Have you considered adding a point into the "simple oval" so you can connect the "end of the line" on to the side if you want? Seems such a shame after all the effort you put in not to be able to use it.

Hi cromptonnut,

End of the line was only 3 weeks work, but I was experimenting with ideas to use later.

This oval hits the now boring Cornish china clay theme - an imaginary line down the east bank of the Fowey River.

The aim was/is to have a good scenic layout with part of a cornish village and creek on a 6' x 3' base that I could carry myself in the back of the car. The entire track is set at 3.5" high to allow the landscape to roll from sea level to the road over bridge within the 6'.

For it to be useable at an exhibition I have a passing loop behind the back screen where after one train travelling with full wagons to the quay will be exchanged for another going the other direction with empties. Then the occasional 14XX with an autocoach.

I have named it St.Oval, because it was going to be set track and an oval !!

I'm also experimenting with small speakers that I hope to have in the pub and chapel with suitable sounds eminating from the buildings. I have yet to see if I can record CDs with enough channel seperation.

This more or less shows the scenic side track layout.

Yes it is going to be heavy, but I've checked that I can get in the Matiz - will be carried one above the other !!

Geoff T.

Been out shopping, don't you love Saturdays with the wife !

On return I decided to show one of my silly videos where I had a class 03 & 04 double heading a mixed goods.

This also allows one to see the simple layout.

Geoff T.

Nothing wrong with that - although I'm sure scenery will help

You say a 'simple oval' like it's a bad thing... outside of stations, what's the east coast mainline but a long straight two or four track stretch? I'd say that was certainly more boring than your plan as you seem to have included a point in the corner.

"Boring" is a subjective word though. I personally find shunting layouts very tedious but so many people make them enough to presumably enjoy them. Depot layouts can be very 'samey' with little going on, and then the 'chocolate box' sleepy GWR branchline terminus that all look the same too.