The latest version of the model

A friend was asking what the latest version of model looks like from above, so I took a few pictures. These show what an unfinished state it is in, and a rather untidy room but you can see the double track oval round the layout, with sidings at rear leading to goods shed and brewery.

There are tunnels at both ends with town and fields over the track, and a set of storage sidings off one end with a triangular track(reverse loop) arrangement, so trains can leave the main layout and can then reverse back onto layout facing the other way. This removes the need for a turntable to turn stock around.

The main station has two through roads and a bay platform with two further platforms with a run round section for the engine that brings the train into these platforms.

Accident at North Tunnel

An accident was caused just outside North tunnel today when a local train derailed and a coach fell into the path of a passing express. Railway investigators are trying to establish the cause.

At the moment the cause is believed to be an unknown obstruction in West Tunnel.

Express Trains through the Station

Today I thought I would run a couple of trains to keep the track clean. Oh and you might notice I have extended one platform and added a footbridge. Here's the video Two expresses though main line station.

A few more pictures of the layout today.

View of Platforms 2,3,4 and 5 of station looking towards Engine Shed.

View of all 5 platforms looking away from Engine Shed.

View of exit from Station towards bridge and tunnel.

View of back of layout showing sidings to Goods shed and Brewery.

Adding some tunnels and scenery.

I decided that the corner of the layout would look better if it covered the track so I get a bigger scenic area, so I have constructed a tunnel and over it there will be a hilly field and a road leading to some terraced housing and a small factory or warehouse. The picture shows how far I have got, there is still a bit to do to tidy it up and finish it all off.

In the other back corner I have also created a tunnel as before but not fully decided what to put on top at the moment. There is currently a factory entrance and a boilerhouse up there, I think some walls to mark out the factory yard would be good and some roadway outside and by the shops. The roadway also needs to go off the scene somewhere. In the lower part of the town we need a road from the level crossing at the back to the Station entrance and also a yard by the goods shed.

The brewery siding has been put back but at present it is being used as a coach store. I need to use the coaches to test the clearances in the tunnels, I don't want trains to get stuck in there, at the moment trains pass through ok. Things need to be fixed so it stays that way. Oh, and the drop out of the back door of the railway hotel is a bit far, so I may put some kind of yard behind it, one that can be easily removed if I need to access that part of the layout. At the moment I can reach everywhere on the layout quite easily, which was the original reason for the rebuild.

Remember, you can click on the pictures to see bigger versions.

Now what?

Well we have finished the station additional platform and a run round loop, and apart from a slight issue with variable track levels to sort out it all works ok. So I have brought all the buildings back into the room to see where i am going to fit them. at the moments I have the brewery, a factory, the goods shed, and a number of houses and shops. so here they are in what might be the permanent home. (or it might not, after a second look tomorrow.)

remember you can click on the pictures to see bigger versions.

Another day forward and we now have two running lines functioning.

I have been busy all day today and now have two lines completed and have started on the extra sidings around the station area at the front of the board. I am quite pleased with the progress as I can see a number of areas where models can go apart from the main running lines. Access to all areas with the hole in the centre of the layout is now much easier. A brief video of the trains running can be seen by clicking the link.

Watch out for the fast diesel shunter.

The next step will be to bring the buildings back into the room and see where they can be fitted, the last bits of track can then be laid around the buildings.