Scaleforum in September 2026 is
over 2 years away but I'm under no illusion that this layout is a quick build. The
amount of track I have to build, buildings and scenery to complete along with
converting some 20 plus locomotives to DCC makes this a big two year project. So
I've created a schedule with milestones I think I have to hit to keep me aware
of my progress or lack off. At the moment I think I’m behind schedule
by about a month.
Anyway I got to grips with
cobbling together baseboard two over the last few days. I has taken a quite a
bit of thinking about to replicate the image I have in my head. There has been
much standing back from the baseboard just looking taking stock of progress and
seeing if it is visually looking OK. This was mainly to do with the two slopes
at his end of the layout. Eventually I've calculated that the slope up to the
coaling stage is approximately 1:15 with the slope up to the coal storage
sidings about 1:30. The top of the slope to the coaling stage there is flat section which might be longer than it should be. I've intentional done this so I can have one or two empty coal wagons standing there without the fear of them rolling down the slope. During an operating session they can be replaced with three or four full coal wagons.
Eventually I'm hoping that the
visual interest of the layout will be balanced. The weight of the main
buildings on the right will be balance with the three track elevations along
with the road bridge and shed office/enginemen’s bothy building.
