Ruritanian Railways - 2012

[whatlep]

Cor blimey guv, the new postal building does look big don't it. There again, I suppose you'd expect that? It's the roof that doesn't quite work for me. I can understand the over-hang at the front over the loading bay, but is there a loading bay (for vehicles) at the rear too?

Yes Mel. Lorries access a small loading bay on one side, railway vehicles a somewhat larger one on the other. It was a bit of a Hobson's choice really. The only alternative was the Pola goods shed which looks fine at a rural station, but certainly isn't right for a secure postal facility at our nation's capital. It was a "bargain" offer so if I see something better in the future it won't be the end of the world to bin it.

 

[whatlep]

Yesterday's Sunday engineering programme was totally absorbed by the ZIP project (thanks Spoz!). Photos show the gradual installation of lights on the two main platforms at Zenda station:

Installation involved casual appropriation of 3 of the 4 chairs used by other members of my family for Sunday sunbathing and some forced labour helping mark out the various holes and attach several metres of copper tape. Each light, plus supply wires was then soldered into place. Nothing quite like working with a warm soldering iron on a hot day for improving your temper.....

and the end result, with lighting still to be installed in the station building itself (once it's had a good wash & brush up)

 

[yb281]

Cor blimey guv, the new postal building does look big don't it. There again, I suppose you'd expect that? It's the roof that doesn't quite work for me. I can understand the over-hang at the front over the loading bay, but is there a loading bay (for vehicles) at the rear too?

Yes Mel. Lorries access a small loading bay on one side, railway vehicles a somewhat larger one on the other. It was a bit of a Hobson's choice really. The only alternative was the Pola goods shed which looks fine at a rural station, but certainly isn't right for a secure postal facility at our nation's capital. It was a "bargain" offer so if I see something better in the future it won't be the end of the world to bin it.

Oh I wouldn't bin it mate, I think a little mod or two might be the answer just to make it look a little more "railway like". Hang on, I'll show you what I mean...................

 

[yb281]

............ a bit rough and ready, just knocked up in Paint, but how about something like this?

To me the roof panels look as if they've just been taken out of the parts bin? I can understand that the roof would over-hang to offer protection to both sides when loading, but lets face it, with the Welsh type horizontal rain you sometimes get in Ruritania, they'd be about as much use as a concrete parachute. However, fit awnings to said roof over-hangs and not only do you offer more protection from the weather, but you also hint that the building might be more than single storey (I'm thinking Kidderminster main goods shed here) which might help with the building's scale appearance? The awnings wouldn't neccassarily have to be as deep as I've drawn them, but there wouldn't be too much of a gap above the coach roofs to allow the rain in would there?

And yes, I know I'm volunteering here.

 

[mike]

im with mell peter, its too big.. bash it into something better, like mell surgest.. lamps look good!

 

[Dtsteam]

It looks better with a loading dock, and a few sticks holding the roof up.

 

[whatlep]

............ a bit rough and ready, just knocked up in Paint, but how about something like this?

Were the shed in Britain or Ireland, I'd agree without question, but this is Ruritania and in mainstream Europe, we do things differently. I offer in evidence these rather grotty 1976 photos of the SNCF goods depot at Antony (Paris):

Connoisseurs will observe that the overhang is proportionally much more than that on my shed. The key difference is in the ratio between width and height. Real goods sheds tend to be squat rather than tall. The issue is that I don't have room for something sufficiently squat. Some wooden supports might help a bit (they feature at Antony), but I need to have the roof removable to access various bits of wiring.

Hopefully adding the loading platforms will help and perhaps a little landscaping at the ends to disguise just how tall the structure is. Now the loading platforms need weathering a bit before installing. Who can I think of with an airbrush who's happy to volunteer - in exchange for beer, naturally......

 

[CoggesRailway]

All looking very nice Peter!

 

[playmofire]

You need to do something to make the building seem lower, so a loading dock or the loading platforms will help.

Also,if you can make it look wider in relation to its height, that will help too.

A wall or small building of some sort either end, e.g. a bicycle shed or just a u-shaped wall hiding the dustbins, would help make it look lower.

 

[whatlep]

You need to do something to make the building seem lower, so a loading dock or the loading platforms will help.

Also,if you can make it look wider in relation to its height, that will help too.

A wall or small building of some sort either end, e.g. a bicycle shed or just a u-shaped wall hiding the dustbins, would help make it look lower.

We're thinking the same way. Thanks!

 

[whatlep]

A quick update from yesterday's work on the platforms. Let there be light(s)! Compare with the scene last week (post 166). The cat is horrified: one of his favourite sleeping spots is now covered with obstacles!

The telephone box at the end of the platform is presumed to be a facility for shunters at Zenda yard to contact the control office and guards of arriving trains to confirm that their trains are completely out of the single line section from Pootank. Really it's intended to break up the long, slightly boring expanse of platform!

The two buildings need to have LED lights installed and then everything has to be connected up to one of the ubiquitous Chinese 12 volt Li-ion batteries. Prince Rudolf aims to celebrate his dear cousin Elizabeth's Jubilee by lighting up the night sky of Zenda!

 

[Neil Robinson]

A quick update from yesterday's work on the platforms. Let there be light(s)! Compare with the scene last week (post 166). The cat is horrified: one of his favourite sleeping spots is now covered with obstacles!

Looking very good indeed Peter.
I trust the lamp posts are substantial otherwise the cat will find a way of recovering his sleeping spot !

 

[playmofire]

It all looks very smart and I can't wait to seen some scenes with platforms full of passengers and trains arriving and leaving.

 

[Gizzy]

............ a bit rough and ready, just knocked up in Paint, but how about something like this?

Who can I think of with an airbrush who's happy to volunteer - in exchange for beer, naturally......

Or Pork Pie....

 

[3Valve]

Lovely pics Peter. Station Lights look spot on.

Follwing Mel's suggestion on the PO Building. Any chance it could be lowered wiv Mr Razor Saw where I've marked in red. Lower profile may improve the proportions a bit.

 

[whatlep]

Lovely pics Peter. Station Lights look spot on.

Follwing Mel's suggestion on the PO Building. Any chance it could be lowered wiv Mr Razor Saw where I've marked in red. Lower profile may improve the proportions a bit.

No chance at all Gareth. It has to be the height it is for the loading bays to be at wagon/lorry height. The solution is to raise the ground level I think. Watch this space....

Hoping to make more progress tomorrow. Must get the white platform ends painted before I do anything else!

 

[3Valve]

Ah I did wonder when I saw the height of the roller shutter door but thought it was worth an ask.

Watching the space as suggested

 

[whatlep]

Lots more ZIP progress today, though much of it is out of sight. Wires to the goods shed were buried in preparation for installing connections to the battery there and ballast installed to cover the various holes left from previous butchery to the track boards. The station building and telephone kiosk have been given a thorough cleaning for the first time in many years, though the station still looks decrepit. Never mind: weathering is good I'm told....

Both goods shed and station have had LED strip lights installed, using my new favourite product: copper tape. The tape acts as a "bus" with everything else soldered to it. It's so low in profile (80 microns apparently, whatever they are) that roofs and so on still sit flush. Here's the goods shed roof assembly being checked for operation using a 9 volt battery. Such a shame I put the short strip where the bottom one should be and vice versa. Oh well, resoldering is fun too...... :wits:

The telephone box is a favourite of mine, not least as it was a present from my daughter some years ago. The light has always been a bit "iffy" and the wires as supplied are too short, so I decided to install a 3mm LED instead. The kiosk can't be seen from behind, so more copper tape was called into service. It goes up the rear side of the box and under the black roof. The LED is soldered up inside and long connecting wires to the station building at the bottom of the kiosk. The white wires will get painted up in due course.

The BIG goods shed has received some signage in suitable places and the chimney has been added too. Roof vents and loading bays still to come as they need repainting to get rid of the horrid grey plastic colour Piko produced them in. One of my pet peeves is that people rarely think about where chimneys would really be placed. Mine is carefully within the walls and in a space likely to be occupied by an office or similar, out of the way of mail bags and the like. On the public side of the shed, some offcuts of felt have been used to give an impression of road access across the loop track. Not hugely likely perhaps, but it fits the site and looks better than nothing. Al though you can't tell from the photos, the LED lighting is on!

 

[yb281]

Very nice job, but you do realise that we NEED you to get out there at 10 o'clock tonight for some light action shots don't you Peter?

 

[CoggesRailway]

It's all looking very good but yes you must get some night shots.... maybe on your return from the pub?