Preparing Signals; Building a Fiddle Yard

Work continues on controlling the intermediate station (I really must think of a name for it), and I have made considerable progress in preparing the portable section of the layout for exhibition. This involves making removable but stable legs for what it now quite a heavy layout, along with a “fiddle yard” which provides somewhere for the trains to run when away from the permanent part of the layout. I have decided to prioritise this aspect of construction so that I have something to show at exhibitions, although work will continue slowly on the mountain section towards the upper terminus.

I have also acquired the timber for the back scene which will help to create the feel of an alpine resort village, and scenic work on the village continues: I hope all will be ready for showing by next spring. One challenge is that the portable payout cannot be set up in my workshop because there is not enough space for the terminus and fiddle yard, so to work on that as a whole means taking it onto the landing or out into the garage, which is quite a task.