Traction - Issue 197

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42 TRACTION 197 May/June 2011

TOP: On Sunday 23rd August 1981 40 138 rounds the sharp curve into Llandudno junction at the head of a Llandudno to Manchester Victoria train.

CENTRE: In one of those typically mixed-up rakes of DMU, that were to be seen on the North Wales coast, this Park Royal Class 103 driving trailer is coupled to a Metro-Cammell power car No. 51177. Further along the platform there is another twin Metro-Cammell set, whilst just visible in the shadows is a Park Royal twin set powered by No. 50405. The six-coach train has just arrived from Manchester Victoria, and is about to return on the early evening of 24th August 1981. Note how the centre head code windows have been panelled over, considerably tidying up the front end’s appearance.

LOWER: Blaenau Ffestiniog’s slate tips form the unmistakeable backdrop to this BRCW three-car DMU, which is about to leave the original LNWR station with an afternoon service to Llandudno. The power cars are 50527 and 50472. The date is 25th August 1981.

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£ 1 2 . 7 5 ␣) ␣% %␣ ISBN 1-902827-14-7

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L A Y O U T D E S I G N S F O R O P E R A T I O N by Stephen Rabone & Trevor Ridley

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Layout Design for Operation is the third volume in Atlantic Publisher’s layout planning series. Unlike its two predecessors Designs for Urban Layouts and Mainlines in Modest Spaces, this one’s not the work of Iain Rice, but is co-authored instead by Steve Rabone and Trevor Ridley.

Rice’s books concentrated heavily on 4mm scale British-outline steam-era. This book does a lot to redress the balance. For a start, it doesn’t confine itself to British modelling; more than half the layout designs are of Continental European or North American themes. Then there’s a more or less even balance between OO (or HO) and N. Finally, although there are a few steam age designs, the emphasis is very much on modern diesel and electric operation.

Apart from a couple of big 00 steam-age loft-busters, most are room-sized plans, suitable for fitting in to the sort of space modellers are likely to have available. All are either based on real-life locations, or plausible ‘might have beens’. Just about all of the N gauge ones focus on intensive main line operation rather than shunting; this is the sort of thing N really excels at.

To give a couple of examples, there’s one plan based on the evocative west end of Edinburgh Waverley, not the first I’ve seen published for this location. It’s intended to operated entirely with large numbers of multiple units. It simplifies fiddle yard arrangements by taking advantage of the fact that multiple units don’t have to be re-marshalled offstage. It’s a perfect antidote for those that say contemporary DMUs are boring.

Similarly, there’s a spare room (9’ x 6’) plan for Göschenen in Switzerland, focussing on the endless procession of international passenger and freight trains over the steeply graded alpine main line; the operating interest centres on bidirectional running enabling fast trains to overtake slower ones, and the banking of freight trains. This turns what could have been a simple tail-chaser into a potentially interesting layout.

Many of the OO and HO plans in contrast are typically L-shaped end-to-end affairs, although the themes vary from Arctic Norwegian termini to through stations on Irish secondary routes. Just about all list the typical rolling stock that’s likely to be needed; did you know northern Norway sees both GM Nohabs and class 66s?

Overall, an excellent book, and very inspirational especially if you’re into either modern traction or N gauge.

Where Worlds Collide website - http://www.kalyr.com