2nd weekend in March and time for the St Neots' exhibition at The Woodgreen Animal Sanctuary at Godmanchester. I am still looking for inspiration as my own layout which is still some way in the future. The biggest problem that I have (and I guess that this applies to many modellers) is the restricted space available. Sadly, for me, most of the reasonably-sized layouts are long and slim. Exhibitions don't seem to cater for modellers who are restricted in the length of the main, scenic section.

My model space is limited to (roughly) 2.70 m x 2.78 m. I want to model a 4 platform terminus and have already realised that having platforms capable of holding 12 coach EMUs is totally impractical. So a bit of modeller's license reduces these to 6 coaches with the other 2 platforms holding 4- and 2-coach formations. Even with these reduced dimensions it is still going to be a bit of a tight fit, in and around the 'station throat'. Obviously the off-scene fiddleyard will have to run along another wall - this will be disguised as a train shed (built in the 1930s). I am also thinking of including a siding between the shed and the front of the baseboard. More modeller's license as, prototypically, there were up and down mainlines, 3 roads in the shed and 2 sidings on the viewing side of the shed. Having a baseboard capable of holding 7 roads may not be achievable.

My biggest concern is how can I accomplish a 90 degree turn (where the walls meet). I think that he maximum number of lines that I can use would be restricted to 3. That would mean using 2nd, 3rd & 4th radius curves. I assume that I will have to use a curved back scene, with a narrow road and fence, between it and the railway itself. But should I do with the part closest to the front of this part of the layout. Prototypically, railway lines do not turn through 90 degrees in a very short space. So what could I put there?

The 'End Plan' is to insert another scenic section between the terminus and the engine shed, so that the layout will go round 3 walls of the room. If the two connecting sections (turning through 90 degrees) are carefully planned and built, I am hoping that it will be possible to remove then and simply join the 3 main sections to form a single, reasonably long, run (5 m +). If I ever reach that point I may consider putting on the exhibition circuit. Alternatively, I am dismantle it and re-erect it in another part of the house. I then want to start on a more ambitious layout (in N gauge).

However, that is all part of the dream and, for now, I need to get on with making the model room suitable for working in - that means installing a stud wall to stop the wind and rain coming in from around the main garage door.