Further Developments to Peak Rail in N Gauge by Don Pearson

Control Panel

The photograph above shows schematic track plans for Darley Dale at the top, Rowsley MPD at the bottom, Greenwood Outback to the right and Buxton/Diesel Stabling Facility to the left. Trains are able to circulate around all four layouts if required, whilst at the same time movements can also be made within each using the six controllers. One of these is the ‘Master Control’ on a Hand Held Gaugemaster type W. Each layout can be switched either to the Master or one/two panel controllers for shunting movements within that layout.

View towards Buxton across the entire layout

The purpose of the Diesel Stabling Facility is to contain a depot for my diesel locomotives and to incorporate an up to date model of Buxton Station, thus fitting into my ‘Peak Rail’ theme. As a member of the Peak Rail Association, I am familiar with some of the visiting locomotives that frequent the Matlock to Rowsley Preserved Line. Their ambition is to ultimately restore this line to Buxton as it used to be pre Beeching days. I had a ‘Dream’ that a member of Peak Rail won the Euro Millions lottery and made this restoration possible! So now I feel quite happy about the variety of Locomotives and stock now found on my layout.

1936 Track Plan ex Matlock MR Goods Shed Various Diesel Locos on Shed

Further Developments to Peak Rail in N Gauge by Don Pearson In the N Gauge Journals 3/05 and 3/07, and BRM 2010 Annual, I described my Rowsley and Darley Dale layouts. There are now two other layouts adjoining these, and this article relates to Buxton & Diesel Stabling Facility (DSF). All four layouts are contained in my Pine Log Cabin. When construction began, I felt that having four separate control panels to operate by myself was not a good idea, and so utilising an inherited bureau, I made one control panel for all four layouts. Control Panel The photograph above shows schematic track plans for Darley Dale at the top, Rowsley MPD at the bottom, Greenwood Outback to the right and Buxton/Diesel Stabling Facility to the left. Trains are able to circulate around all four layouts if required, whilst at the same time movements can also be made within each using the six controllers. One of these is the ‘Master Control’ on a Hand Held Gaugemaster type W. Each layout can be switched either to the Master or one/two panel controllers for shunting movements within that layout. View towards Buxton across the entire layout
Sections are indicated with yellow LED’s and the section switches are painted to match the controller for the area they control. Point directions are indicated with green LED’s, and slips with red LED’s. Transformers are contained either within the bureau or to the rear which allows free air circulation. The purpose of the Diesel Stabling Facility is to contain a depot for my diesel locomotives and to incorporate an up to date model of Buxton Station, thus fitting into my ‘Peak Rail’ theme. As a member of the Peak Rail Association, I am familiar with some of the visiting locomotives that frequent the Matlock to Rowsley Preserved Line. Their ambition is to ultimately restore this line to Buxton as it used to be pre Beeching days. I had a ‘Dream’ that a member of Peak Rail won the Euro Millions lottery and made this restoration possible! So now I feel quite happy about the variety of Locomotives and stock now found on my layout.
I used part of the 1936 Track Plan on which I have highlighted in blue the area used. Of the two original Buxton Stations only the LNWR remains and this is operated by Northern Rail at this time. In my vision, I also found that the MR Goods Shed that was at Matlock, until the recent Sainsbury supermarket was built, had been dismantled and rebuilt at my DSF. I scratch built this using Scalescenes download TX06 Aged Red Brick, and corrugated iron TX30 for the adjoining office. One shed still remains at Buxton and I modelled a part of this which can be seen in at the rear.
1936 Track Plan ex Matlock MR Goods Shed Various Diesel Locos on Shed
Construction of the layout baseboards used 3” (75mm) x ¾” (20mm) timber which over the 90” length requires minimal support, enabling my computer and bookshelves to be contained below. It is topped with 6mm plywood. Point motors with ancillary switch used were from Conrad Electronics. I had seen these slow action units on an exhibition layout by Dr Michael Watts at our club exhibition. They are similar to the Hoffman, but with only a light spring operating wire on the Conrad version the need is either to remove or the de-tension of the spring on the point. I used a thicker operating wire. The ancillary switch is used to operate the LED’s on the control panel. Since I have SEEP, Fleischmann, and Conrad point motors in use in the four layouts requiring both DC with CDU and 16vAC, all points are operated with centre off biased Toggle Switches. For the Fleischmann and Seep LED indicators I have used Latching Relays which are contained inside the panel. Lighting is by means of both Brawa 16vAC and Grain of Wheat bulbs. By using the ‘Preserved Railways’ theme, I have been able to have my Steam Locomotives MPD modelled on Rowsley, Buxton with its DSF houses diesels, whilst the Darley Dale layout has either as visitors. The fourth layout in the scheme is ‘Greenwood Outback’ which is entirely fictitious and contains two circuits, a reversing triangle, and a crossover gradient that takes through trains up to or from Darley Dale. It takes between 2-3 minutes for a train to traverse around all four layouts.
Overview of Station to Storage Sidings beyond Class 158 Northern rail departs Buxton
I now have a scenario that enables vast operating schemes to be implemented, But I must admit my pleasure is in construction. These layouts Never leave Home. There is still an amount of work required on Greenwood, and perhaps in a years time I will be ready to relate full details of this project. Don Pearson.