“Selham” LBSCR

First I must point out that my first 2mm layout will not be an exact model of selham as originally planned, rather it will be a layout inspired by selham.    My interest in the branchlines around Midhurst began as a child when passing Petworth station which is now a hotel I noticed pullman cars resting in the grounds.    Later on reading “Branchlines around Midhurst” and its predecessor “Branchlines to Midhurst” that my interest in modelling the area was established.   Originally I wanted to model Petworth Station as it was the station which I had passed so many times on my way down to chichester.  Looking at the stations trackplan I quickly realised that at 2mm scale it would measure approximately 2.5m which I felt was a bit too much for my first stab at 2mm.     Having looked at the other stations on the branchline, Selham instantly appealed to me through its remote setting, interesting trackplan, it simply oozed charm.   Below is aphotograph of Selham station in 1968 following its closure in 1963.  

Image coutesey of www.disused-stations.org.uk/

 Like Petworth , Selham was of a similar size although on a sweeping curve.    It was decided that the model I was to build would be inspired by Selham allowing me to compress elements of the station to fit into a smaller space aswell as being able to eliminate the sweeping curve which would simplify the build.   

 

Below is the trackwork progress to date which shows the principal track to be pretty much finished.    So now its on to the baseboard which I intent ot be styrofoam with plywood sides.   

Motive power will initially be excellent farish class 37 and a class 04 with a 3F jinty to be built once I have got the layout up and running.   Eventually I intend to converted a dapol M7 as something more indigenous to the area.

So that I have something to use whilst I devise and construct my first 2mm layout I have completed the installation of DG autocouplers on a small amount of my stock to use on my small n gauge layout.   My German stock was converted in the normal way via the removal of the old coupling pocket and replacement with a DG coupler.    All of the ride heights were set via a jig; simple blocks of plastic card to check the height of the mounting plate and after installation that of the buffing plate.

However the locomotive I had in mind for the shunting duties would need to have the DG couplers installed in an NEM pocket which necessitated the modification of the DG coupler to fit in the NEM socket.    The coupling needed to mount in the NEM pocket and not move within the pocket once installed.     The first step was to thin down the mounting plate at the couplings tail so that it would fit in the pocket.   I then removed the lugs for the coupling loop. 

A 0.85mm brass rod would provide the axle which would clip into the clips in the NEM socket and a short length of the same rod would be soldered along the tail of the coupling to prevent it from moving around in the socket.      It was also provided with a 1mm offset to increase the height of the coupling in line with those heights found on my vehicles.   I did this in the same way you would produce a joggle in point work.  The finished coupling ( a bit blurred ) can be seen below.

The coupling was then chemically blackened and installed.   Now to build my 2mm layout …..