Newent - EM Shunting Plank

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Quick and easy, small and manageable, based on a plan from a book. Three aims for this project, and I have comprehensively failed to achieve any of them :))

The very original idea was to build a plan from a book, knocking one off the 'to do' list. The selected plan had been Penthalk Junction by Ken Gibbons, but I was intending to do it in EM as opposed to OO (although as Ken noted noted, it was suitable for any of the 4mm gauges). The plan was based in Cornwall, inspired by Coombe Junction and fitted into 8' x 10" including two fiddle yards. I'm not sure whether it was intended or not, but the whole layout (scenic, fiddle yards and traversers) could have been built from one sheet of 4 x 2 ply, very clever. An email to Neil to enquire whether he was still building points to order elicited the response that he was not, but he was happy to build me a couple anyway, marvellous! A shopping trip at Warley netted a Warship (seen in the Cambrian News thread posed on Shell Island) so things were looking good.

Alas, I was outmanouvred by Cynric and Geoff with the result that I ended up purchasing a Hymek from the Guv, throwing my plans into turmoil - Hymeks never worked the clays down that way - and I had just spent the money that was going to go on a bubble car. A great surprise from the Guv was that he had included a Bachmann 08 in the box :thumbs: we shall have to count that as a favour owed I think ;D I now had three locos and four wagons, so ditching the 'plan from a book' idea, I set to trying to come up with a yard type layout. As is usual for these things, with no definite space established, the plan grew in size and complexity until I had completely drifted away from anything representing the original scope. I have pulled it back a little from that point, so with that brief description of how I got here established, onto the layout proper.

After scrapping Tunnel 4 last weekend, one board was salvaged to become the basis for this layout. The dropped section was raised back up to create a level surface, then some of the old legs rebuilt to fit. I added adjustable feet this time, although the main aim was to raise the board up from 40" tall to 42", I found 40" too low when standing operating or working on the layout.

Ex Tunnel 4 Board.JPG

In order to loose a bit of the 'planky look', L girders were made to carry additional scenery - these were added to the front and left hand side (4" deep) and one for the rear (2" deep). These additions are removable so I can get the layout up into the loft if required.

L girders.JPG

With the space now defined, the track plan was up next. Since my first procrastinations, Neil had very kindly sent through a single slip and I couldn't turn down the opportunity to use it. The board length of 63" made including a run round loop very difficult, but by using two locos in a 'tag team' style (that 08 turned out to be very useful Guv ;) ) I could just worry about trying to create some reasonably long siding to shunt and shuffle with. After moving bits of track around, the following plan seemed to be best use of space to me whilst giving me enough operating capability (this is intended to be a quick layout that I can just turn on for 10 mins or so of shunting)

Track Plan.JPG

As it turns out, the plan is a shortened version of Newent on the Daffodil line. The original line ran from Ledbury to Gloucester with Newent being approx halfway through. The line ran until 1964 (freight only), but I reckoned I could stretch the time out a bit and run a couple of hydraulics. The revised history is that the line closure was delayed until the early 70's, the line being lifted from Gloucester back towards Ledbury. As the mid point, Newent was left open as a yard, albeit truncated from the original station layout to provide storage for all of the lineside items removed during the demolition. The model will assume that the line has just been truncated, hence I can get away with no running through. The original platforms will actually cross the joint between fiddleyard and layout, the idea is to have the fiddleyard almosy completely scenic to increase the layout length in photographs. There will be no backscene at all to avoid unsightly edges - I shall just remove the pictures from the wall when required!

Fast forward from last weekend to today and we have both the layout and fiddle yard boards up, the fascias fitted and the first scenic contours added (its all a bit loosely bolted together as I still have some sanding to do on the fascia boards)

Boards Together.JPG

Fully assembled its 107" long and 17.5" deep at the widest point. The fiddleyard will be a single track that I can place or remove stock on at will. A small lift out section has been added to the front edge of the FY

Fiddleyard 1.JPG

This section hides all of the DCC controllers and associated wiring when the layout is not in use - as it will be on display in the lounge I felt a tidy approach was required.

Lifting the lid (it will have a small border added to the underside to stop stock rolling off when it is mounted the other way up) shows all the kit thrown in. The main controller has enough space to be connected permanently, but out of the way as I prefer the knob style of speed controller on the additional cab.

Fiddleyard 2.JPG

The small brace which doubles as a support for the shelf also hides the back of the PowerCab connector and the layout wiring (once I've added it)

Fiddleyard 3.JPG

The view from underneath

PowerCab Sockets.JPG

Putting the connectors here keeps them out of sight, hopefully adding an uncluttered look to the layout. The Fascia boards will eventually become white, whilst a white curtain will be used to mask the legs, mains wiring etc.

Right, I'm sure I've waffled enough...

Steve
 

28ten

Guv'nor
Not sure about the arty farty pictures behind it  :)) :))
You know the Hymek made sense  8) are you going to sound chip it?
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Steve Cook said:
.... After scrapping Tunnel 4 last weekend, one board was salvaged to become the basis for this layout. ....

There you are, even petrol heads can be eco-hippies too. All you need now are sandals, a bicycle with a trailer and chickens in the back garden.

PS Like the flaps .... can I say that?
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Cheers for the comments chaps  :)

28ten said:
Not sure about the arty farty pictures behind it  :)) :))
None taken  ;) ;D

You know the Hymek made sense  8) are you going to sound chip it?

It did indeed  :) Regarding sound, in the short term, no. Longer term, maybe. Getting it rewheeled and detailed are higher up the priority list - as much as it looks good balanced on the track, I'd rather have it running!

Neil said:
PS Like the flaps .... can I say that?

Think you've got away with it so far  :))

Steve
 

Geoff

Western Thunderer
Steve Cook said:
The very original idea was to build a plan from a book, knocking one off the 'to do' list. The selected plan had been Penthalk Junction by Ken Gibbons, but I was intending to do it in EM as opposed to OO (although as Ken noted noted, it was suitable for any of the 4mm gauges). The plan was based in Cornwall, inspired by Coombe Junction and fitted into 8' x 10" including two fiddle yards. I'm not sure whether it was intended or not, but the whole layout (scenic, fiddle yards and traversers) could have been built from one sheet of 4 x 2 ply, very clever. An email to Neil to enquire whether he was still building points to order elicited the response that he was not, but he was happy to build me a couple anyway, marvellous! A shopping trip at Warley netted a Warship (seen in the Cambrian News thread posed on Shell Island) so things were looking good.

Alas, I was outmanouvred by Cynric and Geoff with the result that I ended up purchasing a Hymek from the Guv, throwing my plans into turmoil -

Oh come on now you know you always wanted one  ;D

Seriously that is a very neat piece of work you have done there Steve. If you still need any bits from the society stores then send me your list as I shall be placing an order soon.

Cheers,
Geoff
 

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
Steve Cook said:
Three aims for this project, and I have comprehensively failed to achieve any of them  :))

:)) :)) :)) :thumbs:
Another Thunderer starts to sound just like me...!! :thumbs:

Have a stiff drink, then you can have a rant at yourself.... ;D ;)
 

3 LINK

Western Thunderer
Hi Steve,

Not sure if this is of any help to you, but back in the mid eighties I used to deliver timber from Shoreham docks down in Sussex, up to a ladder manufacturing company in Newent. Well this wood was Scandinavian white wood which was special as in it was a very straight and true timber, ideal for timber ladders up to a length of 35 ft if I remember correctly :scratch: Well I used to take these loads up to Newent on a 40ft articulated trailer and remember talking to some old chap at the works about what a struggle it was coming up through the narrow lanes, and he replied that it use to be delivered by rail in the past and they had a siding of their own which was much easier for them to use. He then went on to rant about one truck driver who "knocked down the sign at the pub in the village" and didn't even stop to say sorry  :)). So with modellers licence you could have a delivery of timber being carried in on some work weary bogie bolisters, into a private siding  :scratch: Hope I have not bored you with my reminiscing.

ATB,  Martyn.
 

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
3 LINK said:
..Well I used to take these loads up to Newent on a 40ft articulated trailer and remember talking to some old chap at the works about what a struggle it was coming up through the narrow lanes, ...
...Hope I have not bored you with my reminiscing.
I can bore you some more - I used to deliver paper to the High School at Newent, and can concur that it was a really painful place to go to, even with just a 17t Rigid. :headbang: ;)
 

3 LINK

Western Thunderer
In my opinion  " Just a 17t Rigid " is harder to manoeuvre in tight places than a 40ft Artic  ;) ;) :))

Martyn.  :thumbs:
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Geoff said:
Oh come on now you know you always wanted one  ;D

It is true I have to confess  ;)

Seriously that is a very neat piece of work you have done there Steve. If you still need any bits from the society stores then send me your list as I shall be placing an order soon.

Thanks Geoff. I shall forward you on a list of bits and pieces to get me going - I'm guessing you've already figured out a conversion kit for the Hymek is on the cards  ;D

Steve
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Martyn and Jordan

Thank you both for your comments regarding potential extra operational excitement, I certainly wasn't bored by the reminiscing  :)
It does add some extra validation to keeping the railway open and the old goods shed road can double up as a private siding, I shall just have to squeeze a road in - glad you mentioned it now before I had done any more scenic work  :thumbs:

Steve
 

Steph Dale

Western Thunderer
3 LINK said:
Hi Steve,

Not sure if this is of any help to you, but back in the mid eighties I used to deliver timber from Shoreham docks down in Sussex, up to a ladder manufacturing company in Newent. Well this wood was Scandinavian white wood which was special as in it was a very straight and true timber, ideal for timber ladders up to a length of 35 ft if I remember correctly :scratch: Well I used to take these loads up to Newent on a 40ft articulated trailer and remember talking to some old chap at the works about what a struggle it was coming up through the narrow lanes, and he replied that it use to be delivered by rail in the past and they had a siding of their own which was much easier for them to use. He then went on to rant about one truck driver who "knocked down the sign at the pub in the village" and didn't even stop to say sorry  :)). So with modellers licence you could have a delivery of timber being carried in on some work weary bogie bolisters, into a private siding  :scratch: Hope I have not bored you with my reminiscing.

ATB,  Martyn.

An alternative might be lorry loaded with timber and a pub sign wrapped round one end...

Steph
 

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
3 LINK said:
In my opinion  " Just a 17t Rigid " is harder to manoeuvre in tight places than a 40ft Artic  ;) ;) :))
Undoubtedly!! After many years now on artics I struggle just to sometimes shunt the rigids in our yard - they seem to have the turning circle of the Titanic... :shit:

Steve said:
I shall just have to squeeze a road in...
"Squeeze" is the right word - just like the flippin' prototype then!! (Glad you liked the 'rant' comment!! What goes around, etc... ;) )

Steph said:
An alternative might be lorry loaded with timber and a pub sign wrapped round one end...
Reminds me of a subtle alternative to the "car accident Cliche" I saw on a layout years ago.... just skid marks approaching a bend in the road, and a smashed-up fence on the corner... :scratch: :thumbs:
 
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