The Bigbee Line

So last Thursday Linda and I set off for Kent. The layout was set up on a cobbled together stand (I'd been studying the Ian Rice book on Cameo layouts and tried to utilize some of the theatrical tricks. The layout was operated with various locomotives. I think the best was the Dapol 08 with a Paul Chetter ( http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/user/9747-pauliebanger/ ) decoder and sound file. The best 350 shunter I've heard in a long time. With momenton and F2 for the brake, really drivable. This layout has inspired me to continue the build within the existing length, didn't realise how much you can get in that space. Just need a nice green curtain to go underneath..

The 17th July saw some ballasting, rail painting and a lighting test. The lighting is B&Q 2 x 1 metre strips of LEDs.

I made a trip to Great Eastern Models in Norwich and purchased some bargain tins of Humbrol, 3 for a pound, bargain.... The Matt Grey dried quite dark with a sheen, what was I going to do. During a rummage I found this very old tin... July 1990, part used, but still good to go. Added a little thinners then dabbed / dry brushed / scrubbed it over the sleepers. It dried nice and light. Once ballasted there will be further weathering / distressing. Base ballast is coarse sand that will be blinded over with fine stuff.

As this layout it would get beyond the normal stages I thought I'd better push the boat out and get figures etc, another first for me. I looked on the net and could get a 1000 for 50p from China, but looked for some that were better painted and stumbled across www.detailedminiatures.co.uk A telephone call was made and the proprietor was most helpful and resulted in 5 figures heading my way courtesy of the royal mail. Splendid chaps they are.. No connection, just a very satisfied customer. I became a sort of 'johnny morris' ad-libbing for the little men. 'Who left that coupling like that....." etc etc

By the 8th July track was down and test running using the switching units for the frogs

The basic structure was completed on day 2. The cross members were strips of the same ply, with thinner ply forming the sub base for the track. Note the neat glued and screwed (countersunk, no less) construction. I astound myself at times... I did consider brown foam as a next layer, but decided to keep to the innovative theme and use laminate floor underlay

I'm normally starting a layout and then getting diverted onto something else.... Short attention span or a too vivid imagination I'm not sure... I had decided to build a layout for the Lyddrail Challenge; Various rules, main ones being the size; 4'8.1/2" long x 12" wide max, with a 2 square foot fiddle yard. I had considered and started a Southern based quayside set of sidings. But during a tidy up in the shed (I have many, usually not too successful) I looked at my O gauge track pinned to a shelf for shunting. Hmmmmm, somewhere I had some 4" strips of ply. Maybe a lightweight minimalist O gauge layout. Inspired by the W Hardin Osborne layout for Christmas. Construction began on 3rd July and it was on its first outing on the 21st July.... Here shown set up and running: Proof of start date : This is the main structural member, a plywood L girder.. Track plan After consulting the adjudicator I combined the layout and fiddle yard i.e. no troublesome joint... here is the 'join.. 4198 0811 5183 2805 5868 2606

Phew, a problem shared is a problem halved, glad it's not just me....

My parcel arrived today. The DCC80 units are quite compact with just a few electronic components on the board. I wired the 2 units to a couple of Peco O gauge points. I had previously wired the switch and stock rails together with a fly lead to each loose heeled switch. The wire link from the frog to the closure rails was removed and a wire soldered to the wire link under the frog. Using the Roco DCC system the DCC80 switches worked fine. As the locomotive entered the dead section you could hear a slight click as the relay operated. Seem simple enough. Forgot to mention, the loco is a Dapol Terrier with Sound. That works fine with no hesitation when negotiating and switching the frogs. I did wonder if the sound would stutter, but it was faultless. The feed to the track was connected with wires soldered to fishplates rather than direct to the rails, to enable changes to be made if required. The wiring below is not in its final position Pictures now uploaded

I've ordered 2 and need to get them fitted ASAP. I will send some pictures of installation and report on how they perform.

It's a code for shunting. Paul will shake a packet of smarties and add one to each wagon. You've then got to shunt to suit the markers.

Howes did the Heljan spares, very nice.

I do not wish to join the current debate but to make the following comments: 1) Fire when out of control is a dreadful thing. It can spread at speed beyond comprehension. 2) With all the current regulations etc there is one insidious enemy - Risk Assessment... In 2002 I qualified in 'Quantified Risk Assessment', in basic terms you look at the risk (cost) of a process killing someone, then put mitigation in place to prevent that loss. The calculations to calculate that risk can be frigged to get the result you want... In one exercise during the course, that was brimming with acronyms, the instructor asked how I got a particular result. I replied an application of MTF. MTF he asked, what's that? Massaging The Figures was my reply. Long face and mumbles from the instructor. Risk assessments are OK, but there needs to be some kind of checking / audit process. In my view the risk assessment would suggest that sprinkler systems were made mandatory. The only issues being timescales to fit and maybe some government financial assistance in fitting. That's my two cents, lets see what the enquiry reveals.. Oh one last point. A big hats off to the emergency services, their professionalism was first rate. I such circumstances it is so easy to get carried away and become yet another casualty, very well done boys and girls.

Is this some kind of late starters competition? Maybe a layout themed around a glint in the milkmans eye......

I think it's the old TOPS office in one of the pictures. Defective wagons were dropped off in the yard. Good location for a layout.

I think it's great. My family know what I'm doing. Most stuff I post is about where we are. Mostly as people may find it interesting and maybe want to go themselves. Through Facebook I have come into contact with people that otherwise I would have never come across. If I need some information quick it can help. There is a group related to one of my jobs. It keeps me up to date better than the proper reporting channels. Finally unless you use no technology; credit cards, debit cards, mobile phone, store cards etc. You are constantly tracked real time. Automatic Numberplate readers track you. Facebook is the least of your worries. Every post on RMWeb will be scanned by American, Russian and Chinese software. I'm sure the Secret Trump Putin hotline is to discus the latest development on Coachmans new track outside the shed....,,

Looks nice. I note the sun is streaming down. What's your philosophy on feeds, fishplates and expansion on the outside bits. If you've explained before excuse my question.

Whilst continuing my workshop tidy up epic I came across a pack of weathering powders. I've never used them before.. I'd made some bargain purchases of Exactrail Gondolas. Unfortunately they were all black. Black models are always 'dead' to the eye and I have an O gauge 08 in black to tone down. I'd thought of using a stick of chalk as the base, but these powders gave the opportunity. Here is the end 'before': Some powder scrubbed in slightly, then brushed off gave this effect: Here is a 'before' on the left and an 'after' on the right: The inside also benefitted from the same treatment, finishing the sides with vertical strokes: Will wear gloves next time as it has dried out my fingers....

Is there a height restriction? That's the layout, not the operator.....

Good morning, just discovered this thread, an interesting read. The Hornby building has potential, just needs a Col. Stephens type canopy over the platform and 'bob's your uncle..' I toyed with the choice of the Ratio or the cast Provender store. Went for the Ration version, then purchased the Southern Concrete book. All very inspirational. I have some of the Wills thick corrugated sheet and can see some Southern style concrete structures on the cards. Keep posting.

I have the same problem when asking for information over the phone or by email. Today I was trying to establish if a left or right hand variation of an item was required.... As peoples idea of left and right hand can vary, I sent a picture of each item, one painted red and the other in primer. Even then it took some doing to establish what they required... Sometimes people answer with the answer that they think will please you.... Sometimes they think by magic that you have the power of second sight and know the answer already. Not sure if it's how there brain is wired or whether it is lack of training... I know that I can struggle with things sometimes, a Lenz manual for me is hard work, probably because I need to familiarise myself with the way its written etc. Anyway, when asking such questions its always best to check the persons answer...

Agreed, you could go back to the end of the checkrail and add a short section of straight, OR avoid crossovers and any reverse curves. I'm sure people with more skill than me will enjoy the challenge.

We are on our third visit. The latest being a week stopping in a cabin overlooking the line near Highley. The line is run like a real railway. Good selection of stock and always something to see. The time spent at Highley has lead to a little on-line research, especially the coal traffic. The site of the 'Engine House' was the sidings at the bottom of the incline from the long closed colliery. There are very few pictures of the freight operation in steam days. I think it would make a good choice for a 'roundy' layout. Short passenger trains and goods trains dropping off empties and collecting the loads. Tonight we had a 15XX tank barking out of Highley on its way to Bridgenorth. The sharp exhaust and powerful whistle echoing off the hillsides. Quite evocative. In the quiet you can hear the trains a long way off, whistling for crossings etc. Reminded me of video clips I've seen of the Norfolk and Western mine runs, not quite as long, obviously, but of a similar theme. Here is the North end of the sidings. The South end, the entrance to what was the colliery sidings is hiding behind the water tower. Also seen is the small cattle dock and the lead into a short dead end siding that runs behind the box. Yesterday evening there was a bonus, in that a special train terminated at Highley and the re-built Battle of Britain ran round its train, through the goods sidings. I have crudely edited out the Rudd wagons and the road rail machine. Not bad pictures from a phone.

I seem to remember reading of plates being used to prevent buffer locking. Trimming the Peco points will mean there is no transition (straight) between the two opposite curves. In an ideal world an short straight would help. I wonder if they'll do a short Y. Not likely to happen, but a curved point to branch off to a loop on the next larger radius. It would be quite long, but look quite smart.