In with the Up line…

Time to get my rear end into gear and place that Up line! Especially with a first running session with friends Graeme and Eddie on the horizon when the photograph above was taken. That was the case last week when I used Exactoscale track panels to lay the Up main line. Each sleeper was cut from the web and the too wide spacing changed to be more exact for a main line track.

The track panels are placed on the layout to gain a rough idea of how many are needed per length of rail (above).

Down line remains open for freight and passenger traffic. Code 82 flat bottom rail is in place on the Up line.

4-Vep No. 3179 enters the on-stage part of the layout with another running-in turn for the track. I am looking for faults and uneven track.

Another view of the Vep taken when I was calculation the number of sleepers required for the scenic part of the Up line. In the event, the first running session took place last Friday. Always a good test for a layout is to let your friends loose on it and see if they can find faults or tricky bits that need refinement. Based on the session, a small change to the Ashford staging yard is to be implemented and a tight spot for clearances eased. There are a couple of mismatched Kadee couplers to fix too! In all, a lot of fun!

Northern Class 156 in ‘N’.

Dapol’s latest Class 156 release is decorated in the attractive Northern Spirit colours (Pre Northern Rail) of turquoise and green. The powered version (I am assuming there will be an un-powered one to go with it) is numbered 156498. Here’s some piccies of this attractive looking model.

Technical specification remains the same: Close coupled gangway options, a representation of a working BSI coupling at the front (actually a working Scharfenburg), running lights, 6-pin decoder socket and a clear view through the flush passenger compartment windows in the powered car to mention a few. In all, a very lovely looking model with good proportions and shape.

New transfers…renumber packs for rtr models and repaints.

One of the Nairnshire Modelling Supplies projects for 2009 was to work on the artwork for a new range of transfers. This is NMS-1; the first sheet of high quality scale water slide transfers for 4mm scale OO gauge BR blue and grey era locomotives together with general user grey and ‘Dutch’ yellow grey livery. They are intended to be renumbering packs for ready to run models where repainting over an already accurate and well applied livery just to change the model’s identity would seem such a waste.

Sarah and I took the opportunity to add a few extra livery elements to it so to offer added value and to enable those modellers repainting their models to be able to use basically a single sheet. The sheet includes numbers – lots of them, double arrows, two types of electrification warning notice and data panels. Also included are small black cab front numbers for modellers wishing to use this sheet and its white TOPS numbers for BR ‘Dutch’ and general user grey liveries and some numbers in the more modern typeface for figures 0, 2 and 7 which are appearing on some preserved and heritage locomotives combined with the more traditional Rail Alphabet numbers. Of course, if you find, with this sheet, that you run out of a ‘0′ or a ‘1′ from the lines of numbers, the set class numbers could be easily separated. For example, the 08 would yield an individual 0 and 8, so there is lot’s to work on!  This sheet will retail for £3.95.

The next one is nearly ready;  the same format but for Sectorisation engines using black number sets, black data panels, tiny front cab numbers together with the post-2000 modern electrification warning flash. This will be followed by BR Large Logo and Inter-City sector locos and a sheet for coaching stock. All primarily intended as high quality and high value renumber packs for rtr models. N gauge is a possibility too if this new venture for Nairnshire Modelling Supplies gains good support.

Dapol Class 153s – launched at Warley.

Colour and character are two of the features of the very soon to be released Dapol N gauge Class 153 model – cute to say the least. Yet, they are no nonsense models in every respect with a high level of technical specification. Here’s a selection of pictures to whet the appetite – I think these will fly off the shop shelves. A full review with more detailed pictures will feature soon in British Railway Modelling.

153334 is dressed in London Midland City livery – one that really suits the model very well. Features include all-wheel drive, creep control motor and a 6-pin DCC interface socket. This view (above) shows the rebuilt cab end with plated over windows and exhaust port.

The original Class 155 cab as modelled on 153334. Note the separate footsteps for access to the door at this end of the model.

Central Trains operated a fleet of Class 153s on routes such as Wolverhampton to Walsall, Lincoln to Cleethorpes together with Stafford to Stoke-on-Trent services, to mention a few. This model is a powered version and numbered 153333. The model has working running lights which have separate switches on the underside of the model. A light bar connection is also included for interior lighting.Liveries are nicely applied and compare well with published photographs. 153302 is presented in East Midlands Trains’ colours.

Working couplings fitted to a cam mechanism are applied to both ends of the Class 153 model. Running a Dapol Class 156 and 153 together is simple. A dummy Class 156 model could be easily powered by a Class 153 whilst a powered Class 156 would handle a dummy Class 153 with ease.

The use of dummy and powered versions of Class 153s and 156s together with a neat and compatible coupling system makes multiple working flexible and enjoyable on a layout!Dummy and powered Class 153s coupled together. The ploughs are supplied as separate detailing parts and easily fitted to mounting holes in the underside of the model. The dummy CT model is numbered 153383.The roof pops off easily to gain access to the interior for fitting a decoder and interior lighting bar.

Dapol has hidden the drive mechanism and motor under the interior seating unit, leaving the windows clear of obstructions – a neat feature introduced with the Class 156.

A neat livery finish, nicely defined details and an overall good shape makes the means the Dapol Class 153 meets the expectations set by the Class 156. Good technical details including working running lights, a DCC interface socket and interior detailing makes this a sure winner – i am sure you will agree! If you have notplaced a reservation on one by now, do so as soon as you can – they won’t last long!

I would like to thank David Jones of Dapol for the opportunity to look over and photograph the Class 153 models.

A significant milestone is passed.

Completing the ‘Down’ line of the Top Deck layout, my EM gauge scenic test track, saw the running of the first through trains;  not simply shuttling from staging yard to staging yard. The honour of the first train was handed to 47 761 ‘Isle of Iona and the South East TPO set. Whilst the run was uneventful (nothing fell off the rails), it became clear that some fettling of the scenic side track would be needed. more trains had to be run and those track defects in need of fine tuning carefully noted.

Heading off, down grade in the Dover direction. The curve at the end will be hidden in a tunnel through a chalk cliff.

Although this ballast train is running ‘wrong line’, I consider testing of track in both directions with a variety of stock formations, not necessarily prototypical, to be important. I am looking for rough rail joins, unevenness that can only be accurately detected during a running test and power supply problems.

Crossing over from the ‘Down’ to ‘Up’ lines slowly, observing how wheels react to the track formation. I was already unhappy with the turnout to the left and in front of the Class 47 in this picture and it was soon lifted for modifications.

Checking clearance as the ballast train leaves the on stage part of the layout. There will be a curved back scene at this location separating the scenic side from the staging yard side seen in the back ground. Much tidying up remains to be done before my first running session with friends this week.

As much running as possible was done with as many locomotives as possible. Weaknesses in some of the fleet soon become apparent and those poor performers were soon identified for fine tuning of their own. This process of testing and refinement can take weeks and was completed before work on laying the ‘Up’ line commenced. Wet and dry paper is used to smooth burrs from tail joins, gauge tightening on curves is sought and corrected and tightness through turnouts eased and checked.  With running tests in both directions on the ‘Down’ line complete, placing the ‘Up’ line followed before letting my friends loose on it. Should be fun!

Onwards and upwards with track.

Sometimes, I wish I only modelled OO gauge instead of EM gauge. Hey-ho, now I have to build and lay a great deal more track. Work has started on the Kent Coast mainline in the scenic area of the Top Deck layout and that means I cannot just slap any old thing down. The picture above shows the placing of the Down line close to the position of the back scene. The curve and curved turnouts are a compromise – the real cross over is straight. In this design, to have brought this facing cross over to the front of the layout would have to reduce the length of train stabling and turn back roads to 8 coaches instead of 10. Not an acceptable compromise in that direction. So, curved turnouts it is! This illustrates one of the points about modelling a linear structure such as a railway in oblong shaped rooms – eventually, the design has to incorporate a un-prototypical  right angle curve to avoid it hitting the wall!

Sleepers placed in the Down direction. A hefty piece of wood provides a good straight edge for this stretch of line. Remember, this layout theme is supposed to be a scenic test track for my British outline models but is fact becoming a fully scenic model! A turnout is placed where there will be a trailing cross-over.

The same turnout looking in the Up direction.

Sleepers are individually placed on the Plastozote foam track bed before the rail and fixings are added. This type of concrete sleeper is by C&L Finescale and passes muster. It’s a long winded process but the end result looks good.

In goes the first running rail composed of Code 82 flat bottom rail: heavy enough for a mainline. Fixings are trimmed Pandrol clip and base plate mouldings by Peco.

Roller gauges set the correct gauge as the second running rail is fixed into place. Wiring and testing is not far away. I am considering a different approach for the sleepers on the Up line to speed the track laying process up and to introduce a different type of concrete sleeper. After that comes the conductor rail!

Track building for the Top Deck layout.

Remember the Top Deck of my fixed home layout? Well, things have been quiet on the blog front because I have made little progress worthy of reporting  – waiting for some track building tools to arrive – from Canada. I was far from keen on the hand filing of Code 83 flat bottom rail for turnout building without help. Furthermore, I as not hugely enthusiastic about copper clad sleeper turnouts on the scenic part of the layout (shown above) either, so decided to try C&L Finescale Timber Tracks turnout bases for the main line trackage; each one is laser cut from very high quality plywood.

I very much like the Fast Tracks turnout building tools, made in and supplied from Canada. I was first introduced to them when I bought an N scale turnout kit for five curved turnouts for the Montana Rail Link layout. I immediately saw the value of the point form tools for building the track on the top deck layout and for future use. The filing jig for HO/OO gauge switch blades and crossing vees is shown above: One for a No.5 angle and one for a No.6 angle turnout. They will accommodate rail sizes from code 70 to 100. You can buy jigs for smaller rail sizes too to enable construction of turnouts in N and Z gauge – see below for an N gauge one:

This curved turnout (above) is to 9mm gauge or N scale using Code 55 flat bottom rail. Built for my US-outline Montana Rail Link layout, it took an hour to build using the various point form tools and jigs supplied by Fast Tracks as a kit of parts.

Insert the rail, clamp up and file away until the correct profile for switch blades or crossing vee rails is achieved.

A lovely jig for soldering up the crossing vees accurately!

A combination of Fast Tracks point form tools,  C&L Finescale Timber Tracks turnout bases for UK practice and Peco Individualy track components has resulted in some pretty convincing flat bottom rail turnouts for the Kent Coast main line part of the top deck layout. Whilst such tools and turnout bases may seen expensive, the tools will last almost for all of my remaining modelling career and the laser cut point bases are brilliant to use. Furthermore, the resulting turnouts look far better and with better looking detail than those I may have built from copper PCB sleepers. And…no burnt fingers!

A new addition to the fleet…

I could not resist the limited edition Class 57, 57 601 offered by Model Rail magazine! This special issue Bachmann OO gauge loco has since been equipped to work on my EM gauge ‘Top Deck’ layout, allocated to charter traffic.

A very fine looking machine it is too. 57 601 is one of my favourite locos and it has spent time up here in the Highlands working the Royal Scotsman. It has been to Kyle of Lochalsh during its recent career, a far cry from its beginnings on the Great Western.

Here’s the finished article, ready for traffic – a simple piece of work, really. Internally, a 21-pin decoder is fitted for use on the Top Deck layout which currently runs on Lenz equipment. However, with the imminent arrival of Duplex radio from Digitrax, that may change (my N scale layout on the lower and middle decks already works with Digitrax equipment, so another power district could be established very easily). Hornby air pipes decorate the bufferbeam and a Kadee is fitted at the opposite end. EM gauge wheels and a coat of light weathering to the underframes and exhaust ports on the roof completes the picture. This model replaces the FGW Class 57 which I once used on ‘Platform 4a & 4b’. A worthy successor!

Colourful Class 156s from the Midlands…

Dapol is keeping up its end very nicely keeping N gauge modellers well supplied with models and livery variations. The latest pair of Class 156s I have had the chance to look at are the East Midlands Trains version pictured above and the CT version shown below: very contemporary and colourful too.

One of my favourite liveries is Central Trains colours, now obsolete. It is a bright colour scheme and suited these units very well. Dapol has made a good job of it, not too garish an interpretation, which was always a risk with this one in model form.

Working couplings at the outer ends enable manual coupling of units, one of the many features of this remarkable model. The outer and inner end couplings are designed for close coupling with a choice of gangways for use on sharp or shallow radii curves.

That’s close…yet the vehicles coupled like this will go round my 16 inch minimum radius curvature on my US outline layout without the gangways catching.

Each coupling is fitted with a cam mechanism enabling the coupling gap between the gangways to open on curves as seen above…

Each model has one driven car with all-wheel drive and the mechanism hidden below the window line enabling much of the interior to be modelled. Flush glazed too!

Working light and 6-pin DCC socket in both powered and unpowered vehicles (accessible through a removable roof) and no light leakage into the cab from the LEDs all adds up to an impressive package. Oh yes, don’t forget the lighting bar connection inside for interior lighting. It’s model with much going for it and I like the fact it has ‘presence’ too, something that Dapol seems to be good at capturing. My thanks to David Jones of Dapol for allowing me to photograph and feature these models. They should be in model shops soon!

DRS fights back…with Class 37s on the Highland line.

DRS has started operating a new intermodal service to and from Inverness, probably in response to the loss of the Tesco traffic to rail freight operator, DB Schenker. Currently being run as a trial for Russells, the service made its first run yesterday. It was photographed at Moy with 37 038 in charge shortly after its 09.22 departure from Inverness.

Following a short recess in the loop at Moy, the train was caught on camera at Tomatin. Weather: changeable, but some brightness allowed for some reasonable photography.

I also took the opportunity to take update my library with shots of the north bound sleeper (Culloden Moor)) and the London bound Highland Chieftain (Feabuie):

Whilst we all hope that DB Schenker will reverse the fortunes of EWS by becoming more aggressive in winning freight contracts, we also hope that they would target road bound flows to increase rail freight’s market share, not work to take traffic from other operators, especially those that did work to secure business from road haulage. Sadly, in the case of the Tesco train from Grangemouth to Inverness, that is not the case. This scene of blue DRS Class 66s on the Tesco train on the Highland line will soon cease to be from November. As enthusiasts, we must never take anything forgranted on this railway of today! Things change so quickly, so photograph it as and when you can.