It's been some time since I was able to make any progress - a leaky garage roof necessitating removal of a lot of 7mm equipment for the new Whatborough layout in to the shed thus effectively blocking the working space for getting on with Norton Harborough. However, repairs have been effected and we just have the inclement weather to cope with now. When I last visited the site, it was to mock-up a track plan as detailed above. Over the time away from the mock-up, I decided that the loco-shed was inappropriate and it has disappeared from the scene. Instead, open sidings are the rule of the day - this small yard is envisaged as being busy with the war effort in the 1944-5 period and locos will deposit trains and then disappear 'off-stage' as they say for servicing and turning as required. Having finalised the design I have at last got the station and yard laid and the next move will be the wiring. Two photos attached show the slightly revised 'mock-up' now as a fixed prototype. Based on long experience I am sure that operating it will reveal what I consider shortcomings - hopefully there won't be any but never count your chickens, etc,
The first picture (apologies for the poor quality) Shows what will be the scenic boundary and exit from the station and yard. The main entry/exit line is on the far right with a lead off to the sidings, the military sidings being the ones here. The short road next to the main line (with the buffer stops) is the standby road fr the station pilot. There is a dearth of buffer stops at present - rectification of this is in hand. The Metcalfe walls have to be completed by tinting the raw edges whee folds are part of the construction but I just placed them t get a feel of the possible overall picture so they can be easily removed and dealt with once scenic works starts in earnest. Doing this also revealed I need another kit to have enough sections to do the job!
All points are hand operated - I'm very old school and hate wiring ,,,,,,,,,,,
! You do get a nice 'hands on' feeling though.
So there you have it for the present. Work will continue and the purchasing department has invested a few bob in various things including the odd loco or two, so I am reasonable anxious to get something up and running before too long. Trouble is, as time goes one I find these ten minute jobs tend to stretch in to hours now........!
Keep well, everyone,
Roger.