As mentioned previously I had developed a list of my requirements for my layout, however as with every model railway the first consideration was space. After various negotiations, I decided the best plan was a shelf layout based upon a 180cm floating shelf. This would allow for storage underneath and also be long enough to allow for 120cm of viewing space with a 60cm fiddle yard. Within these limitations I then worked through a selection of tackplans and settled on the following:

(not to scale)

The trackplan is very simple based on the standard reversing loop with short sidings for an Engine shed, Goods yard and coal staithes. In addition this allowed for 2 platforms and will easily hold a 3 coach train.

Construction was based on 2x1 in frame with 4mm mdf for the box structures and the base board. The mdf was suitably light to allow for the fixed structure to be easily moved from the work area outside, upstairs to the back bedroom. In order to protect the layout it was constructed to include lids for the main layout and fiddle yard area. This was then painted in the same emulsion as the room walls to make the effect on the room as minimal as possible when not in use.

I commenced laying the track in the scenic section using Peco code 80 with electrofrog points. It was cut and laid roughly at first in order to mark the required location of the holes for the Peco point motors and electromagents for uncoupling. The point motors are operated by stud and probe method with the electro magnets using push to make switches (I am yet to install the frets on the stock for the uncouplers but wanted to include the option from the beginning). I have also installed SPDT switches for each point so that I am not relying on the point blade to make the electrical circuit. I had experienced many problems with this on Blackbow and wanted to ensure the smoothest running I could for my stock. With the holes in place for the point motors I laid some thin cork roll for the trackbed before fixing the track into final position. This allowed the first checks of my lengths for the platform roads, shunting areas, uncoupler locations and the general running performance.

The fiddle yard was then constructed. I have used a 5 road traverser, constructed from mdf, which is designed to use a joiner between 2 brass crews in order to complete the positive circuit. Once all this was wired into place, which with my soldering skills took far longer than I had envisioned, I was then in a position to complete my running tests. A few tweeks, and I was ready to start on scenery.

I firstly used a dark brown colour for the sleepers and then a grey for the rail sides to dull them off. I avoided the rust red I had used on Blackbow as I felt this was too strong a colour for the track size and I wanted to keep the colours soft on this layout. In a similar vein when it came to ballasting previously I had used a n-gauge granite chip for ballast which I felt was too heavy. Having read further into ballast for n-gauge and particularly the GWR (using the excellent Fairford Branch website) I decided to try Woodland Scenics fine buff ballast. This is far lighter and finer than the granite chippings and seems far more to scale than most ballast I have seen designed for n-gauge. The ballast was added using my trusty teaspoon and sealed in position with the common pva/water/washing up liquid mix. I then used another trusty part of my modelling tool box, my old Farish 08, to check clearances and that no point blades were being fouled. This completed my testing of the track and from this point on it has been all about scenery.