Andy Glascott

I don't know if this is bursting a bubble or encouraging you to keep going, but by a quirk of coincidence the Strathclyde colours match Irish Rail, so by all means go for a Glasgow version. Mine is an Irish Rail Class Class 121 loco with three carriages. You might want to have a look at this, (which isn't mine) by way of inspiration for a Class 101 DMU. Andy

I haven't, I've just switched the carriages around and updated them - the Class 50 used to haul blue and grey coaches or freight.

Yes, it's all Lego inside, and to give you an idea of space, try this pic. The random wagon in the front left was used to check clearance all the way around. It was higher than any of my trains and overhung the corners the same amount, so if it went through without hitting the level above or any of the posts I knew the trains would. The posts that support each level are 16 bricks tall and the "floor" that the track is built on is 3 plates thick (one brick). The hills and viaducts at the back make it a very sturdy set up, the wobbliest bit is the stack of three platforms, though they are connected to the station building at that end.

Rob, the three 12v controllers and point/signal switches are on a shelf under the layout, so I'm sitting or kneeling on the floor to get it running, and if you look in the last photo (the tunnel entrance) you'll see built into the side of the mountain one of the two 9v controllers, they are next to each other. One of the 12v controllers supplies power to the inside lops on the bottom and middle levels while the outside loops are operated by separate controllers. On the middle level the two lops are linked by two sets of points with a single 12v isolating track in between to prevent short circuits. I'm fortunate enough to have enough signals to be able to just turn power on and start/stop/switch trains as I wish that way. Andy

TLG delivered the remaining panels for the canopy yesterday, so to all intents and purposes, the layout is "finished". (As finished as a layout ever is....) Some stats for those of you who like details: Each platform is 160 studs long, long enough to stop a full-length passenger train beside it. There are 18 lights in the station, 4 on each platform and 6 in the concourse. There are 6 motorised points, 5 signals and 2 level crossing light/barrier sets. Add that together and you get a lot of wiring for a 12v layout thats only 240 cm x 120 cm... There are full size images on Brickshelf, the folder is here (awaiting moderation), but through the joy of deep links, here's a selection! (Links in text are to larger images.) From above, the layout looks like this: The station concourse is raised up to provide parking underneath: Each level has two loops of track, and at ground level the inner loop runs through the town area: The station has 3 island platforms, and the structure also provides support for the elevated tracks. Access for minifigs is via 2 lifts, one in the concourse and one at the left end of the platforms. Minifigs can walk from ground level up a path that is then built into the two viaducts and the side of the cliff to reach the footbridge at the top. The tunnel entrances at the bottom are wide enough to get my entire arm into in the case of derailments! Despite numerous trials while building, they will still happen, usually in the depths of a tunnel.... Thank you for the comments thus far, I hope these pics help bring it to life, I'll be shooting video at some stage... (when the list of DIY my wife wants doing is shorter than it is now!) Andy

Yes it is, and there's a Class 50 on the middle deck, though out of sight at the moment. Photos will follow in the next week/10 days. Andy

After 2 months or so of building, my new layout is finally running. As much for my own benefit as anything else, I took photos all the way through and have put them into a time lapse sequence. Some of them are a little out of focus or the camera wobbled, but the effect is there, going from empty table to three levels in 64 seconds! Here's the link - .The bottom two levels are 12v, and the top one is 9v. 6 of the 7 trains on it can run at the same time, each level has two loops. I'm waiting for some parts from TLG and Bricklink to finish off the top platform with a canopy, once they arrive I'll take some stills and pop them on Brickshelf. Unlike my previous multi-level layouts there are no ramps between the levels, I found I simply didn't use them. Any comments welcome, and hope you enjoy it. Andy

I'd love to build more to scale, but am limited by space (and a bit if a traditionalist!) so stick to 6 wide, which definitely limits ability to detail a loco. However, it is possible to get a reasonable representation. (Others have got better results than me as well, Bricktrix being a good example.) That said, keeping to 6-wide means my MOCs fit in with my vintage 7740 and 7745 12v sets and the classic Metroliner, which are all part of my layout. Andy

Great detail as always sir, another masterpiece. Andy

I know a lot of people dislike the tightness of curves produced by TLG, and I can agree on many levels, but where they are useful is in limited space. Kids generally don't have a lot of it for layouts, and a lot of AFOLs, myself included are also limited for space, so they do have their uses. Half length straights could also be useful for similar reasons, but I have my doubts about that. Andy

That is absolutely superb Daedelus304! The detail is fantastic, it looks just like the real thing. I've wanted to build something like this for a while, but I work in 6-wide and it's quite a challenge, but there are ideas in here I might well "borrow".... Andy

Family legend has it that I was given my first Lego set at age 2. At age 14 my Mum said to me coming up to my birthday "I think you've got enough Lego now, don't you....?" Clearly, I disagreed! In my youth I had a classic space phase, but always liked seeing things move, and motorised trains were it, I was given a 4.5v battery one at age 6 or 7 and by age 12 had acquired 7740, which is still going strong 25 years later! I still have a soft spot for the larger Technic stuff as well, but most of the money my (self-styled!)Lego Permission Officer allows me spend (and some she doesn't!) goes on trains and scenery/town. Andy

An American style (and built) loco used for many years in Europe was the Irish Rail Class 121 (Wikipedia link) with a cab at one end. They were used for the best part of 40 years, and often in multiple to give a cab at each end of the unit because visibility was poor, or at least used cab-end forward only, which became more difficult as turntables vanished. Their last use (that I remember) was in conjunction with a DVT on the other end of the train to eliminate the need to turn. Class 20's (Wikipedia again!)in the UK look broadly similar, and although rarely used nowdays are similarly used in pairs or cab end forward. En exception is at a cement works in the Hope Valley where they are allowed to work bonnet end first on the sidings because they have been adapted to have a video camera on the bonnet showing the track ahead to the driver. Seems its all about visibility then! Andy

I'm a youth worker, so dabble in all sorts: second-guessing teenagers moods, trying to persuade them that what we want them to do really is a good idea, drinking far too much tea, engineering opportunities for them (had to get that in to make this post relevant to the topic) and whatever else comes along. Lego challenges are a blessed relief at times! Andy

Cracking design Mark, the three axle base could easily be adapted for a lot of wagons from that era. Andy

I'd already recharged 4 times and decided that given how little there was to do I'd just finish off dismantling it so I can start building rather than wait a few more hours for a battery re-charge.

Well, the first part is done, the clearing of the old layout. I reckon it took about 8 hours across several days, hence different lighting conditions in the time lapse! The video is on Youtube. As we all know it takes longer to build than take down, I'm guessing it will take 6 to 8 weeks to build the new layout - I have to work at the same time.... This was really a dry run before filming the building of the new layout, I'm reasonably pleased with how this video has come out. Thank you for the comments on the old layout and station, I certainly enjoyed building and playing with it, but onwards! Andy PS Yeah, I ran out of charged camera batteries towards the end of the demolition.....

Great minds and all that!

Gareth, that idea sounds a bit like this, feel free to use/adapt/improve as you can. Andy

In the quest for "more", and having spent too much time playing on Bluebrick, dreaming of what I could do, I've decided to dismantle my existing three-level layout, to replace it with another one. The new one will mean I can run 6 of my 8 trains at any given moment, and possibly 7 if I get PF working the way I want it to, instead of the current 4. I'm not greedy, really I've started the demolition job, and have also started the time lapse photography of it to put a video together at the end. Next Monday and Tuesday are slated for the main part of it all. After I took the trains off the layout, I took a few pics of the station for posterity, here it is in all it's 3-level glory: Minifigs can access all three levels through a series of subways and stairs, and there is a waiting area and snack bar. There are other images of the station and layout here. Once I've demolished the layout and put the time-lapse together (anyone else remember those Lego adverts from years ago of models being built out of thin air?) I'll post it for your viewing pleasure. Andy PS Doing the time lapse of this is a practice run for the layout that will replace it...

Yep, I know.... I've more or less given up adding to my 12v collection based on the cost. Now, what are those lottery numbers for this weekend....?

That is stunning! I love the way all the various loops are interconnected, and would love to have that number of remote controlled points, signal etc on my 12v layout.... Wow. Andy

Very impressive sir!

I'm not convinced Paul, though it is very tricky to see. It doesn't look like the base plate overhangs the bogies by a plate on each side, with this part, a hinged panel as used in the 4549 Road n Rail Hauler to keep the containers in place. Until better images appear, we'll just have to wait and see.... Andy

The updated video is I'm now contemplating a complete re-build so I can run at least 2 trains on each level. Playing with Bluebrick has it's risks!