Marshcastle

[Simon]

Considering that I am really committed to my 1/32 stuff and didn't think I'd bought much in recent years, I seem to have quite a few nice trains from the more recent era.

Here is my Hornby 08, renumbered as the one that lifted the track on the Midland line into Bath, hauling some of my "proper" OO freight stock.

 

[ceejaydee]

..... didn't think I'd bought much in recent years...........

I thought that last year when sorting through a load of OO to part-ex for my kick start into 1/32.
Found a load that I'd forgotten about and worse still some that I didn't even remember buying...

Like the Jouef bodied tank; I have a thing for small freelance(ish) locos and an obsession with triang Hornby Dock Shunters for some bizarre reason too

 

[Jordan]

Blimey this is turning into quite a "confessions" thread, isn't it..?

Love the HST "Ballast working"... the HST was of my lad's favourites, too, although in our case we have just one Lima Power car for some bizarre reason (My original 1978 Hornby HST having become landfill many moons ago) and it is in a bit of a state now having failed to negotiate 18" radius curves at full tilt a few years ago, and smashing onto the concrete shed floor. Pendolino is the current favourite; we have burnt out two PCBs already (Hornby just replaced the first one; the replacement didn't make one lap at half-speed before expiring!! ) so I've just re-wired it myself. It can get a remarkable turn of speed, but doesn't like the Power Car pushing - it has to lead to stay on the rails. ... oh and the noise..!!!
We had a Hornby 08 but it was a "screamer" - one of those that makes an awful squealing noise after a while. There was quite a bit about it on RMweb. That went on ebay....

 

[westernfan]

I like the U S dock tank .The image of the crossing looks a bit like Radstock west im surprised you got the triang locos to run on code 75 . did you play about with the flanges and back to backs?

 

[iploffy]

Blimey this is turning into quite a "confessions" thread, isn't it..?

Love the HST "Ballast working"... the HST was of my lad's favourites, too, although in our case we have just one Lima Power car for some bizarre reason (My original 1978 Hornby HST having become landfill many moons ago) and it is in a bit of a state now having failed to negotiate 18" radius curves at full tilt a few years ago, and smashing onto the concrete shed floor. Pendolino is the current favourite; we have burnt out two PCBs already (Hornby just replaced the first one; the replacement didn't make one lap at half-speed before expiring!! ) so I've just re-wired it myself. It can get a remarkable turn of speed, but doesn't like the Power Car pushing - it has to lead to stay on the rails. ... oh and the noise..!!!
We had a Hornby 08 but it was a "screamer" - one of those that makes an awful squealing noise after a while. There was quite a bit about it on RMweb. That went on ebay....

Well I don't know you have just recounted my original railway which I had on my bedroom floor for upwards of 10 years(all except the Pendolino and I wouldn't be seen dead with one of those on any layout). I once built a completely circular affair that used every piece of track I owned it started on 1st radius then went through a set of points onto the second radius then onto the third radius then though a set of points through a crossing through another set of points then back onto the 1st radius points again, blisss. The 08 you mention I had one of those as well screaming was the understatement of the century my ears still ring now. It was about this time I discovered Long frieght trains and never lost the bug for listening to wheels going over rail joints kinky eh

Ian

 

[Simon]

I like the U S dock tank .The image of the crossing looks a bit like Radstock west im surprised you got the triang locos to run on code 75 . did you play about with the flanges and back to backs?

Er no, I lifted the loco across and then carried on

Bit more "baseboard" construction last night....

Stop Press "proper" HST Mk 3 coach in blue and grey in nearly new condition purchased yesterday for £5...

 

[Captain Kernow]

Keep up this excellent work, Simon, this is all good stuff - 'you know you want to'....

Bring on the Andrew Barclay-esque 0-4-0T in reddy-brown livery, I say!

(You've almost inspired me to put Callow Lane up again!)

 

[Jordan]

Er no, I lifted the loco across and then carried on

That's your MRJ credibility blown out the water, then...

 

[Ressaldar]

That's your MRJ credibility blown out the water, then...

is that not the instruction written on the edge of the editorial page?

cheers

Mike

 

[Neil]

Marshcastle is brilliant; it obvious that it serves as a proxy connection to our collective childhoods, which I guess that our 'serious' layouts also seek do but in a more demanding, expensive and angst ridden way.

 

[Simon]

Marshcastle is brilliant; it obvious that it serves as a proxy connection to our collective childhoods, which I guess that our 'serious' layouts also seek do but in a more demanding, expensive and angst ridden way.

You are very kind

There is something quite liberating in knowing that it "isn't serious".

My most "unserious" layout was the cardboard based model of Midford that I built around my room when at Poly. Ever so unfinished and with severe deficiencies, its guaranteed short life somehow enabled me to "get on with it" in a way that I may never have equalled since.

It was bloody good fun too, the all night passenger train that woke me up when it stalled the next morning was probably the best "drink induced" stunt and I particularly enjoyed my "Harold Morris moment" with Captain Kernow's Hornby "Evening Star" - I don't think he'll ever quite forgive me

Oh how I larfed.....

Cynric, I think we need a "pirate" emoticon

Simon

Who fully intends to go down to the shed with serious intent after I get home tonight - at the moment....

 

[Simon]

Here's more gratuitous playing with one of my current favourite loco and stock combos.

I don't think this ever ran on the S&D


Bee - Barp!

 

[ceejaydee]

I've got a Blue Heljan Hymek that I've never run...... makes me want to build that roundy roundy (that I bought the track for years ago) now- you b*gger

 

[Neil]

Ah the Mendip Pullman; I'm surprised CK doesn't have one of these.

 

[Captain Kernow]

I particularly enjoyed my "Harold Morris moment" with Captain Kernow's Hornby "Evening Star" - I don't think he'll ever quite forgive me

Oh how I larfed.....

You reap what you sow, sunshine! You most certainly do!

(Cynric, I think we also need a Cryptic emoticon!...)

Ah the Mendip Pullman; I'm surprised CK doesn't have one of these.

Ha ha! That's for me to know (and to tell you), and for him to perpetually wonder about!!

 

[Simon]

Miniature platelayers have again been noted in the vicinity of Marshcastle, they were last seen heading down the line carrying woodwork glue, a cutting disk and two brand new Peco points......

 

[Simon]

Track is permanently laid across the lift out section, the curved point permanently set into the road by Mrs Miggins house and tracklaying has started on the "new territories".

The complete antithesis to Neils restraint and style, I'm going for a relentlessly urban setting with a multi storey car park and at least one traffic choked road set above the tracks. Trackplan-wise, it's going to be four through lines, the nearest to camera will be platformless through/freight, the 108 is standing on what will be a bay platform which will appear to enter a tunnel at its far end leading to the rest of BR, this will be set apart from the main platforms in the way that the Severn Beach bay is at Bristol TM.



Name-wise, Charlie's current suggestion is "Looneyville" but I currently fancy reprising my teenage layout which ran from Oxford West through Rowley Junction to Bath (ha ha) and tongue in cheek call it "Rowley New Street"

I now need some new code 75 flexible track in order to get the station lines laid in as they are all on a curve which makes recycling ratty old bits of track tricky. I'm looking forward to the shunting yard, which I will lay in SMP and copperclad points, this will hopefully reside at the other end of the inner freight loop with a headshunt running across the window...

Even now I'm already getting great enjoyment from having a "proper" destination for the Marshcastle shuttle - time for the last train back to town I think

Bee - Barp!

 

[Simon]

After a Peco delivery I bought from myself four lengths of code 75 and set to with cutters and files.

After much pondering and laying out of points, I've decided to leave out the fourth inner through line as pictured below, although I think I might extend the first siding in the "yard" right back to the lift out section.



I have treated myself to another bay siding though, after years of drawing them on plans I feel a couple are well in order! This shot shows off the utter DMU-ishness of Bachmann's 108. In general the sharpest curve laid out so far is about 2' 6", but I'm trying to keep it all "flowing".



Current thoughts are on the other end of the layout, ie behind the photograph above. The station throat will run out across the window I think, in order to get a nice approach to the loops and maximise the scope for a shunting yard, which I hope will run to three "roads".

Simon

 

[Jordan]

After much pondering .......... , I've decided to ..................., although I think I might .................

Current thoughts ................ I think, ........................... I hope .......................

What all this really translates into, is that you're making it up as you go along...?!?!

Great fun!!

 

[Ressaldar]

is there any other way?

cheers

Mike