Double-tracking the layout (with added junction).
Entry posted by Barry Ten
833 views
Oh well, I've gone and done it now. Not just double-tracking the entire layout, but also removing the old "Winter Module", which to be honest was looking quite tatty after recent work in any case.
Here it is in its glory days; nothing wrong with it as it stood but I'd found that photographically it was very challenging to shoot
well, being a sod with regards to exposure and colour balance, as well as not providing quite the number of nice angles I'd
hoped for. However, I'd have happily lived with it despite the above, except that in its existing configuration it didn't easily allow
for the line to be doubled, let alone with the addition of a junction.
Here, instead, is what we have now:
I knocked through the division between the Summer and Winter modules, roughly where those two sets of diverging points are (you
can see the gap the pink foam where the old partition came), creating a single, big, L-shaped scenic module which now includes this junction.
The idea here is that the junction serves a branch which will be represented by one or two extra storage roads in the fiddle yard, allowing for
extra variety of services to run in and out of the station, including railcars and so on.
Going back to my lovely sketches of the last entry:
I eventually settled on the second option, but with one tweak - I realised that if I had the branch, I didn't need the additional crossover on the main, since there are
already two at the other end of the station, and in any case the branch junction itself can permit run-round moves if required. The benefit of removing the crossing was that the double-track formation could be eased slightly, making for gentler transitions and generally looking a bit less forced compared to what was there before. It was never an issue originally
as much of that track was off-scene anyway, so as long as it worked, I didn't care that it was a bit ugly.
Although it's subtle, the radii to the right of the level crossing are a bit gentler now and large locomotives look happier transitioning through the curve:
Allowing the Summer Module to sprawl into what was previously the Winter one gave me the chance to play around with some buildings in a way I hadn't considered
before, and I ended up rotating the pub by ninety degrees, compared to how it used to be. I also re-located these two cottages, putting them on a gently descending
road which passes in front of the pub. That pink cottage has been on every layout of mine since I was a teenager, so it's bound to find a place here!
Although there's still a lot to be done, I can start to look forward to this bucolic view up the hill toward the pub:
As for the track side of things, the double-tracks were wired for cab control (and DCC) and it's been great fun just being to have two trains circulating at the same
time. The junction is wired and tested as well, and I'm ready working on the signals. I haven't quite decided how to deal with the exiting of the tracks through
the far end of the old Winter Module, whether they'll go into tunnels, under a bridge, or just dodge through the backscene with some foliage acting as view-blocking. Plenty
still to consider, then, but that's all part of the fun.
Cheers, all.
-
12
3 Comments
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now