My half term break has allowed me to make more progress with the scenics and also to run some trains. In my earlier post I outlined how I had built the embankments and cuttings around the road over bridge at the "Pickering end" of the station scene. Beyond the road bridge the line is due to enter a further short cutting before entering the fiddle yard through a tunnel.

The embankments for the cutting at the rear of the layout will hide a hidden siding which will add extra storage space to the fiddle yard. It is this area that I have turned my attention to.

Starting the hidden sidings and tunnel cutting.

The top of this embankment will feature one or two country cottages, one of which is the Skaledale "Yew Tree" cottage as I feel it fits in with the Yorkshire Moors element of the layout. I started by gluing down further polysterene blocks to act as a base, ensuring the blocks are large enough to fit the cottage on top. The hidden siding track was then laid up to the polysterene.

In time this siding will be hidden underneath the cutting so strips of foam board were cut and glued either side of the siding. Eventually a "roof" will be built above these foamboard sides to fully enclose the siding, and the cutting detail will be added on top.

The progress so far can be seen in these photographs:

In this picture you can see the siding, complete with foam board sides. You may be able to see the location of Yew Tree Cottage too.

The second picture gives an overview of the fiddle yard area. The coal drop scenic break can be seen at the front of the picture. In front of this will be the main engine shed scene. You will see how limited the fiddle yard space is hence the need for the hidden siding!

Running trains

Half term has also allowed me to spend some time running trains. My Hornby Railroad Jinty, pictured in an earlier entry has taken a bit of a break this week. Train services have been worked by a Hornby A1x "Terrier" numbered 32636 and an ex Great Western Auto Coach giving things a branch line feel.

I have included a picture of the combination, taken in front of the previously completed Darnholm embankment.