Model Railway Forum

Hi,

I have been thinking about what direction I want to take my layout now that it is starting to take better shape and whilst I will for sure retain the BR Blue Scottish based theme ( love my Class 26's and 27's too much), I have over recent months become very interested in the Diesel Hydraulics that ran in the Western region in the 60's / 70's ( cannot recall ever seeing one in the flesh, but have been reading up on these machines and watching the many videos that are available on the web)……...I am especially drawn to the running lines and colours of these locos and the associated coaches and lthough I grew up in a world that was BR Blue, I do greatly appreciate the photos and videos of Warships and Westerns running along the costal routes in the South West in a time gone by...…..I vaguely remember going to Paignton one year for my summer holidays as a small boy on a Motorail service all the way from Scotland, and I do wonder now if the image of trains running alongside the beach stems from that distant experience.

To scratch this itch, I have decided to take a leaf out of "Glencairn's" book and try to have two layouts in one, with "Montgreenan" being BR Blue as previously described, and an as yet un-named layout adopting a more Great Western theme...……..I believe the bulk of my layout to be generally able to span the timeframe between the two, and I think I can switch over things like station signs, road vehicles and other date stamped items quite easily...…..unfortunately I think I am too far into my layout build to now incorporate coastal feature, although there is one corner that has not yet been fully defined, so who knows.

I have been steadily building up my mixed fleet and some recent acquisitions have completed my basic Hydraulic loco fleet ( see picture below). Whilst it will only really work in one direction, I will be still able to occasionally run the odd preservation special with the Hydraulics when the BR Blue layout is in operation.

As a consequence of the above, I will be off-loading locos and rolling stock which do not fit with either of the above, eg Scotrail Class 47 and DBSO, EWS locos and wagons, and will tomorrow cancel the BR Green Sutton Highland Class 24 that I have on back-order - as stunning a model as it is there is no way I can justify £300 for a sound fitted version to sit in the cupboard.

Any suggestions for a Great Western layout name ( needs to be fictional I guess) are gladly welcomed, although I am tempted to go with "Portencross", as I was divided over that when I originally selected "Montgreenan".

Hope everybody is safe and well and enjoying their trains - cheers Richard

PS - Progress being made on the previously reported tunnels and will start with chicken wire and plaster bandages in the coming days, as I build out the terrain.

Hound Dog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:54 pm Hi,

I have been thinking about what direction I want to take my layout now that it is starting to take better shape

To scratch this itch, I have decided to take a leaf out of "Glencairn's" book and try to have two layouts in one, with "Montgreenan" being BR Blue as previously described, and an as yet un-named layout adopting a more Great Western theme...……..

Having two layouts to one track plan I find great. As I 'tire' of running diesel trains, a quick switch and out come the steam locomotives. (and vice-versa ) My layouts are now a lot easier to manage as they are the same area fifty years (or so) apart.

As for a name for the GW side?
At first, I thought Montgreenan was set in Cornwall. Could you not keep them the same?

Glencairn

Enviable passenger station seen. This is done but rarely in the USA, on average.
I can almost feel the chill and smell the grease and hear the rattling and the traffic.

One of the advantages of being grounded at home for the past 30+ weeks has been that I can progress with the layout at a leisurely pace doing an hour or so most nights and a little extra when time permits at the weekend. Despite this it seems like an age since the 14th June when I last posted about the tunnel work I was undertaking, but slow and steady wins the race and the finishing line on this part of the layout was reach earlier today. I have put so much into this small area of the layout that I don't really know where to begin to try to put it into words, so I will just let the pictures try to tell the story............more to follow in a second update.

Hope everybody is safe and well, and enjoying their trains - cheers Richard

Some more pictures from the recent work on Montgreenan, including the rock work that frames the branch line under the bridges and which was built from very many pieces cork.......enjoy - cheers Richard

Nice scenes Richard - I like the girder bridge and there is some nice "greenery" scattered about. Barry.

Richard, I have to compliment you on how good the layout looks - the cottage scene is particular good.

Richard,

Thank you for your reply to my scenic enquiry.

Your 'ground work' is very inspiring, a standard to aim to. Particularly like the areas between the tracks.

I've just had a 'revisit', back to page one and all the way through, you've certainly made faster progress that I have. To use that word again, it is all very inspirational. Keep posting the images.

I think I have the pleasure of the first ballasting this week.

Regards

Carl

Terrific layout and photos, very inspiring

Lovely pictures of a lovely layout.