7mm The Derby Line: Basford North

I do like the look of your hand made track, with its flowing curves and complex point-work, even if it is hard to wire up.
It's prompted me to dig out the (not many) books I have covering the Nottingham north area. In one photo, a WD is passing the signal box and the amount of point rodding is impressive - and that's only in the East Junction direction. Two runs of 12 or more, one from the front and one set through the end wall of the box. Lots of interesting workings, too, including (in the 1960's) turning of multiple light engines on the triangle Bagthorpe - West Jn. - Bulwell Common.
Lots to keep you interested and occupied.
Dave.

 

Thanks Dave - it does make all the difference and looks far more prototypical. Yes - there is a lot of point rodding, I shall reduce it to a certain extent as I've had to simplify the layout in any case. I've been considering the engine turning, they would use the crossover in the station, so an excuse to run my V2 as part of the sequence. There was a note somewhere that GW engines had turned on via Bagthorpe Jn, but I've built enough of those for clients!

An afternoons work progresses the straight track nicely. Next the joy of putting in droppers and wiring it up. I'm getting critically low on SMP rail joiners, I need to find a good alternative.

 

I made a mistake with part of my original design of the Eastern approach to the station, so Jim kindly re-worked it for me. It's simpler. The local printers are still closed, so I've resorted to A4 prints. Which with care are manageable. This re-work also means that the Bulwell Common line can be hidden behind a retaining wall. The straight sections can be seen just at the bottom.



The fan takes shape, and I'm going to approach it from the other end now.

Does anyone know where I can get bullhead rail joiners? I'm nearly out of the very nice SMP O gauge ones ( Markits are out of stock ) and the Peco SL-10s don't seem to fit C&L rail very well. Multiple Google searches have not come up with very much.

 

Tony Gee found this -

proper track laying!
P Way Junction renewal - the old way

 

Have you tried Marcway, they have the SMP range, I couldn't find rail joiners, but a phone call may get you what you want.

Welcome to Marcway.net

 

Ah thanks Phil - I did mean Markway -not Markits !, and they havn't got any at the moment.

 

Tony (@dibateg),

Try here, look to the bottom of the page for item 7FXFP01.

regards, Graham

 

Thanks - Graham -

yes those are the detailed fishplates - I have a good stock of those. It's the cheap and cheerful rail joiners for the non scenic areas I'm after. The SL10's don't work well with C&L bullhead rail as it has a thicker foot than Peco bullhead. Marcway said to call next week....

Regards
Tony

 

Now the K1 is almost finished, I'm back on the layout. There are a few point motors to prepare:-


A shortage of rail joiners is hampering work, I've run out of SMP ones and the Peco ones don't work with C&L Bullhead. The fan of the storage sidings is taking shape, I'm utilising Peco double slips and turnouts. I'm going for maximum flexibility as there is an out and back service from Nottingham Vic that terminated at Basford before the back line closed.

 

And an afternoons work starts to fill in the gaps. I'm using scraps of Peco track to join up the short sections between turnouts, I can use the SL-10s on those joins.

 

Tony,

Do you really need rail joiners/ fishplates in the non scenic section? I personally have not bothered and just rely on droppers, they have not given me any trouble up to now, and the rails are all still in perfect alignment .

just a thought

Martyn.

 

Tony.
If rail alignment is a concern, short lengths of stiff brass wire soldered across the joint on the outside of the rails will achieve this. Just solder to one side of the joint if you want to allow for expansion.
Dave.

 

Thanks chaps - yes that's a consideration!

Regards
Tony

 

In the meantime, DCC bus wiring has been taking place and it extends around the whole layout now. I also took the opportunity to install the pint motors. Tortoises seem very hard to get hold of at the moment, I think I have just enough. I bought my stock in about 10 years ago - that's forward planning.... Once tested this scruffy wiring will be tidied up.

 

Pint motors ! Do they bring the beers over Tony ?

Ian

 

Now that would be a good idea!

 

Your hand built track an especially the complex points look really good.

Michael

 

Thanks Michael -

It fell to recently finished and not yet tested or weathered 63854 to officially run round the first completed track around the layout on a temporary DC lash up. Only a few minor glitches needed resolving.

 

A major milestone. Congratulations.
Using a brand new 2-8-0 as the first test loco seems rather brave but, I suppose, if it goes round OK then anything will. A searching test for both loco and track.
Looking forward to seeing further progress with this wonderful project.
Dave.

 

Tony,

I may have to DCC fit my 8F so it can have a visit when the layout has progressed further.

Ian