ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Well after literally months of thought and head scratching I have finally made a start on my small layout.
One grey, wet lock down day I was sat in the layout shed deep in thought. I decided that the only way to store this new small layout would be to devise some support structure above the fiddle yard of PETERSDALE. Then I had a 'light bulb' moment and realised not only could I store the layout above the fiddle yard i could also work on it and operate it in that position. I sold a set of ladders that had hung just above the fiddle yard for many a year without use. This gave me sufficient height for my back scene against the wall. As can be seen from the pictures the Layout shed back wall is made of stone. The wall tapers off a bit towards the far end of the Layout shed so that had an impact on the width of the new layout as I didn't want too much of a hangover into the centre of the shed. Unfortunately the plastic covers that had been on the fiddle yard had to be sacrificed because of the way the support structure was fixed on.
The original fiddle yard with the plastic covers.
The support structures in place above the fiddle yard. The 2 pieces of timber running the length of the fiddle yard will support the new layout baseboard.
NOTE: The front timber is not fixed down as it is twisted and warped. I only put it on for effect to show the final shape of the support structure.
One of the problems I thought I would have was would the gap below the top of the support structure and the base of the fiddle yard be enough to easily put in and get out locos and rolling stock. Thankfully the gap is high enough to do that quite comfortably.
I placed 1 of the 2 boards I use for running in locos on top of the finished structure to see how the layout would sit. The top of the board is round about chest height for me. I do have a little platform I made for myself to stand on and reach across into the corners on PETERSDALE. So it looks like I'll be using that to gain that extra 3" or 4" more height I'll need. I'm hoping to have a small over hang of 50mm at the front of the uprights along the length of the layout, This will give me final measurements for the baseboard of 2100mm (long) x 550mm (wide). To gain a little more length I am going to make a detachable 600mm extension to the fiddle yard of the new layout that will span from the end of the new layout across to the back scene at far end of PETERSDALE. The fiddle yard on the new layout will only be 2 tracks so the extension board won't be very wide.
I bought some laser cut ultra low relief northlight factory exteriors from In The Greenwood. I placed them om the baseboard on a piece of timber roughly the height of a platform to see how they looked.
MORE TO FOLLOW TOMORROW.
One grey, wet lock down day I was sat in the layout shed deep in thought. I decided that the only way to store this new small layout would be to devise some support structure above the fiddle yard of PETERSDALE. Then I had a 'light bulb' moment and realised not only could I store the layout above the fiddle yard i could also work on it and operate it in that position. I sold a set of ladders that had hung just above the fiddle yard for many a year without use. This gave me sufficient height for my back scene against the wall. As can be seen from the pictures the Layout shed back wall is made of stone. The wall tapers off a bit towards the far end of the Layout shed so that had an impact on the width of the new layout as I didn't want too much of a hangover into the centre of the shed. Unfortunately the plastic covers that had been on the fiddle yard had to be sacrificed because of the way the support structure was fixed on.
The original fiddle yard with the plastic covers.
The support structures in place above the fiddle yard. The 2 pieces of timber running the length of the fiddle yard will support the new layout baseboard.
NOTE: The front timber is not fixed down as it is twisted and warped. I only put it on for effect to show the final shape of the support structure.
One of the problems I thought I would have was would the gap below the top of the support structure and the base of the fiddle yard be enough to easily put in and get out locos and rolling stock. Thankfully the gap is high enough to do that quite comfortably.
I placed 1 of the 2 boards I use for running in locos on top of the finished structure to see how the layout would sit. The top of the board is round about chest height for me. I do have a little platform I made for myself to stand on and reach across into the corners on PETERSDALE. So it looks like I'll be using that to gain that extra 3" or 4" more height I'll need. I'm hoping to have a small over hang of 50mm at the front of the uprights along the length of the layout, This will give me final measurements for the baseboard of 2100mm (long) x 550mm (wide). To gain a little more length I am going to make a detachable 600mm extension to the fiddle yard of the new layout that will span from the end of the new layout across to the back scene at far end of PETERSDALE. The fiddle yard on the new layout will only be 2 tracks so the extension board won't be very wide.
I bought some laser cut ultra low relief northlight factory exteriors from In The Greenwood. I placed them om the baseboard on a piece of timber roughly the height of a platform to see how they looked.
MORE TO FOLLOW TOMORROW.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
I think I'm going to enjoy this !
Not exactly a light bulb moment, but a crazy laughable thought. Remember the good old autochanger
with records stacked ? How about doing it with layouts ? Several in a stack and move the one you want
at any given time to the top to either use, or work on.
Geoff T.
Not exactly a light bulb moment, but a crazy laughable thought. Remember the good old autochanger
with records stacked ? How about doing it with layouts ? Several in a stack and move the one you want
at any given time to the top to either use, or work on.
Geoff T.
Remember ... I know nothing about railways.
http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Fo ... 22&t=32187 and Another on http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Fo ... &sk=t&sd=a
http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Fo ... 22&t=32187 and Another on http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Fo ... &sk=t&sd=a
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Isn't there a vertical fiddle yard on the market for loads of money?Dad-1 wrote:I think I'm going to enjoy this !
Not exactly a light bulb moment, but a crazy laughable thought. Remember the good old autochanger
with records stacked ? How about doing it with layouts ? Several in a stack and move the one you want
at any given time to the top to either use, or work on.
Geoff T.
It gracefully appears from below the baseboard and stops at whatever level that the next train you want to run is stored on.
Going up. Next stop Mixed goods hauled by 4F 0-6-0 consisting of 8 wagons and brake van.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Love the idea, RailwayRobbo.
You could have rope haulage from one level to the next. (There's a challenge. )
Glencairn
You could have rope haulage from one level to the next. (There's a challenge. )
Glencairn
To the world you are someone. To someone you are their world.
I Cannot Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought
I Cannot Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought
- luckymucklebackit
- Posts: 3712
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:05 am
- Location: Eaglesham (Again)
- Contact:
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Goods yard over a fiddle yard - sounds familiar
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=33932&start=465#p654209
But you have decent clearance
Jim
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=33932&start=465#p654209
But you have decent clearance
Jim
This Signature Left Intentionally Blank, but since I have written this and I intended to do it, this Signature is intentionally not blank. Paradox or What?
My layout - Gateside and Northbridge
My layout - Gateside and Northbridge
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Yep, it's the NelevatorRailwayRobbo wrote:Isn't there a vertical fiddle yard on the market for loads of money?Dad-1 wrote:I think I'm going to enjoy this !
Not exactly a light bulb moment, but a crazy laughable thought. Remember the good old autochanger
with records stacked ? How about doing it with layouts ? Several in a stack and move the one you want
at any given time to the top to either use, or work on.
Geoff T.
It gracefully appears from below the baseboard and stops at whatever level that the next train you want to run is stored on.
Going up. Next stop Mixed goods hauled by 4F 0-6-0 consisting of 8 wagons and brake van.
Originally available for N gauge, it is now available in OO gauge.
From what I've heard there is a long lead time once you've paid your money!
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Thanks for that Jim.luckymucklebackit wrote:Goods yard over a fiddle yard - sounds familiar
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=33932&start=465#p654209
But you have decent clearance
Jim
I have a feeling that the track plan for ROBINSON ROAD will look very similar to the one here.
Pete
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
I can't remember if it was on here or another model railway forum but a guy had built his own version.roganty wrote:Yep, it's the NelevatorRailwayRobbo wrote:Isn't there a vertical fiddle yard on the market for loads of money?Dad-1 wrote:I think I'm going to enjoy this !
Not exactly a light bulb moment, but a crazy laughable thought. Remember the good old autochanger
with records stacked ? How about doing it with layouts ? Several in a stack and move the one you want
at any given time to the top to either use, or work on.
Geoff T.
It gracefully appears from below the baseboard and stops at whatever level that the next train you want to run is stored on.
Going up. Next stop Mixed goods hauled by 4F 0-6-0 consisting of 8 wagons and brake van.
Originally available for N gauge, it is now available in OO gauge.
From what I've heard there is a long lead time once you've paid your money!
He made a decent job of it as well.
Just had a quick look at their website.
Can't seen to find any mention of the price
Says due to backlog of work they are not currently taking new orders and also you have to fill in a 'registration of interest' form to get to know the price.
Pete
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Next step is to build the baseboard.
The original plan was to modify the 2 boards I use for running in my locos .
That would have involved reducing the width of both boards and shortening the length of one.
They both have MDF tops so they would need replacing.
So I've decided to build a new one piece baseboard instead.
The usual form of construction softwood frame and ply top.
I don't have a final track plan yet but I have got an good idea of the layout of the depot platforms.
They will be at the left hand end of the layout in the corner.
The main platform will run along the backscene then turn at 90 degrees at the end of the layout.
There will be a scond (shorter) platform running parallel to the main platform.
I have yet to decide the lengths and width of the platforms.
There's a rough layout of the platforms below.
The original plan was to modify the 2 boards I use for running in my locos .
That would have involved reducing the width of both boards and shortening the length of one.
They both have MDF tops so they would need replacing.
So I've decided to build a new one piece baseboard instead.
The usual form of construction softwood frame and ply top.
I don't have a final track plan yet but I have got an good idea of the layout of the depot platforms.
They will be at the left hand end of the layout in the corner.
The main platform will run along the backscene then turn at 90 degrees at the end of the layout.
There will be a scond (shorter) platform running parallel to the main platform.
I have yet to decide the lengths and width of the platforms.
There's a rough layout of the platforms below.
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
I'd been scouring the internet for some suitable buildings for the depot for quite a while.
Finally I decided on some from a company called "In The Greenwood".They are constructed of 3mm ply.
I want to upgrade the buildings on ROBINSON ROAD from the Metcalfe card models (as good as they are) I'd used on PETERSDALE to laser cut 3D models.
I chose the Northlight Factory Ultra Low Relief models from their range.
With ROBINSON ROAD I want to include more detail such as lighting etc. that I didn't include on PETERSDALE.
I'm thinking I'll cut the peaked roof off and replace with a flat roof so losing some unnecessary height.
The 3 different designs they supply are shown below in the pictures. All 3 are 200mm in length and look like they can be cut in half to make a shorter piece. At the moment I'm not exactly sure how long the depot platforms will be. That will depend on when the track layout is finalised. The depot buildings will be a mix of all 3 designs.
The depot buildings will have a canopy running the full length of the platform.
The second platform will have a freestanding canopy (also from In the Greenwood) running up part the length of it.
The door on the first design can be placed in an open position.
Finally I decided on some from a company called "In The Greenwood".They are constructed of 3mm ply.
I want to upgrade the buildings on ROBINSON ROAD from the Metcalfe card models (as good as they are) I'd used on PETERSDALE to laser cut 3D models.
I chose the Northlight Factory Ultra Low Relief models from their range.
With ROBINSON ROAD I want to include more detail such as lighting etc. that I didn't include on PETERSDALE.
I'm thinking I'll cut the peaked roof off and replace with a flat roof so losing some unnecessary height.
The 3 different designs they supply are shown below in the pictures. All 3 are 200mm in length and look like they can be cut in half to make a shorter piece. At the moment I'm not exactly sure how long the depot platforms will be. That will depend on when the track layout is finalised. The depot buildings will be a mix of all 3 designs.
The depot buildings will have a canopy running the full length of the platform.
The second platform will have a freestanding canopy (also from In the Greenwood) running up part the length of it.
The door on the first design can be placed in an open position.
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Baseboard construction delayed due tobathroom redcoration
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
Are trains going to run through a shower?RailwayRobbo wrote:Baseboard construction delayed due tobathroom redcoration
Glencairn
To the world you are someone. To someone you are their world.
I Cannot Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought
I Cannot Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
We had a mini monsoon yesterday. Really hammered it down. The layout shed roof is still in good nick after 15 years. Still no leals.glencairn wrote:Are trains going to run through a shower?RailwayRobbo wrote:Baseboard construction delayed due tobathroom redcoration
Glencairn
- RailwayRobbo
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:32 pm
- Location: Deepest, Darkest Northants.
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
I was finally released from my bathroom decorating duties at the weekend. It was time to go forth and see what timber was available at the local DIY stores.
Wife went on a scouting mission to B&Q (she was returning something she'd bought) and came back with the news there was plenty of 2" x 1" but not a lot of Ply unless I wanted big sheets of 18mm. I'd previously been to Wickes but they had absolutely nothing.Anyway it got more important I at least got some timber for the baseboard frame when BoJo announced he was considering putting all us over 50s (I'm well over) under house arrest to try and stem a second wave of the virus.
I did manage to get some decent lengths of 2" x 1" but 6mm or 9mm ply was nowhere to be seen.
Tomorrow I will start the build.
Stay safe.
Pete - RailwayRobbo
Wife went on a scouting mission to B&Q (she was returning something she'd bought) and came back with the news there was plenty of 2" x 1" but not a lot of Ply unless I wanted big sheets of 18mm. I'd previously been to Wickes but they had absolutely nothing.Anyway it got more important I at least got some timber for the baseboard frame when BoJo announced he was considering putting all us over 50s (I'm well over) under house arrest to try and stem a second wave of the virus.
I did manage to get some decent lengths of 2" x 1" but 6mm or 9mm ply was nowhere to be seen.
Tomorrow I will start the build.
Stay safe.
Pete - RailwayRobbo
- Bufferstop
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- Location: Bottom end of N. Warks line
Re: ROBINSON ROAD GOODS DEPOT - Layout No.2
You can't keep a good idea down, it's 12 years since I pitched my layout at chest height, and for me it has no downsides. I operate it single handed so there's not much chance to sit down, and chest height gives a really good viewing height when standing, it equates to viewing it from a second or third floor window overlooking the scene, or the top deck of a passing bus, which I are much more the sort of angles we are used to in the real world. Table top height is only natural for helicopter pilots!
I use an office kick stool to gain the bit of height needed to work comfortably into the corners, fortunately the room has a good level wooden floor, I wouldn't recommend using one on a carpet or an uneven floor though. Two little bonuses when it come to scenics, it's much easier to envisage the backscene when your eye is close to the horizon level, and that awkward transition of roads from 3D into the backscene can be hidden by a slight rise then fall in ground level just in front of it. Looking forward to see the progress.
John W
I use an office kick stool to gain the bit of height needed to work comfortably into the corners, fortunately the room has a good level wooden floor, I wouldn't recommend using one on a carpet or an uneven floor though. Two little bonuses when it come to scenics, it's much easier to envisage the backscene when your eye is close to the horizon level, and that awkward transition of roads from 3D into the backscene can be hidden by a slight rise then fall in ground level just in front of it. Looking forward to see the progress.
John W
Growing old, can't avoid it. Growing up, forget it!
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions