pins.
The photos show progress of stage 1.

[swisstrains]

It's good to see that you haven't been put off by lack of space, Tony.
Far too many people miss out on hours of enjoyment simply because they don't have the space to build that massive dream layout and won't settle for anything else.
I have been an N-Gauge modeller for more than 30 years and will be following your progress with interest.

[DSY011]

Looks good Tony, You can do a lot with 'N' gauge in a small space. I bult a 182cm X 100cm layout which fitted under my daughters bed. I still have all my rolling stock but my eyes are now too old to see them so I have moved onto '00' gauge. This is a list of my locos, many of them only tested, but not run-in. I also still have 11 'N' coaches and 52 wagons.

My 'N' Gauge Locomotives Make And Product NumberType
BR 4F 44143 Graham Farish 372-052 0-6-0 + Tender
BR 4F 44143 Graham Farish 372-052 0-6-0 + Tender
BR Class 14XX Tank 1466 Dapol ND-003 0-4-2T
BR Class 2 Ivett 2MT 46400 MiniTrix 2039 2-6-0 + Tender
BR Class 3 Ivett 3MT 41234 TMiniTrix 2040 2-6-2T
BR Class 3F Jinty 47483 Graham Farish 372-201 0-6-0T
BR Class 3F Jinty 47593 Graham Farish 372-201 0-6-0T
BR Class 45XX 4554 Dapol ND019 2-6-2T
BR Class 45XX 4571 Dapol ND024 2-6-2T
BR Class 4MT Tank 80038 Graham Farish 372-527 2-6-4T
BR Class 5 MT 44896 Graham Farish 372-126 4-6-0 + Tender
BR Class 57XX Pannier 4672 Graham Farish 1125 0-6-0T
BR Class 61XX 5136 Graham Farish 371-977 0-6-0T
BR Class 8F 48045 Graham Farish 372-151 2-8-0 + Tender
BR Class 94XX Pannier Graham Farish 371-954 0-6-0 PT
BR Class 94XX Pannier 9436 Graham Farish 371-952 0-6-0PT
BR Class Black 5 44896 Graham Fraish 372-126 4-6-0 + Tender
BR Class Castle "Eastnor Castle" 7004 Graham Farish (Bristolian set) 4-6-0 + Tender
BR Class Ivatt Tank 41234 Dapol ND-061A 2-6-2T
BR class J94ST Graham Farish 372-501 0-6-0ST
BR Class Jubilee "Galatea" Graham Farish 372-475 4-6-0 + Tender
BR Class M7 Tank 30031 Dapol ND-025 0-4-4T
BR Collett Class Goods 3216 Peco NL27 0-6-0 + Tender
BR Midland Crab 42932 Graham Farish 372-225 2-6-0 + Tender
BR Q1 33009 Dapol ND075B 0-6-0 + Tender
DB Class 80 Tank 80-033 Arnold Series 2 0-6-0
GWR Class 14XX 1425 Dapol ND001 0-4-2T
GWR class 45XX Prairie 4523 Dapol ND-014 2-6-2T

Deisel Locos Maker Type
Railcar No 21 Graham Farish 371-626A Bo-Bo
BR Class 04 D2264 Graham Farish 371-050A 0-6-0
BR Class 08 13029 Graham Farish 371 008 0-6-0
BR Class 20 D8144 Graham Farish 8204 Bo-Bo
BR Class 37 D6707 Graham Farish 371-451 Co-Co
BR Class 37 D6826 Graham Farish 371-453 Co-Co
BR Class 40 D306 Graham Farish 371-175 Co-Co
BR Class 47 D1500 Graham Farish 371-825 Co-Co

[Silver Fox Phil]

Nice looking layout Syd.
Regards
Phil

[Tony]

Nice layout Syd, you have a great loco roster. My layout is VERY loosely based on a GW branch terminus in the 50's and I have bought 7 small locos but I am using rolling stock bought over 30 years ago. I will post part 2 of my saga later.

[Tony]

Winter project part 2;
Fitting the point motors caused a few problems, the new 3 way points need both a conversion plate and a switch fitting for each motor. The layout being so small meant using standard wiring (Dcc is not cost effective) and the planned one or two locos in steam didn't require any sectioning.
I first tried wiring to give routesetting but That was when I discovered electrical feedback where one point was trying to move both ways at once! I eventually finalised the wiring (it took about a fortnight) and got everything working using only 5 switches for 7 points.
With extensive testing being done to ensure smooth running, the track was ballasted but that is in part 3. I am on holiday until 24th Feb in Spain so part 3 will be delayed.

[Madcaravanner]

Originally Posted by Tony

Nice layout Syd, you have a great loco roster. My layout is VERY loosely based on a GW branch terminus in the 50's and I have bought 7 small locos but I am using rolling stock bought over 30 years ago. I will post part 2 of my saga later.

Great roster indeed and at today's prices I do hope he's got his insurance up to date. With most loco's now costing average £100 there's a lot of money tied up there - far more than I can afford these days

[John H-T]

It looking good Tony. Please keep us up to date with progress.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[DSY011]

Gary
I have quite a lot of kit now, but no layout as yet. As a result I'm only insured for individual items. When I have a layout, the Insurance Co will class it as a single item and cover me for the lot. I have had 4 brokers give me the same infomation.

19 ‘00’ Buildings
20 Buses, Tractors etc
42 Cars
45 ‘00’Coaches
28 ‘00’ Diesel Locos
20 Lorries
94 Wagons
46 ‘00’ Steam Locos
41 Vans
08 Miscellaneous

28 ‘N’ gauge Steam locos
08 ‘N’ gauge Diesel Locos
11 ‘N’ gauge Coaches
51 ‘N’ gauge Wagons

1 ‘0’ gauge Diesel Lo

[Madcaravanner]

Originally Posted by DSY011

Gary
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I have quite a lot of kit now, but no layout as yet. As a result I'm only insured for individual items. When I have a layout, the Insurance Co will class it as a single item and cover me for the lot. I have had 4 brokers give me the same infomation.

Who's Gary

I had this argument with the insurance over the wife's jewellery (she's got some Italian stuff which is Oh Yes and some AAAA Tanzanite which is in value), Check the replacement prices yourself and TELL them what you want them covered for OK these items will cost more but if just one or two bits go missing they may not want to pay up or put the excess so high it doesn't cover the cheaper items which are still important.

I used to have a lot of Camera gear too when I was younger and had the same problem got one lens damaged beyond repair but found out the excess was more than the replacement cost and when I actually checked ALL the prices only the Camera body was actually covered because of the excess.
So now I am very cautious when it comes to negotiating new policies.