Beechingless Barnstaple (2006/7..)

The 2006/7 Total Rebuild

The Scenic (Click for PDF)

The new layout is the first complete rebuild since the original version was started in 1976, and uses new 'lightweight' construction methods:
The 'Scenic Level' is 8m x 4.5m at Table-Top height, with the Storage Level 20cm below under 'the Left Side'.


The Lower (Storage) Levels

The CONCEPT
The Concept of the Layout is unchanged from the previous Beechingless Barnstaple: North Devon, centred around Barnstaple Junction, but without the contractions and closures of Beeeching etc.
Therefore it starts with 2 routes incoming from 'elsewhere' (storage) (via Taunton or Exeter) to Barnstaple Junction, and diverges to Torrington and Ilfracombe.
The Lynton and Barnstaple Narrow Gauge from the Town Station.

A Tram system, added to provide 'road movement' in earlier versions, is retained, and Moving Road Traffic added:
The Faller Car System is used for quiet country roads, and the Matchbox Motorway System for the conjested crawl of traffic through Barnstaple itself.
(These were obtained too late to incorporate in the previous layout, and have been awaiting implementation for over 20 years)

Additional Stations this time are Fremington, Wrafton and Instow, which will also allow the display of aircraft (Chivenor) and army models (Marine Trials).
Instow's beach was used to test various Wartime Inventions prior to D-Day


To avoid 25kV Electrics running without overhead catenary, the previous roof-layout had a separate High Level (Eye Level) layout
in the form of a simple twin track loop with storage roads, as the home of modern overhead traction.
In the new roof, the Steel Beams supporting the roof have given a single, 8metre long, 1metre wide loop track just above head-height.
This has been laid with Code 83 RocoLine Track with built-in trackbed, and was the start of using Rocoline for most of the Scenic Level
LKAB Iron Ore Trains (with sound) can be left running on this loop (but expensive if they fall off!) (none have as yet, from there!!)
It can have a Trix Mobil Station DCC/Selectrix Controller dedicated to it, which allows it to be used for programming and running-in locos.
Scandinavian Stock also has its own, smaller layout to run on. Catenary Masts are in stock to add to both these tracks.

The STYLE
Looking at just the track plans might suggest a '1950's style' maximum track layout at the expense of scenary. However the design 'alternates' the 'visible' routes between the 'front' or 'back' of a board with additional scenic breaks between. Control is by nmra dcc (previously Zero-1), ZTC / Lenz / RocoMultimaus and shortly Railroad & Co. V5.8 using the RocoMotion interface.

Normal Radius is about 600mm - except for the Storage Loop Exit (505mm UK Radius 3), Branch Line winding descent (which perhaps owes something to either Miniatur Wunderland, or Dartmoor's Princetown branch ) and Barnstaple Town's curved bridge approach (both now Rocoline Radius 4 = 485mm).
Maximum Radius used Rocoline R20 1960mm. Fremington Harbour and Ilfracombe Terminus are Fleischmann Code100 Profi-Track, and the remainder of the Scenic Level is Rocoline Code 83 with built-in track ballast and Point Motors, except for the Yard at Barnstaple Junction which is Peco Code 75.
The Fleischmann Point Motors are mounted 'inverted' to make them flush with the surface of the layout.
The lower storage level reused Code 100 Peco flexi-track, Fleischmann Modell-Track Points and some Profi-Track
Track Plan - Schematic Layout - September 2007


For testing, or background operation whilst shunting elsewhere, there are 2 continuous running loops created by hidden connections from each branch.

(Storage)--(>test loop) .. Barnstaple --(SBB)........ Fremington .......Instow .............Torrington ..(test loop>)
(Storage)..(>test loop) .. Junction .. B Town ........... Wrafton .. ...(test loop >) ............Ilfracombe

If stock objects to the UK Radius 3 (505mm)leaving the storage yard, Push-Pull formations can depart from the 'entry' end, and automatically cross onto the correct running line. The storage area uses Fleischmann Modell-Track Points and motors throughout. A Paternoster System, which might have dispensed with the need for a lower level, was discovered too late to be incorporated.
Slow Motion Motors or MERG Servos will be used on the remaining Peco and Tillig points on the layout - in Barnstaple Junction Yard.

Evolutionary Planning
As the plans for extending the house started, so did the redesign of the layout; however experiencing the actual building resulted in a major change by moving the Ilfracombe section into the centre, to connect 'near Torrington', with all storage on one level beneath the Torrington End.

A 2% incline climbing 20cm uses a lot of Woodlands Scenics 'Sub Terrain' ramp, and is glued with Copydex to the Polycarbonate.
Fitting the Narrow gauge Incline (8%!) to connect higher and lower levels was one of the final problems to be resolved.



Update: This Power Distribution was based on 2 x ZTC 5A supplies: now replaced by Roco 2.5A/3A supplies creating more 'Power Districts',
see 'power' page and including Electronic (Single Pole) breakers - requiring slight modifications.

Additional Features
Working Container Cranes: Heljan, Brawa and Faller - the older cranes to be modified for Magnetic Grab as with the Heljan Cranes.
Working Cranes: Trix Gantry, Roco Gantry and Roco Breakdown (Mobile) Crane. Static Airfix Dockyard Crane
Moving Cars: Matchbox Motorway System (late 60's) for Congested Barnstaple Traffic (it may not always move!) and Faller (Wrafton High Street)
Other Working Features: Faller Swimming Pool, Hornby Tippler,...


Featurettes / Deviation from Current reality
Theme Park - in reality on the North Devon Coast, and elsewhere, ours is relocated to Wrafton for a convenient airport and train (as Legoland Bilund) and has its own Monorail System
Fremington Port has declined; but ours has expanded to include DFDS and Rail Ferries as we use elsewhere on Holiday in Scandinavia.
Tram / Light Rail System added to Barnstaple Junction <> Town <> Pilton
The Lynton & Barnstaple Narrow Gauge Railway is running again - ours has the additional benefit of Swiss and Austrian Stock; some ex metre gauge!
Logging Line: An excuse to use our Shay and source the timber for Chapelton Sawmills and local RGB Builders Merchants
This area was intended to have a 'Winter Wonderland (L&B 'little Switzerland') and may still be modelled in winter with snow and skiers etc.
Squeezing-in is the location of the 'Anderbad Tunnel for the Monorail and Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds
'Underwater': The Access stairway passes under Fremington Harbour - the submerged hulls and a submarine will be added in the future....


April 17th 2007
The Scenic Level loops were completed as 3 of 4 Tracks through Barnstaple Junction were laid in Rocoline, and extended over the Viaduct and into the Yard with Peco Code 75


In the evening, the first Powered loco movement was a Hornby Black 9F out of the UP platform,

to make room for the LKAB IORE Narvik/Kiruna (Roco) Swedish double locomotive for a heavy test run from 'Wrafton' via the 'Town' and into the Junction for the first time before continuing on to the Viaduct, and back.


Then a Canadian pacific Budd RDC railcar (Proto2000) was run back and forth on the same line,

before being joined by Sir Edward Elgar - in the form of a Brunswick Green Class 50 50007 (Hornby)
which became the first loco to complete the full test loop via 'Torrington' - 'Instow' - 'Fremington' through Barnstaple Junction and over the Viaduct to rejoin the test loop connection ('Halwill Junction') to Torrington:
This continued for about 15 minutes in each direction, monitored on miniature video camera to LCD monitor panel, whilst the RDC ran back and forth on the adjacent line, making the first running on the rebuild of 2 locos simultaneously. (Not a new feature, since the previous layout was built for Zero-1).


June 2007
Using digitally controlled Rocoline Points resulted in re-numbering of all Points because they operate in 'Normal'/'Reverse' mode, not left/Right, which meant that some planned number-sharing had to be abandoned. All Fleischmann and Roco points are now wired, programmed, and operational (inlcuding the narrow gauge), leaving just the slow-motion motors for Barnstaple Junction's Yard to install.
Test running has commenced in June, and the Bachmann HO 3 truck shay (with ESU Loksound added) was then the first locomotive over the newly laid Dual-Gauge Logging Line to the Mine.

August 2007
Following the aquisition of more track from Sweden and Germany, whilst on holiday, Rocoline spread to the extent shown on the drawings - with all of the Scenic Level Rocline except for Fremington and Ilfracombe (Fleischman Profi) and part of Barnstaple Yard. The Goods Loop at Barnstaple Town was reinstated from earlier plans, and the minimum radius increased to 485mm - mainly affecting Barnstaple Curved Bridge - although Bachmann (Super) Voyagers still object!

Lighting for the Stations is allocated and awaiting wiring-in to the power busses.


The Original Beechingless Barnstaple (1976)
Moving Adaptions - adjusting to the new (1979)
Beechingless Barnstaple (1976-2005)
Beechingless Barnstaple 2007 - The Total Rebuild
1 - Aluminium Framing and Polycarbonate bases
2 - Ilfracombe Construction - Fireproof Expanded Polystyrene Top Layer
3 - Track Laying in the Storage Area
4 - Blue Sky and Lower Level Lighting/ Scenic Level Early Days
5 - More Early Scenic Level Basics - including the change to a Viaduct
6 - Rocoline reaches Barnstaple Junction
The Simplicity of DCC Power Distribution
720 LED Lighting of Storage Level
7- Scenic Level Solid Foam Construction (May 2007)
8a - Video Monitoring of Storage Area
8b - Rocoline: Revised Ilfracombe Approach and Test Loops
8c - Rocoline: Revised Viaduct Branchline and Barnstaple East / Yard
8d - Rocoline: Revised Barnstaple Bridge, Pilton
9 - Rocomotion - the beginning

LGB
Scandinavian
Shunting Puxzzle - Bruksbanen - G Scale

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Created in HTMLEdit Studio by Phil Spiegelhalter on 21st September 2006/ revised August 2007

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