Quaker Lane http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/ 8 rows en-gb 60 August 2007 Update http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1363372.html Not a lot to update on! Will people stop having holidays!!!! Still people have been busy away from the club working on Stock which is far more fun. Meanwhile at the club the trackbed for the main running lines is finally being put into place and very soon the arduous task of laying several thousand Dowmac sleeprs will soon begin - how the hours will fly by!!! Tuesday 4 September 2007: Not a lot to update on! Will people stop having holidays!!!! Still people have been busy away from the club working on Stock which is far more fun. Meanwhile at the club the trackbed for the main running lines is finally being put into place and very soon the arduous task of laying several thousand Dowmac sleeprs will soon begin - how the hours will fly by!!!

A slightly full Yard me thinks!!! Just the last board to install The spacers in place that will enable the running lines to sit above the Yard Ballasting is now taking place in the Yard. 03066 of Gateshead (currently suffering mechanical problems!) 08740 Bachmann model detailed and weathered and far away from its Bescot home!! 25084 detailed and weathered Bachmann 25058 A bachmann model detailed and weathered to appear in a faded state. 25327 The 3rd of 4 completed Bachmann Rats for the layout! Who knows what it will become except to say it'll probably be a Thornaby stablemate of 285! 31285 a Hornby model with standard detailing but very unstandard and heavy weathering! 47471 makes an appearnce. A dtailed Lima model 40004 a very heavily modified, detailed and weathered Bachmann model A pair of Peds 3 of the 4 Rats

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]]> Tue Sep 4 2007 July 2007 update http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1326189.html June has very quickly become July and after much hard work and frustrating times we were finally able to fulfil a long standing commitment to show Q.L. as a working demonstration at Hartlepool! For a first time out we were pleasntly surprised at the quality of running and in total had less than a dozen derailments over the weekend. We were also pleasantly surprised at the amount of interest that not only the layout but also the demonstrations brought and on the strength of that found ourselves with several invitaions for the coming 2 years! So with its first exhibition under it's belt and the fact that we have proved our DCC theory, we can now proceed with the next 2 baseboards and then the next 2 and then the final 2 scenic baseboards! OH then thers the small matter of an 18 road split fiddle yard with a flyover!!!!!!!!! Sunday 1 July 2007: June has very quickly become July and after much hard work and frustrating times we were finally able to fulfil a long standing commitment to show Q.L. as a working demonstration at Hartlepool! For a first time out we were pleasntly surprised at the quality of running and in total had less than a dozen derailments over the weekend. We were also pleasantly surprised at the amount of interest that not only the layout but also the demonstrations brought and on the strength of that found ourselves with several invitaions for the coming 2 years! So with its first exhibition under it's belt and the fact that we have proved our DCC theory, we can now proceed with the next 2 baseboards and then the next 2 and then the final 2 scenic baseboards! OH then thers the small matter of an 18 road split fiddle yard with a flyover!!!!!!!!!

40004 almost ready - Just screw couplings, the correct headboard and a sound chip needed 37's on parade! From right to left 671 238 410 667 419

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]]> Sun Jul 1 2007 May 2007 Update http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1293473.html Well a month has gone since the last update and looking at Q.L sitting in its new home you might think that not much has happened, (and to be honest you'd almost be right!) We have however purchased the static DCC chip module thingy to allow the points to function via the handsets. We've also purchased the point motors for the yard (fullgerex for the yard, toitoise for the main!) And weve endured the torture that is the A.G.M. (most of us escaping with any duties on the committee, well apart from Andy, but as I say If you get called away in the middle of the meeting to attend to a Automatic Half Barrier you can oly expect to get voted onto the committee in your absence! Tuesday 1 May 2007: Well a month has gone since the last update and looking at Q.L sitting in its new home you might think that not much has happened, (and to be honest you'd almost be right!) We have however purchased the static DCC chip module thingy to allow the points to function via the handsets. We've also purchased the point motors for the yard (fullgerex for the yard, toitoise for the main!) And weve endured the torture that is the A.G.M. (most of us escaping with any duties on the committee, well apart from Andy, but as I say If you get called away in the middle of the meeting to attend to a Automatic Half Barrier you can oly expect to get voted onto the committee in your absence!

A close up of the end of board two showing the bus-bar, power jumpers, static decoder and point mechanism in place and working The static Lenz controller enabling the boards points to function via either the controllers or a lap-top The first of the 5 fullgerex motors installed and operatoional The underside of board 2 showing the various components installed and actually working! Our ver own design of point motor drive mechanism allowing the point bades to permantly be live A close up of the board to board power jumpers. The two pairs are linked enabling each borad to be fed independantly for testing purposes! A 95% completed board two now having the remainig point motors installed.

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]]> Tue May 1 2007 April 2007 Update http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1268950.html Well it's now approximately 2 years since the layout was conceived and although progress may appear slow, several important developments have taken place! 1. We have moved clubrooms - We are now the occupants of new rooms in Darlington Railway Museum. This has been made possible by the redevelopment of the museum and the generous offer made by the museum to house us in the main museum building! 2. We have taken the plunge and purchased a DCC unit (Lenz 100 with a 5amp transformer, thanks to the very friendly and knowledgable people at Digitrains!) We've also wired it up and we are now in the process of chipping locos. We've also decided to go the whole 9 yards and some locos will see Digital sound chips fitted, (the first being on 37667!) 3. Its also Gala season and there are plenty of locos to bash! So progress may get delayed depending on which Peak, Tractor or Vac is out! For this we make no apologies whatsoever! Monday 1 January 2007: Well it's now approximately 2 years since the layout was conceived and although progress may appear slow, several important developments have taken place! 1. We have moved clubrooms - We are now the occupants of new rooms in Darlington Railway Museum. This has been made possible by the redevelopment of the museum and the generous offer made by the museum to house us in the main museum building! 2. We have taken the plunge and purchased a DCC unit (Lenz 100 with a 5amp transformer, thanks to the very friendly and knowledgable people at Digitrains!) We've also wired it up and we are now in the process of chipping locos. We've also decided to go the whole 9 yards and some locos will see Digital sound chips fitted, (the first being on 37667!) 3. Its also Gala season and there are plenty of locos to bash! So progress may get delayed depending on which Peak, Tractor or Vac is out! For this we make no apologies whatsoever!

So this is it! It's finally here! We spent 10 minutes looking at the box! We then spent 10 minutes looking at the contents and the other 2 hours 40 minutes starting to read the instruction manual! You don't get much for your money eh? Yes we do model sometimes! 37667 - A detailed Bachmann model fitted with a South West Digital Sound chip 37238 - Another Bachmann model fitted with ultrascale wheels and a Lenz Gold decoder 20165 'Henry Pease' Bachmann model fully detailed buffer beams and fitted with a Silver decoder 20165 37238 & 37667 pose for the cameras in the yard 03066 of Gateshead shed awaiting the fitters attention (chipping and the like!)

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]]> Mon Jan 1 2007 Permanent Way http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1186173.html Images showing the construction of the permanent Way on the Layout. Built to 16.5mm gauge 00 using C&L components we aim to give the illusion of a finescale layout with both wooden ond concrete sleering. Monday 1 January 2007: Images showing the construction of the permanent Way on the Layout. Built to 16.5mm gauge 00 using C&L components we aim to give the illusion of a finescale layout with both wooden ond concrete sleering.

The Yards main throat points under construction. The almost completed Yard The almost completed Yard The main cross over points in the yard

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]]> Mon Jan 1 2007 Early Baseboard Construction http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1172067.html The first three boards that will house the permanant way yard were adapted from an earlier aborted layout and so need to be adapted for Quaker Lane. Sunday 31 December 2006: The first three boards that will house the permanant way yard were adapted from an earlier aborted layout and so need to be adapted for Quaker Lane.

Baseboards in situ in the clubrooms being test fitted A normal club night - Not much going on apart from swapping phone rings!!! The first three boards with track sub base in place The sub base about to be put into position. The 9mm ply gives a solid base and enables the track to be raised above ground level. The loading bay is now installed with the brickwork, edging and surface in place. Just a bit more weathering to be done!

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]]> Sun Dec 31 2006 Layout Diagram http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1172054.html Layout Diagram Sunday 31 December 2006: Layout Diagram

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]]> Sun Dec 31 2006 Stock http://quakerlane.fotopic.net/c1170683.html A selection of stock waiting for the layout! Friday 29 December 2006: A selection of stock waiting for the layout!

08411 just about to enter the works for buffer beam detailing! 20165 finished and posing on the work bench. Detailed by Andy Bower with cast plates and full buuer beam pipe work. 20165 finished and posing on the work bench. Detailed by Andy Bower with cast plates and full buuer beam pipe work. 20165 finished and posing on the work bench. Detailed by Andy Bower with cast plates and full buuer beam pipe work. A display of some of the departmental stock taken at our December exhibition A display of some of the departmental stock taken at our December exhibition Quaker Lanes allocation of shunters; 5 08's and an 03 The 10 completed brake vans so far! Loco_line_up_on_Shed. 08740_stands_at_Parkgate_S.P._with_the_washer_obviously_out_of_action. 31418_poses_for_the_camera_at_Parkgate_Fuelling_Point. 31249_in_very_work_worn_condition_stands_at_Parkgate_S.P. 56081_awaits_its_next_diagram_at_Parkgate_S.P. 25084_nearing_the_end_of_its_working_life_stands_at_Parkgate_S.P. 31418_pauses_at_Parkgate_with_a_short_mixed_speedlink_service. 47503_Powers_away_from_Parkgate_with_a_Parcels_service_on_the_last_day_of_operation_in_2005. 47475_with_a_Trans-pennine_service_exits_Parkgate_Tunnel. Alan Ushers superb 25057 poses for the camera! Believe it or not but this was a first attempt at detailing and weathering!

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]]> Fri Dec 29 2006