coombe junction - moorswater - 10,000 - thank you...
Entry posted by bcnPete
3,392 views
Good evening,
Whilst checking my blog settings earlier, I realised that my blog has now been viewed 10,000 times since I began, so this being my 76th entry I would like to thank you all for your support, comments, enthusiasm and motivation for this blog. Whilst there has been the odd diversion along route (Kyle in a boxfile) this layout began life 25 years ago in my head and finally got going in 2007 shortly before we left the UK.
I thought a few (some previously unseen) images to show where it all began would be a nice way to mark the 10,000 views...even if 5000 of those was probably me checking to see if anyone had left any comments 
(Am I the only one who does that?)
Beginning with....
This was the original idea. The layout would be built in two phases on 2 IKEA Lack shelves...
And here it is, on our kitchen worktop in London prior to leaving the UK. It was mapped out on paper using homemade track templates, and you might note that originally I had one shelf for the central scenic section and another shelf cut in half to make the two separate fiddle yards. Various 20 year old N gauge items were used to help gauge train lengths...
Fast forward to relocation in Barcelona and the idea of two separate detachable fiddle yards was dropped as this would be too difficult to store these on the wall. The layout retains the same idea but to allow a later continuation of the track bed, the track plan has been laid over two shelves, which can be removed and replaced on the wall very quickly out of harms way. The cork track bed has been laid and the cassettes are in place...
And here are my first attempts at hand built track using Code 40 plain rail and PCB. Lamellion Bridge providing a perfect scenic break to the second fiddle yard and the station mock up is in place. The layout did actually run at this stage using crude crocodile clips to transfer power to the cassettes at either end...
And then...I just couldn't resist starting the third board. I think it came down to realising the very limited operating potential (and even now it's pretty limited) and that I might lose interest, whereas if I could start the third board I could mock up Moorswater viaduct and Moorswater dries and it would retain my enthusiasm...
And here is one of the most recent shots of the station with 37238 (about to be renumbered this week) at Coombe Junction Halt.
When I first posted the layout on the last version of the RMWeb, I recall there was Missy, Bryn, Mark and Kris as the only other 2FS modellers, but since then, the 2FS numbers have been steadily growing, and its great to see an increase in the number of 2FS layouts. The forum has been instrumental at keeping my enthusiasm going for the project and without it, this layout might still be stuck in my head. Thank you to you all for staying with me through the thick and thin.
Here's to the next 10,000 
Pete
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