Oakamoor Sand sidings - An OO revival

So a while back I posted that I’d made the first of the new boards for my Oakamoor layout. Extending it from the former exhibition layout in to a fixture in the loft.

And since there is a need for new OO topic posts, I thought it best to document the work as it progresses. Some may be quick and some may take a while, but I will post when I can.

Right. The idea is to extend two of the siding and one part of the loop to become the new approach lines (which is more prototypical working of the real location in the 1980’s) I’ll explain more with the photos.



Clearing back the old scenery where the board meets.



So looking the other way, three out of the 4 lines will run in to a loop and then down to single track. These three will make use of a single slip and a left hand for now. The forth line seen in the earlier photo will become the new through line to become part of a roundy roundy layout.

These are just some trial track layings tonensure clearence for stock etc before I start cutting and laying. The points will controlled by standard peco point motors, but i need to sit and have a long think about track feeds as I’m DCC and want to have all the straights live due to sound and lights.



Test placing for the single slip.



Looking back in to the “yard”.. the buffer stops will stay in place for now until the track is in a more usable state. When you have a 10 year old shunting he may get carried away.

 

So work continued this morning. Started cutting, wiring and testing.



First issue was when this board was originally made 15 years ago, my uncle fitted the centre road of the 3 way with normal fish plates. Although DCC, it was a dead line when not switched to with the points. However, it now needed to be live, so I’ve had to cut the fish plates, slide the halves out and replace with insulating plates.

The track is now being weighted whilst the glue dries and it’s bedded down again.



The track is now cut, laid and wired.



Now to build the next board and we can progress a little more.



First test train.

 

It doesn’t always go to plan!

 

So, the point motors are installed, but I’m wondering now what to use for control? As I’m DCC the other points are ran off 2x Lenz LS150’s, but they have been in well over 12 years (still working fine), but times have moved on. At best the next stage will controls up to 5 points, so what are folk using now for point control? Gaugemaster? Hornby?

Or should I simply stick with what I know and go for a third LS150?

The controller is a ZTC 511 which I won in model rail magazine back in 2001. It has limits, but does the job- although we are having issues with sticky keys now and I can’t see a way to clean it.

Thoughts?

I will post a proposed track plan of the layout soon on how I’m expanding the old display layout around the loft to make a roundy-roundy

 

Recent transfer work has been done on one of the many wagons being converted for the line.

Here is PAA 30001 in the WBB Minerals livery. All artwork is my own.

 

These are just a small bit of the OO items I’ve done myself.

 

Here is the track layout of Oakamoor as it has been since its creation - Its not showing the engine shed bottom right next to the coach body (no idea why? )

So, my plan now is the extension, which you have seen the start of above - I've started bottom left, and as you will see, the first three roads now link into another loop via a single slip - the top line (which ruins from the fiddle yard) will become the new circular line.


If I can find a new drawing program (as no idea where this one is now 15 years later, I'll try and show what i'm proposing - in the end, Oakamoor will be run a little more prototypical from the left hand side, rather than the fictional line to the fiddle yard.

 

Ta, I’ll have a look at that... that’s just the feedback I was wondering about.

Work ok with Pecos point motors?

 

Sadly , both the 2 and 8 (why no four or six?) are out of stock... so that’s a no go at the mo.

 

Took a few photos last night.



Oakamoor NSR McKenzie and Holland Type 2 box.
Dapol working signal. Still need to blend in the base. Was a swap from a ratio non working signal. My son loves this feature on a push button.

Weighbridge.


End of shift at the shed.

New Heljan 07 (003) in the Home BIS livery at work in the yard (needs some crew)

 

Thank you. I’m yet to add the lights to the signal box. They are currently out of stock! Lol.

I’m probably going to change all the lights to a warm white led rather than the yellow which was the norm 15 years ago. The yard lights will follow.
The box has a lever frame inside that I also designed along with the tyres token machine.

 

Hi Splitpin, although it’s quite in my ability, building my own boards doesn’t float my boat.
We used to produce them at school with Pcb’s and a plotter to draw the boards out. Then etch them. Quite fun, but leaves me a little unexcited these days.

I will have a look at the DC Concepts switch units when they are in stock.
Andy