Heaton Lodge Junction - Starting To Lay 500 Metres Of Track! Plus Heljan's New O Gauge Peak & More!

[@lottaaction8072]

Such dedication! It really shows! I love the updates!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thank you & thanks for watching 👍

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Good to see a part of the fiddle yard being revamped into scenic boards, that cement factory building is going to be huge. The track circuit detectors are a nice detail and indeed do many forget these. One thing does need some attention, the gaps between the wing walls and the parapet stones are quite apparent especially on camera, and do take down on the otherwise superb detail around the tunnel mouths.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Hi Tom, I’ve never noticed those gaps between the wing walls and parapet stones, thanks for pointing that out! I’ll get my filler out. All the best. Simon

[@Alistair-lr5wu]

Your attention to detail is second to none! Also, I have the OO gauge Heljan model of 45106. It's a weighty beast but not as heavy as yours of course 😂 Looking forward to the next video as always

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks Alistair much appreciated. I’m going to look at detail more closely in this weeks video 👍

[@64G_Design]

This comment is meant as an insight rather than slight. "Scale gradient of 1:137". Gradients don't scale. It is 1:137 irrespective of the modelling scale. Not so obvious, but it is one constant often missed. Cracking work as ever.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

That’s a good point cheers! Thanks for the kind comment 👍

[@johnpalmer5873]

Great viewing again, amazing especially as you seem to work by yourself on the layout. That helps with quality control? Also disagreements are less likely!? Some jobs must be daunting on a layout the size of yours? Thank you

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks John. Yes I do work on my own - you hit the nail on the head with quality control and disagreements! Although I do end up arguing with myself often! Best regards. Simon

[@RTM-fan]

My goodness me, just stumbled onto to your chanel, what an immense giant space for a big layout, understand why you do O scale and this is your basement WOW never seen such a big basement. I myself model also O scale but narrow gauge. Am a bit jealous about the space ;)

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks for watching the videos! Yes I was very lucky with the space but the factory basement was derelict when I first got it. Took me 5 months of work to make it so I could put the railway in. All the best with your narrow gauge layout btw Cheers. Simon

[@RTM-fan]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 thanks Simon. I'm a big O scale fan. My layout will depict (as far as possible) the 8km museum line of the former Dutch RTM (Rotterdam Tramway Company) I mainly focus on the yard and scratchbuilding all the rolling stock they preserve, I just live 20km from the museum so I'm fortunate to go their when I'm in need of detail pictures of rollingstock or scenery.

[@yeovilcentralmainline2307]

Very impressed with the Class 47 exhaust, might just struggle to get that same effect in 4mm though!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Yea it may be more difficult in 4mm tho Hornby have just brought out some superb smoke units

[@dr.deborahkatharinestevens318]

Thank you for the T.C how-to, Simon.👍

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Pleasure Deborah hope you are well. Simon

[@markmuller2528]

G'day I love your layout Such great details so when are you going to stop adding to it and how do you move around for trian shows Could you ever bring it outside uk to Australia 🇦🇺.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks Mark. I doubt I could get it to Australia but you never know! It moves around with 5 articulated trucks (semi’s) although I think I’ll need another when this extension is completed! Best regards Simon

[@musoseven8218]

Another cracking, enlightening video. Nice to hear of your psychology to keep on keeping on.💜👍👍 That Peak is superb, HJ locos are heavy, on my layout, they can run with one motor. People dont believe me that they're 2-4kgs in weigh, like a larger live steam model😲😀 Friends and I were chatting just today, again, about our concerns re "CCP sponsored" diecast. We have old British diecast road vehicle models, 50 plus years old, no diecast cancer. But our diecast cars, buses, aeroplanes, made in China? Weve all experienced diecast cancer writing off our models. We know that Hornby et al have had 00 scale models killed by it too. With our HJ models, being a "considered purchase", we hope to God that we wont experience the same, its the same with Dapol and other O gauge brands too - making us fearful. Sorry to be doom and gloom, but it is now a very real worry for our little group😕😕

[@mrbluesky2050]

I'd use normal plastic weld or Tamiya extra thin for the plastic, just as quick and cheaper than S.G. plus accellerant. less chance of gluing yourself or tools to it as well

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Good suggestion 👍

[@NewModelRailway1]

Have you ever considered doing a future video showcase of your layout using the blue screen + video edited 'real sky switch' that dougattrenholmebar does on his Trenholme Junction layout?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Good idea. I hadn’t to be honest, great suggestion 👍

[@nickbannister775]

Being like yourself a young train spotter but at Woodhouse lane bridge Brighouse in the mid sixties there were no passenger trains on the Calder Valley Line as far as Halifax until Brighouse station reopened in 2000. Freight on the other hand the choice is endless; mail, coal etc. I stand to be corrected as I’m not 100% on this.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Hi Nick I did see passenger trains on the Calder Valley line in the 80’s at Heaton Lodge, but they were always diversions, always loco hauled. Never saw a DMU there Cheers. Simon

[@dibsyardshuntinglayout]

I guess it goes without saying, test, test, and test the track before starting each "diorama" board.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Yes I’ll definitely be doing that ! All the best to you 👍

[@roberthall-h7r]

Another great video Simon. I am intrigued to know how you are going to clean the tracks. I imagine you have some sort of wagon that you have converted as I am not aware of an off the shelf O gauge propelled track cleaner. Or maybe you use a good old track rubber , a little laborious.🫤

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

It’s a good question! I actually use track rubbers made by LGB as they are huge & do 2 tracks at a time. None of the mechanically propelled ones really work well in my opinion Thanks for your support! Simon

[@paulgodwin604]

Simon, where the pair of running tracks curve close to the sidings by the site of the control cabin (E.g in the shot at 10.10), I would point out that there is an unrealistic distance between the running lines and first siding. For track safety, at least a scale “10 foot” should be apparent - and probably more so workers inspecting the wagons can walk alongside without fear of mainline trains affecting or even hitting them. Sidings are never very close to running lines. That said I am enjoying your videos immensely. Paul

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

That’s a good point I can still change that…thanks very much great advice! Best regards. Simon

[@GrahamPreston-jw9df]

Simon who's sound file will you use for the class 45

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Legomanbiffo is my usual choice! Cheers

[@philkyle8919]

the hoppers are now 30.00 each you could buy a car for that lot lol

[@johnhorton5364]

TPWS - Train Protection Warning System is nothing to do with track circuiting, TPWS is tied into the track grids recording speed, Track Circuiting is mainly done by axle counters, counting axle boxes in one end and out the other

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I stand corrected thanks

[@delboy1727]

I don't know how widespread axle counter systems are compared to track circuits, but it was only introduced in my area relatively recently.

[@johnhorton5364]

​@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428all depends on locality, you've witnessed it at Heaton Lodge, It's been axle counters for decades down in Devon along the seawall between Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth because of contamination by seawater causing electrical chaos, the new signalling systems introduced now tend to lean towards axle counters, I can't explain why because I dint know, the railway has changed so much since I left and that's only around 15 years, technology is sweeping across the board, just look at the ECML, York box controls hundreds of miles of track now. We all live and learn, every days a school day.

[@stevenpryce7808]

Do you have any help Simon ?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I’m on my own working on the layout. But there are people like Tim Horn (Tim Horn Baseboards) and Lee Edmondson and others who are really supportive. 👍

[@Derbys65]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428wow, if I lived near I would certainly help you

[@TimberSurf]

Give me a shout, if you want small detail not available elsewhere designed and printed in 3d

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thank you wildo. Best regards Simon

[@stephenkell7314]

Sorry to poo poo your love of the Heljan peak but they still haven’t corrected the error from the top of the nose to the top of the windscreens as they top of the cab door should have a small radius hence altering the shape around the cab from pity as I was hoping they would have corrected the model as from the first run but alas no so money will be staying in my pocket

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Fair comment I wasn’t aware of that 👍

[@philipmadhatter4006]

You take the meaning of being super anal too far

[@samshunt5715]

Poor you I’m enjoying my peak runs fantastic

[@jimrockford3662]

There’s always one who gripes about the pissist issue. Superb layout, nothing beats O scale and it is the biggest in GB. That other pretender is HO

[@lj03oem]

If you are refering to making tracks,the scale is OO,not HO.Who cares who has the largest model railway,what about the 5" gauge boys,surley they will top an electric job in o or oo.Just be thankful for the space you have.However good a modeller you consider yourself,there is always someone who will make your best efforts look lame.This is for the most of us,me very much included,a fact of life.Lets just rejoice in the fact that we can pass on experience to younger modelleers'Chill out guys

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks for the kind comments 👍