I have done a bit more work on my layout. I finally obtained the new tips for my soldering iron, together with some decent solder. I managed successfully to solder some droppers direct to the track without making a mess of it and fixed the loose track back again to the base. I also replaced some previously installed droppers (which were relatively thick cable and connected to an elevated portion of the track) with some thinner wires which adapt themselves much better to the contour and in fact have been hidden in a plastic drinking straw glued to the column supporting the overhead track. I performed tests with my Class 150 DMU, the 2-6-4 tank engine and the PIKO electric locomotive and, individually, they worked well. However, when hooked up with carriages, the two locomotives disengaged themselves from the carriages at different points on the circuit and the tank engine did not run as smoothly as when running alone. The result: further complications to be sorted out.

Apart from that I fitted the replacement point motors and now have the job of reconnecting them and the new droppers installed into the system, which means tipping the board on edge again to get easy access to the underside.

All the above was written on April 22.

On April 23 disaster struck again. The problem was the public lighting. I had misunderstood the function of the Hornby 'on-off' switches and had interspersed them with the point switches. To cut a sad story short, I fear I may have blown another three point motors. So, it's back to reforming the wiring. In July we shall have grandchildren with us and while the scenery will not be finished, the railway portion has to be in working order.