Well the good news is that this post has no pictures (I can hear the cheers from here ), I've not done much modelling over the last few days, as with the demands of work and being a little off colour I have spent more time on the more "theoretical" projects.

As you know Foster Street in a continuous run layout, in an attempt to portray a secondary line somewhere in the Northwest, leading up to the dreadful day the LMS was nationalised .

The layout is approximately 11 foot long, but because its under 3 foot wide, once the scenic area is taken into account means I have around 12 inches of width to play with, which is where I need some help. I reckon I can get 4 loops in each direction fitted into the space, if I use settrack point this means they will be a considerable length, (even if I use medium radius points they will be pretty long).

I suppose like most modellers I have far too much stock to be used on the layout, and the storage yard will never really be big enough form my ambitions, but I need some help reining in my thoughts and ideas. The other thing is that I have accepted a very kind exhibition invite to the Weston Show (Andy what have you let yourself in for???) so I need suggestions on what type of trains people would like to see running.

So I need suggestions or help on the following...

1. What sort of trains would you like to see running through Foster Street (I know I need suburban/local trains, but I also like running big long coal trains, and my Elephant train too, would the exhibition visitors be happy with, if not what would you think they would like to see?

2 At least one of the tracks in each direction will be used for a long train (express, or freight still to be decided), the other loops I am thinking of splitting into smaller sections to hold more "local" type trains. Obviously this means that on these lines through running would not be continuous because as a train leaves the ones behind would have to be edged up. My experiments with this have shown that the two, or more trains slowly edge up the yard, as the first train leaves, but as I isolate the loops when they have reached the correct position, the train on the visible section gets a higher voltage and then goes like a bat out of hell. Is there a way round this, or should I just isolate the loops and move the trains up manually as the one at the front makes its way around the visual section??

3 I still have not decided on some form of auto coupling for the branch line freights, so as to avoid the hand from the sky, in the past I have added staples to the "elsie" type peco type couplings and used magnets under the track for this, but is there a better option.

4. Can you ever have too many trains? Obviously I think you can never have enough but I think the Domestic Overlord is getting suspicious of all the shoe boxes around the house, he must think I have a footwear fetish (the boys a fool ) everyone knows shoeboxes are ideal for N gauge.

Could not resist a picture of my favourite train (well for today at least) until the next time as ever Happy Modelling