Cheers Pete,
.....so not only does it look good but it sounds good as well:D

I can imagine how fiddly it was. I am plucking up the courage to have a go at a similar fence in N gauge:eek:

Makerfield at night....
 

A few pics now that I've added the station lamps etc:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...tation_man.JPG
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...tation lit.JPG
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...tation_end.JPG
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...school lit.JPG

A link to a larger pic of the station end:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...tion large.JPG

next jobs: station signage, people, (gulp) signals..........

Looks really effective. Great.

Best wishes,

John.

Absolutely brilliant Pete.:)
You must be really pleased with the results.
I can't explain why but I think there is something really sinister about the character in the waiting room in your first shot. Could it be the Makerfield Mangler that the police were looking for in the 70's? :eek:

Makerfield Mangler
 

Could it be the Makerfield Mangler that the police were looking for in the 70's?

:) I thought exactly the same thing when I saw that shot on screen. Sounds like a good name for a railtour though, with a pair of Westerns or a Deltic at the head. I'm off to make a headboard.......

"The Makerfield Mangler"

The Mangler speaks!!!!
 

I'm the Makerfield Mangler,
And my hobby is Manglin'

I'm the sort of chap,
With which you shouldn't be a-tanglin'

The police, they searched across the nation.
And all the time, I was in Makerfield Station.

Mwuh-ha-ha-ha!!!!

:eek:

Breaking news on Railwayform.net
Can this be a confession after all these years?.....Did the Makerfield Mangler flee to Hull?.....stay tuned to this forum.:D

I didn't know you was a poet Trev, I think from now on all your posts should rhyme!

Adam

Don't tempt me Adam!! :D

I actually did make all of my posts rhyme when I was a member of a music board at one time. Not a member now, got kicked off for having the wrong political views. It was fun while it lasted though. :)

update (ish)
 

Not much progress to report over the "summer" - I've been mainly tweaking the electrics & running trains.

I did add astrip of scenery along the front edge & up to the school: (apologies for shaky pic)
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...vegetation.jpg

(I couldn't resist a Bachmann blue 47)
http://www.clockworkcommunications.co.uk/layout/47.jpg

And I've started on the area north of the station, beyond the road bridge. I cheated with a Knightwing signal box as it's such a decent model. Still not sure if there's gonna be an engine shed, (which would be really stretching reality as the nearest one was at Wigan Springs Branch and was considerably larger), or a small industrial plot served by sidings... I do like the idea of an engine shed though, & have installed isolated sections into the siding (another siding still to lay)

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c.../signalbox.jpg

- oops, roof's on back to front! (it's not glued on yet)

By the way, have any of you made an interior for the knightwing box? I looked at the Wills whitemetal kit, but £13 for something that won't really be seen seemed a bit much. Also not sure if it would fit. I was thinking of just making a dummy frame from styrene rods etc, and placing a figure in there. Any thoughts?

Looking good. Nice trackwork.

You can never do too much tweaking and test running Pete.:) It's always best to get it running perfectly before you progress onto the next stage.
With your scratchbuilding skills I'm sure you will have no problems and you will also be able to customise the lever-frame to suit your track layout and signalling.

Haha you're joking, right? I don't have the first clue how to do that. I'll knock something together for the time being though. :D

You have probalby answered this but have you got a picture of a track plan, I always like these in model magazines as it allows me to imagine imaginary routes for the trains!!

I think it's on page 2 of this thread tim, although it's pretty much just a tail chaser with a couple of sidings to be honest.
Actually, here's the link:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...out/layout.jpg

My NEXT layout, however... (due c. 2025)

Pete,
What you need is a copy of "British Railway Signalling" by G.M.Kichenside & Alan Williams. ISBN 0 7110 0898 1
I think it was last printed in 1978 but I have seen it quite a few times in secondhand bookshops.
It will answer all your signalling questions including the correct colours for your levers.:D

Thanks John. I'm off to look for that on ebay.

Found it. £3.51 inc postage as it stands. No other bidders yet.
1968 infrastucture would still be in situ in 1979 I presume?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...link:middle:uk

Yes, I would think so. There were probably some small changes during that period but nothing major. After electrification the signalling on the WCML in the "Makerfield" area was no different to that installed on the Manchester and Liverpool branches when they were electrified in the 1960's.
The copy that I have is the 1978 one and although it mentions some of the newer computerised systems that were just starting to be introduced at that time, it mainly deals with equipment that had been around for years.

Been meaning to update this for ages, finally got around to it.
Latest developments are the engine shed & signalbox area to the North of the road bridge. erm, bit of help from Photoshop with the backgrounds, I haven't managed to paint backscenes yet:

I built an interior for the signalbox from card & paperclips:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...oxinterior.jpg

which looks OK when the box is lit:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c.../signalbox.jpg


Here's a view of the shed with a couple of class 40s stabled:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...utfeb/shed.jpg

Looking as good as ever Pete!

I had a bit of a play with some other shots with backgrounds dropped in, Mrs. C has promised she will paint me some backscenes one day....

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...feb/bridge.JPG


Here's a couple of local punks waiting to board the local stopper to Liverpool to see some band at eric's?

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...tfeb/punks.JPG

The next area is daunting, it's a raised street with more factories, all of which are yet to be built.....

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...utfeb/next.JPG

Perhaps the raised street might be daunting, but with what you've done so far I don't think you need to worry too much.

I must be honest and say how much I admire your layout, it's exactly what I would like to have myself...(sigh)...one day! :)

Thanks Trev, it's good to get a bit of encouragement! I'm just about to start making a mockup of the first factory building for the raised section, I photographed this building today. I love these old red brick factories, this one unfortunately is pretty much derelict:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...rgefactory.JPG

bit of a challenge, eh?

What's preventing you from starting your layout btw? It's taken me years to get to a point where I had the space and the cash to be able to start, so I know how frustrating it can be. I hope you find a way clear to get started soon.

Thread resurrection shuffle
 

After trying unsuccessfully to post images or links to images here, I've uploaded a few to the model railways gallery. I'll try & do a progress update at the weekend.

Take care all

Pete

Cheers Pete. I look forward to your update.
I have added a few comments to the photos you posted in the gallery.

Good to get an update Pete. Have posted an idea on the photos.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

The saga continues
 

Okay, I suppose it's apparent from the photos, but I'll document it here anyway..

time has once again been sparse for various reasons, but I did eventually build a simplified version of the warehouse discussed above:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...l/DSCF2383.jpg

This was intended to sit at the end of the raised street area, but as soon as I placed it there it looked vastly wrong. Just too big, and visually it jarred. A shame because I was quite pleased it. I may find a place for it elsewhere...

So, I reverted to type and built a series of single-storey units, which I will hopefully eventually add detail to. Another time-consuming job was building the retaining walls & parapet for the footbridge, then painting it all. It still needs a bit of toning down and bits of foliage added, but I think generally it's looking OK.

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...l/DSCF2384.JPG

The most recent project has been building the footbridge which links the raised street with, well, whatever I decide to build on the foreground side. The bridge also needs weathering and some 70s-style grafitti will be added, also probably some figures walking across it.

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...l/DSCF2391.JPG

A few suggestions have been offered for the forteground area, thanks for those. The problem is, I like all the ideas, so the dilemma remains. A playing field area would be a challenge, as I've not really done green scenery to any degree, but I really fancy an a gasworks or factory scene, both of which will mean a lot more time is needed. hmm.....

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...l/DSCF2386.JPG

I also plan to extend the fiddle yard area, as the lifting hatch I built into the baseboards has never been used, so the existing sidings can be extended across it, and I may add a few more. It's all good fun though, just wish I could spend more time doing it. Pesky work etc!

Go for the playing field Pete..........if only to prove to them Southerners that we do have some greenery up 'ere:D

A dog track/speedway stadium would be an unusual feature but Hard to do i think. don't recall ever seeing one in a layout.
regards

Your new bits are looking good Pete, as they always do of course.

I wonder now about a gas works because I had forgotten your late 1970's theme. We were all converted to natural gas by then, so apart from a gasholder there wouldn't be a need for sidings of coal trucks and a little industrial shunter or two.

I like the idea of a dog track, or even a small stand and a scruffy pitch for those permanent residents of the Fouth Division - "Makerfield Wanderers" :p

Unibond Premier actually. And not exactly in pole position for the coming season either.

(click)

http://www.clockworkcommunications.co.uk/league.jpg

:)

I'm leaning towards the idea of a gas works though, I know it's not the most original, but I wasn't thinking of rail-served, just a few dilapidated buildings & tanks. There's still one on the way into Warrington (it was famously hit by the IRA in 1993 as it happens) complete with run-down social club etc. I can't resist a bit more urban industrial, sorry...

I walked past that social club the other day. They don't make 'em like that anymore :D

"Progress"
 

another busy year approaches its end, the modelling has been slow but steady. I've still not settled on a theme for the front area, but am now at the stage where I need to get it started. Here's the latest stuff.

A class 24 emerges from under yet another road bridge;
(this one forms the break between the newly extended sorting yard and the scenic part of the layout)
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...c/DSCF2579.JPG

The road deck of the aforementioned bridge:
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...c/DSCF2582.JPG
(I'm looking into some printed backscenes, the ones from International models look okay - of course I should have done the backscenes first, not last. I can see it being problematic trying to retro-fit...)

Yard lights added to the diesel depot:
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...c/DSCF2583.JPG

The posts on these were too short for my liking, so I tried to extend them with plastic tubing but made a bit of a mess of it, & they're not straight. So a bit more work needed...

... suppose I'll have to tackle that foreground area now. :rolleyes:

I still think a run down old gas works would work well in the foreground Pete. I like the lights, they look old and battered on the photo, but then a photo does not always show the whole story. You can see them in a better light and at different angles to what I see in the photo. I think the whole model is looking very good. Thanks for the updates.

Nice work Pete.
I know I was originally in favour of a playing field but I'm also erring on the side of a gasworks now. There would certainly be plenty of interesting detail for you to get stuck in to.

Think if you have playing fields, how often you'd be mowing lawns (ok if you have ride on mower)

Seth

I'm not so sure, I wonder how many yard lampposts were a bit wonky in real-life. So it looks better if things are not quite perfect. The pole leaning over is probably better than banana shaped though.

(Great to have an update from your layout construction)

Thinking on about the foreground bit, I've realised that I will need to reach across it to clean the track, and perform any other bits of maintenance, so tall buildings or lots of detail would be a bad idea as they would get snagged on my jumper sleeve, with the enevitable cursing to follow.

I'm now thinking about maybe a garage (mechanic's type) with interior detail & lighting etc. to the right of the footbridge, and a field to the left, which would give my niece Daisy somewhere to put the plastic cows when she's here (they usually get taken for rides in open wagons).

As this is the last major bit of space I have left to fill, I want to savour it really & get it right. Oh the pressure!

These are the things that keep me awake at night.......... :)

I still haven't addressed the signalling issue though. Would anyone be able to tell me what signals I need and where to position them? I got the book mentioned earlier in the thread, but to be honest it's beyond me.

Pete