Saturday saw the first point get some 'workings' on the switchblades. The Turnout Operating Unit (TOU) was one of the perspex ones I'd made for the previous layout and the only modification needed was to shorted the length of the brass tubes that go up to just below rail level because the baseboard is now 6mm ply rather than 12mm MDF. The tie-bars are scrap brass etch with the two halves separated by a sliver of paxolin. This cruel enlargement makes it look much worse than it is!

The colour of the perspex is fairly hideous, but the Turnout Operating Units have coped well with being removed from the old layout and stored. The sellotape is just used to hold the 3 parts together prior to inserting the screws.

Sunday was a day out and a visit to the Gala Day on the Mid-Suffolk light railway. A grand time was had by all. Wissington was in steam along with 3 other locos and there was a very pleasant atmosphere. Last time I went there was just a few 100 yards of track against a platform and a couple of wagons, it was great to see how far they had come.

The first section of the P4 got its first test 'under power' and a my Gibson J15 and rewheeled Hornby class 31 were the first out of the stock box to run up and down. Being the Stour Valley the J15 had to be first. The Class 31 was next because being a rewheeled job rather than any kind of sprung chassis it is my 'most fussy' item of stock.

Work is now going on with the second point that sits at the other side of the goods shed.

David