I have not posted here or done work on the layout for a long while, owing partly to the temperature of the garage and partly to reluctance to start the destructive relaying and points replacements in the goods yard.  I know I will leave this half-finished and unusable for ages if not fully motivated.

Inspired by @Andrew P 's scenic work on Tonleigh Bridge East Yard and @young37215 's wonderful photographs and work on his West Highland Line, I decided to devote the long Easter weekend to doing something constructive, namely the passenger station on the viaduct at the back of the layout.  However, I should have learned by now, "Man proposes, God disposes"...

Spent Friday placing the hard-board 'sky' over the 'Rustic Fletton' stretcher-bond wall I have grown used to, and lifting the viaduct off the back to lay the track.  After a dozen attempts using the fine Peco track pins and bending every one, I gave up and used the thicker pins, to the detriment of the sleepers, not having a fine enough bit to drill the holes before.  The left hand (bi-directional) line into the distance looked too close to the edge of the viaduct, despite repeated measuring and calculating, so I have skewed the lines to run to the right side of the viaduct.

Looking 'up' the line, the sidings nearest the camera from left to right above are: Milk discharge siding (to depot in arches below), Platform 1, Platform 2 (for locos), Carriage siding.  The conceit being the line was rationalised in the early 1970's, the right hand line is a run-round loop (the points at the Up end being 'off-layout').

I drilled the holes for power (D.C.) and siding isolation ends, popped the viaduct back on the layout, and almost looked forward to doing the ballasting on Saturday.  But I had not realised I needed more than one 200g bag, so ran out after covering about a third of the track.  There appears to be a shortage of Gaugemaster N-Gauge grey prior to its release in a new form.  The results thus far:

Used the spare time to spray-paint for the first time a tanker ferry-wagon, which went wrong: the white top-colour being too thick, so needing stripping and repainting.  The Peco platform edging was more successful, including the curving in hot water, so I have ended this weekend by taking a few photographs of trains in situ.  I had hoped the camera would sit lower, and not reveal the lack of platform top.  Must get some head-codes.

33 039 waits to haul the 18.55 Atherington Victoria to London Bridge.  The head-code will be "59".

33 039 again, with 2H 1122 waiting to follow with the 19.14 departure for Tonbridge, the latter's head-code will be "32".  A milk tank sits on the siding.

While the above has cheered me a little, I am weary of the lack of progress; I thought of this layout three years ago.  Wanting just to 'play goods trains', I had hoped after this time all would be running, with only the detailing to complete.  Seeing the fun of modern Lego trains (e.g., Fareham station), part of me wishes to sell up and buy some Lego bricks instead.  Perhaps now the weather is warming I can stop sulking, get on with some constructing that gives a 'big result', and returns the operational interest.  I have tried not to be negative here, but feel 'irritated' at the end of a long weekend with high hopes, for want of a better word...