Monday 20 August 2012

I couldn't tell you

why I dismantled the railroad in our spare bedroom. Well it is now public knowledge.

I was selling my cottage and retiring. This meant that I was closing my model business so I had to keep it quiet whilst we got a firm offer for the cottage and it got to exchange of contracts. Well that has happened.

I am moving to an apartment on the Ipswich waterfront - this first one is temporary - 10 months only - and then we expect to move into our permanent home for some years.

This means that I will start work fairly soon on the new N Scale railroad. The current plan is to build the terminal whilst we are in this apartment and then build the rest when we make our 'final' move. This means a 5' x 1 1/2' terminal layout for now and a 6 x 2 1/2' for it to connect to once we have settled.

Here is the back of an envelope plan for the terminal.
 
This still has to be proved for viability - I have a great knack of tightening curves and space between tracks.

The plan is to have this completed as a running system with a little detailing by the time we move again.

Other plans for it:  I am buying a Digitrax controller and looking at putting Cobalt point motors on every point.

This has to be really portable so it should be an interesting build. Mind you, as I am now 'retired' I should have the time - tell that to Valerie - grin.

Monday 6 August 2012

Great time at the Southwold Model Railway Show

We try and go to this every year. It takes place a the beautiful St. Felix School on the outskirts of Southwold. We go there early on the first day, managed to park right close to the entrance - courtesy of my blue badge.

Container Depot
One of the great model railways there was of a modern container depot - along with a working container crane. I took a video just for my friend Dan in Connecticut.


I also took a bunch of photos of what I though were the best things there. You can click on any photo and see a larger version.























Sunday 5 August 2012

Goodbye to Sunset and North Eastern - this time round

Just to let you know that for a variety of reasons, I have dismantled the N Scale Railroad that I had in our spare room. I expect to be starting another incarnation within about 4 - 6 weeks so watch this space!