Having recently moved house and discovered that I have a monster sized loft, I got the sketch pad out and began drawing out potential projects. Having modelled the steam era in the past, I felt firmly set that on this occasion I would like to model the present day railways. With so many liveries, locos and the beauty of being able to replicate pretty much anything because I can see it live (rather than rely on old photos). That doesn't mean to say that a few of my steam loco's will be entirely redundant - plenty of Steam Specials traverse UK railways still
The space available to me is 3.6m x 7.5m (10ft x 25ft in old money) and that could be doubled in length in the future although significant changes to plumbing and water tanks would be required!
So my wish list:
4 track mainline (ECML perhaps)
Continuous run or timetable operation
Mainline location with full length HSTs etc in operation
Handbuilt turnouts for smooth track
Portable to allow for potential exhibitions in the future
Mainline station comprising 2 4 track roads (city)
Countryside section (incorporating a viaduct)
Prototype location
DCC computer control incorporating both an arrivals & departures board and Signal Box diagram on a plasma tv
Train location (just like the prototype
Slow action point motors
I have built a couple of layouts in the past, each one becoming doomed by either moving house - hence the need for this one to be fully portable.
Having played with a few sketches, I ended up with something that was ringing the bells of familiarity in my head. I relaised I had come up with something not a million miles away from Sheffield Station. A good study of it on Google Earth confirmed that the plan would work and with tunnel portals at each end, I would have the perfect scenic breaks too. The space available is also unlikely to require too much compression which will allow for the amazing sweeping curves through various pointwork - particularly at the "pretty" North end.
Having played with AnyRail and got the track plan arranged, it was clear that the use of proprietary track from Peco was giving me a lot of restrictions and simply wouldn't do my plans justice. At the time Peterborough North appeared in the BRM and the beautiful trackwork by Norman Saunders of Just-Tracks. Templot was downloaded and many hours were spent trying to suss it out before finally deciding to consult help!
More detail to follow!
