Wednesday 18th December 2024

 

The basic framework was tackled first. After final discussion about the construction, we gathered suitable materials. A sheet of 9mm plywood had been discovered which was thought to be older than the workshop. A bit scruffy, but usable. Initially, this was considered for the cross-members as well, but then a length of new softwood was found, which decided things. Strips were cut from the ply.

And cross members cut from the softwood,

All of the holes for screws were drilled and countersunk...

... and the first frame assembled.

A few clamps came in handy.

As the final screws were inserted, the frame was checked against the existing station board frame for any issues, of which there weren't any. The new frame was clamped against the existing frame to dry out, to ensure as tight a fit as possible.

The cross-member blocks are set at existing track base level, the lowest likely datum. Additional blocks/packing will be added once the final track profile is agreed.

Finally, the track-bed strip was dropped into place, to see what it looked like. The sides will be cut down to suit the existing ground and the slope on the outside.

The final track level will be determined in due course and a slope up to the water tank is the aim. Issues such as magnet positions, run-away wagons, ease of construction and general appearance will all need to be taken into account.

And that will have to wait until 2025!

Wednesday 11th December 2024

It was crunch-time this week and we decided to investigate the 'siding-along-the-front' idea. The trestles came out and timbers were clamped onto the front, followed by some planed white timber laid on top. Then, some 00 flexitrack was laid down and the discussion started.

The extension framework would be plywood (9mm), bolted or screwed onto the existing baseboard. This would allow the current layout to remain as it is. However, the fence would be out-of-place in between the two tracks and technically should be moved to the outside of the new siding line. A big decision required there.

The basic concept

An option to represent a disused track to 'somewhere'.

A couple of options for the point location were possible.

It's early days and nothing will be decided for a long time, but at least we have 'a project' for the time being.

Wednesday 4th December 2024

We decided to skip the week after the show, so this was our first get-together. There was a quietness about the session as we realised there was nothing pressing to get on with. In fact, what to do now was a major issue. There would be invites to other shows coming in, but for now, we were definitely in a lull. 

We discussed repairs and set up the masons boards to tackle a slight misalignment of a point rail, which was quickly resolved.

We then settled on adapting the display cabinet cassette turning platform. This had apparently given some operators a problem, being a bit too low over the mainline cassette position. The existing platform was removed. Rather than take it apart, a new, simpler platform was made to the same profile, screwed in place and painted. The original will be kept just in case the new one proves to be a problem and a 'quick' swap can be made.

The gauge of the 'track' slots in the display case had been queried, but they measured wider than 16.5mm, so no action was taken. Maybe we'll be advised what the problem was in due course?

Geoff raised a possible project totally unknown to Stephen. He claimed that a long, long time ago, we discussed adding a 75mm extension to the front of the layout in order to fit a long siding to the Worton Court station area. He reasoned that there were only relevantly short sidings in the station and nowhere to 'dump' a full train of full or empty stone wagons. Stephen argued that they were normally run-around and sent to their destination fairly quickly, and rarely caused an issue. However, Geoff is keen to investigate further, if only to give us something to do!

Stephen promoted the idea of signage panels along the front giving details of various features we often tell the public about and which might go completely missed if we weren't able to engage with someone at the time. E.g. The gasifier plant and generator/battery room i.e. the process of generating electricity for the house. The tunnel to and from the quarry. Self-evident, but a description and map might make the arrangement clearer. Labels over the apertures in the end wall of the fiddleyard to explain 'the rest of the world'.

A fool proof way of storing the telephone wires/magnets was suggested. We'd experienced a tangle shortly before the show and the thought of it happening in future focussed our minds.

We can discuss these ideas in due course, but we do need tasks to occupy us.

National Festival of Railway Modelling - NEC 23 - 24th November 2024

On Friday morning 22nd November, Stephen drove to Staines, where the layout and all sundries were loaded into the two cars. The drive to Birmingham was in lovely sunshine and good time was made. Despite the complicated arrangements proposed for unloading the layout, on the day, all of the perimeter doors were accessible to exhibitors and we unloaded everything straight into our exhibition space. Chris arrived soon after and unloaded his stock boxes.

63 layouts and many other attractions

Our spot, in the bottom left corner.

We were soon ready for business.

The three of us then drove to the Travelodge at Birmingham Airport, made ourselves comfortable and headed for the bar for dinner and a few drinks. Warners (the show organisers) were providing breakfast and lunch in the exhibition hall, so early next morning we made a bee-line to the NEC. We were ready when the doors opened and the crowds appeared.

Stephen and Geoff on duty.

Ted joined us on the Sunday, which made it easier for us all to take an occasional break and look around the show.

Chris and Ted on duty.

Unfortunately, the rain arrived at closing time, but not as bad as it later became. Packing up went smoothly despite everyone leaving at the same time. The drive down the motorway was horrendous with numerous floods bringing everything to a crawl. By the time we hit the M25, it had eased, making the finals legs less stressful. The following sunny morning, Stephen headed back to Staines and the cars were unpacked. Another show completed!

Geoff has received some enquiries for further exhibitions, which will be formally submitted by the organisers in due course. 

Wednesday 20th November 2024

Being two days away from the NEC show, the aim of the day was to get everything ready to load into the 2 cars, ready to drive to Birmingham.

However, first on the agenda was to review Geoff's octopus... The organisers dropped a bombshell a few weeks ago stating that 'Daisy-chain' electrical supplies were not permitted. This is weeks after we told them we only needed 1 socket outlet for the layout (because we daisy-chain additional socket outlets to suit the display space). Geoff had therefore produced a bespoke power distribution unit. A single plug top with a long lead fed into a black connector box with 3 hard-wired 6-outlet power strips on long leads. An ungainly 3-legged octopus, but one that hopefully satisfies the organisers. And yes, it's been pat-tested.

We used the list prepared for the Salisbury show and managed to pack just about everything in 2.5 hours. 

There is more than this!

We also want to display information about the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association, but had nothing to put the leaflets on. With space in the cars at a premium, we found an old cardboard box and produced a collapsible pedestal, that was painted matt grey.

Finally, we reviewed the photos on the blog from when we packed the two cars for the Salisbury show to remind us what went where.

Roll-on Friday. 

Wednesday 13th November 2024

With two weeks until the NEC show, Chris and Ted came down for a final test-run. The new exchange track sections were explained and practiced, and a wider range of stock tested. On the whole, things went well. Over lunch, the setting up/taking down elements of the show were discussed further. Not everything was falling into place - hall access and power supplies are still a concern and will need investigating once we arrive on-site, but on the whole, we are as ready as we'll ever be. 

Wednesday 6th November 2024

Worklist:  Add more figures. Spruce-up the cows!

Geoff always keeps an eye out for more 3D printable figures and has amassed quite a few, so painting them was Geoff's job of the week. When dry, Stephen glued them into place. The range of figures suits the theme of the inaugural Open Day of the railway well, and no doubt, a few more will appear.

A female companion for the old man.

A father and daughter.

Another hiker.

A few more visitors on the back of the ticket office queue.

We have a horse on the front of the station and a herd of cows. From time to time they look a bit dull and dusty, so they get a brushing, but they remain fairly dull. This time we decided that the livestock should have a bit of a sheen. Varnish was considered, but before attempting this, Stephen suggested furniture polish. Some was squirted into the can cap and applied to a 'test subject 1' with a cotton bud. After a while, kitchen paper was used to buff it up, giving a pleasing soft sheen. Geoff then found some satin varnish, which was applied to 'test subject 2' , by brush. Once dry, the effect was almost identical. However, Stephen preferred the polish option, so the rest of the herd got polished!

To apply figures to both boards simultaneously, two boards were set-up together which created an unusual scene.

Planning for the NEC show continues. Copious emails and the odd Zoom meeting are in progress to unravel the logistics and paperwork for the exhibition. We are slowly getting the hang of things, but it has been daunting. Where to meet up, where to unload the layout, pre-booking hall access and parking, what receipts are required? Some issues are still unclear such as layout power provision, so there will be a few things to resolve on the day. However, we (a confirmed team of 3 and four operators for the 2 days) are looking forward to the show, and the experience.

Wednesday 30th October 2024

Worklist:

Make up a second Gaugemaster controller for the Bachman loco's.

Add some more foliage.

At the last running session, it was noted that Chris's Bachmann Hunslet's were not performing very well. As Geoff also has one of these superb loco's, a solution was urgently required. One of layout's standard AMR controllers was swapped for the 'spare' Gaugemaster controller, which worked perfectly. Geoff had a second Gaugemaster controller, but it did not have a suitable connector for the control panels, so this weeks task was to rectify this.

Geoff's Bachmann Hunslet

L - R: The existing 'spare' Gaugemaster controller, the new modified Gaugemaster controller and one of the AMR controllers.

We normally hold the controllers with the cable coming out of the top, so to prevent any ambiguity, arrow stickers were applied over the Fwd/Rev lettering. (Why didn't we do the spare?)

The rest of the session was spent touching up some repaired ballast and augmenting the foliage in various places around the layout. We also found the collection of animals Geoff had recently 3D printed and painted. Hopefully, homes for them will be found next week.

With only a few weeks until the show, we will have one more full running session. Final details and instructions are coming through from the organisers which are being scrutinised closely. 

Wednesday 23rd October 2024

Worklist:

Fully test the new section control arrangement.

Rectify intermittent point adjacent quarry signal.

Modify control panel sections to new configuration.

A few more weeds to the station area.

Bits and pieces of maintenance.

The full layout was set up and a loco run through all areas to test the new system. All switches and sections worked as required - a great relief. With so many section overlaps and switches, the ease of use was a key question, but again everything appeared to work quite rationally.

 

At the end of the last session, the point adjacent the quarry signal was playing-up. Instead of a lengthy investigation, a wire was loose on the point switch in the control panel - job done!

Geoff moved on the 'downgrade' the station area. He regularly says that it is far neater than preserved railways he's worked on, so out came the PVA, a suitable old brush and bags of scatter material.

Stephen amassed some old rolls of electrical and gaffer tape, and updated the control panel sections to suit the new layout. Note the two signals.

The mainline track sections and switches (top) have been in existence for many years, but the wiring has been modified to make better use of them. Together with the new orange section, trains controlled from the mason yard can now pull right up to the signals.

Signals 'action' panel on the left and the completed section controls on the right.

Recap: When a train approaches a signals and stops, the operator selects Frame on the appropriate 'action' panel and the bell on the ground frame rings and the light flashes, alerting the station controller. Once the track is clear, the 'action' switch is turned to Sign, whereupon the light on the signal flashes to advise that the train can move into the station.