In need of some tablets to stop me doing this...

Very kindly, Neil Smith has built eight Lanarkshire Models buffer stops for Rospeath Lane, one was to be installed on the short stub siding at the front of the layout. Then in September/November, after Scaleforum, this siding was going to be extended to run alongside the running shed. In coming to install this last buffer stop, I realised that in lifting and reinstalling it, the risk of damaging it would be considerable.

I then wondered if I could win enough back of the 18.83 square feet from the scenic area at the front to extend the short stub siding. If so, I'd only need to install the buffer stop once. Unfortunately, the buffer stop would not be seen as it will be hidden behind the left-hand vertical proscenium. It would be a tremendous shame to hide Neil's valued work.

This brings me to why I need those tablets....

While building the layout, I've realised that the slope up to the coaling stage is on the steep side. Must admit this has been pointed out before, but to squeeze it in I had to shorten its length, so increasing the slope. In trials, a Pannier does struggle to push four full 16T minerals up the slope. OK, I could fettle 4 wagons and a loco to overcome this, but I'm becoming more dissatisfied with the look of this slope. The proximity of the coal sidings at a level just below the height of the coaling stage road would, in reality I think, this would mean the coaling stage would have been fed directly from the coal sidings. This alteration was again planned for post Scaleforum.

In making this alteration, it would:

1) Dramatically reduce the slope up to the coaling stage so remove the need to fettle rolling stock specially for working the Coaling stage.
2) Allow the coaling stage road, and coal sidings to be operated separately from and not interfere with locomotives accessing or departing.
3) The current coaling stage turnout could be used to create a short siding for a loco or full ash wagon storage.
4) Neil's final buffer stop could then be installed where it can be readily seen at the end of this short siding.

This then brings me full circle to what buffer stop to use on the extended siding running alongside the running shed. Well, as Lanarkshire Models buffer stops are not available anymore, I could easily construct a sleeper buffer stop.

If you're confused, the images below should help to explain the rambling description above.

Amended track plan

 

The above picture shows where the short stub siding currently ends, also the space to the left of the Running Shed that I'm proposing to extend the siding into.

The area hatched pink is the original area that will be painted black, therefore not part of the 18.83 scenic area. Believe it or not, the area hatched blue is roughly the same area that I'm infringing on at the side of the Running Shed.

Above is the more dramatic alteration I'm proposing to do withe the coal sidings and coaling stage road. 

These alterations are still being thought about and do depend on how it might affect the already installed wiring underneath. I realise there will be more wiring to install, including a change to the control panel, which will add to the time these alterations will take. BUT the more I think about it I feel it makes more sense to do these alterations now before I start on scenic contours and detail, rather than in three months time then undoing scenic work I'd completed just for Scaleforum. It may well affect the finished state of the layout for the September exhibition but I feel I'd be a lot happier with how the layout will look and operate.

If no one can supply those tablets to stop me do the above, these alterations may will be a goer me thinks...

Coaling Stage Staircase

Today I've come back to working on the Coaling Stage and extension beyond. First tacks to completed was installing the railings around the extension. These are Ratio's 144 Hand Railings and work out at around 6' 6" high which when a ModulU figure is placed behind them they do look about the correct height. 

Part painted ModelU figure against the Ratio railings

Which is more than can be said for the staircase supplied with the Coaling Stage kit.....

Staircase as supplied with the kit

Another part of the staircase that doesn't look right is the thickness of the railings.

Amended Staircase

Once I'd removed the existing handrails and reduced the height of the posts, I'd started to replicate the two rails per side. That was until browsing "A Pictorial Record of Great Western Architecture" when I noticed the staircases on the Oxley and Oswestry coaling stages hand only the handrail. I certainly feel it looks a lot better.

Runnng Shed doorway

I started to build the Running Shed six years ago and have placed in on and off the layout many times including having Locos in its doorways. In the last few days I've only just noticed how high the doorways are! In looking through my WR Engine Shed books, and especially photos I've taken while visiting Didcot, I'm now seeing this as a problem.

Didcot

It's amazing that I have only just noticed this but how to solve this? It has not helped that I've decided to higher the base of the building my 2 mm so I can install hard standing up to rail hieght within the Running Shed...

It's too late in the construction to reduce the wall height, so I feel my only option is to add more louvres/grilles and then modify the doors to suit. 

I did contemplate cutting out the louvres/grilles from the rear doorways, as these will not be seen, but felt I'd not be able to cut them out without damaging them. So unless I can find some similar louvres its down to drawing some and having them laser cut.

In the meantime I can still continue with building the running shed with completing the roof and offices, installing lights, and also the hard standing within.

15 weeks to go

Only 15 weeks until Scaleforum… Blimey… and I’ve just replied in the positive to the invitation, so I really do need to pull my finger out. Like possibility many entries in the Challenge, I still have much work to do.

Treatment for a health issue is making me very tired and is therefore reducing the time I have available for Rospeath Lane. This has made me realise I'll not be able to achieve all I was hoping before Scaleforum. So, to reduce stress and achieve a presentable model I've decided to delay building the lifting shed and shed office/bothy. These buildings can be a later addition. Also, realistically, I'll not have all the locomotives available to represent my envisage timetable. But with that said, I'm hopeful it will be worth taking to High Wycombe in September.

All track-work is in place with many heatwave induced issues solved and the turntable being installed and working, has made me feel a major milestone has been achieved. This has enabled me to get back to looking at the buildings. The Coaling Stage and surrounding structures being the first. What had been holding me back painting the buildings is how to depict them in the latter days of the steam era. The water tank had also given me an issue, as it would seem that by the 1950s most had corrugated roofs, whereas the Timber Track model looks to represent sheet metal. This made me wonder, I should I replace the roof with corrugated sections or paint it as supplied? The thought of ripping the roof off the water tower, along with everything else I have to do before Scaleforum, did not seem a great idea. This may be something I come back to after September.

Coaling stage building group being painted

It was very easy painting the brickwork in a pristine condition, but to then distress it took some thought and nerve. I think my decision to leave the water tank as supplied in the kit has worked out quite well. I feel they are starting to look how these buildings might have looked in the late 1950s.

Recently I've read that the track beyond the coaling stage would have been on a slight slope. This was to allow the coaling stage staff to roll the full wagons under gravity into the coaling stage. Hmm...a cunning plan has formed in my grey cells….so a slight slope has been added on top of the brick extension.

Little old me

There are a few minor details to add before installing these buildings on the layout. Primarily, paint myself along with the coal tubs for me to push. This is a cameo I thought would help to add a little life to the coaling stage. A couple of years ago, on a trip down to Wales,  I popped into Modelu on the way home. 

Other remaining details that need adding are a few coal heaps within the coaling stage, install railings along the brick extension, construct the water tank access ladder and add the water tank vents. I may also add some guttering and downpipes to the coaling shelter... All that will then remain to to do is to lay the track, and ballast before embedding the building in position within the layout.

I'll then continue constructing the Running shed.

Turntable - Bench Test

Well, I'm in shock...the MERG turntable kit i've built works first time...it will be installed in postion on the layout during the next couple  days.

Slow progress

Progress has been slow during the last few months. This is because of a number of reasons, one of which has been my poor track building, including chasing my tail with wiring problems. In the past, until testing Rospeath Lane's track, I have enjoyed building track but because of the time constraints for this challenge, I think I didn't take enough care in its construction. It has taken much time to correct all the tight spots through the turnouts and even with some sections of the plain track along with infuriating wiring problems. On more than one occasion, I even considered ripping all the track up and starting again... The phrase "more haste, less speed" comes to mind...

However, eventually I converted two locomotives to DCC with P4 drop-in wheels to test the track. My thinking is if these two locos can navigate the turnouts and plain rack, compensated locos should not have too much of a problem running on the layout.Well, that is my theory.

Coal storage sidings

Coaling stage and ash pit tracks

Running shed tracks

Track running through the coaling stage and onto the extension beyond is still to be installed. The delay here is I have been contemplating installing lighting and thought this would be easier on the bench than when the buildings are in position on the layout.

As far as DCOs are concerned, I've installed one which is working well apart from the LED on the control panel. This small issue needs to be solved before I complete the rest.

The next major hurdle is installing the turntable. I have built the MERG control board and it's passed the first electrical tests. Bench testing needs to be completed with the stepper motor and switches before installing within the turntable well.