Makerfield, my 1970s North West UK layout

[meurglysIII]

Well, you learn something every day. Today I learned that stuff you've made, which looks perfectly good to the naked eye, looks not quite so good when you photograph it.

I intend to put together a web page/blog thing detailing the progress of building my attic railway,"Makerfield". It's set in the late 1970s in the area between Warrington and Wigan, hence the name, which is that of the surrounding Borough. In reality, by that time the railway was electrified with overhead wires, but I'm not ready to add those yet.

This is a project which has taught me the basics of woodworking, electrics and modelling in card and plastic. Until I get the web page together, here's a few pics of progress so far.

Over the past week or so I've been building a row of houses based on terraced rows typical in this area. Here's a pic of them nearing completion. Interior lights are fitted to all buildings made so far. I still need to add drainpipes and touch up the painting:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...out/houses.jpg

Here they are in position on the layout. As you can see, the council needs to come back and finish the pavement.

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...ut/layout2.jpg

Another shot of the station area. As this is the 1970s, a period when the railway was in a state of extreme dilapidation, I'm aiming for a kind of drab, skronky northern feel, which is how I remember it. At a later date I will add some station signs, people, and maybe a couple of billboards advertising the latest movies (Star Wars, Grease etc) or XTC's White Music / Drums & Wires LP (to make up for the lack of publicity they got from Virgin at the time....)

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...ut/layout1.jpg

Motive power is currently Bachmann class 40 and 24, which are excellent performers, plus a load of not-so-great Lima and Joueff forties, etc. which I bought second hand but rarely use. More Bachmann stock will be added, plus one of the forthcoming Hornby 56s and a class 108 for the bay platform service to Liverpool, when they release the all-blue, full yellow ends version. (available cash permitting).......

I'm enjoying the process of photographing stuff then modelling it. The houses are based on those alongside the railway near here, the station building is a shortened version of the one at St. Helens Junction, the bridge is based on that at Golborne and my next project is a small industrial building based on this reference:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...ut/joinery.jpg

It's a hobby and it keeps me off the streets.

By the way, the station lamp you can see is obviously not of the corrrect period. It's a Veissmann kit. It should really be the "T" shaped BR station lamp, if anyone knows where I can get working models of these please let me know. I need about ten!

[swisstrains]

Pete,
Thanks for sharing “Makerfield” with us. I also live in the North-West so I am familiar with the style of architecture that you are creating.
The buildings in the photos look fantastic and although they must be very time consuming I don’t think you can beat studying the real thing and then constructing them yourself from scratch.
Please keep us informed of your progress and sorry for cocking up the transfer of your original thread.

[swisstrains]

Originally Posted by meurglysIII

..................By the way, the station lamp you can see is obviously not of the corrrect period. It's a Veissmann kit. It should really be the "T" shaped BR station lamp, if anyone knows where I can get working models of these please let me know. I need about ten!

Pete,
have you seen this lamp from Viessmann? I know it's a bit chunkier than the B.R. design but I think it looks reasonable. It seems to be available with bulb or LED.
6364.jpg

Other Viessmann lights here

[meurglysIII]

Thanks Swiss! I'll take a good look at those. I bought the "park lamp" style cos I saw it on a layout at the Preston show, painted up in LMS Maroon and Cream, and it looked great. I just wanted to see how it went together & if it looked effective on my layout. Well, it does, but it doesn't look right for the 70s period.

I went back up and took some pics without the flash, and from realistic viewing angles:

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...yout/locos.jpg
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...out/street.jpg
(Check out those chimbleys! *gulp*)

http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...out/bridge.jpg
http://www.clockworkcommunications.co.uk/layout/24.jpg
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...yout/forty.jpg

I'm pretty happy with it so far. I advise anyone who's thinking of starting to build, to go for it. I'm a bit of a perfectionist but I'm learning to let the odd flaw through. It's very therapeutic. Not enough hours in the week though!

[Trev]

Very nice Pete. It makes a change to hear of a layout set in the all blue period, a period which is sorely neglected if you ask me. Any chance of you being able to upload a track plan?

[John H-T]

Really enjoyed the photos. A track plan would be nice.

Gives me a push to get on with my layout.

Best wishes,

john H-T.

[lightphase]

looks good, ive been looking at some links on here and ive decided to make a micro n gauge layout, Ive not used my stuff for atleast a year so decided to go buy some wood (bookshelf size) and im going to make a small yard totally randomly.

[lightphase]

must add i like the way you have photographed it how many transormers have you used in the set up?? this is something im struggling with

[meurglysIII]

Hi folks, thanks for your kind comments.

This is the track plan
http://www.clockworkcommunications.c...out/layout.jpg

it may take a while to load.

Although there are four running lines through the scenic section, There are only three feeds, as I had a H&M Duette

http://www.metromodels.net/HM_duette_contr.JPG

and a H&M Clipper from my childhood, both 25 years old, in the attic. These have proved more than reliable, I like the sturdy construction and the resistance switches allow slow speed control for freight. I would heartily recommend these, which can be bought cheaply at shows or on ebay etc. But make sure all the wires etc are sound.

The different feeds to the track are shown on the diagram in different colours, as you can see the green section is just one power feed, but split into an up and a down line by use of points. I just have to be careful that the points are set correctly. Theoretically these are the slow lines so traffic is not as fast/frequent as the two fast lines at the front. In reality i like to run slow goods trains more than fast passenger (and i have few coaches but many wagons...)

The long siding around the back of the layout is used for storage of a long goods train which I like to run occasionally. The end of the siding is isolated with a switch on the control panel so I can pick up the train with another engine to bring it out of the siding. I still have to fit an uncoupling ramp though.

All the points on the layout are stud and probe controlled from a track diagram. This was, erm, a challenge (it took ages) but really impresses visitors!

The dotted items have still to be built, and may change. There's a lot of scenic work still to do.

I'll post updates as and when there's new stuff to show you (could be a while!)

Pete

[lightphase]

hi pete your image says it contains errors and wont show