Yes my friends, it's that time again. Yet another Corkscrew-Lines update. Now I have returned to full time work following last year's pro-lapsed disc nightmare, the amount of content may reduce as much to my annoyance I have less time to play with my "toy trains". This update is a good case in point. When you combine training courses with the odd 12 hour shift and then add a week's holiday in Spain you don't have an enormous amount of time to get things done in the garage. Still, I have made good progress with the baseboard construction and I think I am on course to start some serious tracklaying in April...Hellfire!
 |
| A new addition for the garage...all will be revealed. |
The advantage of a multi-level model railway such as the Corkscrew-Lines is obvious. When I eventually get to the top level of my magnum opus I will have circled the room 4 times rather than once as would be the case with a conventional layout. I can easily incorporate extensive staging yards without them impinging on the actual scenic main line sections of the layout and include dozens of stations, freight terminals and operational features. The flip side of this of course is the obvious issue that none of the 4 baseboards will actually be at the ideal height for operating the layout. The bottom level will be slightly too low and the top level will be too high. The middle levels will be at an acceptable height but not quite perfect and there will only be approximately 18 inches of clearance between the decks. I have accepted these compromises and honestly believe the significant benefits of having 4 levels of layout far outweigh the disadvantages.
The intention is to employ milking stools on castors to roll around whilst operating the lowest level of the layout. When trains reach level 2 then you can either continue operating from the stool with an eye level view of the layout or you can elect to stand. The third level will be slightly higher than I would have preferred but still allows a slightly lower than eye level view. The top level is the most compromised of all but will be for storage only and therefore could be partly automated and monitored via CCTV cameras. A series of wooden boxes will be hidden under the layout ready to be pulled out and stood on if a direct view of the top deck is really required. The photos below show yours truly trying out a temporary seat and checking the viewing heights and the reach-in distances are workable. The conclusion being I can certainly live with any minor irritations or compromises the multi-level approach imposes and I don't mind admitting I actually enjoy the idea of whizzing around the room on a stool...Dreadful!
 |
| Corkmeister checks the viewing heights - looking good. |
 |
| Standing gives an acceptable view and reach-in for level 3 |
Corky's Baseboard Adventures!
I will admit baseboards and the associated carpentry are not everybody's favourite subject. I suspect most modellers consider constructing them to be an unpleasant chore which needs to be dealt with before the real fun parts of the hobby can begin. Baseboards are of course an essential part of every serious model railway and if they are not constructed well then it is unlikely any layout will operate reliably or have any real longevity. Thankfully (or should that be worryingly?) I seem to have a fascination for devising and then building baseboard systems which are far from the conventional. Whether it be the Corkscrew-Lines' multiple levels or the fiendishly complicated but oh so rewarding helix which sits at the heart of my plans, I seem to be drawn to overly ambitious designs of layout which some may say are a little bit bonkers! Being honest, I absolutely love this part of the hobby and my latest system with twin-slot shelving is working fantastically well.
 |
| Twin-slot shelving system is working well. |
 |
| Multiple infill baseboard sections needed |
Having now completed and installed all of the lowest level baseboards, I decided it would be wise to look at preparing the door area where a bridging section needs to be constructed. When the garage was converted a few months ago it was obvious the original position of the personnel door in the corner of the room just wouldn't work. Trying to gain access to the room in the corner meant loosing a large section of the possible baseboard length and just didn't fit with the plan I was formulating in my head. I needed the door ideally approximately 3ft further along the wall but the cost of creating a new doorway and bricking up the previous aperture was almost exactly the same as knocking a larger hole in the wall and adding double French doors. So I added the double doors knowing I would take advantage of the easier access they provide when bringing in materials and then when the layout reached the appropriate stage, the left hand door would become unusable and access would be via the right hand door only. Over the last couple of weeks I have reached that stage.
My plan was always to have any track bridging sections as non-scenic and purely functional items rather than adding to the aesthetic of the layout. This meant I needed to effectively close off the ends of the baseboards each side of the doorway. Using methods I successfully employed on the first incarnation of the Corkscrew-Lines, I decided to cut the panels from 18mm plywood and bolt them to the end baseboards. This would completely separate the scenes each side of the doorway and also add additional rigidity to the entire layout. The first panel was installed using 8mm coach bolts which gives an attractive appearance whilst still allowing the entire structure to be quickly taken apart if needed. A pair of wooden blocks were bolted to the inside base of the panel to house a pair of adjustable feet which allow tiny adjustments for levelling the panel and consequentially the supported baseboards. I will eventually paint the panels once I have fitted the components for the bridging sections.
 |
| 18mm plywood sheets awaiting cutting. |
 | ||
| End panel bolted to baseboards to right of doors. |
 |
| Awaiting washers and nuts and holes for the tracks onto the bridges |
 |
| Supporting legs fitted with adjustable feet |
 |
| Neatly finished panel allows easy access through right door. |
 |
| Coach bolts give smooth attractive finish |
Using a very similar approach I cut out another 18mm plywood panel which sits at the end of the baseboards covering the left hand of the French doors. As with the right hand panel I fitted adjustable feet and secured it to the baseboards with 8mm coach bolts. Additional extension pieces need to be added to the baseboards to bring them flush with the plywood panel leaving approximately 3ft for entry and exit using the right hand door. I am already thinking about a construction technique for the bridging section which will allow it to hinge fully out of the way and not impede access to the room. There will of course need to be a total of 3 bridges with the 4th level above head height and so far less complicated. Ideally I would like all of the bridges to be connected to form a single structure which moves as a single component - a little like a saloon door in the old Wild West movies. This is going to be difficult and needs a lot of thought but I am sure I can find an elegant solution given a little more deliberation.
 |
| Legs fitted and skirting notch removed. |
 |
| Panel fitted and now covering the corner door aperture. |
 |
| Baseboards need to be extended flush with the plywood panel. |
To finish off the exterior side of the panel I gave it a couple of coats of black paint (see below for further details) and decided something decorative which could be seen through the glazed panel of the French doors would be a fun idea. I wanted something that was attractive to look at even if you were unfortunate enough not to be a railway enthusiast (poor souls) yet would subtlety hint to those in the know that something interesting could be found in the garage. I plumped for a reproduction British Railways coaching stock roundel in Southern Region green (as per the opening image) from JAF Graphics Ltd and mounted it onto a plywood backing board painted in an appropriate shade of green. I think it looks great and really helps to disguise the fact that a large black panel now completely covers the right hand door. Not directly related to building a model railway but good fun to do none the less...Oh My Lords! - Dreadful!
 |
| An improvement on the similar shot above I think |
 |
| Subtle enough to hint at the content within! |
New Arrivals on the Corkscrew-Lines.
It is always exciting when anything model railway related arrives in the post but a new piece of traction has to be the ultimate thrill for us railway modellers. Although the new arrival is not the largest or most powerful addition to the roster it is most certainly essential and eagerly awaited. Bachmann started to deliver the 64XX Pannier Tank models last month but it is only this week that the BR Green (Late Crest) examples have been despatched by retailers. What a little beauty this is with fantastic detailing and paint finish. This is a classic example of how standards have improved so dramatically over the last decade. The factory fitted accessories and details are exquisite but there is also a supplementary bag of extras to fit if you desire...Absolutely dreadful! The loco ran sweetly and quietly straight out of the box on my simple test oval of track and has therefore become the first loco to actually move under it's own power in the garage. As the Corkscrew-Lines will have numerous branch lines and bay platforms this loco is destined to be spending a lot of time trundling back and forth with the forthcoming Hawksworth Auto-coach. Corky's verdict on this loco - recommended! Hellfire!
 |
| It runs as well as it looks - Gorgeous! |
I am girding my loins for tracklaying (sorry if that isn't a pleasant mental image) and starting to gradually accumulate the materials needed for some serious permanent way action...Dreadful! I managed to salvage all of the track from the last layout so Peco won't be getting much money from me for a while yet. Underlay however is a different matter. I used plastozote foam sheet on the last layout very successfully so decided I would stick with the system. It is far cheaper than buying pre-cut underlay, gives improved sound deadening and easier cutting over cork and can be laid using Copydex adhesive. The 5mm black plastozote foam used on the Corkscrew-Lines mk1 didn't survive track lifting so I needed to order a new batch. Shopping around online produced several options including increasing the depth from 5mm to 6mm which will better accommodate the hidden kadee track magnets I will be using extensively throughout the layout. If for no other reason than to allow me to defer ballasting a little longer and is easier to mark out and cut, I decided to order the 6mm foam in a mid grey colour this time. A box of 15 sheets of 1000m x 500mm plastozote arrived this week and is shown below.
 |
| The Foam has landed! |
 |
| Easy cut, easy stick and super quiet plastozote - Hellfire! |
 |
| It may smell funny but I love Copydex |
Another area where I break with tradition is my choice of layout wiring. Rather than buying thin multi-strand layout electrical wiring I purchase bulk rolls of 2.5mm twin & earth cable which is normally used for household wiring. Although it is operation overkill considering the modest number of amps used by the average DCC system, I had excellent experience from using twin & earth on the Corkscrew-Lines mk1. Once the plastic sheathing had been stripped back and the copper earth wire has been removed, you are left with chunky blue and brown solid core wires which are perfect for use as a DCC BUS. I use matching 1.5mm twin & earth cable for feeder wires and connect them to the BUS using insulation displacement connectors (suitcase connectors) but I can describe this far better over the coming months. Many will tell me I should be using smaller diameter multi-strand wiring but as I have had nothing but good experiences using the T&E then I shall continue being a wiring maverick. Interestingly, I never needed to clean the track on the Corkscrew-Lines mk1 and never had any issues with poor or jerky running. I am convinced the use of chunky high amperage wiring was the main reason for this.
 |
| 100m of cable - that'll be a good start! |
Another minor issue as the layout progresses will be access to the electrical sockets around the room which will of course become obscured by the baseboards once tracklaying and scenic finishes are applied. To allow easy access to power and also remain discrete, I have purchased a multiple gang socket with a 2m lead and individual power switches for all plugs finished in a stealthy black. There is a glowing red light to confirm the extender is switched on at the wall and the facility to mount it from behind so it will not get under my feet. This is a test example but hopefully it will prove a success so I can fit similar sockets around the room.
 | ||
| Discrete and flexible power - Oh My Lords! |
I really want this version of the Corkscrew-Lines to be as attractive as possible, whether trains are running or not. It would be very easy for the height of the multiple levels and the tracks passing overhead to become at best uncoordinated and cluttered and at worst slightly intimidating creating a sense of claustrophobia. The answer is a clean, minimalist look to the fascias and the end panels with a sophisticated paint finish and lack of anything which distracts from the scenic parts of the layout. With this objective firmly in mind I have made a positive start by selecting 2 of the 3 main colours that I will be using throughout. For the layout fascias I will be using a matt mid green and for the end panels and below layout areas I will be using matt black. In the future, areas of woodwork carrying tracks which are not actually part of the scenic layout (an example would be the helix) will be painted a mid-grey colour. Having made a sortie to the local B&Q palace of DIY dreams a few days ago I returned with 2 tins of newly mixed matt emulsion. The Valspar paint promises to be hard-wearing and can even be scrubbed if marked (lets hope I don't need to find out) so I have high hopes for it. The names the paint manufacturers create for the myriad shades always amuses me but this time they have surpassed themselves. I went searching for green and black and returned with tins of Salty Peat and Tempest's Teapot...I kid you not! Absolutely Hellfire!
 |
| Salty Peat & Tempest's Teapot take a bow! |
Track Planning and the Track Planning Process
The logical place to start laying track on the Corkscrew-Lines mk2 would be where the mainlines enter the room from the helix on the lowest level. The problem with this of course is I don't actually have a helix at the moment and until the helix is installed and the exact height of the track is known then I don't know at what exact height to set the track level. This hasn't stopped me continuing to think about how this section of the layout might look and I have included the sketch below so you can get a feel for my current state of thinking.
It would probably make more sense right now for me to start work on an almost self contained section of the layout such as a MPD or a steam shed with a turntable. This will allow me to start tracklaying and wiring on baseboards which can be kept in the house until the appropriate section of the layout is ready to accommodate it. Right now I am engrossed in baseboard construction and starting to research an appropriate outbuilding for the helix so serious track planning may not start for another month or so.
Remember to click on the photo to see a larger higher resolution version. This applies to all of the photos used on the blog.
 |
| Level 1 Helix corner ideas being formulated. |
Full Sized Adventures - Troublesome Trucks!
Monday the 9th of March was not a good day to be travelling on the London Bridge to Brighton line. Engineering works the night before in the New Cross Gate area resulted in an errant Salmon wagon being "knocked out" of a departing engineering train. The loaded wagon had defective brakes and was shunted onto a truncated part of the revised track layout in this area adjacent to the Den - Millwall's football stadium. I won't go into too much detail regarding what went wrong with track circuits and signals as a result of the wagon being marooned on the main, suffice to say the morning peak was ruined and as the Rev W Awdry would say, the wagon was proving to be an extremely troublesome truck!
I was part of the Network Rail response team on site and was present when the rescue loco and wagons arrived to remove the Salmon and temporarily shunt it into the Sussex Loop at New Cross Gate. Proving that the railway world is indeed a very small world when you've worked on it for almost 30 years, the loco that arrived was none other than a GBRf class 66 similar to those I drove years ago and accompanying the train was none other than Paul Taylor. Paul is a commercial contract manager for GBRf and I worked with him in the commercial team at GBRf a few years ago and Paul is a fully fledged Corkette having visited the mk1 version of the Corkscrew-Lines. Oh My Lords!..fancy seeing you here seemed the appropriate greeting!
 |
| A stranded Salmon like a fish out of water! |
 |
| A shed to the rescue - Dreadful! |
 |
| Paul Taylor - Fancy seeing you here! |
To finish the Full Sized Adventures section I thought I would show you a view of London Bridge eastern side platforms which is seldom shown. This was taken whilst I stood in one of the few positions of safety south of the platforms and looked back towards the station. I had just finished dealing with another track related incident and was making my way back to the safety of the platforms from the bi-directionally signalled shark infested waters that are the lines running south from Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge. I work on the basis that every line is electrified, trains approach from both directions and every train is out to get me!
 |
| It's very busy here! Watch your step! |
Miscellaneous Musings
Anybody who has visited or travelled through the recently rebuilt Blackfriars station in London surely cannot be anything other than impressed. This is a fantastic addition to London's long list of impressive Railway stations and along with the rebuilding of St Pancras must be regarded as a complete triumph. Whether it is the solar roof that provides all of the station's power, or the inclusion of the magnificent LC&DR cast crests visible through the acres of glass or the fact that this station is also a bridge across the Thames - I just love it. Normally I mourn the passing of our rich railway heritage and despise the recent trend towards function over form with bland utilitarian railway architecture becoming the norm. But credit where credit is due, Blackfriars is special and surely no other station can provide such a magnificent view whilst you wait for your invariably late Thameslink service...Hellfire!
 |
| They knew how to design a crest in 1864 |
 |
| Taken through glass and impressive from any angle |
 |
| Cutting edge modernity and past glories sit comfortably together |
More London based action of a sort. As I spend a lot of my working day in my little Network Rail van trundling around the central London streets attending to all sorts of incidents, the view below is very representative. I do seem to spend far too many hours a week staring at the back of buses which would be fine if they were attractive rumps like Queen Mary's (Southdown Leyland PD3s and not Neil Cole...see the last update!) or even the classic London Routemaster. But no, they are invariably the current large red characterless box. I should point out I was stationary when this image was taken. Being an ex driving instructor, Corky takes safe driving very seriously. How about a regular new feature for the blog..."Bus backsides from the van?" Maybe not!
 |
| Tooley Street, London Bridge - Back end of a bus! |
It's not all bad news bus wise though. I am growing increasingly accustomed to and fond of the new Routemaster or Borismaster which seems to be spreading across the capital. I like the looks and having travelled on them I appreciate the retro feel and the respectful nods to the original Routemaster. The rear end is far more interesting too than the other double deckers roaming London's streets so I have to concede that the stylish modern omnibus design is not extinct after all!
 |
| A modern day classic? Charing Cross Station |
Mrs Corky and I spent a very enjoyable evening with our friends Jo and Neil the other night. As the four of us probably have over 100 years railway experience between us (Neil probably has about 75 years on his own) we inevitably put the current railway world to rights and reminisce about the good old days (which probably weren't at all) etc etc. Anyway, the shot below shows Mrs Corky valiantly trying to persuade Jo that models railways is in fact a serious hobby and should be treated with the respect it deserves and not be ridiculed and maligned. Her expression shows she will need a lot more convincing!
 |
| Jo seems unconvinced! Oh My Lords! |
And finally - hoorah I hear you all cheer! an image of my favourite members of the Corkscrew-Youth organisation waiting patiently and unfortunately as it transpired - fruitlessly, for the solar eclipse last Friday. They sit excitedly and expectantly on Brighton Beach whilst sporting their official (maybe not) safety goggles and willing the clouds to part. Poor old Ludo and Becky saw as much of the eclipse as I did at Blackfriars and Cannon Street - bugger all! Oh well - there's always 2026 to look forward to!
 |
| Groovy! |
Until next time my lovelies!
That's all for now folks!
Corky!
