'O' Gauge
East Dean
Based on a small through station, situated on a single track cross country route somewhere around Gloucester, enabling both Midland and Western stock to be run and is set on a gentle 90 degree curve, with a scenic section some 24 feet long, and with 8ft fiddle yards at each end, utilising a cassette system
Due to main line maintenance works East Dean gets busy [photographer: Peter Storey]
Trackwork, which is C & L, is set at 31.5mm gauge through the pointwork to give a better visual effect, whilst still enabling the normal O gauge fine scale wheels of members stock to be used. An article on this aspect has been written by one of our members, and published in the Model Railway Journal, bringing some interesting comments. Pointwork operated by 'Tortoise' point motors.
The signals have been positioned and, using servos, they are fully functional but not interlocked with the points. It has been well received, with a lot of favourable comments and we've had a number of exhibition invites, which is always very encouraging. During exhibitions East Dean is operated to a sequence of events rather than a timetable. The sequence has been worked out to permit a variety of locomotives and rolling stock to be used and hence shown to the viewing public.
There are more photographs of East Dean on the Layout Photos page.
We would be happy to hear from any local modellers interested in becoming involved with the project. Why not pay us a visit one evening.
Grindley Brook (The New Club Layout)
Track plan of Grindley Brook [drawn by: Jim Snowdon]
Our new layout has been designed to fit a long curve into one side of our existing test track. The new section will make the existing test track into a large D-shape some 34-feet by 17-feet. When complete it will be a two-road through station based on London North Western Railway (LNWR) practise, with a goods yard to provide opportunities for shunting. The existing fiddle yard which has eight roads will be utilised. The name was selected by looking at an old map of the area in which we wanted the layout to be set and choosing a place which had the correct topography, including a canal. This proved to be adjacent to the ex-LNWR line running between Whitchurch and Chester at a place called Grindley Brook.
Peter and Dave - Painting Everything White [photographer: Gary Kerr]
No station was shown but, having chosen the name, we subsequently discovered that at some time a halt existed; so what we are constructing will assume that considerable rebuilding has taken place. By choosing LNWR origin it is hoped that it will make it easier to construct the station buildings as, in reality, these were modular. We are hoping to make patterns of the various panels and have them cast. Assembly should then be relatively easy. This will allow more time for the more complex buildings. Club members also have existing stock suitable for this location. Discussion is ongoing as to whether a change should be made to DCC and if so the best way of resolving the problems involved in converting existing stock.
O Gauge Test Track
The test track consists of four ovals of track. One of the straight sections having a passing loop for each oval so that trains can be made-up without interfering with the running locomotive. One of the ovals can be operated using DCC. Its been operating regularly on the first Thursday of each month and the few minor teething problems have been sorted out. Hopefully the Saturday afternoon sessions will be up and running shortly.
'OO' Gauge
New OO Gauge Layout
February 2011
During our AGM a proposal was raised to replace the existing test track, (it’s been in existence for some twenty years in various guises), and is beginning to show its age. Further discussions with existing and new members at one of our open days was a desire to have a OO gauge scenic layout as several members like to watch their stock run through something other than ‘bare boards’. It was also felt that doing both projects at the same time would lead to frustrations and disillusionment due to the time each project was likely to take. Discussions around the existing test track found that the main problems were the time taking to get all the board joints level at the beginning of the running session and availability of controllers as their connections to the tracks were all through different connectors but that, in general, the boards and track were okay. With this in mind the test track supports were modified so that they were all the same height when fully opened and, where needed, new connectors installed for the controllers. Planning could now commence on a scenic layout.
March 2011
It was generally agreed that the OO section needs a layout which has enough operational interest i.e. shunting or having something to do, produce a realistic layout (if not exactly based on a prototype or ‘what might have been’ but operated as if it were), still be enjoyable, have the potential to just sit back and see trains running and be relatively quick to set up.
The discussion moved towards producing two sections to fit into the existing circuit this would allow a continuous run and also act as a fiddle yard. This left what to base it on.
| Place | Issues |
|---|---|
| Buntingford | though felt not enough stock from this region would be available. |
| St.Albans Abbey, | where two branch lines terminate, with a fair amount of industrial works adjacent and also with the advantage of still part in use. This didn’t get much interest as this would be only an end-to-end option. |
| Uxbridge Vine Street | talked about, and with local interest, but thought to be too big, unless seriously scaled down. |
| Hemel Hempstead Midland Road, | considered, though with the station only on one track, was thought to be a little restrictive, (though the passing loop could be adapted and a second platform added), the goods yard was thought quite compact, with plenty of interest, coupled with a reasonable number of pictures to draw from. This was looking like the preferred option with some issues over available stock, lack of signals and was worked on the one loco in steam principle, though this could be amended. |
Final decision was made on adopting a southern location and Elham in Kent was selected, from the Elham Valley line, similar in design to Hemel, with smaller goods yard, has a level crossing at one end of the station and a signal box situated at the other. Full station plans being available as well as a beautiful scratch built station building already made. Dimensions were taken to see if the track plan would fit the area available.
April 2011
By mid April, a set of diagrams is produced and appears to fit the available space. This included on the opposite side to the scenic section, an eight-lane fiddle yard. This would involve quite a number of points but there are a considerable number of point motors on the (now abandoned) China Clay layout.
The clubs running day allowed the existing test track, (now on its improved trestles), to be set up and it ran almost faultlessly all day with a couple of joints in the track over the baseboard ends causing some minor problems. It was certainly easier to set up.
Discussion then centred on the two problems of storage and which part to produce first. The options were; to build the new test track, then build a scenic section to fit into it or, build the scenic section as a separate item. Both options were discussed for a few meetings whilst necessary work on East Dean was being done. In true decision meeting fashion a third option was taken up as the existing test track was now working relatively well, this being to do the scenic section first with an option to run as an end to end layout utilizing an existing small fiddle yard and then extend it into the new test track when it gets built. The scenic section will need to occupy the space currently used for storing the China Clay layout. It would also mean that we could still run trains on the existing test track while the scenic section was being built, as storage space will prevent two test tracks at the same time.
Next stages – spring/summer 2011
See what can be done to improve the odd problem with the existing test track joints in time for the next running day.
The feeling was that the existing test track storage trolley will eventually require amendment or need to be replaced with a higher unit, possibly demountable so as to provide a table option, when lifted off, for the controllers. Under normal club night operation, all the other equipment in the hall is not be removed so the space available for the track is reduced however members present believed that the new test track could be extended an extra foot at each end and probably no more than a foot wider than the existing one, perhaps using the space in the centre better. For a club night, the option for operators to be in the centre is fine, but on track days or if more members were present it would get too crowded and operation from the outside is better.
The next step is to look closer at the O gauge test track and how their baseboards are constructed, as they appear strong, well built and why not already use a design that is known to work. Plans to be drawn up for the baseboards and estimate the amount of wood that will be required.
OO Gauge Test Track
OO test track [photographer: Gary Kerr]
Our OO gauge test track consists on four oval loops of OO track and fifth of On3/O16.5. One of the OO tracks can be operated under DCC, the On30 is DCC only.