Hi all,
As promised, a quick progress update!
Plenty has happened since the last post at the start of October, which is probably a good thing or it would be time to panic! I'm pretty comfortable that with a deadline of 'end of the first quarter 2019' I am still more or less on target even if it looks like there's still a lot to do... I'm still enjoying working to the deadline and it's certainly helping inspiration wise.
I've now ballasted the 'main' lines - for this I've used Woodland Scenics fine ash ballast, which was a bit of a nightmare to lay due to the small size of the granules! I think it looks about right for a freight only branch...
On the industrial lines, I felt this was still too large, so instead have been using DAS for ballast - while slow, this does look good to my eye. I'm progressing back along the second siding now and only have around 16 inches left to go so the end is in sight.
The building visible is a laser cut Rowmark kit from Stonebridge Structures, a company I came across almost by accident while reading the EMGS newsletter one evening. As I was looking for an LNER standard sectional hut, this was ideal... the overall inspiration coming from the one that stood at the junction from the ex GC mainline and he industrial line into Orgreave coking plant and colliery.
Still some detailing to go but it's fitting into the scene quite nicely. There are also a couple of mucky oily puddles which have been made from microscope slides as per Gordon Gravett visible in he foreground, which I am pretty happy with so far.
I've also got the JCB I'm planning on using as the coal yard workhorse painted, the annual modelling competition at the local club this week spurring me on with this side project! I've reworked the Dapol kit a fair bit but am more than happy with the outcome.... it's not perfect by any stretch but that was never the idea, more to produce something looking noticeably better than the kit that blends into the overall atmosphere of the layout.
Finally, as I don't think I've shown them in any real detail before, here are the signals for the layout. Mark Tatlow kindly offered to build these for me and the results are spot on, thanks Mark!
LNER ground disk. This will control access from the industrial line into the main yard.
This ex GC square post signal will control access to the 3 main sidings/loops., each calling on arm controlling a different route. The arms are Upper Quadrant presumed to have been replaced during LNER days, as per a couple of examples at Orgreaves.
Finally, there is this LNER round post bracket signal, controlling the exit from the sidings - the bracket will control movements on and off the BSC lines. This will lead to a slightly unusual method of operation with trains having to stop in the sidings then draw forward before being released by this signal... this was deemed a good idea to slow down the overall pace of operation, quite an important thing on a small layout.
Think that's about it for now! I'll try and get the next update out in less than 2 months time!
Chris
