GNRi1959

Has anyone here got a layout in a room 'without' a hinged section at the entrance? I'm not that keen on starting to solder track work to copper clad strips and forming a hinged/lift off section. At the moment I'm just ducking under. Its not ideal but forming the lift off section does create problems for back scene also. Anyone got examples or photos of how they done it?

Class bit of work Tommy, making great progress Tony

Noel, you hit it on the head. This layout started with the view to building Omagh and through all the frustration and setbacks with that evolved a layout that is simple, functional and leaves all to the imagination. My aim is a layout with a flavour of the steam era on the Derry Road, where my grandfather was a ganger on the permanent way, starting as a plate layer on 26 Jan 1924 and giving them 43years of service.

Re-arranged the corner at the Goods Store.......

Noel, this is unreal. Next time I'm in Dublin I need to check out this area and see it for myself.

Some pictures today....... Was able to re-arrange the paintwork into the fiddle yard and all is complete at this side. A siding to the back provides storage also. Still some temporary wiring in place until I decide on the best operating side for my controller. I managed to salvage the mock up Goods Store I had and it fits well in this corner. One additional point to add to allow a siding to the rear of the platforms.

Some testing carried out today on completed track work and wiring

Lots to see and get ideas from

Modelling Masterclasd!

This is a new layout that I have started from scratch in my beloved garden shed. It is based on the steam era on the Derry Road and although it has nothing at all that resembles Omagh, it is hoped that it will give have a flavour of GNRi operations there. All track is laid and wired and thanks to two forum members, who were very generous with their spare time, advised me on the design and wiring of the layout - you know who you are! Tomorrow I will fit my turntable well and hopefully start fitting and wiring the point motors. I am pleased with how things are progressing and I promise I will post pictures soon.

John, thanks for taking the time to answer in such a detailed manner. I think I’ll go with the four road fiddle yard to begin with. Since it’s in the non-scenic area of the layout I can add extra pointwork if required at a later stage.

Looks huge, what space do you have?

I have now arrived at a stage where I want to lay track work for a fiddle yard. Are there any rights or wrongs about yards and is there is simple set up I could use with surplus points that I have accumulated?

It is awful!

Took a trip to Whitehead today on a return out of Belfast. The ladies were shopping and I decided just to sit and relax by rail.

Having spent several weeks in the 'shed' I'm amazed as to how many problems arise when trying to work a decent run around layout into a 10x6 size shed layout. Sure has tested me.

Tramway linked the line from Castlederg to Victoria Bridge. The station was own by GNRi.

Spotted this when driving through Victoria Bridge yesterday, a remnant of the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Railway.

Funny you should suggest making the lower end single line. I have considered this because when trains left omagh, they disappeared under road bridges emerging as single track only.

David, Heres photographs taken this morning which allow for more accurate viewing. I am in the process of creating a cross-over on the right (Omagh-3) and adding an additional crossover between the first two lines in the sidings (Omagh-2) at the Goods Yard. This should ease the problem. Although I have included the turntable, I am also a little concerned that is so close to the station buildings, which wasn't the case in Omagh. However, I realise I cannot replicate the prototype exactly. Whats your view?

Here’s a rough sketch of the layout

Can anyone advise me if it is possible to do anything to allow locos to change ends when hauling and shunting wagons. The corners are a bit limited for my turntable but can it be done any other way?

Jonathan, thanks for your kind comments and advice. This took almost 6months to get to this stage and I like the way its taking shape. I'm keeping a close eye on the engineers drawings of Omagh and trying to incorporate as much as I can into this, though keeping it simple. If you know of any ready-to-run coaching stock out there thats is similar to 1950s era GNRi, do let me know. Cheers

Here is a short video of my layout under construction with the first run around in place. Does it look ok? The curves are pretty large radius but its very early stages

Broithe, that is exactly what I done using a piece of ply across the width of the shed with a centre line drawn in it. I started the curve at the centre of the trackwork and as I started the arc I moved along the centre line until the curve found its place on the baseboard. As I said already, it’s all wagons on this layout.