Dave F.
Western Thunderer
Okay, I've finally had a bit of time off so I thought I should start the thread about 'Wharfeside' as suggested on the 'New members' section of the forum.
I've posted the story behind the layout elsewhere so here is a quick resume`.
Started off as a model of Armathaite on the S&C and first laid down more than thirty years ago. The EM gauge layout languished untouched for long periods over the years whilst I was involved in other peoples OO and P4 projects, sadly it never seemed to come round to my turn for a joint effort and after some hard thinking I decided to cut back on my involvement with other projects to concentrate on my own.
I had continued to build EM stock for the layout and with the goods vehicles OO wheels were temporarily fitted to help stock the OO layouts. The locos of course were built and placed in the display case on the wall.
A few years ago I decided to make a restart on the layout with C&L track components instead of the original copperclad and with the suggestion from a friend of moving the location of the layout to Wharfedale just northwest of Leeds many of the same locos and even trains could be used. The line saw diversions from the Midland mainline through Airedale when that was blocked, closed for maintenance or just plain busy. As well as the regular tanker trains from the NE there was also a good local service using a number of the locos I already had, Fairburn and Ivatt tanks, 2Ps and Compounds and the occasional express loco on the local train to Ilkley, e.g. a Scot with two non-corridors returning to Leeds tender first because the Ilkley turntable was too small!
A change of personal circumstances and a move out of the family home lead my friend to lose interest and go in another direction so I was on my own. Fortunately I was a 'hired help' on the Alloa layout of the ScRSG and with their change of clubrooms there was room for Wharfeside so with their help the layout was transported, assembled and has been worked on for the past few years. Me finishing the C&L trackwork and wiring on the scenic section and some of the lads helping with the construction of the fiddle yard boards.
The fiddle yard trackwork was complete, working and the wiring for the panels started just before the lockdown then the landlord closed the building, so other work was continuing at home. Structures were taking shape, a 5 arch viaduct was slowly being 'stoned', now finished, Signal box and footbridge built from etch brass kits and the goods shed started to replace the cardboard cutout one.
The other end of the yard took a while to get the ballast down and had to wait till I had the Midland Heavy bufferstop cast.
As I said in the New Members section, I'm interested in the look of the track so as I was involved in the test building of some Bill Bedford etches for the BR Mk1 flatbottom track I was able to get some more from Bill to show the type of track that was on the Wharfedale lines.
So I hope you like what I've been doing for half my life and I'm trying to get it finished one day although running trains is great fun.
Dave F.
I've posted the story behind the layout elsewhere so here is a quick resume`.
Started off as a model of Armathaite on the S&C and first laid down more than thirty years ago. The EM gauge layout languished untouched for long periods over the years whilst I was involved in other peoples OO and P4 projects, sadly it never seemed to come round to my turn for a joint effort and after some hard thinking I decided to cut back on my involvement with other projects to concentrate on my own.
I had continued to build EM stock for the layout and with the goods vehicles OO wheels were temporarily fitted to help stock the OO layouts. The locos of course were built and placed in the display case on the wall.
A few years ago I decided to make a restart on the layout with C&L track components instead of the original copperclad and with the suggestion from a friend of moving the location of the layout to Wharfedale just northwest of Leeds many of the same locos and even trains could be used. The line saw diversions from the Midland mainline through Airedale when that was blocked, closed for maintenance or just plain busy. As well as the regular tanker trains from the NE there was also a good local service using a number of the locos I already had, Fairburn and Ivatt tanks, 2Ps and Compounds and the occasional express loco on the local train to Ilkley, e.g. a Scot with two non-corridors returning to Leeds tender first because the Ilkley turntable was too small!
A change of personal circumstances and a move out of the family home lead my friend to lose interest and go in another direction so I was on my own. Fortunately I was a 'hired help' on the Alloa layout of the ScRSG and with their change of clubrooms there was room for Wharfeside so with their help the layout was transported, assembled and has been worked on for the past few years. Me finishing the C&L trackwork and wiring on the scenic section and some of the lads helping with the construction of the fiddle yard boards.
The fiddle yard trackwork was complete, working and the wiring for the panels started just before the lockdown then the landlord closed the building, so other work was continuing at home. Structures were taking shape, a 5 arch viaduct was slowly being 'stoned', now finished, Signal box and footbridge built from etch brass kits and the goods shed started to replace the cardboard cutout one.
The other end of the yard took a while to get the ballast down and had to wait till I had the Midland Heavy bufferstop cast.
As I said in the New Members section, I'm interested in the look of the track so as I was involved in the test building of some Bill Bedford etches for the BR Mk1 flatbottom track I was able to get some more from Bill to show the type of track that was on the Wharfedale lines.
So I hope you like what I've been doing for half my life and I'm trying to get it finished one day although running trains is great fun.
Dave F.
