Our Initial Layout - 2013
Our initial layout was quite small - not even big enough for 4th radius track and consequently only DMUs and short wheel base stock was run on it. Below are 4 views of the start of the layout - laying track, building a station and a gradient and also a tunnel.
Ballasting the yard. Nowadays I would use clay, coal dust and ash for a more realistic detailed yard surface.
Small coal yard developing
Scratch building the loco shed and using a class 67 to check dimensions.
Signal box in position
Introducing a station halt
Aerial view of the developing yard. Also the cliff work behind which the coal mine would be built on.
Class 108 and 105 DMUs at the station
Another view of Daltnesh signal box before it was 'planted' and a nameboard fitted.
Developing a disused area of the yard. The engine shed had a temporary roof on as we were testing lights. It has been completely re-roofed now and looks splendid.
Views showing the developing coal mine and cable car system. Any blocks of wood showing were to hold something in place as the glue dried.
A rusting Britannia class is forgotten in the disused area of the yard. This loco was from my late Uncle's layout back in the 1960's and no longer worked. Since I wanted to honour his memory I painted the loco in rusting colours and set her to dream of yesterdays on a corner of my layout. I am on the look out for a suitable tender to join her.
Here's another view.
A gallery of views of the completed country coal mine.
Bit out of focus... a long view of the layout from the yard end.
A Coronation Class receives the green light to proceed on the down express line passing an A4 pulling into Daltnesh station while a Caledonian Pug prepares to run around her train to take the local back up to Beristens.
A class 108 passes over a coal lorry as it emerges from the underpass, while other traffic wait at the lights. Passengers can be seen hurrying to catch the train over the footbridge. The peg is pulled off for the local to Beristens and the driver is waiting for the whistle from the station master before hauling his class J83 out of the platform.
A Citroen Dyane pulls in to fill up as traffic waits for people to cross and a taxi awaits fares from the trains.
A banana train is shunted into the yard to await the Black 5 due to take it onwards when it arrives from watering up.
Scratch built wagons behind the diesel refuel point obscure some of the bramble bushes in the embankment.
A scratch built holiday coach.
Weathering a coal wagon
A Castrol road tanker fills up as a class 3 shunts rail tankers into position for unloading.
GWR 0-6-0 waits at a signal with a rake of cream and brown coaches as police apprehend a lineside trespasser. Vandalism has been a local problem recently.
Local fire service out to tackle the lineside fire - not caused by a steam engine this time but due to vandalism. However the police have got their man!
A J72 has its ashes raked out over the inspection pit while a GWR 0-4-0 idles in light steam awaiting its roster for the day.
Aerial view of the developing layout showing the static display pithead in the foreground and the developing tunnel and hillside at the other end.
Yard and road lights twinkle in the gathering dusk.
Since his route ahead is stopped by traffic lights this bus driver figures he won't lose any time by stopping at the zebra crossing, especially as the police have also stopped for the man on crutches.
Soon after completing this layout we sold our house and moved. The layout was dismantled with a view to rebuilding. See the rebuilding of this in the rest of the website.