Spartan Bridge - ' East Lancashire Shropshire Style'

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm

Where are those 33's ?. Are they done yet

In an alternate universe they are BTTRT (better than the real thing)  :)) In this universe? sadly not, although I am finding curious sources for bits and pieces which will be used. When I get chance I shall modify my workbench thread accordingly. But don't hold your breath as the wife has only just got out of hospital again and I'm running around like a blue-bottomed fly  :shit:
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm

Very brief and overdue update. The 3rd board has been assembled and all 3 boards are now bolted together. The cork underlay for the two furthest lines on board 3 is fixed down and I have now made a start on constructing the crossover for board 2

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Down goes the plan

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Down go the sleepers

In between college assignments and work I'm hoping to have the crossover completed by christmas this year :))
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm

Well hello stranger, Which year !!!!! I almost wrote LMR on the move again

Ian
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm

Hi Marsa, thought you had deserted the forum :)). Nice plan, i will be watching with interest. Rather you than me building a crossover :eek:. Hope it goes ok :thumbs:
Keep posting the pics :thumbs:

Rob :wave:
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm

Speaking of plans here is the trackplan which I posted on another forum but neglected to do so for this one :-[

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The two black squares on the plan joined by two faint lines is a proposed passenger footbridge from the station road to the town centre. One existed in real life at Bolton before being demolished in the early 80s. The two sidings up in the top corner of board 1 can just squeeze in a Class 47 each. The next siding down will fit 2 x 47 and the longest siding a 3 car DMU. The fiddle yard is going to utilise cassettes to save on space (well made cassettes I might add :eek: )
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

A new addition trundled into town today  :D

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And was immediately put to work on the PW train  :eek:

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Locos earn a living round these parts and will no doubt get very dirty in time and very used  :shit:
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

Nice one Marsa :thumbs:, your plan looks good. Has plenty of shunting possibilities :thumbs:. The 03 looks great, needs weathering though :thumbs: and a match wagon.
What number is it going to be?

Rob :wave:
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

Cheers guys

What number is it going to be?

Haven't decided yet as I still need to research this. But it will be one that was a North West machine and hopefully still preserved  :eek: So it shouldn't be that hard to work out methinks?  :))
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

47238 gets to meet its new stable mate. Doesn't look impressed does he? :eek: :))
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marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

It is most definitely a Bachmann one. It will be suitably weathered eventually and longer term it will be joined by another 03. This one will be a DJH beginners offering and I will attempt its construction myself  :eek:
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

The 03 looks great, needs weathering though :thumbs: and a match wagon.
What number is it going to be?

I've finally settled on 03170. This was a North West based machine and is now preserved. I've also found some excellent photos here http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/psh_ ... loco=03170 I will have some questions for you all over in my WB thread later so pay attention ;D

Now onto the matter at hand. My last update for the year on the state of my layout

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To the left where the headshunt will be I've had to resort to a bit of a compromise where constructing the turnout. If I'd used the C+L or a templot template for the B6 then I would have been looking at lengthening the board to be able to fit a 2 car DMU in. Also my 47 would have cleared the blades by a shoe. So as Baldrick would say 'I have a cunning plan'. Actually it's not that cunning, I just used a Marcway template instead and got the vee as close as safely possible to the baseboard joins. It won't be entirely accurate but once weathered and ballasted it won't be very noticeable.

P1000863.jpg

The crossover on platforms 3 & 4(now defunct) has had all its timbers laid and the track gang have started positioning the rail ready for the final push. In fact track laying is at at standstill as Mr Exactoscale is nowhere to be found :eek: I am in need of some of the 4 bolt bridge chairs but he must be on holiday. I could do what I did on my 3 way and use normal chairs modified but I am adamant on improving each thing I build by trying to use more accurate components and striving for better accuracy where I can. I still can't buy ready made check rail chairs though :headbang:

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from left to right you can see that the avoiding line and platform 1 have been fixed down and are awaiting wiring and some fettling on the ends. Then you can see platform 3 and the old platform 4 tracks positioned just for testing. These won't be fixed down until all the pointwork is complete.

Well it's time for out with the old and in with the new. Have a very happy new year my friends and I hope the hangover tomorrow was worth it :D :wave:

best regards,

Mark
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

Hangover Ha Ha with the little minx around Ha Ha you'm havin a loff ay ya :thumbs:

Ian
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

Well Mark, it seems to be coming together nicely. Your trackwork looks EXELLENT :bowdown:Keep posting those progress pics.

Rob :wave:
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

Just a quick update to show you I'm still alive and kicking (who groaned then?) :))

P1000873.jpg

Station entrance road 99% complete. It just needs tie-bars and some cosmetics to the vee doing then it's ready to rock and roll. In the distance you can just make out the progress of the track laying. A lot more would have been done sooner but I had a long wait before I received my Exactoscale 4 bolt bridge chairs. Hopefully more progress next week in between college assignments. I'm targetting the end of March to complete all trackwork so the race is on :eek:

P1000874.jpg

Here you can see what I meant about the crossing vee. Just need to solder things up to the copperclad strip then add a few cosmetic chairs and it's good to go. In case any of you noticed in the previous photo that the turnout might look a bit strange please be aware that I used C+L components on a Marcway template, so it isn't a prototypical B6. This compromise was mainly down to the fact that both exit roads straddle a baseboard join. However it's a compromise I can live with as once painted, ballasted and weathered it should blend in nicely.

Anyway, time to pack and trundle off up to Bolton for family visits and tomorrows Scale O show. And get the beers in Mr Ploffy for Sunday and hurry up finishing that oval. I want to run something ;D

regards,

Mark
 

lancer1027

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (New addition)

Thats coming along a treat Mark :thumbs:Look forward to the next installment ;D

Rob :wave:
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (Are we there yet?)

Update time ;D

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Guessed what it is yet?

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Its my attempt at recreating the old station subway roof. It will need a pale dirty insert to simulate the old yellowy plastic BR used to let in natural light and some cross members for supporting the longitudinal timbers. I don't know how it will look when I've finished but I've never seen this modeled elsewhere (disclaimer! Just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't been done before :)))

The workings of the crossover are all that's left with that and the cosmetic stuff like fish-plates. I also have one short section of track to fit and one siding to re-rail and then et voila or as the French would say 'It's reet mate', the track-laying will be complete :eek: Then I can start on the electrics then weathering/ballasting the track :shit:

More pictures to follow and it sure is getting crowded in here now that Jordan has moved forward a row :))
 

marsa69

Western Thunderer
Spartan Bridge - East Lancashire in 7mm (Are we there yet?)

Update!

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Et voila! Or as the French would say 'It's reet mate' :))

Just some tie-bars to fabricate and fish-plates to fix now that they have arrived!

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And here is the local track inspection team skiving out of the office!
 
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