Lemington docks.... end to end
Lemington docks.... end to end
Well, after 2 years of constant busyness I have finally been able to commit to building an end to end layout. I looked at many options for what to model and truthfully felt frustrated there is too much I want to achieve and time and space will not permit it. I want to model valleys and viaducts and through stations and branch ends and industries and on and on. So I decided I will build modular end to end layouts that can be stored in a shelving system on the garage wall, out the way and easily setup for running sessions and joined together to allow a larger layout. This way I can model for the forseeable future when time permits and at no point will things become overwhelming. I can model areas I want to model one at a time.
Lemington roundy round was great and the kids loved it but the downside is it is so large and seems to spend more time propped up than being used as it is so bulky to move around.
I decided on a dockside layout that will consist of a through running line to a siding with access to the docks. The dockside track will be paved/ concreted so Im using up some of my code 100 here. The exposed running line and siding I have some code 75 on it's way from Kernow model rail centre. One of the only online sources I found with bullhead rail and points available.
So I knocked up some boards today, nothing special. 2 boards at 1200 long each so 2400 joined. So here is the basic plan and the boards.
There will be a long dockside service line with a crane, a tramp steamer in place that Im going to widen the hull of a 1/360 titanic and build something a bit like the S.S Robin. A tug will sit at the other end.
On a quick side story we took the kids to the rail museum on my birthday last week. During the 50s/ 60s before diesel power took over , Qld ordered a number of Beyer Garratts. One was restored to running condition in the early 1990's and my grandparents took me along on her maiden outing from Brisbane to Laidley which from memory was quite a few hours run each way. At one of the stations we stopped at my Grandfather took me down along side the locomotive and I remember being in awe of the sheer size of her and the massive driving wheels.
I was surprised to see the locomotive in the museum on loan from Queensland Rail, unfortunately once again needing restoration but fantastic to show her to my kids. Oliver sitting on the front and standing young William near those massive driving wheels.
Cheers,
Josh
Lemington roundy round was great and the kids loved it but the downside is it is so large and seems to spend more time propped up than being used as it is so bulky to move around.
I decided on a dockside layout that will consist of a through running line to a siding with access to the docks. The dockside track will be paved/ concreted so Im using up some of my code 100 here. The exposed running line and siding I have some code 75 on it's way from Kernow model rail centre. One of the only online sources I found with bullhead rail and points available.
So I knocked up some boards today, nothing special. 2 boards at 1200 long each so 2400 joined. So here is the basic plan and the boards.
There will be a long dockside service line with a crane, a tramp steamer in place that Im going to widen the hull of a 1/360 titanic and build something a bit like the S.S Robin. A tug will sit at the other end.
On a quick side story we took the kids to the rail museum on my birthday last week. During the 50s/ 60s before diesel power took over , Qld ordered a number of Beyer Garratts. One was restored to running condition in the early 1990's and my grandparents took me along on her maiden outing from Brisbane to Laidley which from memory was quite a few hours run each way. At one of the stations we stopped at my Grandfather took me down along side the locomotive and I remember being in awe of the sheer size of her and the massive driving wheels.
I was surprised to see the locomotive in the museum on loan from Queensland Rail, unfortunately once again needing restoration but fantastic to show her to my kids. Oliver sitting on the front and standing young William near those massive driving wheels.
Cheers,
Josh
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Welcome back Josh.
Aha Lemington Docks at last! I'm looking forward to this build.
Wow that Garratt is certainly magnificent I'm sure William and Oliver were suitably over awed.
Aha Lemington Docks at last! I'm looking forward to this build.
Wow that Garratt is certainly magnificent I'm sure William and Oliver were suitably over awed.
- Stainsacre
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Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Sounds a sensible approach, how long is the track expected to take to arrive?
- RailwayRobbo
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Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Looking forward to following your progress on this.
The layout looks to be a similar size to 'Robinson Road Goods Depot' I am building at the moment.
A dockside/quay layout was one of the options I considered along with the goods depot and engine shed layouts.
I don't really have an interest in boats so it was always going to be 3rd choice.
Pete (RailwayRobbo)
The layout looks to be a similar size to 'Robinson Road Goods Depot' I am building at the moment.
A dockside/quay layout was one of the options I considered along with the goods depot and engine shed layouts.
I don't really have an interest in boats so it was always going to be 3rd choice.
Pete (RailwayRobbo)
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
G'Day Gents
Nice, like a good 'Dockside' layout, For the Importation of Coconuts, I take it.
Love the Garratts, used to follow and photograph them on The SAR back in the 60's.
Nice, like a good 'Dockside' layout, For the Importation of Coconuts, I take it.
Love the Garratts, used to follow and photograph them on The SAR back in the 60's.
EDGWARE GN. Steam in the Suburbs
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Thanks for the comments guys!
Dublo you are right, it has been a long time coming. Im looking foward to a positive year as 2020 sucked quite honestly. I am moving through this alongside a couple of other pet projects, one being a Millennium Falcon build I have had sitting in a box for years and the other is my building a 1928 chevrolet into a vintage boat tail race car ... like a brooklands speedster.
Stainsacre I had the points arrive but have been notified the bullhead flex track is on back order... quite sure the website showed in stock when I ordered. Anyway, I can start sizing up the code 100 for the paved areas as the code 75 points can be mocked up in their positions. Theyre a work of art for off the shelf points.
Pete I cant say I have an overly huge interest in boats either or ship modelling but I do like the old steamers. I will have to look in on Robinson Road Goods Depot.
Manna those photos of the Garrats are brilliant! Thanks for sharing them!
Ive got a job through the shed tomorrow but once thats out the way I hope for a little time on this project at some point in the next few days. I am going to start assembling the tug and steamer models and want to get some track down.
Slightly off the railway modelling but for those interested I did manage some modelling/ diorama building late last year although these were done as gifts for family members. An Airfix B17 and an eduard P51-D.
Cheers,
Josh
Dublo you are right, it has been a long time coming. Im looking foward to a positive year as 2020 sucked quite honestly. I am moving through this alongside a couple of other pet projects, one being a Millennium Falcon build I have had sitting in a box for years and the other is my building a 1928 chevrolet into a vintage boat tail race car ... like a brooklands speedster.
Stainsacre I had the points arrive but have been notified the bullhead flex track is on back order... quite sure the website showed in stock when I ordered. Anyway, I can start sizing up the code 100 for the paved areas as the code 75 points can be mocked up in their positions. Theyre a work of art for off the shelf points.
Pete I cant say I have an overly huge interest in boats either or ship modelling but I do like the old steamers. I will have to look in on Robinson Road Goods Depot.
Manna those photos of the Garrats are brilliant! Thanks for sharing them!
Ive got a job through the shed tomorrow but once thats out the way I hope for a little time on this project at some point in the next few days. I am going to start assembling the tug and steamer models and want to get some track down.
Slightly off the railway modelling but for those interested I did manage some modelling/ diorama building late last year although these were done as gifts for family members. An Airfix B17 and an eduard P51-D.
Cheers,
Josh
- PinkNosedPenguin
- Posts: 1689
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:23 pm
- Location: Wiltshire
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Hi Josh, your plans for a modular layout sound great - like you say it allows small manageable sections to be built in isolation, but then joined up together when you feel like it
.
Will you motorize the crane? I've just started playing with an arduino and servos which could achieve up/down and swivel quite easily . . .
P.S. I love Garratts too - here is one on the Welsh Highland Railway (shipped to the UK from South Africa, though originally built here of course at Beyer Peacock in Manchester)



Will you motorize the crane? I've just started playing with an arduino and servos which could achieve up/down and swivel quite easily . . .
P.S. I love Garratts too - here is one on the Welsh Highland Railway (shipped to the UK from South Africa, though originally built here of course at Beyer Peacock in Manchester)
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
PinkNosedPenguin wrote:Hi Josh, your plans for a modular layout sound great - like you say it allows small manageable sections to be built in isolation, but then joined up together when you feel like it.
Will you motorize the crane? I've just started playing with an arduino and servos which could achieve up/down and swivel quite easily . . .
P.S. I love Garratts too - here is one on the Welsh Highland Railway (shipped to the UK from South Africa, though originally built here of course at Beyer Peacock in Manchester)
Thanks for the photos! I had not seen a narrow gauge Garratt before. And it is amazing how many items get shipped overseas only to find their way back home. .
I had not considered motorising the crane. My plans were to start with the basic airfix crane and modify it. While the design is prototypical it seems to be rarely seen in real world use, compared to the often seen Stothert and Pitt cranes. I would be interested hearing, if you have time to share with us, more on the arduino and servos.
So after contacting Kernow model rail center they advised me that they do not know when they will have Bullhead rail back in stock and have refunded me. They have been great to deal with, I can't speak highly enough of the service I received.
Through ebay a seller has popped up with the bullhead rail in stock here in Aus so I have ordered 10 lengths through them.
Cheers,
Josh
- PinkNosedPenguin
- Posts: 1689
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:23 pm
- Location: Wiltshire
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Info on my arduino and servos on my workbench thread here https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=52217&start=300#p689675 - it's a work in progress...
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
So after many months finally a solid update. Ive been working on this for about 4 months now, clearing a permanent space in my shed and relocating storage/ shelving to allow for a permanent bench top. Coming up with a track plan and purchasing track. And there was no point having an update until there was something solid to report.
The entire scope of the build has changed. I really wanted something to have a lot of operational interest and just be lots of fun. Unfortunately due to the size my plans of using code 75 bullhead rail have gone by the wayside as it is far too expensive for me to build a substantial amount of trackwork using it. The bullhead rail and points Ive purchased I suppose I will shelve for
future projects perhaps. I've settled back on code 100 to once again take advantage of existing materials I already had and all our existing locos and stock.
The basic dockside remains with some alterations to the plan but now we have an extension to the harbour station, small engine yard and some industrial sidings.
All the tracks just basically in place, nothing fixed yet.
The outlay is still as an end to end, I will place a removable board on either end of the entry and exit curves for setting locos. This also allows me to add removable scenic extensions as time permits.
The Dockside, with 2 sidings and 2 industrial sidings. ( the buildings are just being stored there)
The lead up to the station
Lemmington harbour station station, in the background there's a siding I plan to go to a dairy.
The small engine yard, there will be a 2 track engine shed and the run around to the turntable
The exit from the station and the siding to the industry in the corner
Apart from the dairy I'm keen for some input as to suggestions for the other industries for the railway to service. As was a suggestion some time ago for a munitions works that could still be a fun idea and delivering munitions for shipping.
Where Lemminton was built with a scenic flavour I want to keep Lemmington Harbour looking quite industrial. Im really keen for some feedback.
Cheers,
Josh
The entire scope of the build has changed. I really wanted something to have a lot of operational interest and just be lots of fun. Unfortunately due to the size my plans of using code 75 bullhead rail have gone by the wayside as it is far too expensive for me to build a substantial amount of trackwork using it. The bullhead rail and points Ive purchased I suppose I will shelve for
future projects perhaps. I've settled back on code 100 to once again take advantage of existing materials I already had and all our existing locos and stock.
The basic dockside remains with some alterations to the plan but now we have an extension to the harbour station, small engine yard and some industrial sidings.
All the tracks just basically in place, nothing fixed yet.
The outlay is still as an end to end, I will place a removable board on either end of the entry and exit curves for setting locos. This also allows me to add removable scenic extensions as time permits.
The Dockside, with 2 sidings and 2 industrial sidings. ( the buildings are just being stored there)
The lead up to the station
Lemmington harbour station station, in the background there's a siding I plan to go to a dairy.
The small engine yard, there will be a 2 track engine shed and the run around to the turntable
The exit from the station and the siding to the industry in the corner
Apart from the dairy I'm keen for some input as to suggestions for the other industries for the railway to service. As was a suggestion some time ago for a munitions works that could still be a fun idea and delivering munitions for shipping.
Where Lemminton was built with a scenic flavour I want to keep Lemmington Harbour looking quite industrial. Im really keen for some feedback.
Cheers,
Josh
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
On wow Josh, this layout is looking very interesting already.
From browsing through old photos of London's Albert dock and the Canning Town area. I was immediately struck by the large number of cranes and the amount of Warehousing. Over in Woolwich there was of course the munitions factories.
There is quite a number of vintage photos on line.
I'm looking forward to watching Lemmington Dock and now it's additional Station develop.
From browsing through old photos of London's Albert dock and the Canning Town area. I was immediately struck by the large number of cranes and the amount of Warehousing. Over in Woolwich there was of course the munitions factories.
There is quite a number of vintage photos on line.
I'm looking forward to watching Lemmington Dock and now it's additional Station develop.
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Dublo wrote:On wow Josh, this layout is looking very interesting already.
From browsing through old photos of London's Albert dock and the Canning Town area. I was immediately struck by the large number of cranes and the amount of Warehousing. Over in Woolwich there was of course the munitions factories.
There is quite a number of vintage photos on line.
I'm looking forward to watching Lemmington Dock and now it's additional Station develop.
Thanks Dublo!
I will be sure to check out some photos online. Crane's have been a hard subject. Seems I have little choice to either scratch build or settle for an airfix or the similar heljan kit. Neither of which are really all that correct for british railways but do make ease of an off the shelf kit.
Also during the year I had built and modified a Walthers railway tug kit. Needs some heavier weathering it seems, looks grimey to the eye though. When I was a kid I enjoyed the star tugs so was painted in the appropriate colours.
Cheers,
Josh
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
It appears that building docks is the theme for the beginning of the year.
Another layout to follow.
Love the Walther's Railway Tug. How long and wide is it? Looking for something similar for my layout.
Glencairn

Another layout to follow.

Love the Walther's Railway Tug. How long and wide is it? Looking for something similar for my layout.
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
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
glencairn wrote:It appears that building docks is the theme for the beginning of the year.![]()
Another layout to follow.![]()
Love the Walther's Railway Tug. How long and wide is it? Looking for something similar for my layout.
Glencairn
Thanks Glencairn!
The tug is 9.5cm wide and 37cm long.
I cut down the cab from the higher railway tug positioning.
It's not a well molded kit, lots of clean up, reminiscent of 80s model kits. But it does build a good looking tug!
Cheers, Josh
Re: Lemington docks.... end to end
Just a small ( though time consuming) update.
After many hours I have some 35 pairs of droppers soldered in place and connected. Im waiting for the DCC controller to arrive now. I won a Hornby East Coast Pullman set on Ebay and the Hornby DCC will be ample for me only running one or two trains at a time, I can imagine 3 at best but cannot be over zealous on an end to end. And apart from a P2 with sound, that I can finally run, there's really no other accessories on any of my older locos. Plus buying the set gives me 2 more locos plus stock.
Earlier this year I gifted myself a Hornby J15, it is a brilliant model and one of the smoothest runners I've ever owned. Even under DC control the low speed running is perfect. Heres a picture of her on Lemmington viaduct and she did the honours of (under DC control) running the entire layout to test the live wiring.
My next job is to straighten up all the track sections and fix in place.
Cheers,
Josh
After many hours I have some 35 pairs of droppers soldered in place and connected. Im waiting for the DCC controller to arrive now. I won a Hornby East Coast Pullman set on Ebay and the Hornby DCC will be ample for me only running one or two trains at a time, I can imagine 3 at best but cannot be over zealous on an end to end. And apart from a P2 with sound, that I can finally run, there's really no other accessories on any of my older locos. Plus buying the set gives me 2 more locos plus stock.
Earlier this year I gifted myself a Hornby J15, it is a brilliant model and one of the smoothest runners I've ever owned. Even under DC control the low speed running is perfect. Heres a picture of her on Lemmington viaduct and she did the honours of (under DC control) running the entire layout to test the live wiring.
My next job is to straighten up all the track sections and fix in place.
Cheers,
Josh
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