Hi all,
Having been a long-time RMWeb lurker, I thought it now the time to show my layout.
Darenth is a 00 gauge fictional depiction of a Southern Region, present day preserved railway terminus being run via. DCC. From the outset of this layout, location and storage has been a problem. My girlfriend and I live in a two-bedroom Victorian mid-terrace. Having read the trials and tribulations of loft-based layouts (and being well-enough deterred without a full-blown loft conversion!), the spare bedroom was seen as the safest and most suitable location. It is shared with my partner's music room and a layout was agreed - provided it could be put away for when we had guests visit to use the spare bed.
With many eggshells stepped on (and some broken) the layout was a-go. The scenic area is roughly 4ft x 18" with a fiddle yard of similar length by about 1ft at its widest. However, the fiddle yard is hinged at the scenic-break so that, when required the fiddle yard folds 180 degees back on itself and over the scenic area. Although it doubles the height, it halves the total footprint. Small castors were fitted to the base of the scenic section and the whole layout can be easily wheeled away into the corner of a room - out of (relative) sight.
The track plan consists of two platforms, a carriage & wagon siding, headshunt and two-track yard area. The points are SEEP and DCC controlled. All points within the scenic area are electrofrog with frog polarity wired through the point motors.
The hinged fiddle yard section as below:
Further progress was made with the addition of platforms, signal box, tunnel portal and shed.
The fold over fiddle yard (pre-lengthening to its current 4ft):
The layout is now in a near-complete stage - photos of which I will post in due course. The plan is to exhibit the layout from 2021. I hope that it will inspire others that with a bit of space (and a very understanding other-half!), layouts with a good amount of operaitonal scope can be achieved in a small area when thinking of storage solutions.
Thanks for reading.
Jonathan