Peco and O-16.5 it is then.

I laid a short section, sprayed it then did a couple of tests with ballast and thought if it looks this good I can live with it! I can also live with the ease and speed of laying and hopefully the reliability. The cost is not so good although I do have sufficient plain track in stock but six new points were ordered.

I have used plain old earth from that garden as ballast which judging from most contemporary pictures usually covers the sleepers and sometimes the rail as well by all accounts but I don't think I shall be replicating this. Am fair amount was scooped up a few weeks ago and put in our outhouse which has the central heating boiler in to gently dry it. It was then sieved and put in a high oven for half an hour to sterilize. I tried the good old PVA and Fairy but probably as the soil if so fine it just didn't want to stay in the right place. So, I tried a new trick found from the wonderful internet and use Astonish Flawless wood floor polish. This spread by itself far more easily and dried a lot quicker to. I would appreciate any tips on where to get it from though as mine came via the equally wonderful Ebay - in a GPO polythene bag with the dregs of the bottle swimming around in the bottom. To be completely fair to the seller a second bottle was dispatched straight away with no mishap but as I may be getting through a lot of it a shop might be much safer. Just can't seem to find it 'round here though.