After a week of contemplation

I've had chance to fully appreciate my unexpected purchase at RailEx NE, and realise Fiddlers Wharf is a well crafted model and very little needs to be done. One person who's seen the layout this last week passed the comment, "it looks like a scene from Peaky Blinders". I've not watched the TV series but the layout obviously struck a chord with him.

One reason mentioned for making the purchase was it would easily fit as the right hand side for an Anglicised Iain Rice's Leamington Yard style of layout. If in the future I do extend the layout  Fiddlers Wharf will have to be converted to P4. This is not something I'll do in a hurry though... Initially my plan is to get the layout working, borrow, if I can, EM gauge rolling stock, plan a shunting puzzle and enjoy the layout as it stands...

Just noticed I'd not placed the building over the barge correctly...
Might install some location pins to help position and secure the building.

 

An unexpected purchase

What have I done...

The other weekend, after my Saturday tip to Darlington for the Societies AGM, I ventured over to North Shields for the Byth and Tyne Model Railway Society's show on the Sunday. This was mainly to see "Port Solway", "South Pelaw Junction" and "Castle Caereinion" along with making a few minor purchases, well, that was my intention.

What threw a spanner in the works was on entering the show and on my way to view "Port Solway" I passed an EM gauge layout called "Fiddlers Wharf". In stopping to admire the layout I noted it was for sale. Realising its track plan was based on the Inglenook shunting puzzle principle, feeding a few small industries I became interested. After having a quick chat to the owner, I started to have a few thoughts,

• After putting Heath End together I was starting to realise it might take too much renovation time to make bring it back to a fully operational layout to a standard I would e happy with.
• I do like layouts where I can shunt wagons around a yard; as such, I have collected a few plans for this type of  layout.
• I've had the pleasure of operating a few Inglenook layouts, one being Gordon Luck's "Fish Dock Road". I remember being absorbed for some considerable time solving the randomised shunting of wagons into the correct positions. Great fun...
• As Fiddlers Wharf is only 5ft x1ft and sits on a table top and very easy to tranport it is an ideal layout for one day shows. It could also be a great last minute emergency space filler for exhibition managers.
• I also wondered if it would be good entertainment for the grandchildren. When operating "Fish Dock Road" with Gordon, we had a number of children enjoy hands on operation solving the shunting puzzle.
• On the down side it was an EM gauge layout, this would mean I'd need to construct a few EM gauge locomotives and wagons.

With these thoughts I ventured off to look around the whole show. While admiring Port Solway and South Pelaw Junction along with other layouts the above thoughts were never too far out of my mind. I went back a number of times to view Fiddlers Wharf and had brief chats with the owner. During one conversation he mentioned it could be extended. This brought to mind Iain Rice's "Leamington Yard" track plan. I'd often drawn my own Anglicised version of this plan and thought "Fiddlers Wharf" is an almost perfect match for the right hand side of this track plan.

Iain Rice's Leamington Yard.
Even though designed as an American layout it has potential for being Anglicised.

Eventually about three thirty I asked if there had been any takers. There had not, so I explained I was very interested but needed a little more time to think especially as it's a  different gauge to the one I model in. We exchange details and I made my way to the exit.

On walking back to the car I remembered a phrase my wife says about me "I often see something I'd like to purchase, even try it on, but don't buy it and then regret it later". I was beginning to think this might be one of those decisions. I then remembered there were a couple of guys in the local model railway group that might initially help with EM gauge rolling stock.  

So, a decision was made, along with the few minor purchases, I came away with something a little bigger...and wondering how the wife would reacted...

Fiddlers Wharf

Curiosity got the better of me

I'm glad I'm not a cat...

I knew there was a lot of stuff that needed sorting, taking up the space planned for Heath End. After a tentative look at the area, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to get started on erecting the layout. Over the weekend and the following days, I moved some boxes into the house for sorting, skipped others, and made drastic decisions about Tredethy Wharf. After reorganising the storage shelves, I finally created enough space to start erecting the first baseboard of Heath End.

Then came a game of musical chairs. The remaining boxes were either shoved to the far end of the 'Man Cave,' nearly trapping me inside, or constantly shuffled around as I erected the other baseboards. What fun I had...

It took some time to work out how everything fitted but eventually it all came together. The final task was squirrelling away all the stuff I couldn't/wouldn't dispose of underneath the layout. This includes what remains of Tredethy Wharf.

A bit of a mess - but it's up.

The initial problem I'll need to solve before doing anything else is to improve the alignment of the  track at baseboard joints. The solution may be to install Pattern Makers Dowels to accurately align the track and also to strengthen baseboard ends for rigidity?

First tentative look at the layout

Today, I started sorting through the boxes stored in the Man Cave, where Heath Lane will be erected. I could throw away some items, while I needed to take a few boxes into the house for sorting.I could throw away some items, while I needed to take a few boxes into the house for sorting. With a bit of reorganisation, I managed to clear a small amount of floor space.

They arrived with Heath End baseboards bolted together in pairs, and stored them in a small, previously cleared space. With a little more floor space available at this end of the room, temptation got the better of me. I randomly selected and separated a pair of boards. Once separated it was evident that they had been in storage for some time. Dust, bugs, loose scenic material had all found their way into the base of the baseboard corners. Because it was warped and covered in debris, I quickly removed and discarded the clear plastic screen from the front of the boards. I then put Henry into action, quickly vacuuming up all the debris.

All the wiring looks to be present though it is loose and untidy. At first glance and considering it age I'm assuming it has been wired for DC operation. All turnouts are operated by wiring in tube and the crossover on one of these boards still worked well. Whether I install servos as a replacement for the wire in tube is something for the future. If I do if will be the opportunity to rewire the whole layout for  DCC operation. 

On the baseboard surfaces the track looks OK. However, I can only be certain after I erect and bolt together all the baseboards. The scenery is tired and faded in colour so will definitely need refreshing.

First two board inspected after a light vacumming

The buildings arrived in a couple of slightly battered corrugated boxes with lids that didn't close over the buildings. The first building I found was the station building, unfortunately it looks like the roof has been stained during storage. On initial inspection, the other buildings looked to be in slightly better shape. One structure I found and was able to place on one of the cleaned boards was the road over-bridge. It slotted in place nicely but rocked across its length, front to back across the baseboard... Hmm...does that mean that the baseboard has warped in storage? Again, I'll know better when the baseboards are all erected and joined together.

I was not expecting a layout in perfect condition, so my thoughts are still the same. If the baseboards go together and the track bed is flat there will be a chance that I can make something of this layout. Eventually, some—if not all—of the buildings will be replaced, and all the scenery will be upgraded.

Will I change the fictional back story? Will it have a name change? We'll have to wait and see.

A new project - one for the future

Before Christmas, I received notification that someone would discard a P4 layout unless another person expressed interest. At first, I thought, I’ve no time to spend on another project. Plus, the size initially quoted meant I’d have to alter or rebuild the baseboards to fit it into my 'Man Cave.'

But after further discussions, poring over track plans, and reading a blog about the layout, I realised it would fit in my space. The thought struck me: could this layout inspire my grandchildren? It's a "roundy roundy," so it could also serve as a test track for locos and stock. If it hasn’t suffered too much in storage, it might only need a little TLC to become fully operational. My grandchildren are only three years old, so I have about two years before they’ll really be able to enjoy it. That gives me time to sort out any issues without rushing—perfect, considering my commitment to completing Rospeath Lane by 2016.

After a bit more thought, I decided to become the new custodian of Heath End. The following photographs have been coped from Scalefour Societies Craven Area Groups blog 

I actually saw the layout once at Scalefour North in 2011, though I’m not sure if anyone has exhibited it since. On initial inspection, it looks to be in decent shape, especially for something that was built around 2007 and been in storage for possibly 13 years. With a bit of care, I hope to bring it back to life—not just as a project, but as a chance to share my love of model railways with my growing family.

Original Track Plan taken from Scalefour North 2011 program

Making this decision has taken up too much head space already, time I should have been thinking and working on Rospeath Lane. I need to park any further thoughts about checking the layout over until additional progress is made on my Jubilee Challange project. Getting Heath End fully up and running needs to be on the seat right at the very back of the bus. Thankfully, we are not expecting any visits from the grandchildren for a few months.