Track Plan v15

Another updated plan, I’ve now reached v15

Too much pondering and not enough physical modelling you may think. “The Devil is in the detail” and I may be overthinking some aspects of this plan. In the end I hope I will have thought of most of the gremlins that might creep into this project.

In looking at the previous plan, I started to contemplate the proposed signal box diagram and the comments made. This brought me around to asking what happens beyond the bridge (scenic break) on the left. The realisation then struck me that the large expanse of the bridges across the 6 tracks exiting stage left would not provide a very good scenic break. Even with well placed trees the exit would still be difficult to disguise.

After a couple of more drawings the below plans should help to resolve both of my above thoughts.

Plan 1

Plan 1 is the starting point and one that I’ll be using at home. As space is at a premium in the ‘Man Cave’ my intention is to use cassettes in the fiddle yard area while at home. The spot heights have been included to give me an idea of inclines which will create the different track levels. The Engine Shed entrance is a concern but as long as I keep it all in the same plane (with no twist in the track) all should be OK. Another question raised by a reader has been where is the coal stack? It seems coal stacks were not photographed very often especially in the Cornwall area. I do have a recollection of seeing a photo of a coal stack built over tracks somewhere but currently cannot find it. So I’ve suggested this might have been the case in this restricted Engine Shed layout. The Warehouse at the back is still up for debate. The building is intended to help hide the exit of Rospeath Lane at the back of the layout, and my intention is to base the building on the Penzance Workhouse, just have to see if this works out.

 

Plan 2

Initially this plan was drawn with the purpose of designing the signal box diagram with all track work beyond the bridges being fictitious. I then realised the plan could future proof this project. What if I should ever get the opportunity to run full length trains along the main line? If so I’d need larger fiddle yards at each end. Plan 2 would allow all three tracks access to a traverser on the left. At stage right a few trees should help to hide the mouse hole through the back-screen but Stage left the expanse of bridges makes hiding the exit impossible. I then remembered seeing Paul Marshall-Potter’s Albion Yard layout at a Newark show. He cleverly extended a row of cottages into the fiddle yard area which negated the use of a hole in the wall type scenic break. Borrowing his idea should help me disguise the exit beyond the bridges on the left

The photo above has been taken from a reasonable distance (about 1 foot) from the baseboard edge opposite the Running Shed. The PVA Tub is supporting a piece of foam board where the scenic break will be, with the back scene running in front of the pin board behind the cottage mock-ups. As trees in this area of Cornwall can be on the stunted side I’ve brought the warehouse back onto the layout. The warehouse may be a little far-fetched for this location but I don’t think trees would do the trick here.

For now I’ll be working towards Plan 1 keeping in mind the creation of a jigsaw piece for the interchangeable area with Plan 2. When viewed from the front at an exhibition this area would be hidden behind a movable/hinged display/information screen.

One of my main concerns about this project has been the depth of the baseboards especially the right hand one being 3’ 6” deep. Creating the full size mock-up has convinced me that I’ll be able to cope. After all while building the layout I’ll be able to turn the boards around. Once built, I’ll have to stand on a tool box to reach but it seems it will be manageable.

Track plan to fit location

Unfortunately I’d designed the track plan before looking for a location and though the location I've settled on (see the Bask Story Page) fits my thoughts on lie of the land, it’s not a true representation of how the track might have been laid out. So I went back to the drawing board and now think I’ve come up with a new track plan.

For me this one feels right. I think the addition of the main line gives the layout a location and purpose. In achieving the above I’ve unfortunately had to increase the total scenic baseboard size to 9’ 6” long by 3’6” wide at its widest. I know this will create issues if it is ever invited to an exhibition. This was something I struggled with during planning as I couldn’t create a plan I was happy with that would be easy to transport. Why should I compromise on what I what to achieve for events that will be a long time in the future and may never happen. For the moment I’ve also dropped the idea of a Diesel Maintenance shed, although the line between the Running Shed and mainline is still there.  It may depend on Class 22 allocation for the Sennen and St. Just routes.

It’s not a true representation of the location but it has enabled me to position the model in an area where I can put some meaning to its existence. Also I think I live far enough away to duck the wrath of Kernow folk. The river is to represent the Red River that runs through this area. Overall the location seems to fit with my initial idea of how I want to present the model, with land sloping up away from a river and scrub land. The Red River looks to be more like a large stream rather than the size I was initially intending but will still give the visual effect I’m after.  Unfortunately I’ve had to curve the main line to achieve the layout but think visually this adds to the scene.  Access and departure from the shed will be via a complex bit of track work which I admit may be not prototypical. My excuse is I wanted to use some of the main line to give added interest in operation, otherwise the main line would be superfluous. In the space I have available the track work is the best solution I can come up with (note this is v11). My initial Signal Box diagram below should help explain track formation. I still need to get this ratified by someone more knowledgeable.

 

The rest of the points within the engine shed area would have been operated by shed staff using levers next to the points. This will entail two lever frames on the model, one for the signal box and one for the shed area. Interlocking the signal box lever frame would be something I’d also like to do but it is probably for the future.

 

Using the above gradient diagram and an OS map I’ve calculated that at this location the main line gradient is 1:103 (from left to right on my track plan). On the model this will result in a rise of 28 mm on the main line from left to right. The entrance to the Engine shed will be at approximately 7mm up from the left and, apart from the coal wagon sidings, will be level throughout the shed area. This will make the Running Shed below the level of the mainline by about 21mm on the right. The coal wagon siding will be higher than the rest of the shed area but I’ll decide on how much as the build/planning progresses. My aim to have subtle and believable changes in track levels that reflect the slopes of the surrounding land.

Unfortunately since the reduction in size of my ‘Man Cave’ I will only, if I leave the door open, have room for a full length fiddle yard on the left. On the right the mainline runs into a wall so running trains along the mainline will not be possible…but who knows what the future may hold? The overall idea is the three sidings at the front will give me an excuse to either display wagons or coaches, or enable some shunting entertainment. The mainline will be used for locos arriving and departing under the control of the signal box. All engine movements (arrivals/departures) will be scheduled via the creation of a timetable. for trains arriving and departing from Penzance and thous that might have run on the fictitious lines to St. Just, Newlyn and Sennen.

A major flaw in the new plan is what happens to locomotives leaving in the up direction (exit stage right) to Hayle or Gwinear Road for shunting duties? As I’ve no room for a fiddle yard at that end I’ll either have to lift the loco off the track or move the whole layout to the left about 18” to create a small fiddle yard. Trouble in doing the latter is the layout will block the room’s entrance. Hmm… Should I curve the mainline through 90 degrees to enable a fiddle yard? Further thoughts to be mulled over I feel…  Will there be a v12?

The extra bit that I’m hoping to do is create some sort of operational feature that will replicate the day-to-day problems faced by shed staff, something that will put me (or any other operator) in a Shed Master and Running Foreman’s shoes. This may take the form of a card system that will dictate what happens to a loco when it arrives on shed or being prepared for its days’ work. I’m still gathering information on this so it's an idea that, I hope, will develop during the course of this project.

Next ‘mind-bender’ is a timetable for this project. I'll be cobbling the timetable together from a Penzance June to September 1957 Passenger Timetable and a Sept 1957 to June 1958 Freight Timetable. To this I'll add the fictious works of the St. Just, Newlyn and Sennen lines. This will give me a locomotive allocation and something to work with for Shed management.

Progress will undoubtedly be slow on this project but I’ll post updates as and when I have something to report.

The first full size track plan

I’ve been planning an Engine Shed project for some time now. Unfortunately I’ve had to revise it due to the reduced space in my ‘Man Cave’. Initially I had 16 feet in length to play with but a decision earlier in the year meant I now only 11ft. My idea is to create a visually pleasing scene with ground rising from front to back which will result in different levels of track. The plan below is the result of these ideas.

I printed a full size plan of the above and started to lay out buildings and rolling stock to check on how it would look.

Forced to have a rethink

I previously outlined my thoughts on what might be my next project after Tredethy Wharf in an entry on my Grogley Junction blog (which can be found here). There were a few different ideas but eventually I'd settled on the Engine Shed project and made a start on constructing a few of the buildings.

Well what has happened since then, and why no blog updates? Well, six months ago we took the decision to close the holiday cottage business. You may well ask why this should stop my blog updates. I’ll explain… The ultimate intention is to sell the property; in the meantime we have let the cottage on a short term tenancy agreement. This brings me to the ‘ no blogs’; well, to sell or to continue with short term tenancy we have to empty two sheds of our ‘bits and bats’. These two sheds really belong to the cottage so the contents need storing elsewhere. After discussing all options we decided that the only practical solution is to section off 5 feet of my ‘Man Cave’. This is making use of the external door at one end of the room giving access from outside off the driveway. Unfortunately doing so means I now only have 11ft by 8ft 6in. Must admit that from initially having 23 feet by 8ft 6in a couple of years ago to now only having the 11feet by 8ft 6in has affected my modelling mojo. The Engine Shed building was put on hold as I did wonder if the Engine Shed project was one I could continue with without serious compromises being taken with the track-plan.

I'd got as far as painting the internal walls before gluing the four main walls together. A start had also been made on constructing the roof at which point I discovered I was missing the smoke roof vents. After a quick email to Timber Tracks they kindly posted all that I required which arrived very prompting. Since then, as mentioned, my mind has been wrestling with how I might proceed with this project. Is a four road engine shed now too big for a track-plan that I could possibly fit into the reduced space now available?

 

 

 

 

 All is not lost... my next blog will reveal how I've decided to continue.

Four Road Engine Shed - Part 1

OK so here goes.

There are a lot of pieces, hence why I've chosen to build this kit after completing the Coaling Stage and Sand House. This will probably take me a few weeks as I have other projects on the go and I don't want to rush this build.

The first task was to construct the ends and sides. Hopefully, I've understood the construction correctly as I've modified the ends so the sides fit correctly with the castellations.

End as-built following the instructions

Modified end so castellation between ends and side will fit correctly

 

Inside view of one of end showing strengthing applied to the pillars

Side castellation showing rebate that I had to allow for on the ends

The internal view of both sides with pillars in place

The next stage in the instructions is to join the ends and sides to create the overall structure. But as I did for the Coaling Stage, I think it will be easier to paint the internal walls before gluing them together. So far I'm really enjoying this build.

Sand House

Before I started on the four road Engine Shed, which is the largest building for this project, I thought I'd build the small Sand House. On paper, this looked to be a simple building to construct. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a little troublesome.

Firstly when checking the parts over and how they fitted together I found I couldn't make much sense of how the veneered ends fitted. Placing the veneers over the ends so the window apertures fell in the correct place left a large gap at the bottom.

Within the kit parts, there were a couple of end louvre windows so I decided to remove the existing louvre bars in the end walls and make the veneer ends fit correctly. The separate louvre frames were then installed in both end walls.

If the joints in the veneer below the louvre window are not disguised once painted, the recovery will be installing a lintel and sill.

Then there was the problem with one of the side louvre windows, one fits the precut aperture correctly the other lourve is too small.

So should I fit the lintel in line with the left-hand window which will show the missing louvre bars (as in the picture above) or,

should I install the lintel to reduce the size of the window and match the size of the louvre frame?

As far as the small side louvre frame I decided to go with the first option but adding a filler to try and signify a repair.

I feel the adaption on the small louvre frame has masked the problem well.

So that's the easy building completed, well, apart from painting, it's now onto the big one, the four road engine shed.