Recent Projects
|
Rickmansworth
|
This is the largest and most complex project we have
undertaken so far. Complicated further by the fact that it was
to be installed on the island of Tenerife.
The layout is based on Rickmansworth on the Metropolitan Railway,
during the time when a change of locomotive from steam to electric
traction was a regular event. The plan of the station is based
on the actual track diagram at Rickmansworth although somewhat
truncated to fit into the available space. |
|
|
| Built in OO gauge and using PECO code 100 track, the
layout measures approx 6 metres x 3.9 metres. It was designed
and built on nine baseboards, sized with transportation in mind.
The design incorporates a lifting flap door section which allows easy
access to the middle of the layout. The room in which it was to
fit was far from square, necessitating a rather complicated baseboard
design. A small branch line station named Croxley is included at
a higher level with ramps connecting it to the main station of
Rickmansworth. Two road and one canal under bridges further
complicated the design of the baseboards. |
 |
 |
| The layout was so large that we could not fully assemble
it in our workshop, so, we built and wired it in two halves. All
points are operated by PECO PL-10E point motors operated from two
banks of PECO Pl-27 Switch consoles positioned adjacent to the two
stations. Power to operate the trains and point motors is
provided by two Morley Vector controllers. All of the
track was ballasted by flock powder mixed with
wallpaper paste.. |
 |
 |
| Once complete, the baseboards were boxed into four large
(and heavy) boxes for transportation to Tenerife. Richard and
Christine from The Goods Yard, traveled out to fit the layout during
early December 2011 and over the period of one week, fitted, completed
and commissioned the model railway. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Once the baseboards had been installed in the room,
track connections were completed and ballasted to match that done back
in our workshop. Uncoupling ramps were added to Rickmansworth
station which allow the hands-free detaching of the electric and steam
during the locomotive exchanges. |
 |
| Ballasted track
and Electric loco at Rickmansworth station |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| This layout is a finescale version
of our standard Twin level 'N' Gauge Model Railway. |
|
|
| The layout is to be based on continental practice which
means that the direction of train travel on the mainlines is reversed,
we have also mirrored the branchline connection. To accommodate
the geometry of the PECO Code 55 finescale trackwork, the overall
length has been extended from 1830 (6ft) to 2743mm (9ft). A
manually operated turntable has been incorporated into an
enlarged locomotive depot area. |
 |
| The layout, which is built on two equal sized
baseboards, also features a detachable switch console which is
electrically connected to the layout by a number of 25 pin RS 232
plugs. Power for the four track sections and the pint motors is
provided by a Morley Vortrak controller |
|
|
| Move
cursor over this image to reveal another view. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Here we have yet another version of
our popular Twin level 'N' gauge Model Railway. |
|
|
| This one has been extended by adding another
baseboard to the right hand side of the original design making an 'L'
shaped layout. The
high level branch terminus station is now a through station and lower
level tracks have been extended onto the second baseboard. |
|
|
| This track plan allows four trains to be run
continuously and adds another station to the design. |
|
|
| Move
cursor over these images to reveal another view. |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| This
'N' gauge model was based on a track plan supplied by our client |
|
|
| The layout measures 8ft x 4ft and consists of four independent
track circuits on two levels connected by ramps and crossings.
The plan was drawn out on CAD to confirm the practicality of the
design, the resulting drawing was later used to produce the complex
baseboard shapes that were cut out by computer controlled high
pressure water jet cutting technology. The baseboard
material is 9mm MDF with suitable timber framing. The upper
levels are supported from the main baseboard level by timber dowels. |
|
|
| Following assembly of the baseboard, the same drawing
was used as a template for track laying. |
 |
 |
| All of the track is PECO code 80 with Setrack points
operated by PECO PL-10E point motors mounted below the
baseboard. The points are operated by a bank of PECO PL-27
passing contact switches. |
 |
 |
| Power for the layout is provided by a Morley Vortrak
control unit. This controller incorporates a CDU for the
operation of the point motors and four controlled outputs for the
operation of the trains. |
|
|
| These views show the completed layout in
our workshop. |
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
Here we have a traditional 'OO' gauge layout,
designed to fit inside a 3320 x 2730 timber shed.
|
 |
The track plan design was based upon a sketch supplied
by our client. We partially redesigned the diagram using CAD to
add more scope for interesting train operations.
The track plan consists of a double track mainline
with a terminus station. There is also a small goods yard
located within the mainlines.
|
|
|
The station is connected to the mainlines by a pair
of double crossings. These allow trains to enter or leave the
station form and to each of the two mainlines. |
|
|
| All of the trackwork is PECO code 100 with Insulfrog
points. Points are operated by PECO PL-10E point motors
mounted below the baseboard. Each of the four baseboards is covered with
1/16" thick cork sheet and one is fitted with an access hatch for
access into the corner of the layout. |
 |
Points are operated from a bank of PECO passing contact
switches. Power for the point motors and the operation of
the trains is provided by a Morley Vortrak four track control
unit. This unit includes an internal CDU providing plenty
of power to operate two or three point motors at the same
time. |
|
| As part of the project, we delivered, installed and commissioned
the model railway inside the existing shed. Thanks to accurate
dimensions supplied by the client, the layout fitted first time. |
|
|
| Although originally intended as a surprise Christmas
present for their son Josh, the secret was soon uncovered. Here
Josh and and school friend Peter, enjoy the newly installed model
railway. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
