Neptune Street

[Carl L]

After a break for a holiday and the festive period things are slowly staring to pick up again; more work on the quay side wall, top beams on and the first application of ‘tea bag seaweed’. I’ll probably brush some off, it looks too even at the moment.
The cobblestones have started to go down on the top and the first two fish vans have arrived, a Hornby on the left and Bachmann on the right.



An overall view for comparison with the one earlier in the post. It makes me realise just how much there is to do.

[Hound Dog]

Hi Carl - your layout is coming on great and I love the perspective of the full view, which really brings home the progress you have made and the lovely sweeping curves and numerous features.......to be honest I am a little envious of the space as I feel I am constant compromising and shoe-horning everything into my layout.

You are not alone in having lots to do but I am actually a little concerned that I will miss the construction element, if and when I ever get to the end, although I suspect there is no such thing as a finished layout.

Keep up the good work and the regular posts, as most of us tend to feed off each other for ongoing inspiration and motivation.

Cheers - Richard

[Carl L]

Thank you for the kind comments Richard.

The trouble with the construction stage I find is that you forget to ‘play trains’. I feel sure others will agree. By the time I get round to it I have to spend so much time track cleaning.

[bulleidboy]

Great layout and pictures Carl. Like Richard, I am envious of the space - I love the idea of a "folded eight". I too, spend more time fiddling than running trains. Keep up the good work. Barry

[teedoubleudee]

Wonderful layout Carl, thanks for sharing.

[Dave S]

It is looking Good Carl and reading from first post, nice to see the evolution.
I'm planning a flat 8 to add interest from usual loops and avoid reverse loop (sounds like dance move).
Also thinking of having a port area...and using 2 levels.
On levels:
Not sure what height difference I will have but on say 3 inches including 12mm ply between the 1:30 guide I've seen would mean 90" but would like it to be less.
On your big photo, the rise back left, your incline looks quite short.
What gradient did you go for and with hindsight would you change it. Do long trains struggle?
Dave

[Carl L]

Hi Dave,

The rise on the rear left hand tracks actually starts from the very front of the layout at 0”and climbs to 4” over 132”, a gradient of 1/33. I think it looks deceptively short as the tracks on the inside are on a falling gradient. I had to climb to 4” as the inside tracks are at 1” when they cross (all to do with wanting the lower tracks on the inside on the rhs of the layout).

I’ve not noticed anything struggle up the 1/33; the heaviest I will have run is 5 old Triang/Hornby coaches (with plastic wheels - no pinpoint bearings) with a Bachmann A2.

Have to say I think I’m happy with the gradients.

Hope that helps, more importantly hope it makes sense.

Regards

Carl

[Dave S]

Yes makes great sense thank-you Carl.
Last time I did an incline was decades ago for a branch line to serve a heavy Graham farish pannier tank with metal bodt, so weight was likely an advantage for traction and can't recall the gradient but no going over tracks to contend with.
I've read 1/50 is OK if no long trains and/or have run up.
Thought! Never ran double headers on DC but maybe a steep hillside switch back would be a nice feature I can do.

5 coaches eh. Allowing 10 inches per coach your passengers will want a 50 inch platform.
My last layout was max 3 or 4. It seems to be a limit for us in OO unlike N guage.

I think when I track lay, I'll defer point motors and scenery so I can run and tweak design with hindsight of running.
Dave

[Carl L]

As you’ll see from the overall image of the layout I’ve not succumbed to a station, I just wanted a shed and good yard with a long continuous run.

All that said, I might, and it’s only a might, put a short halt , at best 3 coaches (I have an old 3 coach Lima DMU), in the top right hand corner, the sort of halt to serve a shed, I’m sure they existed. This was to check for space;

[Dave S]

I too favour industrial aspect to coaches. Personally I think more track better but needs some free space for balance, so maybe maximise lower level/hidden sidings (if you haven't already) rather than halt/platform. I see your lift up panel is not one but two tier. Looks good.