Garden Railway Forum

As mentioned in the First Great Project thread, I have ambitions to build a line round the garden. However, that's going to take some time to complete and I fancied something a little more manageable. I was given four setrack points as part of the trackwork I inherited and have always been interested in shunting puzzle layouts. There's plenty (too much!) of timber lying around, so I thought about an SM32 inglewood layout. Some rough measuring and laying track out later and I thought I would adapt it to a version of a plan I drew quite a few years ago for someone wanting a OO starter layout.

There's no surprises in construction, it's MDF on timber section, screwed and glued together. A base coat of a mix of dark brown, green and grey paint gives a generally 'eugh' colour. I may ballast the track or leave it. Scenery will be very basic and ground level. I can carry the board myself, though have to take care moving it between rooms in case I take lumps out of the wall or doorframes. Which, as I've just spent too much time repairing and repainting these, would probably lead to more than a little bad language!

Not much money has been spent. An extra setrack point was purchased second-hand but aside from this, expenditure has been pennies, most of the material I had already. I hope I and others will get some pleasure out of this and I'll learn a bit about operation before starting significant work on the main line outside. I need to finish painting the edges of the bracing and put in some ground-level scenery. Maybe a carrying handle. But the track went in today and it's ready for testing.

So, progress so far. I give you 'Ingleby Yard':

Nice work, you should be able to have some fun with that and even be warm and dry.
Grant.

That looks fun. More interesting than the usual inglenook sidings layout as it includes a run round loop.

Rik

I'm thinking of pinching the idea for my inside portion of the railway to give some shunting interest.

LNR wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 1:26 am Nice work, you should be able to have some fun with that and even be warm and dry.
Grant.

Hope so!

ge_rik wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:12 am That looks fun. More interesting than the usual inglenook sidings layout as it includes a run round loop.

Rik

Yes, the loop was something added after initial reflection and specifically to add operating interest. It takes up very little extra space and I thought 'why not'?

GAP wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 9:13 am I'm thinking of pinching the idea for my inside portion of the railway to give some shunting interest.

So far I haven't done much shunting with live steam. I've had a session with a Darjeeling battery 'diesel' and could operate that fairly precisely. One of the reasons for building Ingleby Yard is to have a play without getting in others' way when visiting the local 16mm association's lines.

ge_rik wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:12 am That looks fun. More interesting than the usual inglenook sidings layout as it includes a run round loop.

Rik

I really like that arrangement too!

Coincidentally, I've got an OO scale "J69" on order, a model of the blue one that was station pilot at Liverpool Street, my Dad's favourite loco, and am wondering about building an "Inglenook" to run it on. Or, possibly, a "Minglenook" - taking the classic "Minories" trackplan (for a compact city terminus, with as few points as possible and in minimal space) and truncating the platform roads so it functions as an Inglenook puzzle. Later, if space, time and money allow, I could add platforms on one end and a fiddle yard at the other, to complete the Minories layout.

Anyway, I'll watch this one with interest - I like a shunting puzzle!

Andrew.

PS Incidentally, if you want to experience the challenge of an Inglenook without actually building one, you can do it online here: https://beaver.games/shunting/#1708

Beware, it's addictive!

Andrew wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:22 pm PS Incidentally, if you want to experience the challenge of an Inglenook without actually building one, you can do it online here: https://beaver.games/shunting/#1708

Beware, it's addictive!

This is an understatement!

At least it's good practice for when I get to have a go on gilfachphil's one for real

Andrew wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:22 pm Coincidentally, I've got an OO scale "J69" on order, a model of the blue one that was station pilot at Liverpool Street, my Dad's favourite loco,

I do love buckjumpers. Never owned one but will be very interested in yours. Has anyone produced an off the shelf model yet?

Rik

Hi Rik,

Here we go - a model by Accurascale, available later this year:

https://www.accurascale.com/collections ... t-shed-pet

It's my first OO model for about 35 years, but I can't resist - the detail is incredible! And yep, whatever I end up doing with it, I'm sure I'll create an "off topic" thread...

Andrew.

Andrew wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:22 pm I really like that arrangement too!

Coincidentally, I've got an OO scale "J69" on order, a model of the blue one that was station pilot at Liverpool Street, my Dad's favourite loco, and am wondering about building an "Inglenook" to run it on. Or, possibly, a "Minglenook" - taking the classic "Minories" trackplan (for a compact city terminus, with as few points as possible and in minimal space) and truncating the platform roads so it functions as an Inglenook puzzle. Later, if space, time and money allow, I could add platforms on one end and a fiddle yard at the other, to complete the Minories layout.

Anyway, I'll watch this one with interest - I like a shunting puzzle!

Andrew.

PS Incidentally, if you want to experience the challenge of an Inglenook without actually building one, you can do it online here: https://beaver.games/shunting/#1708

Beware, it's addictive!

Yes, just tried it! I like the idea of a Minglenook. Perhaps you could model a strike day or a day with some sort of widespread failure, with just the ends of MUs visible to explain why the full length trains aren't running and you don't have much space?

I model in 4mm scale too but - so far - have resisted the buckjumper. It does look nice though...

Petersfield wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:26 pm Yes, just tried it! I like the idea of a Minglenook. Perhaps you could model a strike day or a day with some sort of widespread failure, with just the ends of MUs visible to explain why the full length trains aren't running and you don't have much space?

I model in 4mm scale too but - so fa - have resisted the buckjumper. It does look nice though...

Since you asked... Well, sort of...

Phase one, the only one I currently have resources (and agreement!) for is likely to be a 1'x1' diorama based on a little slice of Liverpool Street, housed in one "cube" of an Ikea shelving unit...

Phase two, the "minglenook", would also be VERY loosely based on Liverpool Street, specifically some of the platform ends and the two road bridges beyond, with the turntable that was sandwiched between them - perfect for displaying a "Brit" or B1. There are lots of photos of the pilot with various wagons, which I think were largely loco coal, plus supplies to and waste from the Great Eastern Hotel - my excuse for a bit of shunting in the middle of a London terminus!

If phase three, the full blown Minories layout, ever happens, it'd be a bit of fun really - short versions of typical Liverpool Street trains bustling in and out. Fun to operate, some nice details, but overall, very far from being realistic!

All of this is entirely in my head for now, apart from the purchase of some ancient Triang suburban carriages, which I intend to upgrade, detail and repaint...

Andrew.

On my bucket list for reviving my GER inspired 00 layout are a J15 and now one of those beautiful J69s. Can't justify either at present, but one day.....

I bet no one has produced a RTR E4 or a Gobbler ......

Rik

ge_rik wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 11:31 am On my bucket list for reviving my GER inspired 00 layout are a J15 and now one of those beautiful J69s. Can't justify either at present, but one day.....

I bet no one has produced a RTR E4 or a Gobbler ......

Rik

Don't forget a Claude Hamilton, Rik!

Andrew wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 12:19 pm

ge_rik wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 11:31 am On my bucket list for reviving my GER inspired 00 layout are a J15 and now one of those beautiful J69s. Can't justify either at present, but one day.....

I bet no one has produced a RTR E4 or a Gobbler ......

Rik

Don't forget a Claude Hamilton, Rik!

Or even a Super Claud

Sorry about the thread drift.....

Rik

Andrew wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:43 pm Since you asked... Well, sort of...

Phase one, the only one I currently have resources (and agreement!) for is likely to be a 1'x1' diorama based on a little slice of Liverpool Street, housed in one "cube" of an Ikea shelving unit...

Phase two, the "minglenook", would also be VERY loosely based on Liverpool Street, specifically some of the platform ends and the two road bridges beyond, with the turntable that was sandwiched between them - perfect for displaying a "Brit" or B1. There are lots of photos of the pilot with various wagons, which I think were largely loco coal, plus supplies to and waste from the Great Eastern Hotel - my excuse for a bit of shunting in the middle of a London terminus!

If phase three, the full blown Minories layout, ever happens, it'd be a bit of fun really - short versions of typical Liverpool Street trains bustling in and out. Fun to operate, some nice details, but overall, very far from being realistic!

All of this is entirely in my head for now, apart from the purchase of some ancient Triang suburban carriages, which I intend to upgrade, detail and repaint...

Andrew.

Sounds good. And an interesting design challenge. The issue of artistic compression is a biggy but I think there's a lot to be said for atmosphere rather than slavish reproduction to scale. Not forgetting Rule One - model trains are Fun.

Well, given the Bank Holiday traffic, I thought I'd stay at home and do some railway and gardening work today....

Since the last post, I've added 'legs' to Ingleby Yard' and painted up some POWs in basic bodyshell colours - the transfers artwork will make a big difference but I'm undecided as to what to go for (any recommendations/advice welcome) but they look better already. I've been doing some measuring and calculating as to how many wagons go in the various sidings. As ever, I suspect an extra couple of inches would have been most useful. But it does work, even if some clearances are a bit tight. If people visit, then I expect their wagons will vary a bit in length and clearance anyway...

Some Fun to be had there ,while you build your garden railway. When I make an inglenook layout I make sure the head shunt is slightly longer than the longest siding .

Looks great! Love the NDM6... I've been working on building mine on and off for about a year so seeing it on your layout gave an instant sense of scale.

Does the runaround loop make up for the short headshunt? I made the headshunt too short on my HO scale Inglenook and eventually got so fed up with it that I extended the shelf with a staging area on that end which allows me to 'cheat' a little if I have to.

Preseli Chris wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 7:56 pm Some Fun to be had there ,while you build your garden railway. When I make an inglenook layout I make sure the head shunt is slightly longer than the longest siding .

Here, the headshunt is only the length of the loco and one wagon. But the loop does give you more options. And I built it so I could extend the headshunt onto another board, whether a fiddle stick or a 'scenic' section.

drewzero1 wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2024 3:59 am Looks great! Love the NDM6... I've been working on building mine on and off for about a year so seeing it on your layout gave an instant sense of scale.

Does the runaround loop make up for the short headshunt? I made the headshunt too short on my HO scale Inglenook and eventually got so fed up with it that I extended the shelf with a staging area on that end which allows me to 'cheat' a little if I have to.

Thanks. It's the Roundhouse version. I'm not sure if it was originally kitbuilt or RTR. But - except for occasionally through the Setrack frogs - it runs sweetly enough and I can get good control, it is a good shunting loco. One of these days (round tuit...) I'll see if I can take a short video and if You Tube still recognises me.

Yes, time/more experimenting will tell but I may have made the headshunt and the middle siding a bit short - though making the layout much longer would have required two boards and more complicated joinery. I'm trying to avoid that at this stage. I can get three of the PO wagons in the loop, four in the front siding, three (just!) in the middle and right sidings. One potential complication is I don't know where the [coloured] wagons came from and others I have are fractionally shorter/longer. So I do see some potential problems there. But I'll keep the layout basic for the time being and if I dismantle it next year for a mark 2 iteration with lessons learnt factored in, then there'll be very little lost.

Petersfield wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2024 7:07 pm painted up some POWs

A bit off-topic, but I've been watching a documentary series on WWII lately, and totally misread that for a minute.

No matter what we do, sidings are always an inch too short..

That J69 is gorgeous, by the way.