This short traverser fiddleyard was designed to incorporate modules from Grainge and Hodder's laser-cut baseboard range into something I could use with my FREMO modules. I had two different use cases in mind: firstly to allow the station module to become a conventional layout suitable for home or exhibition, and secondly at a FREMO meeting to add a branch-line fiddleyard representing 'the rest of the branch'. The station can only take shortish trains in the loop and platforms. The loops are about 100 cm long which is pretty reasonable for a home layout (eight two-axle European wagons in H0) but small by FREMO's more generous standards. The station platform is shorter than that.

The fiddleyard module from Grainge and Hodder is 90 cm long, which is pretty much perfect. It's 40 cm wide. I've set it into a frame of my own design, all made from laser cut sheet and slotted together. that can be very quickly knocked down. This is important for any layout intended to be moved frequently. There are two more G and H modules, one at each end. They kindly modified these to be 50 cm wide and added a standard F96 FREMO end profile to one end. By offsetting the fiddleyard module from the centreline I got five equally spaced H0 tracks onto it and allowed all these to align with the run-in track which is in the centre (dictated by the FREMO profile). The two end modules provide a lot of stiffness, are the connection point for the legs, and will include typical tunnel-mouth scenics to disguise the entrance to the fiddleyard in the usual way. That's why the frame has tall sides at each end; they'll be profiled to match the landscaping once I've added this to the boards themselves.

The legs also come from FREMO practice, in this case some Austrian members who shared this dimensioned design on the FREMO forum. It is so simple and obvious when you see it. The benefits compared to single legs or 'H' shaped pairs of legs are stability with minimal parts and the fact that you carry two legs in one go, yet they pack down almost flat. The built-in adjustable feet have a range of about 20mm and the legs were very kindly made for me by a fellow FREMO UK member. Incidentally, FREMO arrangements are much higher than publicly-exhibited layouts: the running surface of the rails is 130cm above floor level.

The overall effect reminds me of some patient beast of burden that's queueing for the loo.

On the traverser itself I used Legacy steel bullhead 00 track. It is rather nice and was on discount even during lockdown when 16.5 mm track from one key supplier was a little difficult to get. The track is on its own independent thin ply board which can be removed and in theory replaced with one carrying tracks in a different gauge, say 18.2 or even perhaps 45 mm (the latter will allow a small loco and a couple of 2-axle wagons, if I ever proceed). Power feeds run on the top surface and have yet to be fixed down. Flying leads plug into the traverser module to transfer power from the layout bus.

The plan is to use magnets to align the run-in track. I have yet to discover whether this will work, but last night was the first time a train has run from the fiddleyard onto the station module and back. Cause for celebration as this lot has been interesting to research and design. I'm very thankful for Grainge and Hodder's willingness to modify their designs and to cut to order, and to David S for making the legs.