Layout & Scenery
This slide show illustrates many of the small improvements that have been made to the layout
Early Days. The weeds have not yet taken hold and no roofs on low relief buildings
Looks better now.
But now he has a blotter, ledgers & most important a kettle. That Gas lighting casts a rather yellow light.
Early Days. The weeds have not yet taken hold and no roofs on low relief buildings
General.
The Twa Dale estates railway was conceived as a quick 1 year project. Work commenced in April 2013 after my 'O' gauge layout, Lynton Road, went to a new home. I needed something smaller, lighter & more portable. It is built in 7mm to the ft ‘’O’ gauge on 14 mm track to represent a 2 foot narrow gauge industrial scene. Track work is all handmade from components & the layout is designed to be capable of fully automatic operation.
Track work
Where visible the track work is modelled on the Robert Hudson rigid portable track system, a bit like 'set track' for industrial railways, using KB scale components.
A 6 sleeper (18 ft) section has 34 components excluding the rails. Every track spike has to been cut down so I have done in excess of 500.
The system had 3 radii or types, the middle radius is used throughout Twa Dale Estates.
Scenary
This has developed cosiderably since the layout was first exhibited and there is still scope for adding more detail. I have tried to create a busy, but slightly run down, feel to Twa Dale with a number of cameo's to add interest when a moving train is not in sight.
There are some working features such as the goods hoist which along with a 'can you see' board are popular with our younger viewers.
Details include -
Working Yard Lights,
Building lights,
Working Hoist on ware house,
A model of our Dog,
Wagon goes up & down coal drop ramp
Man down the manhole,
Lancashire boiler in boiler house (you can see the fires when lit and the chimney smokes)
Weighbrige with scales, the hut is a bit tatty and has grass growing on the roof.
Office interior, the kettle is on lets hope the phone does not ring.
Smoke from steam lorry
Working factory clock
Point levers moving with points
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Buildings.
The warehouses are from skytrex resin castings. These have been 'reordered' to produce 1 Large & 1 small rather than 3 identical units. Sprayed in grey car primer, individual stones were highlighted before weathering was applied. The toilet block extension to the factory, boiler house chimney and the weigh bridge are all also Skytrex.
The factories ( main & low relief ), boiler house and Offices are all from 1 Heljan engine shed kit. It's modular nature makes it easy to adapt but the bricks are over sized. These are sprayed with red plastic primer & weathered. The water tower / engine shed is scratch built with Slaters embossed brick & coffee stirrers. Windows from Port Winstanly Models, water tank Duncan Models.