17/05/07: As You Were

My brilliant scheme to replan Redhill finally fell foul of the length of the hidden sidings. Because of the curves at both ends to allow for the operating well the siding lengths were just too short to be useful.

However, as I had accepted sharp hidden curves for this scheme by adopting them for the original plan, instead of the over three-foot radius ones I had previously designed it became possible to arrange things so that the layout could be converted from a view-from-inside to a view-from-outside style with only two small (about 2’ x 1’) extra baseboards. So, in respect of the plan it is very much ‘as you were’.

(Re)Construction has started using SMP track in place of Peco. I am replacing some of the sleepers with copperclad ones so that the track lengths stay the right shape. I have used Templot to create the track and point templates. Whilst there is a steep learning curve it is an excellent tool and if you build your own track and points will repay the investment.

The running lines have been given a gentle curve, which will improve their appearance greatly and makes the points and single-slip that give access to the loop very interesting. The cement terminal will use a curved tandem point to provide the three sidings. The station platforms have moved along towards the car park end to allow the loop to be lengthened. This means that there is now room for the cement train loco to uncouple, run round and then buffer up to the rear for shunting without having to move the wagons. On the original plan loco would have had to start pushing the train in order to get clear of the main line.

On the roads the roundabout has been increased in size from 6” to 6.75” radius which should reduce the tendancy for vehicles to loose their way. There will be a second exit to the storage sidings at the cement terminal end which will reduce the amount of traffic running along the hidden road at the back of the layout. Road junction mechanisms will be actuated by memory wire rather than electric motors with the exception of the few junctions that give access to the various storage yard exits - these will still be motor powered as they will only need to be operated if the layout’s configuration is changed. Most magnetic stops on the roadways will be operated by electromagnets as they are for temporary halts. The bus station and storage area will still use the original design, but again actuated by memory wire.

Stock acquisition has continued slowly with a Class 31, two Class 25s, Class 117 (to become a 116), PCAs, Presflos and Prestwins for the cement traffic plus an assortment of vans, hoppers and mineral wagons in stock. More wagons are needed to make up the passing traffic, as are a pair of Class 47s, a 45/46, a 37, another 25 and a pair of 20s.

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