This is a Club Layout Being built by a Team of Club members
An ‘N’ gauge layout, it features a folded-8 track plan with a four-road through station and a small loco depot. It is designed to create the “Railway in the Landscape” and allows for continuous running of long trains. The train control is via DCC and points etc operated by small R/C servos using MERG EzyBus modules.
December 2023
All track is laid and wiring commences with the DCC bus cables, 24/0.2 stranded.
Progress Report – April 2024
All track power and servo wiring is now complete, although DCC only needs two wires (the 24/.02 red & black in the pictures) connecting it to the track requires droppers on each individual section of track and the points frog polarity connections to the servo micro switches – a lot more wires! Then the I2C bus for the EzyBus modules and the 12vdc supply add more wires. That’s all done and tested, and the servo movements are programmed. Now we are starting track testing with DC rolling stock which has already highlighted a couple of issues, nothing untoward so far.
Work is underway on a few buildings, the station platform, station office building, the engine shed and signal box and we are adding lighting to these – more wiring!
We should have the track ballasted and be showing running trains under DCC by Hoveton.
The pictures below show the MERG output modules, the 12vdc and I2C bus wiring and the 12vdc delay start relays
May 2024
The layout debuted at the Hoveton Show on May 26th and although we had a few teething problems performed well throughout the day. We didn’t get to ballasting the track, it was rusty rail painted and we ran two to three trains under DCC as planned. Watch this space for the next developments and its next outing in August.
Jul 2024
Layout is fully tested and working, ballasting is almost complete and work is well under way on the scenery. The station, engines shed and signal boxes have been built as have several other buildings for the village scene. We will be ready to show at Stalham in August in a much more advanced state than at Hoveton
October 2024
Since the outing at Stalham, we realised that the poor running we experienced was down to poorly constructed baseboards and warping of the MDF top caused by excessive wetting during ballasting. Consequently we decided to start over and build new and stronger baseboards. The old ones were carefully stripped of track, wiring components and accessories; the track cleaned of ballast and wiring – we have probably saved about 80% of the track and all the electronics.
Tony Everett obtained the new timber at a very good price and built the new baseboards at home. I joined them together albeit with a minor alignment error, the legs have been fitted and we have begun re-planning the track. We decided that trying to run multiple coach trains around radius 1 curves wasn’t working so we have decided to use radius 2 and 3 only and this has meant a redesign of one end placing the ‘inner’ tracks above the outer ones using an open viaduct. It has also meant replacing our radius 1 curves and the medium points. Replacements have been found at good prices on eBay and Amazon and track laying has started. We hope to be able to exhibit at Hoveton in 2025.
EXHIBITION REQUIREMENTS
| Layout Size | 12′ x 2’6″ |
| Operating space | 16′ x 6′ |
| Number of operators | Two |
| Number of cars to transport | Two |
| Maximum distance for travel | 90 minutes from Stalham |
| Tables & chairs required | 2 chairs |