layout Joe's Junction

[Josef2000]

Project Overview: Joe’s Junction

Scale: OO (1:76)

Size: 14ft x 7ft

Theme: Irish Railway Layout

Era: Modern Irish Rail / IE 2000s–Present

Control System: DCC – DCC-EX CSB1 Command Station

Key Features

• Double-track mainline - Hoping to create two baseboards as a 'double-deck' layout.

• Connolly Station - With my take on it and with size limitations.

• Belfast Central/Lanyon Station - Again with my take on it and with size limitations.

• Freight sidings - Mainly for storing locos, not really into the whole shunting side of things. Love to just watch the trains go around.

• Scenery including busy high streets, level crossings, tunnels and my take on the 18 Arches, more like 8 in my case.

Planned Stock

• Irish Rail 201 Class locomotives

• De Dietrich Enterprise Set (currently printing)

• 80 Class DEMU (brass kit) & (3D Print)

• 3x 22000 ICR (awaiting release from IRM)

• 450 Class 2-car (respray from Chris Dyer)

• Freight stock: Minimal, atypical wagons used from old Hornby sets.

• MPV (respray from Chris Dyer)

• Class 3000/4000 CAFs & IE Class 29000s.

Objectives

• Create a layout as a side hobby to distract myself from the old mental illness.

• Reminisce.

• Learn new skills including carpentry, electronic wiring, painting and a lot more.

• Have a layout that I can sit back and watch 'in my own wee world'.

[Josef2000]

Just thought I'd make a thread to post progress, it's more so for me but feel free to read/reply or ignore.

Currently in the process of creating a track plan however, I feel that it is a stage in which I could spend countless hours on. I've attached two images of the track plan so far, Connolly should be a basic loop outside of the station, similar to Belfast in the first image.

[DJ Dangerous]

I see a few Chris Dyer pieces of stock on your list. Fair play!

[Josef2000]

@DJ Dangerous I was hoping to source more from him however I suppose God had other plans. R.I.P Chris.

I do believe a close friend of his will be taking the stock, no doubt that it's understandably not a priority amongst the family.

Very excited to finish printing the enterprise set. Here are some renders.

However, I think I may start smaller as I've never painted/airbrushed so I'm thinking of creating a sign or even just printing some resin and having a go first.

[DJ Dangerous]

That De Dietrich stock looks amazing!!!

[Josef2000]

Not an affiliate or anything but I managed to pick up this 80 Class from Cults3D.

I also managed to grab a brass kit of the 80 Class from some Irish company that I don't think are around. Anyways here is the 3d print version!

Many thanks @DJ Dangerous,

For anyone reading, it's worth noting that the layout looks promising however I have little time for the layout, as I'm currently in uni and trying to navigate around my mental health problems, not to mention that while I'm familiar with model railways, I haven't any skills besides 3d modelling and so I can see myself getting frustrated, having to do things over again etc.

Suppose as long as I meet my objectives, I'll be sucking diesel as they say!

[DJ Dangerous]

Totally clueless regarding 3D printing, but do you mean that you bought a file from Cults3D that you then feed into your own printer to print the model?

[Josef2000]

8 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Totally clueless regarding 3D printing, but do you mean that you bought a file from Cults3D that you then feed into your own printer to print the model?

Yeah so I created the enterprise myself, and bought the 80 Class from Cults3D. They're both of the same format that you send to the printer, which then prints the model.

I decided to use an online 3d print service as they have access to bigger 'industrial' size printers, so that allows me to print the models in a much better quality.

[Newtoncork]

Have you thought about 3D printing the Mk4's?

[Flying Snail]

6 hours ago, Josef2000 said:

Yeah so I created the enterprise myself,

Please do post a few images once you have them printed - the renders look very impressive!!

[Bob229]

A very interesting project and layout please do post any updates, layouts are a long term project so no hurry enjoy it

[Josef2000]

On 10/04/2025 at 13:18, Newtoncork said:

Have you thought about 3D printing the Mk4's?

To be honest, it's not something I've thought about. However, if the DDs turn out well, then I'm sure I could create the MK4s, too!

 

23 hours ago, Flying Snail said:

Please do post a few images once you have them printed - the renders look very impressive!!

Thank you! I hope to have the 'bare plastic' within the next few weeks.

[Josef2000]

Currently planning and researching more about how I'm going to go about achieving my double deck layout.
Definitely a lot of interesting points that have been brought up.

Linking the thread here for those reading this at a later date.

[Josef2000]

Purchased a small diorama 'shelf' like board from ScaleModelScenery, (not sure if I'm allowed to post links to businesses or anything) but I got a micro board from them.

My plan for this is to practice the fundamentals of creating a model railway, I'm hoping that this will help me develop my (lack of) skills.
Effectively, this should make me more confident in track laying, ballasting, soldering, wiring and wiring management as well as electronics as I plan to add 2 point motors and add a signal.

This should keep me busy as a small side project as some folk have mentioned.
 

[Josef2000]

Here is a simple track plan that I've quickly made. I'm not interested in operating it with a small loco. However, it might be nice at the end to take some pics for my 201 locos that I've yet to even take out of the boxes.

 

Progress is slow but I suppose it is still progress nevertheless. 

[leslie10646]

Good plan, Joe. Walking before taking on a Marathon!

You've got a vast railway room there. Good luck with the project.

For @DJ Dangerous's benefit, I was shown a system at Bangor, where you feed in a few photos and out comes the item! The particular sample was a rare breed of sheep needed for a Cumbria-based layout, so you have to have the right make of Mark 7b Cumbrian Sheep, Copyright The Almighty.

Scary.

Maybe I'll get a VS at last?

3 minutes ago, Josef2000 said:

Here is a simple track plan that I've quickly made. I'm not interested in operating it with a small loco. However, it might be nice at the end to take some pics for my 201 locos that I've yet to even take out of the boxes.

 

Progress is slow but I suppose it is still progress nevertheless. 

Excellent plan - I'm told that they run better outside the Box!!!!

I had a pal in Hong Kong who owned 2,000 pieces of rolling stock - ALL IN BOXES!!!! Take a bow, Tony Lou!