More Ten Minute Shelf ideas…
Over the past few months I've been coming back to the ten minute shelf each time a new 'idea' that might fit comes to me. Each of these has been added to this illustration...
This simple two turnout scheme, on a 1m long (ish) shelf in OO/HO can be cast in such different forms - illustrated quite nicely by the Pont-y-dulais trilogy (Pont-y-dulais / Kohlenbachbrücke / Coalbridge Street). Whilst larger prototypes can be closely cropped it is interesting to note how my collection here are generally of the unusual and smaller prototype. I think my favourite is probably the idea of the Holyhead breakwater - I got very very close to getting a kit from Judith Edge to build such a scheme! What prototype could you form in this manner? How would it fit with the 10 minute principles? Does it just use the two turnouts or more, the whole premise or the deliberate and slow operation? I look forward to hearing from you all, but until next time, more soon...
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Hi James, what a brilliant set of ideas!
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of prototypes I can think of off the top of my head, how about...
Something loosely based on the western end of the tunnel at Monmouth (Troy)...double lines emerged from the tunnel, one of which served a siding with a crane, the other the running line to Pontypool Road. If you modelled it as truncated just to the west, the "former" (in the context of this idea) running line could be used for reversing auto trains/railcars. There was a crossover inside the tunnel at the eastern end, but if this was moved to the other end of the tunnel it would add visual and operational interest.
The crane could foul the running line towards Pontypool Road, so was interlocked out of use when a train was due.
I'd be inclined to add a cattle pen to the siding, possibly also a small coal staithe. The photo that inspired the foregoing, which was taken by Peter Barnfield in 1961, shows dense foliage surrounding the tunnel mouth and grass over track and loading area...
The factory scheme could host my 0-6-0 Fireless and various wagons for a German sugar mill.
Cheers, Simon.
I will have to take a look…
DeleteI think the problem with ‘standard gauge’ British Railway ideas is the trains are often too big… hence my British ideas being more industrial.
Passenger trains in the last few years seem to mostly have been 14XX and 1 or 2 autocoaches on the Ross to Monmouth line, and 14XX or 64XX with autocoaches or railcars on the Wye Valley route to Chepstow with goods hauled either by pannier tanks or Collett 32XX 0-6-0s, so trains needn't be very long.
DeleteSpot on James. This perfectly illustrates a (somewhat double-entendre-ish) mantra that I use all the time in my layout design
ReplyDelete"It's not what you've got, it's what you do with it."
All the examples are inspiring. I think the Holyhead breakwater one would be viable in O scale if you wanted to substitute the new Heljan 02 for the class 01's that used to operate there. A couple of striped down 16T minerals as flat wagons loaded with boulders and you're good to go.
Indeed. I keep thinking the same!
DeleteI've been thinking for a while how to avoid making/using a fiddleyard. I find this ten-minute shelf particularly suitable for this purpose.
ReplyDelete"Island systems" not connected to the rest of the rail network may in fact occur e.g. in these situations:
- connection to a port, ferry or other mode of water transport
- isolated systems to which railway vehicles are transported on road trailers
The latter case occurred several times in Germany, as a consequence of the post-WWII situation, when the internal German border interrupted several dozen railway line sections. At least one system was operated this way in West Germany since 1952 until the early 1990s. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressig-Rothenkirchen%E2%80%93Tettau_railway.
For hauling rail vehicles on the road there were used Culemeyer trailers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Culemeyer. On the market many Culemeyer model kits are available including corresponding German and Czechoslovak tractors like Kaelble, Faun and Tatra in various suitable scales.
I drew some rough sketches of such situations suitable for modelling factory yards with sidings in TT:120 and "continental" N-scale 1:160. They fit easily on an 80x20-30 cm base. I think the main purpose - mindful shunting - can be fulfilled by such a creation, even without using a fiddleyard.
Yes, hank, that‘s quite an idea! There‘s a detached system coming into my mind - still operating. It is standard gauge, situated in Deuz, close to Siegen, Germany, being used for internal transport purposes of Walzen Irle (Irle rolls).
DeleteThanks both… they don’t need a fiddleyard in the traditional sense but some of my plans do have an ‘off stage’ area for a tiny amount of manual handling. This worked well on Kohlenbachbrücke for instance.
DeleteI realy appreciate the desings - but i must admit that I pefer a more kinda "Time-Saver" stile type of layout with up to 4..5 points. A posibility to run-around and beeing forced to use it due to given arrangement of sidings or to short tracks to deliver the cars the straigt way. But I know that such designs might push a layout beyond the 10Min limit.
ReplyDeleteYes, the ‘ten minute shelf’ is a concept I developed last year. These are just other ideas based on the same track plan.
DeleteWhat perfect timing James...I was just coming back to look at Coalbridge St as I realised it would be a perfect track plan for some 16mm rolling stock I have. Inspirational! Also looking forward to ordering your next 2 books when they drop next month.
ReplyDeleteSuperb, Evan.
DeleteTake a look at the original concept for ‘10 minute shelf’ too as it explains the double tuning fork thinking.
My 10 minute shelf inspired by Plymouth, not specifically Cattewater, on an ikea lack shelf, dapol B4. Oil blenders rather than oil depot back rh siding, hiddden siding on left behind metcalfe grimy old mill - the warehouse half. MS models workshop on front rh siding, dock crane on warehouse siding. Using setrack due to limited use of right hand following stroke.
ReplyDeleteSounds superb, interesting we’ve alighted on the same prototype. Squashed between cliff and harbour it has always appealed.
DeleteHi James
ReplyDeleteAlways like these ideas - similar track plan but different inspiration for structures, stock and traffic. At some stage I might find the time, energy and space for one of these. Was struct by your thoughts around Holyhead, the quarry, and the breakwater. As you probably know rock for the breakwater maintenance came from a quarry operated by William Wild who also had a brickworks and in the quarry. My first industrial railway photo was of Wild's Peckett in July of 1964. Since I had know information I did not get a good photo but I manged to capture some of the scenery which is quite interesting. I need to do some scanning so will redo do the photo from fifty one years ago and see if you are interested
Hope the weekend has gone well
Best regards
Alan
Wonderful Alan - I look forward to sharing it here in due course!
DeleteI concur and can confirm the fun of the ten minute shelf. These plans are each inspiring and intriguing, and have me pondering what could be done in this vein with N in a 760mm footprint.
ReplyDeleteHmmm now there’s a thought… Billy based I presume…
DeleteNaturally :)
Delete