Lacathedrale

I wonder if 3D printed chairs would work for those specialist versions?

A bundle of them are still extant on the main line between New Cross Gate and Croydon - particularly around Forest Hill and Windmill Jct (although I think the latter has some strange angled steel things too)

Unironic use of the phrase 'rabbit warren'

@nick_bastable I think you need to re-host that image or convert it to a link? it's showing up as it can't be displayed.

Interesting stuff - a 30" radius return loop is no small thing to commit to but I guess if you can stomach the stoop/duck under (I imagine significantly more tolerable bisecting a dedicated room than one which has to play double-duty!) then it may well do as written on the side of the tin. Certainly there's a charm all of their own on those early layouts like Charford - in this case, Clapham Junction with a single island - but you're definitely getting your money's worth with regard to run length and operational intensity.

Not always good to show 'how the sausage is made' but for what it's worth, this is the pulled-back view from the above photos:

I'm nosing around for ideas on my 'next' layout and one that keeps surfacing is an SER-era branch line that I can 'forward date' to accomodate my EMUs. Two mandatory locomotives for the earlier period are a Q-class 0-4-4T and an O-class 0-6-0 tender locomotive. The Q class is approx 10% smaller than an LSWR M7 in overalll length and there's about 6" difference in the trailing bogie centre (and the bogie itself is two feet shorter). My thoughts are to use a 3D printed body ontop of the association M7 chassis suitably altered, with a scratch-built trailing bogie. Would that make sense? SER Q-class LSWR M7-class The O class is approx 10% smaller than an equivalent 4F/etc. at a shade under 50' over buffers, but has the disadvantage of a much smaller boiler and an open cab: SER O-class Fowler 4F and Maunsell Q-class Although it would be appreciated I'm not really look for a solution at this point, but rather a confirmation that getting a mechanism into the O-class is not beyond the realms of ability for Mr. All-Thumbs here?

Of note, I also found the following reference in Bradshaw's 1863 guide: There was definitely a view that the branch would bring in significant stone traffic - the Godstone (that 1.5mi distant location) was the site of much quarrying for firestone until around 1900 when better stone from further afield became more economical to source.

Added an annotated photo just for ease of identification: 1936 - annotated 1952 Still no idea how that massive coal staithe was meant to be accessed - there's a tiny area between the goods shed and the nearest goods yard road (where the coal wagons are in the 1952 picture) that could just about be big enough to reverse into and out of, but hardly enough to turn - let alone the extra hundred feet to the coal staithes. Maybe the wagons themselves were used to shuttle coal between the storage bins and the 'commercial' area behind the parade of shops? The ginormous building visible in both adjacent the goods shed is the Capitol cinema, built 1929. In correction to my annotations, it looks like the valley/railway hotel was rebuilt between 1894 and 1936, see here for the original frontage of the Railway Hotel: I've also found a shot in the other direction a few years later, showing the livery stable still in-situ: Lastly, I managed to find a shot of Station Avenue before the new station was built, a young trainspotter hanging over the fence and the name of the coal merchant:

Sadly not, the building noted here with a pink tick was the Caterham Electric Light & Power Co. - allegedly rail served but I can find no evidence of that despite the large door in the lower left corner of the building. 1936 The original station track layout can be clearly inferred in the 1936 photo, the first turnout in my layout plan is that to the right of the new platform's starters, and light coloured ballast on the platform runaround is on the site of the original carriage siding. The dormer roof of the masonic hall is just visible to the right of the blue market on the platform. It's been conjectured that the goods shed was the old loco shed - it's definitely in the right spot. Another thing you can see is the goods roads kinking to the right, they cut over the site of the old platform (leaving just a stump as a loading bank), and the crane is in broadly the same position as the 1899-station. The rear of the Valley Hotel is shown, but the old livery stables on the corner have given way to a parade of shops.

I really need to get started on my locomotive builds. I have a half-built Terrier with no rods or chassis. I'm fairly comfortable (as one can be!) with things above the footplate, but underneath is something of a different issue. I'd like a rough plan before I get started, so I was hoping it would be possible to get some answers to these questions? Find some NS/mild steel to use as a coupling rod - do the rods need to be jointed? If so, how? Utilise the photocopy of the etch and a works drawing I have to draw out and cut a pair of side frames roughly, then tack solder and drill/fettle them as a pair using the couping rods as a guide Set up some form of compensation - presumably continuous springy beams from High Level or London Road? Stretchers and spacers to put the frames scale width apart using gapped double-sided PCB to ensure no shorting Using Gibson axles means no split axle pickup so wipers on the wheel tops, is there a particular recommendation for motor/gearbox I should be aware of? I'm working under the assumption that the smaller the better i.e. High Level Hump Shunter ? I have an NER Y7 from Richard, but in retrospect have zero enthusiasm for the prototype locomotive or railway, still - is it worth attempting that first as it's mostly complete (well, mechanically at least)

Very interested TOU - certainly I've never seen anything like that at the surface of the baseboard. - I agree that it's looking great.

I got a new roof on my SER covered wagon. This is more substantial (and probably over-scale?) but it at least looks better. I'm going to take advantage of archer rivet transfers for the outside bracing - the spacing won't be correct but I'll have the opportunity to see how it looks in anger:

Thanks, Fraser! I think I need a bit of space to breathe before the next tranche of work -which is to sort out the crossing gates and the road. In the meantime, here are some close-in B&W shots:

Well to quote Ulysses S. Grant "Mistakes have been made" - multiple times throughout this project I've thought to myself 'oh well, that's gone awry/good enough - may as well bin the layout and start a real one' - after all, this was really only ever intended to be a quicky to see how working in 2mm was, but it has been pointed out to me numerous times there's value in bringing something to a conclusion, even if it's not perfect. With that in mind I'd be a little reluctant to start hacking away with plywood and filler while I feel that (rightly or wrongly!) I'm close to the final furlong.

Oh, it's finally starting to come together... A view from station road An elevated look of how the bushes are starting to look in context

With regard to my space, I think you're right @Regularity, I've recently accepted the requirement for rationalisation of a proposed 2mmFS plan from an 'around the room' U shape into a single ended shelf layout and I think any S-scale layout really needs to meet those same requrements, i.e. ≤ 10' total, with maximum size of any two boards ≤ 8'. I'd sketch a goods shunting layout some time back based on a Rice plan, which is where those track template boards originate: Top right is a sector plate when the layout is 'displayed', otherwise operation is essentially an inglenook, fitting on one side of my workshop or under/over the 2mmFS layout.

I've just put a bid on the Hawkhurst book - interestingly, that's my family's home town (Primrose Hill) - but I'd not really thought about modelling it despite being dimly aware it had a branch. I also actually drove right through it about a month ago whilst camping near the K&ESR and Bodiam. I kind of hate myself for even thinking of this option: Doesn't have to fit above/below the desk, doesn't have to span the room, doesn't need drop-out sections. Can be expanded to re-introduce the L or U curve if the layout moves to a larger location. Can be exhibited without modification. Can fit into my workshop for building/repairs.

If I remember correctly, EM gauge wheels require 15 thou off the back, or something like that? As mentioned above, there's not much progress on that side of things - shortly after that was complete I had something of a crisis of conscience - I had literally kits, track, stock, etc. in EVERY SINGLE scale from 2mm/ft to 10mm/ft - including all three 4mm gauges! I decided to consolidate the whole lot down to 'just' 2mmFS and S -but it really put a damper on any enthusiasm while the dust settled. I'm blessed to have my own office (10' x 7') and a workshop (8' x 8') but still finding it hard to figure out a layout in either space. I guess it's that old chesnut of 'oh, if only I had another 9 inches...'

More layering of leaves, weeds and shrubs. \ Definitely need to sort out what's going on, on the surface of the lake... Platform fencing just visible on the right...

Thanks both, I'll try that today and report back on the progress. @Ian Smith very good point - this stripper will melt any plastic so good to know. @justin1985 can't find powerspray anywhere locally, hence this medieval stripper!

I'm about to repaint up my first grafar body, a 57xx. It's in BR Black with motifs applied, and needs to be back-dated to GWR. I have access to some GWR middle chrome green spray that I like, but what's the best way to prepare the body? Shoot over the top? Strip the body with dichloromethane (i.e. Power Strip, oldschool Nitromors) ? Cheers,

So the station throat is raised, leading back twards the grain silos? Presumably you're re-using track, how are you fixing it down between rebuilds? What do/did your operating sessions look like?

Well thanks, Rich - @MarshLane - I've not made a huge amount of progress - my most recent scratchbuild went a bit pear shaped so I'm girding my loins to disassemble it. Once complete I'll need to stick wheels under my three wagons and so with that order to the store I would expect some movement on the track front. No rush, this is S after all

Is this a scenario where the old 'toothpaste on the gears' chesnut would help? Certainly the issues that @MrSimon is having with his first chassis were problems I too faced.