Heaton Lodge Junction - Great Progress This Last Week.. And New Extension Carts Land!

[@dr.deborahkatharinestevens318]

"Leave in a good frame of mind"....such sage advice, especially when various things may be trying one's patience.✊👍

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

It is important I reckon. I’ve left cursing on a couple of occasions then had a couple days off! Hope you’re well and thanks for watching

[@mobileandhostile7895]

I’ve started to really look forward to these videos…I’m always left with a sense of fascination combined with a sense of disbelief at the sheer size of the project…thanks for taking us along with you on this incredible project Oh…and the scratch built tower looks excellent 😎

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thank you. When I did Phase 1 Heaton Lodge I wrote regular posts on RM Web. The videos are a lot more work but they do motivate me too. Thanks for watching 👍

[@JohnRich1415]

Great idea to do the fully sceniced section, I'm sure it will motivate you a lot when maybe enthusiasm starts to flag. Nice to see the Western as well 😊

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Cheers John I’ve been wiring this first section all day today ! 👍

[@birtle123]

I'm lost for words. Just......WOW!!!!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thank you 👍

[@musoseven8218]

Good work Simon. Highlight of my week, viewing wise. Where would some of us be without model railways to keep us going 👍💜😊✌️

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

This is true, I’m looking forward to doing this diorama as part of the layout. Scenic modelling I do miss! All the best 👍

[@geoffwest64]

Great video Simon. Really looking forward to seeing progress on the two boards.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Cheers Geoff I’m looking forward to it too 👍

[@michaelscott231]

Love the Western!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

It was a guests and a Masterpiece Models product. Beautiful loco

[@kensworthrd2027]

This layout is amazing, can public visit and admire in person?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks yes it’s going out again in about a year when this phase 2 extension is finished. I’ll be publishing dates / venues nearer the time. Thanks for watching 👍

[@raymarshall8336]

Your right about being slightly mad. I know my self. With having a layout in the loft & classic motorcycles in the garage.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I think you have to be a bit eccentric but there’s worse things to be I’m sure!

[@nickrails]

Its taken me 4 years to be nowhere finishing my 5 foot 4mm cameo layout....your dedication to this ground breaking project is admirable. I lose my mojo for months on end - do you have a set number of days/hours you try and get down? I'm a musician, and I try and force myself to do a minimum 16 hours study/practice a week, but I dont have (or feel that I need to have) the same discipline when it comes to the modelling.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks Nick for the kind words. I can’t really explain why I’ve not lost my enthusiasm although I do have some bad days. I think because there’s a bigger picture for me in getting the whole project in front of the public definitely helps. And because I finished phase 1 which took 8 years phase 2 is more manageable (I think). It also helps doing these videos! Good luck with your layout tho it doesn’t matter how big or small they are all fun and that’s what it’s all about. Best wishes. Simon

[@nickrails]

Cheers Simon, appreciate the reply. The Healy scene will be something to behold once completed, it's gonna blow peoples socks off

[@mickeybarrass3625]

I'm loving this channel. How or Why i haven't noticed it before I did, I really dont know but thank you for sharing regardless. As a resident of the North East Tyne Yard was my local, they had a shunters cabin, at the North end of the Yard, where the lines for through MGR and freight traffic, I dunno about Healey Mills. I was wondering if you'd be putting them in too. Easy for me to say, your building the things I know. I was just thinking most yards probably would've had them. Sorry if it seems I'm trying to tell you how to build stuff, when I haven't got a clue where to start myself, I'm honestly just wondering. You may get a few more questions of this ilk, so I apologise in advance. Keep up the excellent work, very enjoyable watch.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Hi Mickey yes there’s lots of building going on the marshalling yard, admin building, mess rooms & staff quarters etc. From this next video there will be a lot more hands on stuff. I drove over Tyne Yard earlier today there is still loads of bogie coal wagons parked up there. Thanks for watching and your support! All the best.

[@mickeybarrass3625]

@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 lot of ballast wagons too. Plenty engineering trains get filled there. Not a great deal else. Went to the bankside many moons back at Healey Mills, was after some of the locos for sight amongst the scrapped locos. Wanted to get them underlined before they were turned into razor blades. Sad sight indeed.

[@AustNRail]

Just so you know, Right hand drive Concrete Agirators Mix Counter Clockwise (Barrel up in rearview mirror) and Clockwise in discharge if viewed from behind. Left hand drives are opposite. This has to do with road camber and balance of truck whilst driving with a live load.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Never knew that thanks. Interesting stuff 👍

[@e575fho]

Mercedes mixer trucks - when in charge the drum will spin counterclockwise, whereas the Iveco trucks - when in charge will spin Clockwise, both right hand drive.

[@AustNRail]

@@e575fhothis would be a peculiarity based on European standards but here in Australia they are as I described and in the US of A they are opposite and this comes down to road camber and safety.

[@m10cachilles43]

Hi Simon, rather than have to learn to 3D model and print, might it be worth approaching some companies that do this such as West Hill Wagon Works or 3 Peak Models? They might be willing to expand their range?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks for that. Tim Horn who does the baseboards has offered to resin print bits for me. The problem is a lot of what I need is stuff no one else would buy eg funny cone shapes and pipes for the cement factory etc. Thanks again 👍

[@m10cachilles43]

@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 Might also be worth looking at some 28mm wargames pieces. Warhammer 40,000 might have some pipes that might work, as they tend to be "heroic" (ie over) scale.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Great idea I’ll look at that. Thanks again

[@marknicholson2281]

Wills do a corrugated asbestos sheet which is closer to O gauge tin sheet.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Cheers I’ll go for that one then 👍

[@cyberdonblue4413]

I must start by saying that I'm in awe of what you have built and how hard you have worked on the upgrade/remodelling. However, as an ex-driver of some 35 plus years (in the West Midlands area) would you permit me to query the concrete sleepers in the sidings? This is not a criticism (and I do understand the horrific expense of track etc and the wonderful donations from Peco) but is this an accurate depiction of the area you are portraying? I ask out of curiosity as much as anything because I worked into and out of places like Tinsley, Toton, St. Mary's (Derby),Washwood Heath, Bescot, Longbridge Sidings (The Austin to most Brummies of my age group) Gloucester South and a few other places and I don't recall concrete sleepers in any of those yards. If it's "artistic licence" then fair do's but as I said, it's not a criticism just a curiosity. Maybe my old memory is failing me and perhaps I did see concrete sleepers in yards - my memory fails me on many other things these days so don't worry - but I don't recall it with any clarity. Keep up the smashing work though. I'm lovin' it. 👍

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

No I really appreciate the feedback. I’m sure you’re right about the concrete but as you say it was donated by Peco. I think once it’s been heavily weathered and ballasted it’ll be vastly toned down. Not the point I know so yes I’ll have to put it down to artistic license! Thanks for your support and for watching 👍

[@jezza22565]

Hi Simon, I think you'll need to modify the cement mixer cabs for something more in keeping with the layout era and Blue Circle, The Mercedes Benz Actros range wasn't introduced until 1996 ?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Yes but don’t forget the new era being modelled this time round is the year 2000 onwards. Everything will be EWS/Colas etc..so I figured the Actros would be ok 👍 All the best

[@jezza22565]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 oh, sorry, I didn't realise it was going to be set at a later date , The Mercs will be perfect 👍👍

[@wamgoc]

This is a mammoth task! How did it all start! How have you got to this point? Is it totally self funded?👏

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

It’s a long story..! I sold a business and started building Heaton Lodge phase 1 back in 2013 finishing it in 2019/20. What you’re now watching is Heaton Lodge phase 2 being constructed. Once this is finished in 18 months or so it’ll go out to the public bolted onto where the public already go - shopping centres/National Trust properties etc. Hopefully then I can start making some money back and entertain everyone at the same time! Best regards

[@stephenfoster225]

Simon, is this your layout or a club, and if it is yours, did you rob a bank or something 😊. How do you get to any part past your arm length, and is there an end goal on size, Steve

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Hi Stephen, yes it’s my layout I began building it in 2013 and finished phase 1 of it in 2019. I’m not in a club. What you’re seeing now is the building of phase 2. I funded the phase 1 by selling a business I’d started and remortgaging my house. The end goal is to take the layout to the general public by bolting on to out of town shopping centres and charging a small entry fee Thanks for watching 👍

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Also … it’s easy to get to any part of the layout by moving the mobile steel carts which much of the extension of phase 2 is built on.

[@TINYPINHEAD]

Please invite pete waterman down to take a look. Be a great video

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

😀