Test Stand

I bought rollers to have a test stand for HO engines. I bought a set of 4 and an additional set of 2 to cover both BB (4 axes) and CC (6 axes) engines. They are available at Miniatures Passion here, they come from DCC Concepts - link.

Let's see how it works:

The blue pieces without the wheels allow having a test stand at a different scale:

Let's see for a CC 40100 - 6 axes. This is Trix 22574:

And for a short video:

And now a BB 67300 - 4 axes. This is Lima 208011:

Video of a X 76500 at Ascq going to Orchies

Layout

I use AnyRail to design my layout.

Here are some considerations into the design of this layout:

• 50 mm all around the table between the edge and the first track, even though there will be some side protections
• 650 mm as the minimum radius
• 52 mm between each track
• 72.5 mm for the width of the platform. Based on Google Maps, the prototype seems to be 6.3 m
• The red and blue sections are the main tracks for Lille - Tournai
• The green section is the track for Ascq - Orchies
• The pink section is to evoke the goods shed
• All other sections are the rail yard

The total track length is 44.75 m.

List of track materials in HO scale:

• 59x SL-8300, H0 Peco Streamline Code 83, Flex 91.45cm. (wood) - Minimum number of units: 38
• 6x SL-U8363, H0 Peco Streamline Code 83, Double slip switch Unifrog 30.6cm
• 4x SL-E8351, H0 Peco Streamline Code 83, Right turnout #5, 21cm
• 2x SL-E8348, H0 Peco Streamline Code 83, Wye turnout #4, 18.3cm
• 2x SL-E8352, H0 Peco Streamline Code 83, Left turnout #5, 21cm
• 1x SL-E8376, H0 Peco Streamline Code 83, Right curved turnout #7, 28.3cm

All switches will be guided by Tortoise Slow Switch machines.

References

• NEM 102 Gabarit de libre passage en alignement
• NEM 103 Gabarit de libre passage en courbes
• NEM 111 Rayons de courbure minimaux
• NEM 112 Entraxes des voies
• NEM 113 Raccordement des courbes

Postcards

Some postcards

• Train station

•  Station square

 

Maps

The layout will reproduce to some degree the section around the Ascq station between Lille Flandres and Tournai in Belgium.

Maps can be obtained on various websites for the following address:
31 Rue des Martyrs
59493 Villeneuve-d'Ascq

• Cadastral plan

https://www.cadastre.gouv.fr/scpc/accueil.do

• Géoportail

https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/carte

• Google Maps

Benchwork

For the benchwork, I bought the various modules from Sievers Benchwork.

The layout has the following dimensions:

• Long side: 14' or 426.7 cm
• Short side: 6' or 182.9 cm

I sealed every single piece of the benchwork with Lenmar sealer.

The legs: 

The sections:

Putting everything together and making some space for joiners to the top ply:

And finally, it's ready!