Love Lane, B.R. (E) c.1956-59

Peter Insole

Western Thunderer
It does look rather like an oasis of calm and serenity this morning? Not quite so yesterday though, with all hands at the pumps! I'm tempted to say that there was a magnificent turnout as well; but it doesn't show in John's photograph...!!

Pete.
 

Osgood

Western Thunderer
I've not yet seen a layout with a fully scenic fiddle yard (not to say its not been done) - just looking at the vast expanse in the photo above, doesn't it seem a shame to cover it with (even) a fully scenic Whitemoor Yard, when it could happily house a layout the size of Love Lane - of possibly totally different era / location (even Oz....)?

Of course the track layouts (and rolling stock gauge) of both scenic sides would have to be designed to accommodate an alternative use as fiddle yard for whichever side was being operated.
 

Oz7mm

Western Thunderer
Questions questions

Graham - the overall size is 38' x 19' approx. the plan chest came from the BBC courtesy of my daughter, it was heading for the tip. Criminal. It won't be going to Warley, or anywhere, it (they actually) weighs a ton.

Heather - I was going to apologise for how untidy it is.

Osgood - the idea is that the fiddle yard will double for my project eventually though that will be a bit longer. I have toyed with the idea of accommodating both layouts but I haven't worked out how to do it yet.

As for getting it all to a show, Colin (eastsidepilot of this parish) still has his HGV licence.

John
 

7mmMick

Western Thunderer
Wow, the layout looks impressive. Out of curiosity what is the width and length of the room? There seems to be ample working space around the layout.

Mick R
 

Oz7mm

Western Thunderer
Mick

The room is 22' wide so there's about 3' clear on the left side of the picture. The overall length is 50' with a further 10' for the worshop at the end behind the camera.

John
 

Martin Long

Member
John (and crew)

Most impressed with the set up. Cannot help but notice that there is a generic similarity to the NEEGOG test track drawings I let you have! They have lasted 30 odd years so these will undoubtedly do likewise. The suggestion about the fiddle yard is a good one and worth some consideration. It will certainly be a mighty system when completed.

Martin L.
 

Oz7mm

Western Thunderer
Martin

Thank you. I think you can definitely claim we have plagiarised your design. Very quick to build. If they last 30 years, that will do me.

John
 
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Martin Long

Member
Col

You are probably on dodgy ground here. From what I have seen on Youtube, Oz yards look much the same though the track can be quite rough. The yard will have to have some thought as there needs to be reversing roads available so that the push pull and the branch freight can turn back on the single track part. (I am assuming the LL yard will only be shunted by the pick up goods on its return from Epping/Ongar points west.) The operation will need to be very slick when it does go out. I also think the layout will benefit from a front of house person who will be on the public side to take questions and explain what is happening thus allowing the clever dickies actually running the system to concentrate on the job in hand. (Yes I am volunteering for that post as I cannot run DCC!)

Martin L
 

Eastsidepilot

Western Thunderer
Col

(I am assuming the LL yard will only be shunted by the pick up goods on its return from Epping/Ongar points west.)

Martin L
I think that the way the yard is laid out on the up side the pick-up goods would shunt when running out on the down side, the out bound run.
As far as ex GER yards go it's a bit back to front, in reality, I think, the head shunt would be road behind the platform with the yard along side the loco road, but we've got what we've got.
The way I see it is that the goods halts at the end of the platform on the down side, any wagons to be dropped off would be uncoupled from the train, drawn forward to the road bridge, reversed into the up road, then drawn into the head shunt to access the siding or loading dock, any empties or loaded being pulled out first and left on the up while placing the loaded or empties that are required for the yard being shunted into place.
The loco would then collect the wagons from the up and draw up to the bridge again to shunt onto the down and couple up to it's train.

All very fussy but try and shunt the yard from the other direction ? :D

The whole consist would then work it's way up the branch to the terminus shunting all the other yards on the way, the run back on the up being non-stop, that's if it don't get a signal check.

Col.
 
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