I'm working on a 2-module (one is mostly station...other is mostly the signals and turnouts) station area for mix of europe/uk/german (the only german is this doubledeck 2-car set yet but it counts still). so far I'm thinking of four tracks and two has a crossover as to allow the UK 2-6-0&tender and terrier 0-6-0T to operate at least. I'll get the measurements in a while...trying to start supper at the same time now but thought I'll start asking early rofl
Hi Dragongirlbreeze Where did you get that handle? Anyway, Welcome to Train Board. I don't have the answers you need but I am pretty sure somebody here will pick up on it soon.
handle? hmm... "female dragon's breeze" slogan tells you don't it? anyhow as for the layout I was wondering if anyone got any idea how to have four tracks (and at least one crossover or two would not matter neither) in one station. if its better I do not mind bumping it to five tracks (I want keep a bit of the module width left for the scenary on one side outside the station if you mind) thanks for this forum here I'm trying work on mine station module figuring out stuffs (and when thats finally a go-ahead I may as well as start planning the second module with the signals..etc )
sorry I was just thinking....since I don't have much train and I not modelling a big city station ... three tracks could be fine with me (just still at least one crossover) and again I don't want it to look toy-ish here {may as well as have fun trying to model harnessed horses with taxi carriages....I love these he he}
doh... was looking and I'm starting to wonder about a through station instead because I don't think there is a way to fit a britian passenger train with one baggage car the other direction ....or... its legal to pull a train with the baggage car at the end of train and I should be able to use a end-of-line station as I am planning for now? thanks a lot anyhow. its a great western castle 2-6-0 with 3-axle tender that is pulling this red & livery light yellow 3-wagon train for ya to know {couldn't find that particular one on hornby's site oh well} I've decided to go with three tracks two tracks for steam engines and third one is reserved to diesel/electric only (as its not crossover-possible there) and it seem to look really nice already. measurements?? arrughh if anyone ask me I'll go get it!!! {har har me sound funny} what was the proper length for turntables in UK or I could just custom-build mine own that is just long enough to allow the 2-6-0&tender to roll onto it? sorry for many non-american questions but then hey not all of us here are from north america I would guess? (me...well I'm canadian but whatever)
A couple of things you might think about... * What about a couple of approach tracks widening to 3 or 4 platforms. Most UK main lines (like you would run something the size of a Castle class on) would be double track with left hand running. * What about using the 0-6-0 as a station pilot. The Castle (or similar) would bring the main line train in, and the pilot would couple to the rear of the coaches and either take them off to the carriage sidings (staging) to be serviced, or move them to another platform to allow the Castle to escape, to either a modelled or off-scene loco facility. * A 12"-ish turntable should be fine for just about any British loco, Peco do a nice British one. * You say you are not modelling urban, but city passenger stations are often easier, as the prototypes are crammed in between buildings. Country town stations often sprawled as land was easy to get. All the best
and I thank you for these thoughts hmm ty for that one... I did wonder about double mainline but now I guess I'm going try figure how to include it I never thought of that one but hmm that would be more operational-fun for me only that makes me wonder one thing (see end of quoting below) ty I'll look at that. yeah as I thought...hmm...cramping as much as could in small area due to high city estate costs you too ~~quoting off~~ unless any of you don't know much about UK ways I was wondering if a pilot steam engine alway stayed at the city station only shunting passenger cars or they also double-work as local mixed trains (to-from nearby towns and the present city) at different times too? also I decided to go with just three tracks as it seem more than fitting enough but if I'm wrong..ok back to four for me!
In some parts of the Uk, the shunting (pilot) loco type would be the same type as used on local or branch passenger, so I think you would be okay doing that. I'm just drawing up a plan I have in mind that seems to fit what you want, it's by a guy called Cyril Freezer, who ran one of the UK modelling mags a few years back. It gives you lots of elements and action in a small space. Back with the plan soon...
Here we go. The idea is that it's built in a cut below ground level, and there is a tunnel entrance which provides the scenic break, this is not at all contrived as many British stations have such a setup. The brick retainig walls along the cut make an easy front to the backdrop as well. The main line arrives top right, outbound line is above the inbound line on the plan. Buildings are in orange, the main station building is towards the rear, at the platform ends is a signal box and there are a couple of buildings which are a parcels depot. The grey area is roughly the area of the platforms. The loco spur gives a place for the pilot to wait. There are no runrounds, so the pilot has to do handle releasing loco's that arrive on trains. It's assumed that there would be loco and carriage servicing at the other end of the tunnel, and goods (other than parcels) would be handled at other locations in the city as well. What do you think? You might want to check out prototypes such as Kings Cross and Farringdon stations in London, all very urban, bigger than that design, but with a similar flavour...
Martyn's plan reminds me of the big central station in Edinburgh, which is in a valley running through the center of the city. You actually cross over the station on one of the main bridges in town, and walk down into the valley to reach it. Trains leave town in one direction going through a very nice park. The Scotrail system might be interesting to model if you can find cars and locos. Some were diesel and others were overhead electric.
That plan has come out of the Ark I should think-I built it in the late 60's and used Dublo 2-6-4-tanks and suburban coaches like Fenchurch Street. Incoming train engines stayed on the blocks until the train was removed by another engine then went to the next set that needed power. This plan would keep at least two pilot's fully employed. All terminal stations had pilots-we had one at Paddington simply to sort ouy parcel/mail van's and five to move empty trains to Old Oak carriage sidings-the High speed train sets did away with all that-power cars both ends. Best wishes Steve
Yeah, it is one that has been around the block a few times, but it does really well at getting lots of action in a small space, I guess that's why it's lasted so well. For my preferences I would give it a go as a late 60's version, with mostly small diesels like the 23, 24 and 31's that worked the Widened lines suburban service, maybe some of the late steam on workings from the Southern.
Martyn, did CF name that plan "Victoria Square"? It looks familiar. If so, I built a layout based on it, but extended a bit, and later sold it to a friend who was very keen on London suburban operations in steam/early diesel period. The layout did the rounds at a few exhibitions, and was run to a fast clock and taped station announcements! Great fun
I think it was called "Minories", but I could be wrong, as this plan is a lot older even than I am! I guess that the general arrangement has probably been used and re-used on many plans since as well. Urban modelling has a lot going for it, with the prototypes having to cram themselves in, which fits well with our often "compressed" modelling space.
I think you are correct with the name, Martyn. Victoria Square had a bit more trackage, I think. Must see if I can dig out any pics of the layout.
This has triggered off the old memory cells ! It was Minories, there is a street near Fenchurch called that. I used Farish flexible track-do you remember that stuff? You had to have a week or two on a 'bullworker' before you could bend a 3' length. Also the retaining wall's were Farish and the over-head roof Dublo and for ballast -budgie grit-well glued down( it was cheap, get a big box for about two bob) Water columns and signals also Dublo and an Airfix girder bridge to hide the join. As for something like this with early diesels try Broad Street-fascinating place. Best wishes Steve
Wow, you really did get nostalgic! For those of you who don't know the sort of thing we're getting at, I decided to do a bit of web searching for inspirational pics: Not the area we were on about, but a similar "urban station in a cut" effort, two from Sheffield in 1976 c/o the 53a models website... http://web.ukonline.co.uk/53amodels//picture/47195-SM-220876.jpg http://web.ukonline.co.uk/53amodels//picture/Class45-SM-170176.jpg And Edinburgh Waverley has already been mentioned, these are from Steve Jones's site, vintage '78's... Remember when HST's were this colour? http://www.class43.co.uk/gallery/photos/sj000637.jpg Station pilot shunting a parcels van... http://www.class09.co.uk/gallery/photos/sj000702.jpg http://www.class47.org.uk/gallery/photos/sj000734.jpg And a Deltic doing what a Deltic does... http://www.class55.co.uk/gallery/photos/sj000736.jpg Liverpool Lime St also provides a little inspiration: http://www.garry-brookes.com/id28.htm Glasgow Queen St too... http://www.jhowie.force9.co.uk/queenstreet.html And more from the London area we were going on about...From Steve Jones's site, Liverpool St stabling point in '78 http://www.class47.org.uk/gallery/photos/sj000932.jpg Some from Garry Brookes: Liverpool St http://www.garry-brookes.com/id88.htm Broad St http://www.garry-brookes.com/id85.htm Some stuff with some modern pics of what was called "the widened lines", now "Thameslink" and London Transport's Circle Line. Not marked on the map is the unfinished tunnel that would have connected London Euston suburban services into this network of lines as well. Part of this tunnel is now the clockwise Circle line platform at Kings Cross. http://www.londonrailways.net/snowhill.htm http://www.p.lodz.pl/I35/personal/jw37/urbtr/images/metro/london-citywidened.jpg http://www.p.lodz.pl/I35/personal/jw37/urbtr/images/metro/london-farringd.jpg
