looking for ideas for small railways in unusual places that would also make for interesting scenic's. I thought about sea side locations, peirs, harbour, all been done many times, Need more, sand, waves, rocks, Rust! May be some animation! What about a construction railway Having been to many seaside locations I though how about a Break Wall Construction railway it wouldn't need much rolling-stock , one or two small loco, a Derrick could provide a loading animation of construction material and a rock / gravel loader as another, emptying it's load at the end of the break wall that would disappear between bigger block work or rocks to a collection hopper under the layout. Could even have a little engine shed and store. : prototypes? A quick Google revealed many all over the world as it seams most pre 80's Break walls were made and maintained with a little old loco some rough old wagons and even rougher track Will have to stoke the fire in the old PC and see if I can raise enough steam to get Anyrail going. Attached files
Another posibility, is a train ferry / pier, with the back end of the ferry being the fiddle yard - maybe should have kept that to myself. Paul
paul_l wrote: That's an interesting one Paul, can't remember seeing that modelled anywhere. Ed (Now I've said that, I bet someone will come along and say 'so and so' did something similar to that in 19 whatever )
Sounds like an exciting idea Chris. Something different. What sort of size are you thinking of ? Toto
Toto wrote: Toto, Little but Big as always. Paul you can do the ferry I won't do that as I was thinking of that really worn look that sea and sun would make the Ferry you would think may have a bit more love and maintance to it. Plus This is something the US modellers do a lot the train ferry. There's some nice opperating ones on YouTube. And I've got one in 5" gauge not that it is sea worthy any more the hull was damaged in big rains and I only saved the super structure. I really haven't thought that hard yet I'm sure it won't be too long before I narrow it down a bit mmmm! Narrow gauge could have some really tight curves then. Or then I found this that inspires to use the IXION Hudswell Clark in O scale. Photos please if any one else finds examples Attached files
Train Ferry in 5 inch Screen shot from very old video. 5" gauge train ferry, screen shots from old video with my 5" gauge RC rail motor loading. by CHRIS, on Flickr Attached files
paul_l wrote: That's going to be HUGE in O gauge !! Cheers, Gary. Edit* Then I scrolled down afterwards and saw the pic above !
Very interesting topic Chris and it would be something different to model as well. Whilst I was in Tassie (Tasmania for our UK residents) back in January, I took the boat ride from Strahan wharf out to Hells Gate and back up the Gordon River. On the way out to Hells Gate we sailed past a breakwater (designed by Napier Bell) that was built to stop the shifting sands which made navigation a night mare for the ships entering Macquarie Harbour. This break wall was built by using a railway link, but the railway had to be built on the southern side of the harbour, where it is total wilderness and the locos, rollingstock, rails etc would have had to be delivered by ship to that part of the shore line. A pic of the break water from the book 'The Abt Railway Tasmania's West Coast Wilderness Railway' by Lou Rae Cheers, Gary.
Gary wrote: Top find Gary See these are everywhere and a large number seem to have been built using a railway to transport the materials to site then out onto the wall . http://www.click
When the Ladybower reservoirs in Derbyshire were built (in the 1930's I believe) a railway was laid to bring in stone and other materials for construction. The village of Ashopton was flooded when the reservoirs were completed and filled, towers on the upper dam being used for low flying practice by the famous "Dam Busters", as it was similar in setting to the German dams being targetted. After completion of the construction, the trackwork was removed and nothing obvious remains today. Keith.
Kimbo wrote: Now that's a nice bit of railway infrastructure you have found Kim you wouldn't need a back scene as with a wall that tall no one would be able to see over it If you made a model of that the knockers would say it was a fantasy but in the Prototype for everything basket there's even a photo to prove it
paul_l wrote: A deconstruction theme instead of construction It would be big even if you only did the first span or two may be in 2mm scale you could fit a bit more in. http://www.click
It's not too bad Chris, its only 2 miles from 1 shore to the other. That picture is of the 1st Tay bridge, before it fell down. Paul
Question for you Paul. There is an arched lead-on bridge on the Wormit side of the River Tay , is that part of the original bridge/original line ?? I have seen pics of the new bridge, with the old bridge piers on the eastern side. Cheers, Gary.
Hi Gary as far as I am aware the only remaing parts of the original are some of the piers. The original was a single track, the new a double track, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay_Rail_Bridge#/media/File:Northern_segment_of_the_second_Tay_Bridge.jpg Paul