My Latest Model Adventure

[mpeffers]

Part way through building a model railway but I need a few questions answered. It's set in BR(W) in the 1950's which seems to be the most flexible with stock without those depressing end of steam scenes (i.e. I don't need to weather everything!). It's on two 4'6''x2'boards with the platforms capable of holding 4 (!) coach trains (but only just).



The first is signalling. Looking at it, I'm thinking a home starter at the end of each platform and a ground signal at the end of the headshunt but i know b****r all about signals (and I can't buy any books on it because I'm 13 and over £20 in debt to my dad).

The second is ballast. My first layout was just painted cork underlay but this one's going to be ballasted. I've heard several pointers such as use N gauge stuff and use a variety of colours but has anyone got anymore advice. It will be really appreciated because it could screw up all the work so far.

Finally, is there anywhere I can get some decent Mk1s. I like the Bachmann ones but ther're very expensive (£16 each at my local model shop and I want about 20!(£320)). The end's still a long way off so I've got time to save up but amongst that I want a rake of those Collets in Crimson and Cream which are due for re-release aswell as Hornby Grange, BR 14xx + Crimson and Cream Autocoach and a new buffer for my 45xx which I lost somewhere.

Thanks for reading all of this (all 257 words of it). Any help will be really useful.
Thanks, Matt

(PMs or Post are preferable because I don't check me e-mails much!)

Photos soon.

[spartacus]

For ballast colours I'd try and find some colour photos on the web, than doing a mix and match of different colours to get it right.

The size of the ballast really depends on what you like. Although in general N gauge is most accurate for OO, there are exceptions.

Hornby, and earlier Lima both do/did Mk1s, although the Lima ones are only likely to be available second hand, they are more common than most Lima models, and as the Bachmann model is superior to both Hornby and Lima, prices for these tend to be low. Don't forget there's also the Hornby 'B set' coaches, which techincally should come in a pair.

Not too hot on signalling myself either, but maybe a look at a well signalled MSTS route with a station with a similar layout could give you ideas?

[colinjamesporter]

You could look around for Ratio signal kits they are about £6 each and have the lever and cord to operate them and signalling digagrams of prototype stations on the instruction if that helps
thabnks colin

[Simming]

On the end of the platforms you should have Like you said, Home Signals, with a dolly for entrance into the loco shed, and headshunt.



you should have a Yellow Shunt for the headshunt which allows you access to the Yard, and the platforms



and there should be an ordinary shunt for exiting the loco shed



also, for entry into your platforms you would want a signal like this, which gives you call-on, and you can go into both platforms



hope this helps (images linked from Signal Box.org

[LNERandBR]

The Bachmann Mk 1's are Exalent Ive got some Blue and Grey ones.

They come with a bar which fits into the NEM coupeling pocket. This bar looks like Vacume and Steam Heat Pipes and make the coches close coupled increasing realism.

You should use N gauge ballest as the OO gauge stuff looks too big.
It dosent matter about the colour because you should weather the whole lot (darker in loco sheads and where loco's stand)

Another tip is to use Fine Scale (Peco Code 75) Track. This looks loads better then the code 100 track.

Even in the 1950's some locomotives were muckey. Aim for a balence some locos very lightly weatherd some so dirty you carnt see the numbers. Remember everything got muckey even Ex-works locos have some muck

[spartacus]

One poblem with code 75 track is you may experience some problems if you run old rolling stock as the flanges can be too long for the rail height!

[arabiandisco]

remember that in the 50s, a lot of pre 1948 stock would still be running, so you don't want to populate the whole lot with mk1 carriages. In fact, the majority of stock on a secondary line like the track plan suggests this would be would be GWR stock, with occasional mk1s (more of them as you get later in the decade though)

[mpeffers]

remember that in the 50s...

Not quite. I'm just a bit too young.

A lot of pre 1948 stock would still be running, so you don't want to populate the whole lot with mk1 carriages.

But there are only a few suitable BR liveried pre-nationlised coaching. I will get the ex-collets when they come out and, as I like them so much, they will be regularly out. I will leave mail trains to 1 or 2 MK1 Full Brakes (or possibly a few wandering Thompsons as they've been on special offer.)

(Thanks No. 1)

I'l try Ratio for the signals. Are each separate of am I going to have 10 ground signals on my hands

(Thanks' No.2 (for the signal diagrams) and 3)

Even in the 1950's some locomotives were muckey. Aim for a balence some locos very lightly weatherd some so dirty you carnt see the numbers. Remember everything got muckey even Ex-works locos have some muck

I have bought the occasional mucky loco but, as the trackplan is designed for the engines to be on show as you need at least two of them to deal with any train (apart from the autocoaches), I'll just stick to the RTR weathered stuff.

(Thanks No.4)

I've decided to stick to code 100 because all of our current MK1s are the older hornby one with large flanges and I'm ballasting but I may paint the sleepers brown because the black is a bit unrealistic.

...a station with a similar layout.

Out of interest, does anyone know of one?

Thanks, Matt

[Tomnick]

On the end of the platforms you should have Like you said, Home Signals, with a dolly for entrance into the loco shed, and headshunt.
...
you should have a Yellow Shunt for the headshunt which allows you access to the Yard, and the platforms
...
and there should be an ordinary shunt for exiting the loco shed
...
also, for entry into your platforms you would want a signal like this, which gives you call-on, and you can go into both platforms
...
hope this helps (images linked from Signal Box.org

That's about the shape of it! An additional signal (advance starter!) after leaving the station, just before the loco shed siding diverges, might be useful - if there's space available - with an additional disc routing into the loco siding.

As for the home signal protecting entry to the platforms - not so sure that the miniature arm applies to the main routes; in that example, it's likely that there was a third route into a siding? Could be wrong though. In reality, there'd probably be a separate miniature arm for each route, directly underneath the relevant main arm.

I've just had another idea, but it's ridiculous and I can't explain it properly without a diagram (unless you want both me and you to get very confused), so I'll leave that for now...

[mpeffers]

...a station with a similar layout could give you ideas?

Out of interest, are there any? The model 'Bradford Road' follows similar principals but that's fictional aswell.

[spartacus]

I know S&C 1920 and Yorkshire coast tend to be well signalled, and although most stations are through stations, the should be something useful.

[mpeffers]

I know S&C 1920 and Yorkshire coast tend to be well signalled, and although most stations are through stations, the should be something useful.

Both big routes I haven't got. I did have Yorkshire Coast but, having backed them up to reload MSTS, MSTS wouldn't then work with any routes that predate it's reload.

[mpeffers]

Slight Update. Brought the final point I need today, hoping to start tracklaying in a few minutes.