It has now converted to the Massoth Digital System capable of running up to 32 locos at any one time!
With it's new track layout, larger curves and points and ample storage sidings. It is Gauge 1, the scale is around 1/24th, the track gauge is 45mm and the whole layout is a freelance fun layout based on European practice.
The whole history of this garden railways dates back several years when the owners were in business. Modern houses were never designed to have large model railways in them so the obvious answer was to put them out in the garden. Modern materials are used in the track work which allows them to be left out in all weathers. The rail is solid brass and the sleepers are of UV-protected plastic. We have built all the wooden structures, bridges, bents and buildings, treating each with a weather-proofing preservative.
Basically, the railway is one large continuous length of track encircling the house with passing loops and various sidings. The track has been modified and the curves increased to a minimum radius of 6 feet so that any loco can now be run. There are also three separate cog lines, each with sections of cog assistance on the steep grades two of which eventually meet at Woodend station.
Starting your journey on the main line at the large main station at Woodend the line runs at high level around the patio area, eventually reaching the town of Lakeside and stops in the station.
This line then continues around the front of the house, where it divides, at Normanton Junction, the lower line runs across a 12 foot long trestle and down the side of the house.
Whilst the upper line now known as the "High Line" climbs on a maximum 2% grade to Colinwood Station which has a by-pass goods line. There is the third steam hauled cog line from this station down towards the front of the house to a village called Badger's Drift. As the main line approaches the curved trestle beyond Colinwood station the line rejoins the lower line after crossing a bridge and eventually reaches it's starting point at Woodend station.
At the front of the house there is a new station called Spijkerboor which serves the factory complex. Road laying is in progress. The line then runs past this factory through a tunnel, past the village of Itsall, then climbs, via a rack system onto 2 bridges then down into Woodend station, then after a short break returns.
Both cog locos are steam driven, all three cog systems are still on analog.
The lower cog train starts it's journey at Woodend then descends 12 feet of rack. It now winds it's way under the mainline to re-appear behind the top of the Rickenbacher Falls which it follows to terminate at Lakeside station. This train also reverses back to Woodend automatically after a short break.
Passenger and goods trains on the main line also run through Woodend. Troublesome reverse curves have been straightened out and any length of train can be run. A new loco servicing area for both steam and diesel has been built.
Two Massoth hand held controllers are in use both being radio controlled and their displays shows numerous facts such as a picture of the loco being controlled and it's name or number, your choice, the current being drawn by that loco, it's direction and whether it's smoking or not, lights on, station announcements and so on. You can leave a particular loco running whilst you run another then easily switch back to the previous loco. These hand controllers also operates all 15 points from anywhere on the layout. The Massoth system is DCC and the track voltage is 23v with each loco having it's own decoder. One loco without a decoder can be run at any time without any problems.
The joy is that you do not have to remember which loco has been programmed with which number just scroll through the list on the hand set, find and select!
It was whilst we were trying to run in adverse weather conditions we found several bad electrical connections. The rails had expanded and then contracted several times causing the fishplates to make a poor contact. We looked around for an answer and came up with rail clamps which are easy to fit over the existing fishplates even when the track is fastened down. Made of brass with stainless steel bolts they blend in with the rails and ballast. Since fitting them, we have not experienced any electrical problems.
Site under construction November 2009
Produced by FVE
