EVERYTHING ELSE
Model Railway-Altenstadt
31st December 2006

The idea of this layout was to be a small project before I embark on a larger BR 1980s layout in the loft.
I quickly decided to do something different, my initial idea being an Irish terminal station, though the lack of ready to run Irish stock made me change this to Germany.
The plan of the layout is a terminal station at the end of two lines, one electrified, one not. Ideally the electrified line would be double track from the station but space will not permit this. I wanted a small station with limited loco stabling and a goods yard. The inclusion of sidings at the front enables me to engage in a certain amount of shunting (when I have enough stock!) and means the 'scenic area' extends the length of the layout, however this rules out a traversor-style fiddle yard which would have been useful to save space.
14-15 foot length was available for an end to end, fiddle yard to station plan, though this will be tight as I want to be able to run trains of at least loco+4 coaches in length. Baseboard construction is chipboard on a 2x1 frame-the constrained size and large coverage by track means I don't feel open framed construction is worth while. The layout is designed to be permanent as we have no plans to move house for a long time and also I am not expecting it to reach the required standards for exhibiting.
I will add pictures as construction continues, this will be my first attempt at really trying to improve on my previous efforts.

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Initial (Rough) Track Plan
Initial (Rough) Track Plan
 Final track plan
Final track plan
 7/1/07:Track laying is almost complete in the station area. The shunter is on the loco stabling road, the trucks on the headshunt. The main platforms are in the centre with the bay platform and siding on the right. The piece of 2x1 roughly marks the position of the bridges to the fiddle yard. I am installing the point motors as I lay the track to make life easier later.
7/1/07:Track laying is almost complete in the station area. The shunter is on the loco stabling road, the trucks on the headshunt. The main platforms are in the centre with the bay platform and siding on the right. The piece of 2x1 roughly marks the position of the bridges to the fiddle yard. I am installing the point motors as I lay the track to make life easier later.
 13/1/07 Track laying is now finished, the next job is wiring across the isolators and track joins. This is the view from the station area.
13/1/07 Track laying is now finished, the next job is wiring across the isolators and track joins. This is the view from the station area.
13/1/07 Looking from the fiddle yard towards the station, the 'backscene' will run to the left of the freight train then cut across just beyond where the loco sidings (with buffers) are.
13/1/07 Looking from the fiddle yard towards the station, the 'backscene' will run to the left of the freight train then cut across just beyond where the loco sidings (with buffers) are.
 Now that the main bit of the platforms is finished I have started ballasting. The platforms obviously require buildings etc and the ballast will need spray-painting when finished, also I am still searching for a model of the buffer stop I require for the platforms.
Now that the main bit of the platforms is finished I have started ballasting. The platforms obviously require buildings etc and the ballast will need spray-painting when finished, also I am still searching for a model of the buffer stop I require for the platforms.
 The fiddle yard has now been covered by what will become a tramway/road and some buildings. My solution to the problem of access to the yard is to open up two sections where access is needed for uncoupling. When stood up access is easy by reaching across but when sat down at the control panel the 'holes' won't be too noticable once the buildings are in place.
The fiddle yard has now been covered by what will become a tramway/road and some buildings. My solution to the problem of access to the yard is to open up two sections where access is needed for uncoupling. When stood up access is easy by reaching across but when sat down at the control panel the 'holes' won't be too noticable once the buildings are in place.
 A view from a lower level showing the basics of the two bridges into the fiddle yard.
A view from a lower level showing the basics of the two bridges into the fiddle yard.
Track for the tramway has started to be laid on the top of the fiddle yard. Track is glued onto a cork base then cork built up to form the road surface.
Track for the tramway has started to be laid on the top of the fiddle yard. Track is glued onto a cork base then cork built up to form the road surface.
 Close up of painted cork. I like the tarmac-like texture the cork gives.
Close up of painted cork. I like the tarmac-like texture the cork gives.
 Picture kindly taken by Chris Nevard with his usual addition of a skyline.
Picture kindly taken by Chris Nevard with his usual addition of a skyline.
 Closer up picture taken by Chris Nevard
Closer up picture taken by Chris Nevard
219 185-6 passes the signal box with an RB service off the main line.
219 185-6 passes the signal box with an RB service off the main line.
 The engine shed extension built summer 2009. I've designed it to be able to fairly easily be disconneced and removed to enable me to reach the back of the station area if necessary.
The engine shed extension built summer 2009. I've designed it to be able to fairly easily be disconneced and removed to enable me to reach the back of the station area if necessary.
 Nov 2009: My attempt at scratch building an engine shed. Based on one from a picture in a book of a small depot near Dresden
Nov 2009: My attempt at scratch building an engine shed. Based on one from a picture in a book of a small depot near Dresden
 My attempt at scratch building an engine shed. Based on one from a picture in a book of a small depot near Dresden
My attempt at scratch building an engine shed. Based on one from a picture in a book of a small depot near Dresden
Nov 2009: started adding bushes/weeds. Makes a big difference.
Nov 2009: started adding bushes/weeds. Makes a big difference.
 Nov 2009: started adding bushes/weeds. Makes a big difference.
Nov 2009: started adding bushes/weeds. Makes a big difference.

All photographs are the sole copyright of Mark Bearton (Railwaymedia) and may not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the copyright holder(s).

© 1998-2009 RailwayMedia/Mark Bearton - All copyrights rest with the Author
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