Courtybella Road (Western Region Mid 1990s).

[Courtybella]

Due to a NUR strike there will no trains through Courtybella Road this week…..BR apologise for any inconvenience caused…….

60029 and 08955 stabled on Monbank for the duration.

 

[Courtybella]

I wasn’t happy with the built in bottle neck I’d created, so before the scenic went to far I took the plunge and installed a new crossing at what was the single line junction.

The layout now has two complete circuits, and four potential routing to allow both the former off scene sidings to become through routes to take full advantage of my on scene signalling.

 

[Courtybella]

The fiddle yard remodelling phase two complete, ive now four possible circuits to run over.

 

[Courtybella]

08955 on a short MoD trip working.

 

[Courtybella]

60029 at rest in the remodelled fiddle yard.

 

[Courtybella]

Close up of my Transrail branded Turbots, full respray from EWS colours.
I’m not 100% sure any vehicles actually got this scheme, but I’ve a vague recollection of seeing at least a picture of one.

 

[Courtybella]

31190 powers by Courtybella Road SB with a northbound empty spoil train.

A returnee 60035 on its way to Monbank Yard.

A workworn class 121 passes 60029 on a route learning trip.

 

[Courtybella]

General happy snaps of the fleet weathered.

 

[Courtybella]

New control panels coming along nicely for the big rewire next year, theyve been sent off the graphic printing company for a quote for them to be turned into proper western region style diagrams.

What have I let myself i for !

 

[Courtybella]

First draft of the panel diagrams from “Traincrew Designs” a few modifications before sign off though.

 

[Courtybella]

Final draft signed off ready to print.

 

[Courtybella]

Finally completely - 60029 Ben Nevis, complete with BR arrows and Cardiff Canton depot plaques.

 

[Courtybella]

31190 on a MOD service passing Courtybella Road Junction SB.

 

[Courtybella]

Panel one more or less complete, I still need additional switches before it can be commissioned but I’ve tried to build it so it’s plug and play. Do the work in the house then “simply” plug in to the layout in the garage…we’ll see !

 

[simond]

Like that lots.

I have ambitions to do something similar, using an Arduino for locking. Fabrice Fayolle shared some work in that regard on RMW.

I really do like the diagram and panel.

 

[Courtybella]

Courtybella Road Junction Signal Box, and Radyr Bach Groundframe control panels complete, wired up, and tested ready to simply plug into the existing wiring on the layout….easy…….

The rest of my signals have now ordered, so by Christmas I’ll have one of, if not the finest collection of O gauge Western region semaphore signals in existence to connect to my panels.

I did consider LED indications for point and signal positions, but the additional equipment under the panels wasn’t worth the work in my opinion - there is always an option to add them later on but in all honesty unlikely.

 

[Courtybella]

Two of the Telford show bargains, Catfish wagons found hiding on a second hand stall.

 

[Courtybella]

31119 heads towards Newport, ex Machen whilst 08955 goes North with a short trip working.

 

[Courtybella]

A major redevelopment of the Cwm side of the layout is underway, I found a laser cutting firm called LCut very good kits fantastically easy to assemble and at a very reasonable price, particularly good when your after a number of each kit.

Cwm No2 Tunnel is in place awaiting bedding in and additional details, the firm are doing a single portal for the No1 Tunnel - once that’s in place I’ll use their module retaining way to create a Hilllfield Tunnel (Newport) like set up with the old tunnel set forward of the new.

 

[John Rich]

I have just discovered this thread. It's a grand looking layout, I'm looking forward to watching developments.

John