Friday, February 01, 2008
Decision Made!
Well, I've crossed the bridge.
The loft layout plan has been finalised, and remaining points ordered online (due to getting up too late on my day off to have time to do everything I wanted to - doh!)
Trackplans don't seem to come out too well on Blogger, so here's a link
Now, a recap;
The Idea
Layout is set on the Sussex Coast (loosely in the Newhaven area), with facilities for both passengers and freight. The route is electrified on the Third Rail system, with regular local services from Brighton and Eastbourne, as well as services to and from London. The norm is 4-Car Multiple Units, although loco hauled services can occasionally be seen. On the right of the plan, you will see two EMU stabling sidings curving away in front of the fiddle yard - I'm planning on putting a retaining wall in here as a view block, with a road going over the main, and then under the route to the stabling sidings, before curving round in front of the station.
At the top of the layout is an industrial fittings firm (still to be named), who bring in raw materials (Steel) and export finished goods (primarily Industrial Ducting . A BR loco pulls in a rake of wagons containing coiled steel, and terminates in the loop off the platform. A works shunter then comes out of the yard, pulls the wagons into the headshunt, and propels them into the covered (un)loading area. As the production of the ducting/other fabrications is a fairly lengthy process, this train runs two or three times a week, with completed ducting heading off to customers elsewhere in the country/export on the same day as new raw material comes in. A cripple siding is also provided for wagons needing repair, which are then tripped weekly as required, as part of a service which also sees a couple of vans of supplies for the EMU Depot and fuel for the private shunter brought in.
I was looking at a traverser to move the shunter between the two shed roads, but I reckon by hiding the end of the loading area with a brought forward backscene, I should just about be able to get my hand round in to swap the shunter between roads.
Stock
Bachmann's forthcoming 4-CEP will have a major role to play, hopefully, in the day to day operation - as will Heljan 33's and 47's of either Chinese or Danish parentage. Other SR Third Rail D/EMUs could follow too, as I pluck up the courage to have a go at some kits. The top platform can just about accomodate Loco + 6 Mk1/2's for passenger workings, and the loading area/headshunts will be able to accomodate around 7 BDA's (again, forthcoming Bachmann) for Steel/Ducting. Vans could also be an option here. As for the works shunter, I'm going to have a go at repainting one of the cheapo Bachmann 'Kids Range' shunters. I was thinking a primer spray of red oxide, with yellow over the top, giving the opportunity for rust patches to show.
I hope that the remaining track will arrive tomorrow, as a result of paying extra for postage due to my incompetence in getting out of bed this morning.
A signalling diagram, courtesy of Dave Skipsey has also arrived - - I want to do this 'properly' (It's going to cost enough!), so proper signalling is essential.
Finally, I couldn't update without some words on Bachmann's planned releases - The 4-CEP, vital for this project, is still delayed due to lack of works drawings, but more pleasingly (not for this project, but for another idea...), comes news of an RTR MPV - and, at long last, Autoballasters - the full gen is here, as always; www.bachmann.co.uk.
With the latter at least, and with Dapol's forthcoming MK3 DVT and Container Flats, Now all we need is a decent 86 and 90, MK2's in Anglia livery, and a lottery win, and I'll be able to replicate those magical Ipswich days of summers past (and to come, hopefully).
The loft layout plan has been finalised, and remaining points ordered online (due to getting up too late on my day off to have time to do everything I wanted to - doh!)
Trackplans don't seem to come out too well on Blogger, so here's a link
Now, a recap;
The Idea
Layout is set on the Sussex Coast (loosely in the Newhaven area), with facilities for both passengers and freight. The route is electrified on the Third Rail system, with regular local services from Brighton and Eastbourne, as well as services to and from London. The norm is 4-Car Multiple Units, although loco hauled services can occasionally be seen. On the right of the plan, you will see two EMU stabling sidings curving away in front of the fiddle yard - I'm planning on putting a retaining wall in here as a view block, with a road going over the main, and then under the route to the stabling sidings, before curving round in front of the station.
At the top of the layout is an industrial fittings firm (still to be named), who bring in raw materials (Steel) and export finished goods (primarily Industrial Ducting . A BR loco pulls in a rake of wagons containing coiled steel, and terminates in the loop off the platform. A works shunter then comes out of the yard, pulls the wagons into the headshunt, and propels them into the covered (un)loading area. As the production of the ducting/other fabrications is a fairly lengthy process, this train runs two or three times a week, with completed ducting heading off to customers elsewhere in the country/export on the same day as new raw material comes in. A cripple siding is also provided for wagons needing repair, which are then tripped weekly as required, as part of a service which also sees a couple of vans of supplies for the EMU Depot and fuel for the private shunter brought in.
I was looking at a traverser to move the shunter between the two shed roads, but I reckon by hiding the end of the loading area with a brought forward backscene, I should just about be able to get my hand round in to swap the shunter between roads.
Stock
Bachmann's forthcoming 4-CEP will have a major role to play, hopefully, in the day to day operation - as will Heljan 33's and 47's of either Chinese or Danish parentage. Other SR Third Rail D/EMUs could follow too, as I pluck up the courage to have a go at some kits. The top platform can just about accomodate Loco + 6 Mk1/2's for passenger workings, and the loading area/headshunts will be able to accomodate around 7 BDA's (again, forthcoming Bachmann) for Steel/Ducting. Vans could also be an option here. As for the works shunter, I'm going to have a go at repainting one of the cheapo Bachmann 'Kids Range' shunters. I was thinking a primer spray of red oxide, with yellow over the top, giving the opportunity for rust patches to show.
I hope that the remaining track will arrive tomorrow, as a result of paying extra for postage due to my incompetence in getting out of bed this morning.
A signalling diagram, courtesy of Dave Skipsey has also arrived - - I want to do this 'properly' (It's going to cost enough!), so proper signalling is essential.
Finally, I couldn't update without some words on Bachmann's planned releases - The 4-CEP, vital for this project, is still delayed due to lack of works drawings, but more pleasingly (not for this project, but for another idea...), comes news of an RTR MPV - and, at long last, Autoballasters - the full gen is here, as always; www.bachmann.co.uk.
With the latter at least, and with Dapol's forthcoming MK3 DVT and Container Flats, Now all we need is a decent 86 and 90, MK2's in Anglia livery, and a lottery win, and I'll be able to replicate those magical Ipswich days of summers past (and to come, hopefully).
