The start of a more relaxed build

Now I have withdrawn fron the Society's Jubilee Challenge, I feel an enormous weight has been lifted off me. There have been corners cut during the build to get the layout to its present state, and no-doubt some of these corners are going to affect the running of the layout. So my intention is to stop any scenic work and concentrate on my locos and rolling stock. Some locos have not been run since I acquired them, which is about five years ago, so they also might need some attention.

So, during August my aim is to convert more P4 locos to DCC, along with converting a couple of RTR locos to P4 and DCC. After which I will give the layout a right good thrashing with running sessions, then any problems that crop up will be ironed out.

Once any issues with the track have been resolved, I'll then turn to making a few rakes of coal wagons that will be used for shunting into and away from the coal sidings, along with supplying the coaling stage. These will then be subjected to a few intensive running sessions, then any problems that crop up will these wagons will be resolved.

Just thought, to run comprehensive running sessions I'll need to construct a few cassettes, so these will also need to be built during the this month.

With six weeks to go

With six weeks to go until Scaleforum, I have regrettable  withdrawn from the Scalefour Societies' Jubilee Challenge. This means Rospeath Lane will not be at Scaleforum this year (2026).

Why have I taken this decision? One word sums it up: fatigue.

Not fatigue from building Rospeath Lane, but fatigue from six months of hormone therapy and having just completed one month of radiotherapy. At my last meeting with my oncologist, it was explained that I could expect my fatigue to increase while my body repairs the healthy cells that have been damaged by the radiotherapy. She added that this increased level of fatigue could last for between two and six weeks.

Knowing what still needs to be done to the layout before Scaleforum would be a challenge for a fit version of me. I've realised that any increase in fatigue would leave me with little chance of presenting the layout in a condition I'd be happy with. I'd also be rushing and cutting corners to get it ready for Scaleforum, which would not be good for the future of the layout.

By withdrawing from the Challenge, I've given myself some breathing space, not only to allow my body to recover, both physically and mentally, but also to enable me to enjoy completing Rospeath Lane at a more leisurely pace. Withdrawing now also gives the exhibition manager a better chance of finding a replacement layout than if I were to withdraw in four weeks' time.

Rospeath Lane has already received an invitation to Solrail in November 2027. That is now my new target for having the layout in a fully presentable condition.

The engineers have been on site

The more I considered the proposed alterations to the track plan the more I thought best to do it now rather than in October after Scaleforum. Anyway, as there were no tablets or comments forthcoming to deter me I called in the engineering department.

View from road bridge.

While the engineers were on site they made a start on the road over-bridge, retaining walls with steps down from the road to access the MPD.

Road bridge under construction.