I managed to get approval for my seven-year old to be given a trainset for Christmas, so we now have a simple board in the spare bedroom and I have big plans.

Layout 1

Location: Spare bedroom

Room 4m x 3.6m

Size: 3m x 2.5m rectangle

Scale: OO

Setting: variable. S&D to BR Blue

Layout 2

Location: Cellar room. Dry, no windows

Room 5m x 3.6m

Size: 4.5m x 3.6m U

Scale: N

Setting: 1930s

For the setting I am thinking of mid 30s where there was no grouping but a competition regulator to limit the continual mergers. I have not decided whether the L&Y / LNWR merger / reverse take-over took place. The 1930s means I have a few static cars and a Faller-type road with a few buses and lorries.

The main station will be based on Bolton Trinity Street, but probably grander (Scalescenes large station) and the town will be elevated over the trackbase to facilitate road crossings and the terminal loop. There will be a power station and gasworks, fed by coal from a coalfield off board.

I want to have circuits rather than a yard so the computer can manage the trains and I can just watch them go by. I therefore envisage a full lower level accessed from four double track helices. The lower level will serve to link all the helices so that trains can appear from any helix and exit at any helix. This will mean a very busy station - more like Crewe if you exclude the time compression.

I also want Light at Night and area sound.

I will post the plans for both layouts when the plans are a little further developed.

In the meantime, here is the actual progress made.

Layout 1

Christmas 2010

Track laid, Scalescenes free goods shed, Scalescenes cottages and an engine shed constructed.

August 2011

Painted inside 2off Hornby Railroad LNER carriages. Painted and added Preiser sitting passengers.