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Bletchford trent valley - WCML in the garage


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Well where do I start.

During the building of the heatherburn I got sidetracked with a forum project to build a small 'module' that would link to other 'modules' constructed by other forum members with the idea of us all meeting up and joining them all together. The result was Potters lane a small section of Stoke on Trent in 6'x2'. Without wanting to go 'off topic' Potters was later extended with the construction of a second module Trent valley. These two modules form the basis of my show layout AC lines.

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With all the 'problems' associated with the garden railway I decided to call it a day with the Heatherburn and instead build a smaller indoor layout that could be operated all year round in the garage. I did toy with the idea of incorprating the AC lines modules into the new layout but lack of space has prevented this.

So an introduction ..... Bletchford is a mix of Stafford and Bletchley. The layout is basicly a 4 track mainline that runs round the 8'x17' garage. Being a WCML modeller I want to incorprate as many typical features as possable so strating at the garage door trains emerge from the tunnels that are based on the ones at LInslaide. They then pass under a section of motorway before entering the station area. On the right is a very large signal box based on Bletchleys. This has been filpped so to fit the baseboard better. To the left will be a small 3 road shed. At this point 2 inclines start. One will run up behind the station whilst the other runs in front of the station on a flyover again to be based on bletchleys. These lines will eventualy run to an upper terminus station located on the back wall above the storage sidings. Bletchfords station will be basicly an altered version of Stafford. After passing through the station an under the flyover trains swing round to the left over a long curved viaduct that leads to the storage sidings on the back wall. The layout is still in the early stages although I do have one running line down. Most of the track has been recycled from the old garden railway. A couple of pics

The station area

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Mock up of the shed area

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signal box under construction

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A video clip of my APT having a run

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;)

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Got these at christmas.....

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Last night after having a few days off I made a start on the station area. The design of the station is still very much up in the air as I realy wanted an entrance from the road but the road level is considerably lower. One idea I have thought of is to fit a raised taxi rank with bridges similar to Euston. Anyway heres a couple of pics

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Well the video caught my attention as it's got electrics under catenary.

Your new layout looks like it will be interesting. I always am surprised to see the kinds of materials used over there for baseboards. Chip board and MDF, it's sort of frowned upon in the Us model press. Like most things I am sure it has nothing to do with factual information, yet somewhere along the line someone decided ply was the only material for baseboards and it's been perpetuated as a rule since.

i like the shot of all the MU's i the station platform area.

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Now thats an impressive bridge! With regards to baseboards its amazing how many people still rate sundela board. :roll: For this layout cost is a very big factor so rather than use ply i oppted for OSB board. This is 11mm thick and will take track pins easely. ;)

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Well this morning I got board at work and scribbled down a rough design for the station buildings. The buildings will be based on Stafford and I have decided to reposition a few of Staffords features to fit the track plan. At Stafford there is a upstairs waiting room over the tracks. Im going to move this and reposition it over the end of my bay platforms. There is also a distintive lift tower with a big set of br arrows on. This will proberly go on the rear platform buildings to try and hide the rear incline. Im hoping that by taking the same approch as when I built Potters I will end up with a station building that just looks the part.

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Not the best of pics but hopfully enough to give everyone an idea of my vision

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The lower road leads to the bus station and before anyone asks the flyover support sits on a large traffic island.

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All very impressive Dave. I am starting to get inspiration to start on a layout in my loft after 6 years of just talking about it. As it is a howling gale in Norfolk and pretty grim outside, a nice warm indoor layout is extra appealing! A question on the NSE Class 86, how many actually wore that livery? I have seen one at Willesden fairly recently but not sure if that was a one off.

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Cheers Andy. 86401 was the only 86 ever to carry NSE livery and was painted for the inaugraul train to Cambridge. It was returned to NSE livery by the AC loco group and is currently being used to shunt stock about at Willisden. 87012 was painted in NSE livery to mark the end of the use of the class on WCML trains. It was also renamed olympian and the network south east was changed to back the bid. The loco still carries this livery in romania. I was gutted about this repaint as I would have expected 012 to have been repainted in it's 1984 experemental intercity livery. ;)

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Last night I ordered some much needed pointwork. Once it has arrived I can get the rest of the track down in the station area. Provided that I have lifted enough track from outside I should also be able to get the other three loops laid by the weekend meaning that I can have a serious running session with 4 trains running at once !!

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