I can happily report that the brass dowels work quite well and all the scenic boards aligned first time.

Furthermore, by a coincidence or was it some long forgotten element of my plan the height from the floor to the bottom of the scenic boards is 100cm which just happens to be the one of the predetermined heights allowed for by my Aldi adjustable trestles. This is pretty handy as any for the obvious reasons.

The scenic boards are dropped and the track bed will be carried on risers this is because the junction sits on a reasonably wide ledge cut into a hillside – the land thus falls away one side and rises on the other. Using an open top design will allow those areas where the land is below the track level to be modelled with greater ‘feel’ for the way land works.

Those familiar with the Bodmin and Wadebridge will know that Boscarne Junction is the location where two single lines become one. The two single lines take the traveller to Bodmin (SR) later Bodmin North, and Bodmin (GWR) later Bodmin General. The latter is now the HQ of the Bodmin and Wenford Heritage Railway. The single line to Bodmin North in fact also branched just after Boscarne Junction at Dunmere Junction whence the famous Wenford Bridge goods line made its way along the Camel Valley to the foot of Bodmin moor.

The single line made up form the two Bodmin branches went of course to Wadebridge where it joined the North Cornwall Railway and ultimately Padstow where the famous Atlantic Coast Express terminated.

Bosmelin is of course Boscarne Junction and the track plan is pretty simple. It comprises 4 parallel lines. Each of the contributing companies had a running line separated by an exchange siding, while the fourth line was a loop siding added to accommodate greater volumes of China Clay traffic and used by the SR and BR(S). In total there are only 7 points/turnouts.

Having pondered upon the merits and challenges of using OO-SF, EM and P4 standards I have decided to use PECO’s new 4mm Bullhead OO track chiefly because I just don’t feel I have the time to make a layout this size with finer track – not to mention the cost of re-wheeling all the stock.

But this is not to say that the layout will be OO in mentality. I favour the finer scale approach to modelling and thus everything – except the track gauge and wheel flanges – will be (to the best of my ability) modelled with the fine scale ethos in mind.

Thus the track plan was conceived and planned as if it were to be P4 and indeed is based upon a Templot plan based upon a 25″ Ordnance Survey Map of 1907 (I think). It follows therefore, that should eventually I decide that ‘broad gauge’ is achievable I can simply substitute the track. I say ‘simply’ but by using the PECO track the actual turnouts are a different geometry so I have had to adjust the plan slightly to accommodate these. No curves anywhere are intended to be less than 915mm radius (thats 36″) but having said that in one or two place a very slight tightening has been needed but we taking a few mm only which is really insignificant.

Couplings will be a mixture of 3 link and an auto coupler of some sort where wagons need to be separated. Most stock will remain in rakes and you cannot beat 3 links/screw/instanter for realism when running. Which auto coupler I shall use, I am not sure yet. Possibly, S&W but I also want to investigate Dinghams. It won’t be Jackson. They might be almost invisible but, couplings are not invisible in reality and they’re a bit fragile and need regular maintenance.

Any way the track bed is next. I’ll leave you with a track plan drawn up in the free version of Anyrail.

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