As is often the case for me, even the best planned railway exploits need some replanning.

When I came to add the curves to the exit points ladder to start the laying of the storage loops, the geometry didn't work. Something must have moved inbetween checking it all out (see last entry) and sticking the points down. Some of the curves were too sharp. I have had to change the arrangement of the points. However, whilst the alignment may not be 100% smooth, it is smooth enough and coaches run over the tracks without a problem.

I glue my track onto the foam base, which is glued to the baseboard. It's all done with PVA. I am not sure how others do it, but with flexitrack I have so far glued the foam down first. To keep the curves in place whilst the glue sets, I put 3 screws in: 1 on the outside at each end and one on the inside in the middle. This is done whilst dry-running the alignment. The track can then be lifted slightly and be held up on the screw threads whilst PVA is spread underneath. Once pushed down onto the foam, it is weighted down to set.

As will be seen from previous entries, I learned the hard way to use double isolators for the loops. I have also learned to have 2 isolated sections at the exit end of the loops: one after the other. The polarity of each section is controlled by sprung, centre off, 2 way switches. When held over to the "in" setting, the 1st section is wired the same as the "in" road to the loops and the 2nd section is dead on both rails. This allows the train to run in, run over the 1st section and auto stop in the 2nd section.

When held in the "out" setting, both 1st and 2nd sections adopt the reverse polarity, to allow the train to run over the points, round the dumbbell, out along the return line (furthest away on the photos), back over the double junctions and onto the continuous run. Even if the loco stopped with wheels over the isolator between the 1st and 2nd sections initially (as kept happening) this arrangement stops back currents energising other lines.

The exit end of the loops and isolated sections are now laid. The wiring is still to be done. The arrival end points will be laid after the double junctions and continuous run.

I have also worked out the position of the 2 double junctions which sit between the storage loops and lifting flap. This where the gradient down from Newton Purcell joins the continuous run, Where after a few laps, the line leaves, goes into the tunnel and into the hidden storage loops. I cut out the odd shaped ply base after designing it all on cardboard which I cut out and used as a template.

The junctions are made from 2 medium left insulfrog points, 2 long diamonds and 2 right hand curved electrfrog points. I needed to have flowing curves and be to be able to get the curve around the baseboard to the left. I also needed enough room to get the loops entry ladder in whilst being far enough left to give the incline down from Newton Purcell the longest gradient possible. This line comes in at the bottom of the picture, from the right.

Once the alignment was sorted, I stuck the foam to the board, drilled the holes for servos and frog feeds and then stuck the points to the foam.

Whilst cutting and gluing track, it became obvious that I was working in my own shadow. With the onset of middle age (ahum!) and the march of time on my eyesight, I needed more light. Many of the layouts at my club (High Wycombe and District MRS) use LEDs in strips as the lighting gantry. I didn't need anything fancy. A few words with the wise at the club, a trip to our friendly on-line auction site and 15 meters of warm white self-adhesive LED strip was purchased and stuck under the shelf that goes round the walls of the garage. The result? Just enough light to make things easy to see. Maybe a bit too yellowy, but acceptable.