Syston Model Railway Society

26th Sept 2007
We have virtually finished laying the track on the central baseboard. There is only a small bit of track that is remaining on this baseboard that needs laying, this is generally the track towards the baseboard joins as the rails need to be attached to Copper Clad strips. Track on other baseboards is starting to gather pace in the hope that all track will be laid in the next few weeks. Once this is done, we will then be able to start connecting power leads from the track to terminal blocks underneath the baseboard. A total of 9 points with motors have been laid on the central baseboard. This will make it a bit clearer why this board is critical to the whole layout.

The rails are attached to Copper Clad strips at the baseboard joins, this allows for easy alteration at a show if the track is out of alignment as the rails is soldered to the Copper clad. The prevent any electrical short from happening, a small section of copper layer is removed from between the rails. We are presently consuming a large quantity of isolating fishplates, this being due to us wanting to be able to work the layout as a conventional DC layout but with the option to operate it as a DCC layout as well.

Some of the decisions we are planning is where to position the magnets to allow the KayDee couplings to work, how to construct the Transit Shed come back scene to hide the fiddle yard, the raised town area next to the station. More updated will come in the following weeks.

27th June 2007
We are in the process of positioning 6 points on the centre baseboard. This baseboard is integral to the whole layout as it acts like a key to the layout.
The points were positioned to make sure that the alterations to the plan were still feasible.
The 6 points were marked out on the baseboard. As the point motors are being mounted directly onto the points, under each point there has been a rectangular hole to allow the motor to site. All 6 holes have been completed. Cork is being used under the track and this has been completed for 4 of the 6 points on the centre baseboard. The cork is being attached to the baseboards with Evostick to ensure a string bond.

Plan of work for next week will be to continue with laying cork on the other 2 points. Solder trailing wires onto the point motors for easy of fitting connection on the underneath of the baseboard. Once this has been completed, the fixing of the points will start with necessary track connected. The trailing rails of all points will be fully isolated as the club want the layout to be able to be operated as digital as well as analogue.

The next few weeks will consist of track laying to make sure that this is all completed before any wiring can be considered. I guess as time goes on, some hot wires will be set up as someone will want to run a train on it before it’s finished!!!!

There will be some pictures posted soon showing the progress of the point fitting.

20th June 2007
Progress so far is that the baseboards have been constructed & have arrived in the clubrooms. The layout size is 20' x 2' 6". We have started to mark out where the track needs to go so that any minor modifications can be resolved before track laying actually happens. A few pics of the progress of the layout will be added soon.