Dream City Railway

Fantastic layout, great video. How big is the layout!!

Roy.....your layout is one of the most beautiful I have seen!  Absolutely incredible...and the use of the ceramic buildings is some that Brian (Passenger Train Collector here on the forum) would go crazy over!  I love the way you have modified the Heljan engine house kits and used then over the rails...sure would like to know more about that.

As a matter of fact, can you tell us more about your railroad??  Size, track plan, equipment, etc.???

Thanks so much for posting the video...really enjoyed it...

Alan

Hi Spence,

          The layout is 30 feet X 50 feet.

Liked your layout by the way.

Roy.

Good size. Mine runs 53" by approx. 35'

Looks like a great candidate for the first in my "O Gauge International" series for the magazine, Roy!  Care to give it a shot?

That is one very fine layout!

Great layout and video.

FABULOUS layout with English trains, 2-rail and outside third rail and some 4-rail like London Underground. Lots of detail and lots of action with the multiple tracks and multiple-platform stations and cab-ride viewing!

Great layout and video presentation.

What's really clever about these cab-ride videos is, you hardly see operator aisles or room background without scenic backdrops. In most of the tunnels and underpasses, you don't see bare layout framework. It's like the scenery was all specially considered to provide for authentic viewing from a cab-ride perspective, so it looks especially realistic.

I saw the cab ride last year, it was great.  The new one is cool as well.  Nice layouts between the international cab ride and the hobo ride in Fresno.

Outstanding RR and video, lots of train action and detailing to give the RR life!!!

I considered the streamlined Coronation to be a masterpiece.

The new Duchess is a work of art.

Both these locomotives are made by Ace Trains of London. 

If you would like to see several classes of locomotive in action click on the link below.

          http://youtu.be/K6UeioInUUM

Roy

Hi There,

          I have just completed a new video of my London Underground line form

Victoria to Sambridge. If you would like to see it please click on the link below.

 http://youtu.be/j93vTuFSq-o

The Metropolitan Vickers locomotives ran until 1960.

Enjoy Roy.

Roy,

Very nice stuff! Could you tell us about those models of the streamlined Coronation? I really like the looks of them.

Thanks Simon

Great work all around!!!

Wonderful, Roy! It has changed a bit since your early videos.

Simon,

        What I know about these locomotives is as follows.

The London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) "Princess Coronation"class express passenger locomotives were designed by Sir William Stanier, and were first built in 1937. They were an enlarged version of the LMS "Princess Royal" class locos of 1933 and were built with fully streamlined casings. Stanier felt that the added weight and difficulty in maintenance due to the streamlining was too high a price to pay for the actual benefits gained at high speed, and therefore the third batch of five locos were built in 1938 without the streamlined casings. These non streamlined locos were very handsome machines and known as the "Duchesses"

After the second world war the streamlined locos were rebuilt without the streamlined casings. They were the most powerful passenger locomotives ever to be built for the British Railway network, estimated at 2,500 horse power.

The models photographed are 2 or 3 rail (switched) and made by Ace Trains of London and are priced at £749.

If you would like to see these locomotives in action

http://youtu.be/DTwWbszfvfU

Thanks for the comments Simon, Dave and  John.

Roy.

Roy,

Thanks for the history of the locos! British streamlining sounds a bit similar to what went on over here in the US, in that it disappeared over here for the same reasons.

What is the construction of the models....brass? diecast? I am guessing brass from the price. Really good looking paint jobs!

Simon

As I previously said; great layout & video.

I did check out your web site and must say an impressive layout you have there and note that you are into some ceramics as well.

Simon,

         The construction of the locomotives is 21st century tin plate.

Brass construction locomotives over here are upwards of £2,000

Roy. 

Roy,

Could you elaborate on what you mean be 21st century tinplate. I guess I am still stuck in the 20th century! LOL

Simon

 Hi Simon,

          A belated reply. I referred to 21st century tinplate because it bears no resemblance to tinplate of old. The quality of engineering , detail and finish of British tinplate today is unlikely to be surpassed. These locomotives with all the benefits of coarse scale 0 gauge now sit amongst their fine scale counterparts. A few photographs of the latest models are below.

Roy.

I forgot to add anyone who has not seen my latest London Underground line and cab ride video please click on the link below.
         

          http://youtu.be/j93vTuFSq-o

Roy.

Wonderful layout, Roy. Some of your layout is two-rail, and some is three-rail (centered or outside third rail, or both.) Is it all DC, and what transformers power it? Thanks in advance.

 Hi John,

          This is the central control room below. 30 trains run simultaneously controlled by automation and one person(me) with the aid of closed circuit television monitors.

The system is powered 12 to 20 volts DC at over 100 amps at full power.

Various transformers and power units are used like the ones below. 

 The voltage and amperage can be adjusted to suit. The track supply is via 2 rail.

The third and fourth rails are for show to mimic the prototype,

Thanks for the comments Roy.

Roy,

One word: Wow!

Simon

Roy, thank you for the reply and photos. Please allow me to exclaim "holy mackerel!" 

I hope Allan Miller does do an article on this fantastic British layout.

Thanks for the comments.

Allan Miller did feature my railway in the August /September issue.