'O' Gauge Model of Heaton Lodge Junction

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And here is the same embankment two hours later after prolific use of the static grass gun and some other bits..

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There was often patches of gravel on the banks at Heaton Lodge in the 1980's. Presumably to do with a bit of civil engineering. Here, a permanent way track machine known as a GP Tramm is giving me a hand laying some ballast.
The eagle eyed among you will notice it still has Network Rail badging on. Its awaiting BR logos and some filthy weathering..

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Finally the AWS ramps are being installed before the huge signal gantry..

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The cables that run alongside real railways actually do on the model too. I find it easier to glue down 3 cables for each 4 ft board and then cover them with concrete trunking leaving the odd lid off as on the real thing. I kind of like knowing the cables are there even though they are of no use!

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Here is a reminder of what just 30ft looks like. There is another 20ft to add to this so with 50ft complete we have another 130ft left to go.
Time to rent an industrial unit me thinks

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yorkieboy said:

Any updates....

Thanks for the interest..I'm busy on the main junction right now which will probably take me a month to totally complete so I'll post some pics round about then when its complete

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demic said:

Dread to think how many hours I've sat at 554 waiting for a TPE to pass. Days maybe if you add it up! 552 is still in existence too. Both the no4 feathers route you on the Up L&Y these days.

I'm totally blown away by this, the track has been rationalised, the embankments are more overgrown nowadays but its instantly recognisable. Brilliant work. I'll be over this section of track four times tonight, I'll be looking for errors

Just saw this. Thanks for the positive words!
As I've said I'll be posting pictures of the gantry (HM552 & HM554)and the junction there (as in the photo)in the next few weeks.
Cheers

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demic said:

Dread to think how many hours I've sat at 554 waiting for a TPE to pass. Days maybe if you add it up! 552 is still in existence too. Both the no4 feathers route you on the Up L&Y these days.

I'm totally blown away by this, the track has been rationalised, the embankments are more overgrown nowadays but its instantly recognisable. Brilliant work. I'll be over this section of track four times tonight, I'll be looking for errors

By the way, you didn't happen to work the route in the 1980's did you?

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A little update..

the first double junction has taken an age to hand build but is now almost complete.
All the detail you see is authentic even down to the Westinghouse point motors and whats more everything works.
The diamond crossing is actually a switched diamond - quite common in the 1980's and is similar to two 'Y' points back to back.

In a month or so I'll update with the junction in situ with all the lineside detail, huge gantry and scenery..

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miniman said:

It's amazing isn't it? I have to remind myself that it's somewhat bigger than OO, but nonetheless if I was attempting it, it would be a pile of bent scrap in the corner within 15 minutes!

I haven't built the point work, needless to say if I tried my efforts would end up the same

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Bit more railway porn here.

Today the first ever loco ran on the model of Heaton Lodge. the chaps who construct the frames and electrics spent a day fettling some of the frame joins, connected the electrics and 40057 started down the line with a few Heljan flats and it ran faultlessly. So smooth too given the weight of an model '40 (3KG's).
What you see is about 44ft still another 140 odd foot to go.

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NinjaPower said:

I was also just wondering the same.

I'll organise a day just for PH's to come and view before it goes on the exhibition circuit.It'll be about a year yet though.

In answer to the questions about a loop - yes the trains disappear under bridges at each end of the scenic section. They then travel under covered curves out of view of the public before entering into a fiddle/marshalling yard the same 180ft length. This has 12 siding where trains are stored and then sent round the scenic/public side when required..

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A snap of part of the track plan showing the fiddle yard at the rear and the opposite side the 4 main lines (which by then have split into 6)

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Scale speeds most definitely..

The scenic part is around 40 x 4ft long by 4'6''/5' wide boards.
The yard the same length but a lot more track for the siding obviously.

I wanted it so it's possible to simply watch trains go by continually hence the loop. Should take about 10/11mins for a heavy freight train to do one complete circuit at scale speed.

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Mini update..

The first of two double junctions is almost complete and awaiting ballasting and the fitting of the replica point motors and point heaters. The chap who builds the track for me is almost as mad as me detail wise and has even scratchbuilt the dummy point motors from the drawing supplied by Westinghouse the original manufacturer!
Soon this 12ft long junction will come to me for scenic detailing, and lineside track circuit transmitters, speed signs, and the huge gantry.
Here is a reminder of the actual junction..