4mm Llanfair

[Yorkshire Dave]

I like the way, Larry, that the track turns towards the buffers. I’ve seen this so many times on the prototype and wondered why the track didn’t just continue in a straight line. Most realistic.

I would hazard a guess with the prototype this would have been down to the major constraint of existing property boundaries, the willingness of landowners to sell, the land acquired and the eventual space available to build upon.

In the grand scheme of things property boundaries have rarely changed since the 5,200+ enclosures acts passed between 1604 and 1914. The majority were passed from the 1750s onwards forcing labourers from the land to seek work in the growing towns and cities thereby helping fuel the industrial revolution.

 

[jonte]

It was all about getting a maximum width goods yard, and so the platform lines turn away from the baseboard edge to leave room at the buffer stops for a cattle dock. If only I had purchased a wider shed, but then if I had, the layout would be 0 gauge.

It’s not too late, Larry.

(Makes hasty exit for door……..).

Jon

 

[LarryG]

A very good friend delivered a birthday pressy this afternoon in the shape of a DCC sound Accurascale 57xx. The scale height splashers make all the difference...



Code 100 doesn't look so bad. The chunky rail fastenings lend it a 'bullhead' appearance...

 

[Gismorail]

Hi Larry that Accrascale 57XX looks brilliant looks just right in it's new setting wonderful !

 

[LarryG]

Well, I'm really into modelling again now. A friend living not a million miles away from my home knew an expensive DCC sound-fitted loco plonked on my Code 100 track would have the desired affect!

All the stored Code 75 track was dusted down and only four yards of Bullhead had to be purchased. A darker speckled grey ballast is being used this time. Also the track plan is simpler by using the "mainline" as a headshunt and in fact is more compact...

 

[sjp23480]

I hear the Accurascale pannier is very easily converted to EM, or even P4.

Go on Larry - you know you want to!

 

[Osgood]

Amazing how all these years later one can still see evidence of an old broad gauge siding in the yard (note sleeper undulations in the yard surface).
Presumably when the GWR converted the branch to std gauge they did away with the old 7ft siding.

 

[PhilH]

Amazing how all these years later one can still see evidence of an old broad gauge siding in the yard (note sleeper undulations in the yard surface).
Presumably when the GWR converted the branch to std gauge they did away with the old 7ft siding.

Except it was 8ft gauge !

 

[LarryG]

Amazing how all these years later one can still see evidence of an old broad gauge siding in the yard (note sleeper undulations in the yard surface).

Brunel actually carried out a broad-gauge survey of the branch between Welshpool and Llanfair, the other surveys being standard gauge. The line was eventually constructed narrow gauge of course, but I've chosen one of the standard gauge plans, with embellishments!

The line from Shrewsbury to Welshpool is joint LNWR/Cambrian anyway, but my 'history' is the LNWR insisted on a heavily built formation, which was normal for them, and so the branch to Llanfair is the same. Gives me the opportunity to run an Austerity 2-8-0.

 

[LarryG]

The chain of three points was glued down today, They form a continuous curve into the yard, something I liked on a previous layout. I can now concentrate gluing down the sidings without worrying that a point has accidently moved...

 

[LarryG]

The ground, which will be the ash walkway between the platform road and the siding, was sprayed with grey primer. It won't look so bland once its been weathered and whatnot...

 

[LarryG]

The coal siding was glued down this morning at a more generous "6-foot" than the running lines. When the fine grey ballast has set hard, it will be filed down to dust and sprayed to match the goods yard. Track weathering will wait until all the scenic track is down. The wider spaced track near the points is to leave room for the Up starter signal



That's the the yard laid (under weights until tomorrow). Track impressions of the old 00 yard near the points show how much more compart the layout had become since eradicating the head shunt...

 

[Andy P]

Excellent Larry and belated Birthday wishes, Love that Pannier.

 

[LarryG]

Most out going freights will be made up in the back road behind the goods shed, but they can also be made up on the loop line. To this end, I have laid chippings beside it. The goods yard surface has yet to be lengthened and widened.

EDIT:- I must have taken leave of my senses when I left insufficient room for shunting men to work between the goods shed sidings! The goods shed road has since been re-laid with a much widened "six-foot way".....photos to follow.


Getting there. The cattle pens were altered to end-loading...

 

[Muddysblues]

Penblwydd Hapus Larry, layout looking good

Craig

 

[LarryG]

The scenic track is now down. It's all nailed down Code 100 from here to the fiddle yard...

 

[LarryG]

The goods yard floor, which put up against the railhead near the shed, was made good with 1/8" cork yesterday. Along with the track, it all awaits weathering with a spraygun. I may not have mentioned the points are Peco Code 75 flat-bottom and track is Peco bullhead...


A comparison with Code 100 track...

 

[cmax]

Larry, that's looking really good, its good to see you in the shed again.

Gary

 

[LarryG]

The code 100 curve is in place, probably the first time track has actually reached the other baseboard in many years...



As usual, I am filling in the 'grassland' areas with Vinyl Grass to begin with. It is so fast to do when glued down with Evostik Contact glue over crumpled newsprint and shaped with a heat gun. Static grass will follow much later, as I need to do a lot basic groundwork beforehand...


The distorted goods shed that suffered when the shed roof let water in might be replaced, but in the meantime it has been bedded into a hole in the cork. The track now has a bufferstop...

 

[LarryG]

Most of my ideas pop up while lying in bed in a morning. This morning, I decided to take the loop outside of the shed. The scenery will be far less complicated, and the sound-fitted locos will sound like they are coming from somewhere else...