|
France and Belgium
Anyone interested in or model french or belgian railways?
|
Quote:
Please tell us about your modelling. I assume that you work in HO. The Swiss layout that I am building is N-scale. |
Not so much French railways but I'm slowly building a live steam 020 Decauville loco for 45 mm gauge. This project has cause a change to the garden layout with all the 600 mm radius curves having to be re-worked to 1000 mm. Also under construction is a Hudswell Clarke loco of similar dimensions both types of loco were used in the trenches during WW1 so I suppose providing I last long enough I should add a typical German loco to complete a 'set' but of course I should not forget to include an IC engined armoured Simplex, Baldwyns however will not fit the garden so the US will be left out. Perhaps another visit to Leighton Buzzard is needed for the Simplex idea.
John (G) |
I model HO and like Swiss too, have made many visits to Switzerland on my free passes and my late father was a swiss fan.
|
I quite like Belgian railways, not so much as potential modelling projects, but more for the fact that they remind me of BR in the '70's.
|
I agree with that Trev but its all going plastic over there now with hardly any of the older hauled stock and virtually no diesel haulage, the new trains do put us in the dark ages though.
|
Not so much French railways, but the Channel Tunnel.
|
I built a model railway for taking around to exhibitions several years ago and decided on Belgian, as I was visiting the country to chase trains on a regular basis at the time! I scratchbuilt all the catenary for a main line, and also had a non-electrified section to industries, operated by diesels.
It was the best layout I ever built and was highly enjoyable to operate. Unfortunately it had to go as I had nowhere to store it between exhibitions. :( But I do still have some photos of the layout. :) |
Hi Alan,
Do you mind me asking, when you exhibit a Belgian layout do you get rivet counters the same as we do at our club. I am not being flippant, I just wondered if you have the same problems. Though on a smaller scale. Having been on the receiving end of some ridiculous comments from visitors to shows we have been to, I wondered if it happened to Continental Modellers. Paul. |
Hi Paul,
Yes, we all get some wierd or nitpicky comments! Fortunately, when I was exhibiting the Belgian layout, not many picky comments were made, as no-one knew anything about Belgium Railways. ;) Mostly, the comments were very favourable, which made it very satisfying. :) Alan |
Quote:
|
Will see what I can do John. They will be scans of prints, so not up to today's digital standards. ;)
|
Quote:
|
Here are some not very good scans from not very good prints.........
The layout name board http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/forums/semange1.jpg The layout was in effect, two layouts. The electrified main lines were at a lower level and not connected to the upper level which was a diesel worked line to an industrial area. The freight line crossed over the main lines on a girder bridge. http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange13.jpg A class 18 on a Eurocity service passes some of the scratchbuilt signals. http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange52.jpg |
One of the main activities was the stone loading operation. 12 wagon trains of empty hoppers arrived and the loco moved to a headshunt. Then the class 80 shunter took 4 wagons at a time to the loader, which was scratchbuilt in brass, and had an internal conveyor belt to deliver stone to the wagons.
Here, empty hoppers are arriving behins a class 60. http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange31.jpg Here the shunter positions the wagons for loading. The stone can be seen falling into the hopper. http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange54.jpg http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange53.jpg The loaded train departing behind a class 59 http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange19.jpg |
Another industry was a woodworking plant which produced pallets, roof trusses, etc.
http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange19.jpg http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange42.jpg http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange17.jpg http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange19.jpg |
The three-bay blue building seen in photographs was a metal fabrications company. This allowed raw materials to be brought in and finished products taken out.
Also there was a Cement Plant. This was discharged into lorries for local delivery. http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange33.jpg A large storage and distribution depot provided more rail activity. http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange44.jpg http://www.andersleymodelrail.co.uk/.../semange57.jpg |
|
|
|
|
|
I like it Alan.....plenty of industry to provide interest.
How many operators did you need? Was the mainline a continuous circuit? If so I assume that you could get by single-handed if you left the mainline trains to look after themselves. Thanks for posting. |
Yes John, the main lines were continuous, and the curves were canted so 'exhibition' speeds could be maintained. ;)
Usually had two operators, one for each level, so that the main line trains could be alternated. But was at times single-manned. It was a great layout to operate and I wish I had not sold it now. :( |
Hi Alan,
That looks great. Thanks for sharing those with us. The layout looks busy, as we say at our club, and we like those sort of layouts. They always attract lots of people at exhibitions. Paul. |
Thanks Paul. It was well received at exhibitions, for a 'foreign' layout. :rolleyes: The main lines gave continuous action for the kids (of all ages), and the industry shunting was interesting for others (especially me)! Kept me happily shunting for the two day exhibitions. :)
|
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:15. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.