Update - No.9 - 31.05.11
Originally sent via email to friends and family only in May 2011
Hello again my lovely Corkettes - I'm back!
It's
been a month since my last update and progress has been made
in numerous areas. All baseboard sections have now been completed along
the garage doors wall and these just need to have the adjustable feet
tweaked to provide a level height. As I showed you last time I have
already finished the section round the corner and up to the entrance to
the room and I had hoped to lay the return loop track for the lowest
level storage tracks. However it seemed logical to start work on the
helix instead as this will be the pivotal piece of trackwork on the
layout so the one which should be tackled first. I have somehow managed
to curb my enthusiasm to lay track and will wait a little longer to
ensure it only need to be laid once!
My
rate of construction has slowed over the last few weeks as any free
time has been devoted to working on the garden and the final few jobs
required to finish the house. Mrs Corky also had a week off work with me
and inexplicably she didn't want to spend it all alone whilst I worked
on the Corkscrew-Lines - how bizarre! Hopefully I can now start to ramp up the
construction again and start working through my plywood stockpile.
Taming the Helix - part 1
In
my head I have had numerous ideas and weighed up options for the size,
location and construction of the helix over the last few years but I now
need to just bite the bullet and build it. The nagging doubt has
always been that when it's finished it will be too severe a challenge
for the trains I want to run. I have set a objective of a single diesel
loco hauling up to 8 coaches and I think this should be easily
achievable with modern locos from the likes of Heljan and Bachmann etc.
The issue however may be the steam locos.....especially those without
enough driven wheels or weight to attack the climb. So I needed to
reach a compromise where the helix has enough trackage run between
loops so everything can tackle it, without the entire room being
dominated by it. I have decided on an oval design on a baseboard of 4' x
7' with an additional 1' board to the sides and rear to allow for the
2nd track run on levels 2a & 3a and for hidden storage and sidings
from virtually any level or point on the layout. I won't try to explain
it all here.....far to involved. For now, just see the photos of the
sub-frame for the helix which has been built extra strong to ensure
reliable running.
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| Corky works on the helix base |
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| The helix base |
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| The helix base |
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| Corky in the helix base |
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| The helix base |
The
philosophy for the layout has been it must all be easily dismantled and
removed if we ever move in the future. The conflict
however is the helix must be solid and strong as it is the heart of a
multi-level layout such as this so I decided to make it a single entity
which can only leave the room via the garage doors. Although the layout
is modular, it is not supposed to be easily transportable (only when
moving house) so as long as nothing needs to be destroyed to remove it, I
can live with the helix being a bit of a monster. It'll take a few
guys and some patience to remove it but it can be done! The total
dimensions for the entire helix and additional 3 perimeter boards which
are bolted on is a not inconsiderable 5' x 9'. I decided to make the
helix large with a gentler grade to try to ensure reliable running
rather than make it a convenient size but have issues with trains
stalling or being unable to complete the climb. Time will tell if I am
vindicated.
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Outer helix sections |
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| Outer helix sections |
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| Outer helix sections |
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| Outer helix sections |
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| Outer helix sections |
The
photos show the helix baseboard frame and the perimeter boards being
constructed and the final assembly with the 4 components arranged ready
for bolting. Future entries about the helix will explain exactly how
the tracks will actually use it and the "threaded rod" system for
spiralling......bet you can't wait eh?
New Arrivals on the Corkscrew
Progress
over the first couple of months has been so rapid that I needed to
purchase additional ironmongery! I have eaten my way through the last
delivery of screws and height adjusting feet so placed further orders.
With an eye on track laying I
also purchased a couple of additional clamps and my 2nd bottle of
woodworking glue. For Helix construction I have purchased some "nut
extenders".....Ooh Err Matron! I'll explain what these are for in a
later update regarding the Helix. I won't list all the details here but
drop me a line and I'll confirm my suppliers and prices etc.....I know
some of you are really interested in this stuff.....the Corkettes who
really should try to get out more.....only kidding!
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| Warning - Ironmongery Alert! |
The
roll of wire is for another side project which will be commenced when
all of the baseboards and the frameworks have been finished. It is
speaker wire for the 4 satellite speakers I want to have in the room
together with a sub-woofer and a surround sound amplifier. This will be
cascaded kit which used to
be used in the lounge many years ago but was replaced with newer
equipment but kept because "it may come in handy one day"....well that
day has arrived. With the amount of time I'll spend in the layout room I
may as well have some decent sounds to listen to eh? Porcupine Tree,
Rush, Pink Floyd, Saxon and Spock's Beard in surround
sound......heavenly!
Full Size Railway Adventures
Well
not much to tell here of any particular interest. I revisited my home
town of Basingstoke a few weeks ago for a trip down memory lane and took
some shots of the trains....as you do! Waited patiently for a class 50
on the Waterloo-Exeter and for some 47s on the inter-modals (container
trains as they were known by me in the good ole' days) and was
disappointed. Not even a Thumper on the Reading shuttle! Things really
have changed......and not for the better.
I
have attached a shot of a "proper" train heading along the joint line
for Spalding and the annual Flower Parade. The train is the "Statesman"
from Blackpool hauled by a class 57 and this was on the only excursion
to travel to the parade this year. Again, how times have changed. I
remember well travelling from Basingstoke to the parade in the early 80s
with my best mate Mark, on a BR special excursion behind a class 33 or
"Crompton" to those Neds out there. The train left Waterloo and then
ran via the North London line and into Liverpool Street to reverse.
Then along the GE main line to March where we
took the Wisbech chord and the direct line through Whitemoor Yard to
Spalding. This line closed years ago and little did I know back then I
would later in life live in the Fens and discover all these locations
again. Anyway, other excursions turned up from all over the country
behind 31s, 37s, 40s, 45s, 47s etc etc. I have included a couple of
poor quality scans from the original slides to give you an idea. It
goes without saying we did the trip to sample the railway delights of
Spalding.....not the tulips!.....not a single tractor was seen!
In
a similar vein, a few weeks ago, Sarah and I went for a walk along what
remains of the Spalding to Boston direct line.....another casualty of
the rationalisation of lines in the Fens decades ago. Most of this
line's trackbed was converted into
the new road linking the towns and indeed many of the village turn off's
are still named Station Road for example. The trackbed was straight
and flat so ideal for the road builders. The southern most part of the
line ran through Spalding's suburbs and is now partially covered by
housing and an industrial estate. What remains, including an original
bridge, has been turned into a walk and cycle way. I attach a couple of shots
of the remains.
Next
time I'll show you the progress with the baseboards linking the layout
to the helix and I'll also show you some of the shots from my recent
visit to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's diesel running day.
There is also a new diesel hydraulic loco arrival for the line.....an
essential piece of kit for the era and region I'm modelling. I've also
found some more road vehicle bargains on E-bay.
That's all for now......hope it wasn't too dull this time.
As always, keep in touch and drop by if you are in the neighbourhood.
Time for a cuppa I think!
Cheers, Corky!
