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Callow Lane Goods is now under construction and is my first layout built to P4 standards. It is set in the South Gloucestershire/North Somerset area with a definite Midland feel to it. The track plan is quite simple and based on the Iain Rice plan 'Minimal Goods Depot' in his book 'Designs for Urban Layouts' (Atlantic Press). The main difference is that I have two lines coming in under the bridge from the fiddle yard, so that I can 'arrive' the train on the incoming road and then run it round prior to shunting, in view of the exhibition visitor. I have built two B7 and one A6 turnout kits from the P4 Track Company and cannot praise them highly enough. They were the ideal confidence booster for someone who has never built P4 track before. The trackplan also features a 3-way point, which I scratchbuilt from steel rail and copper clad sleepers, and which will have cosmetic chairs glued on afterwards. Callow Lane Goods is only be 7 feet in length and comprises of two baseboards, which bolt together with insides facing each other for transport. So far I have converted a Bachmann 08 and three larger diesels, including a Heljan Hymek, a Bachmann Warship and a Bachmann Class 20. I also have an Alan Gibson Jinty in service. The conversion of the R-T-R diesels is particularly straightforward. The 08 has Ultrascale 'drop in' wheelsets, which come ready quartered and fixed on the axles to the correct gauge. Although I subsequently eased some clearances around the brake rigging and fitted new pick-ups, I actually had it running in about 10 minutes. It's a quick job to ream out the Bachmann coupling rods, which are secured onto the crankpins by 16BA nuts supplied by Ultrascale, although I have now fitted the Brassmasters replacement rods, which do look better.
The Bachmann 08 after conversion to P4. When uploading this photo, I noticed that the crankpin nut on the centre wheel is missing - it's since been replaced.
Jinty 47276 was built from an Alan Gibson kit and represents the last steam loco to shunt the 'North British' wagon works at Radstock and Writhlington Colliery on 4th March 1966, just before the majority S&D closed. I have now completed most of the track work and am now starting to wire up the layout and build a control panel. I have also started work on the goods shed, which is a plastercast kit from the excellent 'Townstreet' range. I am also building wagons and parcels stock for Callow Lane. I will add to this page as the layout progresses.
Page updated on 04/11/05.
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