Shunters Yard Compact Shelf-top Exhibition Layout OO gauge GWR outline DCC controlled

[Irishrailwayman]

I had started this thread some time ago but the photies got messed up. Hopefully this time they will stick.

 

Basically, following my efforts on exhibition layouts Ballybeg (OO gauge fictional Irish http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/109-Ballybeg ) and Llangollen (N gauge UK GWR/BR outline based on prototype http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/3054-Llangollen-in-N), I decided to have a go at a Compact/Micro/Book-shelf top/Minimum-space layout.

 

The dimensions decided on are 4 foot by 1 foot enabling the layout to be easily transported/set up for exhibition purposes and stored at home on a shelf over Ballybeg. I had purchased a Bachmann 64XX 0-6-0 tank loco as I had done the driver experience on this at Llangollen. I also had a 3-way point left over from previous projects and wanted to press this in to good use. A shunting layout has developed from this using Kadee couplers and under track magnets to enable remote shunting to be done. I used Ratio plastic kits for a change (I previously worked extensively with card kits from Alphagraphix or Metcalfe). I decided on GWR livery but the track plan could be used for a layout of any livery including Irish. Operation is by DCC with sound chip (courtesy of Mr Soundguy)located below the baseboard (given the small size of the loco) synchronised with a 6-pin chip on the loco itself.

 

First up, the baseboards. Note the openings at either end allowing rolling stock to be fed into the layout hidden by buildings at either end. The scenic area is 9 inches with the 3 inches behind the backscene left for holding the DCC Controller, operating points by push-rod, power for building/gas lamps, a DCC Programming track, rolling road and Kadee tester...

Edited January 16, 2016 by Irishrailwayman

[Irishrailwayman]

With the backscene installed (Gaugemaster small village scene) the track has been laid. To maximise shunting potential, the three-way point has been supplemented with a right-hand point. Mirrors are installed at both ends for visual effect including sliding mirrors allowing rolling stock to be fed in at either end.

[Irishrailwayman]

Track laid, Platforms added, Goods Shed and Station building installed:

 

[Irishrailwayman]

Ballasting completed and increasing layers of detail added including gas lamps, scenic details, trees, grass, figures... to achieve the final integration of all elements together.

 

[GSR 800]

Wow a layout built in 20 minutes! Well done:tumbsup:

[Irishrailwayman]

Shunters Yard mainly features goods wagons being transferred around the sidings however, the passengers patiently waiting on the platform are catered for by the occasional appearance of a GWR auotocoach. This one was purchased second-hand at the SDMRC show and fitted with passengers, lighting and Kadees. The 64XX shunter has been detailed and driver figures added. These pictures show the models posing over Ferns Lock on Ballybeg.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Irishrailwayman

[Irishrailwayman]

Shunters Yard was completed in time for its exhibition debut in October 2015 at the Wexford MRC Festival Exhibition. Enniscorthyman has kindly posted up a short video on YouTube to give an idea of how the layout looks in operation close up:

 

[Irishrailwayman]

Wow a layout built in 20 minutes! Well done:tumbsup:

 

Thanks, I had been meaning to post the photies as I went along but they got messed up in transmission. I have tried to give the progression of the layouts development in the sequence of posts here...

[Noel]

Looks really nice. GWR is my favourite of the big four.

 

Where did you get the lovely back scenes?

[Irishrailwayman]

Looks really nice. GWR is my favourite of the big four.

 

Where did you get the lovely back scenes?

 

Noel, The backscene is a Gaugemaster Scenics Town Backscene (small) GM758. It measures 4 foot by 6 inches which fitted my layout exactly! I got it from Gaugemaster direct via their website.

[Irishrailwayman]

Passengers on Shunters Yard are also catered for by a GWR Railcar (Lima) purchased second-hand at SDMRC show in October. The model was cleaned up, converted to DCC with internal lights, passengers and drivers added and given a lick of satin varnish to emphasise the chocolate and cream livery. Here are a couple of shots of the results posing again on Ballybeg. Also include is comparative shot of a GWR Railcar in N gauge kindly given to me as a present which requires a new power chassis before being pressed into service on Llangollen in N...

 

Edited January 16, 2016 by Irishrailwayman

[jhb171achill]

Really good. Was considering a thing like this myself based on 1960s CIE. Time will tell.

[Irishrailwayman]

Shunters Yard has been completed for some time and has made its exhibition debut in Wexford in October 2015. I am just now getting around to posting some atmospheric photos of the final result. First a range of views without rolling stock...

 

[Irishrailwayman]

A couple more shots for the record... Note that mirrors are used at each end to provide an "infinity" perspective. Additionally, each end has a sliding mirror allowing rolling stock to be added/removed without spectators seeing as they are covered by the goods shed and station canopy respectively. This also allows rail level perspective shots to be taken which are quite convincing I think.

 

[jhb171achill]

Excellent work - very inspiring for those of us with little space to spare.

[Noel]

That an absolutely fabulous layout. Full of charm and atmosphere. That lovely station is alive.

[Irishrailwayman]

That an absolutely fabulous layout. Full of charm and atmosphere. That lovely station is alive.

 

Thanks guys. I should explain that a series of shots were taken from the same spot but with different depth of fields/focus to illustrate the depth of detail achieved. I think modern HD photography adds an additional facet to our great hobby.

[Irishrailwayman]

A couple of final general shots including the control shelf built -in to the back of the layout before I move on to rolling stock... Note there are three push/pull rods to operate the points very simply facilitating shunting while only one DCC function (direction) need be pressed to control the shunting operations. These operate from the front or back of the layout enabling operation from either side.

 

[Junctionmad]

I must say I like your layout photography , I can never seem to photograph anything that doesn't make it seem worse then actual. !!

 

Some of them have a lovely " wet " look as if taken after a fall of rain. Lovely stuff

 

Dave

[Irishrailwayman]

Shunters Yard is designed to use a spare 3-way point that I had for years and the new Bachmann 6407 pannier tank engine. I had the pleasure some years ago of doing a 3 hour driver experience course on the real 6430 at Llangollen in North Wales so I couldn't resist buying the Bachmann model. GWR has an attraction for me also as it is so well preserved/reproduced on the splendidly restored Llangollen line.

 

Goods wagons for the layout are mainly Dapol and GWR liveries as well as colourful wagons in red/blue/green colour liveries etc were selected for exhibition purposes. Each wagon was fitted with Kadee couplings and wheels were "damped" to ensure sufficient heft when uncoupling/recoupling with the Kadee system. Note that three Kadee magnets were buried under the track/ballast at specific points to provide four uncoupling points. This enables remote shunting to be carried out easily by using DCC and the push/pull rods to change the turn-outs as appropriate.

 

To maximise DCC sound, a small 6-pin "silent" chip is fitted to the tank engine while a Mr Soundguy soundchip is fitted under the baseboard along with a Bass Reflex speaker (under the signal box which has no glazing). A small motor is wired to the soundchip to enable the "chuffs" to work. A full range of 64XX sounds including whistles, track squeal and coupling is provided. The model was extensively detailed with coal, driver figures, lamps, bucket, fire implements, etched 6407 plates (from 247 Developments Ltd) etc.

 

[Irishrailwayman]

I must say I like your layout photography , I can never seem to photograph anything that doesn't make it seem worse then actual. !!

 

Some of them have a lovely " wet " look as if taken after a fall of rain. Lovely stuff

 

Dave

 

Thanks Dave. I just use an old Fujifilm FinePix F10 camera. It has features such as zoom, macro and focus adjust that can be used to advantage when shooting model railways. The great thing with digital is that you can view and delete as necessary without expense. Enniscorthyman gets great shots/videos also with his smart 'phone.

Edited October 17, 2016 by Irishrailwayman

[Irishrailwayman]

There are quite a few passengers waiting on the platform of Shunters Yard who may not be as amused by the constant goods vehicle movements as we might be. Therefore, a GWR railcar and GWR autocoach visit periodically to cater for them...

 

[Irishrailwayman]

Shunters Yard has a new streamlined railcar from Dapol to augment it's passenger services! Thanks to Mr Soundguy it also has a realistic soundchip fitted. Some early morning sun caught the model this am.

[Irishrailwayman]

Enniscorthyman did a nice video of my GWR streamlined railcar on Ballybeg this evening. Sound courtesy of Mr Soundguy!

 

[Noel]

That's fabulous. Love the sound mix too. What era did they run?

[Irishrailwayman]

19 hours ago, Noel said:

That's fabulous. Love the sound mix too. What era did they run?

Thanks Noel, just back from rebuilding the clubrooms! The railcars started under GWR from 1933/4 and through BR days to 1962. BR had carmine/cream and malachite green liveries. The new Dapol model is of a Gloucester AEC streamlined vehicle in contrast to the "razor edge" versions depicted in the older OO Lima and N Farish models. Both GWR and BR ran "Express Parcels" vehicles which had no saloon windows. See pictures of my GWR models below.

 

Edited December 29, 2017 by Irishrailwayman

[Irishrailwayman]

Recently I have developed a 2 foot "tuning fork" fiddle-yard for this layout to better enable shunting and to bring passenger rail-cars and auto-coach on and off scene. The top of the fiddle-yard may be removed for operations from the front or replaced for exhibition operation from behind the layout:

[Beynac]

Congrats. An absolutely fabulous layout

[Irishrailwayman]

3 hours ago, Beynac said:

Congrats. An absolutely fabulous layout

Thank you! SY has been shown 4 times at exhibition and usually gets a good response from the visitors.

[Irishrailwayman]

"Shunters Yard" OO has had an upgrade on its wiring recently to bring it up to the standards set by Wexford MRC's "Little Siddington" in O gauge. A separate 12-volt DC supply has been wired in to the lighting circuit.

Edited April 20, 2020 by Irishrailwayman
Typo

[Irishrailwayman]

SY gets a new "Express Parcels" railcar to augment the goods traffic handling capacity. Nice model from Dapol and I have fitted a MR Soundguy DCC sound decoder for added exhibition/play value!

[Irishrailwayman]

SY's 6407 shunter gets a helping hand now from diminutive 0-6-0 saddle tank loco 1363. 

[Irishrailwayman]

Shunters Yard is now equipped with two hand remote operated/lighted starter signals as well as dummy ground signals:

[Irishrailwayman]

Working at present to repaint "Shunters Yard" OO gauge buildings/fencing in GWR colours borrowed from my recent work on "Buffers Lock" O gauge buildings. First up I have repaired/repainted/detailed a signal box gifted by a friend to replace that on the layout at present:

 

[Irishrailwayman]

A couple of shots of "Shunters Yard" in its new GWR livery: