New Layout Ideas - Carstairs Inspired Layout

[matt1471]

Thanks great you still have the original plans. Thanks for sharing them with me. We really useful as I had only made the track plan from photo references, so they have really helped.

I wonder how the layout is now? I would love to have the extra space, but I think 26+ft is a bit much to ask the wife for!!

Anyway, after much fiddling and changing, I think I've now got a final plan of the layout including the fiddle yard which took me ages to think about to allow for each road to change and move to one another.

I'm sure there any many 'experts' out there.....any advice would be gratefully received before I commit to building!

Thanks
Matt

[Gordon H]

One of the main points of interest in operations at Carstairs was/is the splitting and combining of Glasgow and Edinburgh sections of trains.
To do the southbound combining you might want to consider extending the Up Loop line to allow room for the Edinburgh loco and coaches before they back on to the Glasgow section after it arrives on the Up Main. One way to do this would be to add a headshunt to the loop line, which although not quite prototypical, would give more room for this activity.
Something like this:

[luckymucklebackit]

An interesting feature of the Carstairs signalling was the two "permanent red" signals mcx and mcy, on the up main and up loop, they were the first of their type on the UK network and allowed passenger trains to be signaled under a main aspect rather than a shunt signal. The Edinburgh portion would be signalled into the loop or main line under main aspects before reversing back into the platform.

Jim

[matt1471]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the information and advice. I've added a headshunt as Gordon suggested and I'm interested to know more about the signalling and location of the two red's that would be displayed.

I've had to reduce the size of some of the boards to make it fit better into my room, so here is what I hope to be a final version of it all now.

[luckymucklebackit]

Here is the signalling diagram for Carstairs Station

CARSTAIR.GIF (10.66 KiB) Viewed 1563 times

Jim

[matt1471]

Were the two permanent reds a single aspect signal?

Off to get my wood cut tomorrow so hopefully can start baseboard construction!

[luckymucklebackit]

Were the two permanent reds a single aspect signal?

Off to get my wood cut tomorrow so hopefully can start baseboard construction!

They are standard two aspect signals of 1970s vintage, the upper aspect is plated over with no hood fitted, cant find a photo unfortunately

Jim

[matt1471]

I'm starting to now work out the block detection sections for Carstairs.

Can anyone assist as to how best to design this please?

Thanks
Matt

[luckymucklebackit]

I don't know if this project is still in the planning stage, but on a journey south on Wednesday the train I was on was checked while approaching Carstairs and passed the fixed red signal at a slow enough speed to get a snap off.

Carstairs Fixed Red Signal

Hope this is useful

Jim

[matt1471]

Brilliant, thanks for that Jim!!