The EJ&KLR: The Cathinthia branch

[ExeterGeek]

James,

Rail Modeller - http://www.railmodeller.com/ - is a...nsition from LGB to PIKO track. Chris

 

[jameshilton]

Chris - that's the same software, it's by MacRailSoft. I paid for it I thought it was definitely worth the price. I used it to design my last 00 layout and the original EJ&KLR. Thanks for the note about Piko R3 - I'd not realised it was inconsistent with the LGB terminology.
http://gscalenews.com/track-geometry

 

[jameshilton]

Well, the un-forecast fair weather today led me out to the garden again, and I've made a bit more progress digging out the root balls of some heathers, and starting to clear the bush by the bins - resulting in me filling the green recycling bin for this fortnight (emptied this Wednesday - so more work again soon!).

So with that I got out the laptop and did another plan...

Difficult choices...

 

[Rhinochugger]

Now that's a bit more like it. Nice sweeping bends, and you can plant the garden around it

 

[jameshilton]

Hi Ian - yes it's a lot more flowing, but the station loop is a touch smaller. I wanted to put a bay siding in to store a railbus or few wagons... On the existing EJ&KLR the loop is effectively 1.5m long, I think this one is about the same, ideally it would be a touch longer so it could accomodate longer trains... I want to keep the edge along the stone wall mostly scenic, as that is what I'll see mostly from the seating area and will be the best to photograph but at the same time I want to keep the points fairly easily accessible! Balancing act!

 

[JRinTawa]

Nice plan James. Perhaps a spur off the bottom wondering towards the middle serving some sort of industry/mine sort of thing?

 

[jameshilton]

John, the middle needs to be clear, and will be slate or gravel for the washing line! Although the plan shows all sectional track I think I'd go for flexible track some can get true transition curves, apart from the very tight R2 and R3 ones. I'm also pondering if the loop in the station is a touch close together for passing a train of bogie coaches with there larger overhang, but anyway, it's good fun planning!

 

[garrymartin]

Any thoughts on how you will work with the natural gradients James ?

 

[steve parberry]

How about something different with the siding in the Middle then you could leave it clear when running loner trains.
Or reverse the station plan so the siding is on the outside, this could then eventualy be extended in to the shed..

 

[jameshilton]

Yes Garry, I'll be leveling it! The from edge nearest the shed will be raised up, and the top edge by the bins will be dropped down. I think a flatter layout when it is this small is easier on the engines and looks better when photographed. It does give the opportunity for an embankment at the shed end and a cutting at the bins for variety, though.

Steve, good idea, will have a think, although it's not a very Austrian layout of station, so I might also try just spacing out the loops slightly more too.

 

[garrymartin]

I think levelling it is the best option, in terms of track plan flexability but also the hardest in physical labour ! My cutting ,although short & shallow also seems to attract all the wind blown debris from miles around.

 

[jameshilton]

Well Ian Stock's book has me spending more time dreaming of the line in the garden here at home. The plot is available and permission is granted, I just want to do it justice and that means taking my time.

Ian talks about theatre and art and thinking not only about the track plan but also the scenery, the views, view blocks and I need to work with the gradient of the plot I think to make the mist of it. That means I'll need an embankment, bigger than the one on the original line. Although I probably will look at more European narrow gauge materials I did have a play building a wall put of the slate available in bucket loads on the existing plot!

Ian also talks about buildings should live outdoors all the time, to be part of the railway, and to seek perfection and modelling is not unrealistic in the garden. Inspiring...

 

[stockers]

Interesting that your reading and gaining inspiration from Ian Stocks book. I found the picture great but the text, to me, was somewhat irritating and repetative.
May be thats because he is a bit of an artist and I'm not!
Have you looked at The Southern Cross book - difficult to copy but great for inspiration.

 

[jameshilton]

Yes I have the AMAZING Southern Cross book too - plenty of inspiration there as well... I guess Ian's writing has me aspiring to improve what I want to create, rather than inspiring to create in itself, which is what Nick's book did... Make sense?

 

[garrymartin]

Yes I have the AMAZING Southern Cross book too - plenty of inspiration there as well... I guess Ian's writing has me aspiring to improve what I want to create, rather than inspiring to create in itself, which is what Nick's book did... Make sense?

Yes I do for one , it was Nick T's chapter in Tag's "Garden Railways in Focus" that lit the fire for me.

 

[Madman]

Well Ian Stock's book has me spending more time dreaming of the line in the garden here at home. The plot is available and permission is granted, I just want to do it justice and that means taking my time.

Ian talks about theatre and art and thinking not only about the track plan but also the scenery, the views, view blocks and I need to work with the gradient of the plot I think to make the mist of it. That means I'll need an embankment, bigger than the one on the original line. Although I probably will look at more European narrow gauge materials I did have a play building a wall put of the slate available in bucket loads on the existing plot!

Ian also talks about buildings should live outdoors all the time, to be part of the railway, and to seek perfection and modelling is not unrealistic in the garden. Inspiring...

Don't take too much time, else the powers that be have thoughts of their own for said granted real estate. :impatient: