WEST ORTON

[Steve M]

That will probably be the way I go as well Richard. I can remove the corner of the board in the bottom left of the photo - that should give an additional 20” in the gradient. Ideally the mainline will remain level but if it has to go up it should only be by about 1/2”.
Should be fun trying to cut that straight.

[Steve M]

Dropped the corner of the long board by about 25mm resulting in a gradient of about 1:30 on the branchline. I’ve also roughed out the trackbed for the mainline flyover although I do have to ‘finesse’ one of the support pillars by around 5mm.

20210331_140650 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

20210331_140636 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

The intention is that there will be a backscene of some sort immediately behind the bridge with the two branch lines running behind it to the fiddle yard. And of course it will all be hidden by removable hills.

[bulleidboy]

Hi Steve - it's all looking very good. I don't know whether you watch Everard Junction, but not long ago, he (Richard) built a branchline going under the mainline, but it didn't go where it looked as though it went - an illusion. I'm sure you don't need any ideas, but this may give a little inspiration - not that you need it . Barry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha6ab08 ... ww&index=1

[Steve M]

I saw something similar on a layout at a show - tracks enter a tunnel and turn sharp left but there is a stretch of straight dummy track out of the other side to trick the viewer.
All depends on where my curves end up as there is not a lot of room. It may look like the branch disappears out of the side of the shed. Now there’s a thought!

[Steve M]

Finished the basic bridge supports and track laying at this end of the layout. Also soldered all the track ends to PCB strips at the board joints. A
Though the layout can be taken apart I am hoping that this end will remain fixed in place as the rails cross the board joints at different heights. No points at this end so the only soldering under the boards will be the droppers so not too onerous.

20210403_144224 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Guess what’s next......

20210403_144320 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[Brian]

Really the droppers should be soldered to the rails underside before pinning it down! Soldering to the rails outer web produces a connection OK, but IMO doesn't look as good! Underneath the rails becomes totally invisible when ballasted.

[Steve M]

Really the droppers should be soldered to the rails underside before pinning it down! Soldering to the rails outer web produces a connection OK, but IMO doesn't look as good! Underneath the rails becomes totally invisible when ballasted.

I agree Brian, butt on the side is easier for when I make changes in future - you know I will.

[Walkingthedog]

For the first time I soldered the droppers under the rails on one section of my layout. Reverted to the side after that. I like to have easy access. I like to get the track down and then get soldering. Each to their own.

[Steve M]

I fully intended to start modifying the wiring on the electrofrog points today but very quickly got distracted. I’ve temporarily joined the two ends of the layout in the fiddleyard area and rigged up an old DC controller for testing the track.

Yes, locos have been running!

And although I have my main workshop in the other shed, there will always be times in the railway room that a work area will be needed, so I’ve made a sliding workarea that hides under the fiddleyard. Any points in the yard will either be hand operated or possibly surface mounted motors. This has also given me an idea for a sliding control panel under the main scenic board.

2021-04-04_02-27-32 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Now I must make a start on those points.

[Walkingthedog]

Well done Steve. 14 March until 04 April to get trains running. Perfect.