The Club builds and operates layouts in a variety of scales.
Orchard Wharf – Traverser Revamp
This is taken from our Members’ forum – where the progress on Orchard Wharf and other club projects are documented, and members can engage. Join us online today to get full access. The traverser on board 4 (the “Rest of the World” RoW traverser – left hand end as watching the layout) of Orchard …read more.
Dec 22, 2024
Weathering Green Diesels
Since John completed work on EM gauge converting my class 16 (thank you, John), I have been working on weathering/detailing it and two more class 15s whose weathering I had not previously completed for our layout Orchard Wharf. The class 16 (D8405) was factory weathered, so there was not much weathering to do, but I …read more.
Mar 10, 2023
Orchard Wharf – fleet of 15s
James has been busy with his ‘late period’ class 15s locomotives. They have all been converted to EM gauge conversion plus had new couplings fitting. DCC has been installed including stay alive just in case our trackwork isn’t quite up to scratch. And of course the slightly fiddly pack of detail parts added. Now he’s …read more.
Aug 28, 2022
DCC installation – 4mm scale Heljan Class 15
I have been DCC fitting one of the Heljan class 15s that arrived to-day and that I had ordered for our late 1960s period Orchard Wharf, locomotive D8242, as depicted in real life here and here. Photographs of the finished article can be seen above and here: I have made some modifications to the …read more.
Mar 28, 2021
Controlling Electromagnetic Uncouplers
Electromagnet uncouplers are a proven method for uncoupling Sprat and Winkle and other couplings that require a magnetic “pull down”, but due to the heat generated by electromagnets when they are energised, there is the potential of heat damage to the baseboard or in the worst-case scenario fire, due to overheating caused by misuse or …read more.
Feb 20, 2021
Orchard Wharf’s Trackwork bubble working party
This piece of trackwork was under construction for an eternity — long, long before lockdown had been thought of — and it was finally attached to the baseboards during an all-too-brief working session in early October. It’s the crossover at the London end of the high level lines. The plain track for the running lines …read more.
Jan 3, 2021
Stayin’ Alive
A closer look at improving running reliability in DCC using capacitors A long-standing irritation in railway modelling is the tendency of powered model rail vehicles to stall owing to a momentary loss of electrical contact between wheel and rail. This is annoying in any circumstances, but is particularly problematic for sound fitted locomotives, exhibition layouts …read more.
Sep 5, 2020
Signalling Orchard Wharf – Updated
Here’s work in progress on a signal controlling the ramp track between the upper and lower levels of our new EM gauge layout “Orchard Wharf”. It’s my first attempt at a signal in brass. This signal is a MSE kit with a 20ft height. I have gone away from prototypical a couple of times for …read more.
May 1, 2020
A new test track – Home working for Orchard Wharf
Converting a lot of OO locos and rolling stock to EM gauge is the sort of job that is best done at home. I’ve had an EM gauge test track for some time, but it’s only a 5ft straight track. This is no good for checking, for example, clearances on curves and points, of which …read more.
Apr 25, 2020
Quintart Build – Part 2
The bodies all follow the same principle for construction and just to confuse things these pictures aren’t all of the same coach. A reminder, this is how they come: As well as sanding off the pips where the elements are joined in the printing, there was a small amount of filing of some window frames. …read more.
Apr 23, 2020
Converting a Hornby Class 101 to EM Gauge
I’ve already got a blue Class 101 DMU for Minories. which was re-wheeled several years ago. This is the equivalent model in green, which I bought at a price it was difficult to refuse as part of a batch of stock that looked a bit mucky, presumably after being left out for a long time …read more.
Apr 21, 2020
Quintart Build – Part 1
Our new club EM gauge layout “Orchard Wharf” is in need of some stock, and one of the items asked for the peak hour passenger service is a Gresley Quintart set. Why and what is a Quintart – because they are rakes of 5 coach bodies, with only 6 bogies with the coaches articulating and …read more.
Apr 19, 2020