[Chinahand]

Hi Hairy,

That sounds a very interesting project you are embarking on.

A couple of thoughts for your consideration though.

I know you say you don't like the idea of no through trains but I did a design for someone a while back now which has a continuous run for those express trains of yours and incorporates a rising branch line which could easily become goods orientated. The Main Staion is, however, a terminus though quite long trains can be accommodated. This layout design was only 9' x 8' and it seems you may have more space than that so could possibly make the main line terminus longer and more complex and have some good sweeping runs of track with plenty of scope for scenic treatments. Have a look and see what you think.

Incidentally, in the second picture, are the 4th & 5th carriages in from the near end derailed or does that baseboard have a bit of a dip in it ??

 

[Chinahand]

Nice looking pictures Hairy though a little dark if I may say so. Some additional (temporary) lighting might help.

 

[Chinahand]

Hi HHF.

Do you have space to get another platform in between the furthest away track and the back of the layout as that would actually make much more sense operationally? Maybe you could fit some baseboard extensions in between the roof joists. I'm thinking "How do passengers get to the platform" ?

If this is possible you could then have a low-relief station building and possibly have either a printed backscene of the rears of some terraced houses backing onto the furthest away line or, if there's enough room, have some low-relief terrace house rears with a Townscene roofscape backscene behind them.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[Chinahand]

QUOTE (hairyhandedfool @ 23 Apr 2009, 11:44) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Constructive comments are always welcome, so please print them here. The other option was to have a walkway and stairs from the side of the A72 road bridge (which can't quite be seen in the last photos), perhaps with a station building at street level.

Yes that would work. Just make the A72 road bridge wider and have a high level station with stairs down to platform level.