Status Update

I have been quite busy tweaking the layout.  Originally I had a duck under which got me into the loop of track and staging was under the benchwork.  I also wanted to have an island layout where I could walk-around it so I had to bring one part of the layout away from the walls.  This change had me thinking of where to put staging as the idea of having staging under the benchwork proved to be an unwise choice as it was just too difficult to get to the inner tracks.  I had to re-think the current design and eventually decided to place staging at the front of the layout.  This is at 900mm height and began a climb to complete the loop and to join the rest of the layout at the upper level.  However I then had wagons rolling away and the gradient to get to the upper level was just too great.  Again I had to rethink the design.  I abondened trying to complete the loop from the lower level and now the layout is a simple point to point one with the upper level forming a continuous loop for when I just like to watch trains roll by.

I also divided the back of the layout having two scenes, one shows the line leaving staging at the bottom and climbing up and the scene behind it is part of the towns' industries mainly a siding for grain and one for VLX wagons at this stage.  I also wanted to try and stick with the prototype and not have industries coming off the main and being able to operate outside of the convex allows easy reach to shunt industries near the edge of the layout.  Having no industries to foul the main allows trains to run unimpeded in the loop.  The things I had to give up for this plan was the continuous run from staging and then back to staging and the possibility of having crosses and passes.  However having a train pull in and then shunt the industries for the next 30 or so minutes is enough to keep me engaged of an evening.

Some photos of the layout.