'O' Gauge Model of Heaton Lodge Junction

[simonspider]

Just a reminder of where I am on the real thing..this is 1986

[yorkieboy]

Thanks for the updates Simon. Absolutley brilliant.

[RacingPete]

Another great update and step towards the finished project - what's the timeline to finish?

[williredale]

Fantastic work on this!

[simonspider]

Thanks for the kind comments.

I think realistically it will be two years yet.. The finished model will be at the Warley model railway show defo in 2020 but possibly in 2019.
Long term plans are to have it in its own building which would be open to people to come and view a few times a year.

Simon

[Dr G]

You could put it in its own rail car(s) and cart it around the country

[c6r]

i found this a couple of weeks ago and have just finished reading all through it. tbh trains are not really my thing but i have to say this is magnificent. just incredible work.

now i just need to plan a 150ft scalextric track along the same lines

[Wacky Racer]

Thanks for the update Simon, will definitely make time to see the finished layout.

[silverfoxcc]

Simon,
Just about to read your article in Traction.
Great tease not having any pics yet!!!
And love the shot of you 20 odd years ago.

[simonspider]

silverfoxcc said:

Simon,
Just about to read your article in Traction.
Great tease not having any pics yet!!!
And love the shot of you 20 odd years ago.

Thanks..38 years ago though!
There will be more in Traction next time round.
Cheers

Simon

[demic]

simonspider said:

On the previous pic of the junction looking East you may just see the bridge in the far distance with the second identical gantry to the one about to be fitted here. This pic is that bridge and the beginning of the model. Its about 44ft down the line on the model..

Any more progress on the layout? Sad to say that the signal gantry beautifully replicated in the picture has been removed overnight and has been replaced by a boring straight post as the resignalling of the area continues, and the Railway scene changes yet again. Good job your not modelling the present day or it would be a pain to keep up

Edited by demic on Sunday 5th November 22:48

[RacingPete]

Have just read the latest update in BRM on this, would love to see some more pics on the progress of this brilliant layout.

[simonspider]

Thanks Pete.
As an update I've managed to find and rent an old mill basement to house the model in and I'm busy painting the walls, ceiling and floor with 300 litres of paint!
Once this is done I'll be assembling the layout in its entirety (75ft so far) then its back to modelling a section at a time up to 180ft. After that is the fiddleyard of the same length on the other side but thankfully there's no scenery and its off the shelf track..

I'll update in a month or so with pics of what has been assembled so far.

Cheers

Simon

[warch]

OP that is absolutely superb, the attention to detail gives it a truly photo realistic appearance. I like the idea of a long thin layout concentrating on the railway and its immediate environs. If I ever have a model railway, I'd probably do it like that.

Incidentally how do you keep the dust off it?

[simonspider]

warch said:

OP that is absolutely superb, the attention to detail gives it a truly photo realistic appearance. I like the idea of a long thin layout concentrating on the railway and its immediate environs. If I ever have a model railway, I'd probably do it like that.

Incidentally how do you keep the dust off it?

Thanks. I've just got dustsheets over it right now - polythene from Screwfix. However once it is fully finished and set up in its new home I'll probably just vac it now and then as the old mill basement where it will live is surprisingly dust free.

[silverfoxcc]

Simon


how the progress going?

[RacingPete]

silverfoxcc said:

Simon


how the progress going?

There are some stunning photos on the RMWeb site - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/...

[silverfoxcc]

Thanks Pete

Will bookmark it as well

[Wacky Racer]

Been following the "other" thread with interest, can't wait to see the full layout when completed.

The 1960'-80's were my favourite era, and Heaton Lodge junction has fond memories as I used to travel over it a lot from Stalybridge to Leeds in the old five car Swindon Trans Pennine DMU units.

(Seen here approaching Standedge tunnel in Diggle)

.

Great work Simon.

[Bluedot]

Cheeky MkII (or III ??) Capri into the bargain as well