Track Laying in the Storage Area

The Storage Area was the first part of the layout that was relaid, as it was located below the scenic level, and was accessed most easily before the scenic layer boards were placed in position. (The scenic level boards in this area CAN be removed when necessary for heavy mainentance)
Recovered track from the previous layout was used (Peco Flexible and Fleischmann Model Track Points). The track was laid on AMI Instant Trackbed, and there are no track pins used anywhere on the layout. The mastic-trackbed remains plastic, allowing a finishing layer of ballast to be added at any time, and also provides an effective sound deadening layer which is useful on the polycarbonate baseboards (or most baseboards!).

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'Rusty Track Laying'
Since it was many years since I had laid OO track instead of G-Scale, a few errors were made in my eagerness to get the first lengths laid! As the photographs on this page show, I first omitted the access to the GWR branch, and then laid a triangle junction across it, before following the correct copy of my own plan! Joins also occurred in the middle of the 90° track curves; and without prestressing the track with a track bender (obtained shortly afterwards), the joins developed 'kinks' on the mastic track bed: This was relaid with a reference 600mm radius of set track as guidance, and the track bender. As advised on the packaging, the Instant Track Bed is best laid when warm; and if not a hot day that means in the oven! Work quickly before the roll cools too much, or reheat it again! Working quickly may lead to erors, and working more slowly in the end 8-). Do not ballast until you have test run trains. This method of fixing the track and ballasting is clean and dry - there is no runny pva to insulate fishplates or jam pointwork. It may be reused/ repositioned with limitations (before ballasting).

Left: Distant View of the storage approach - 2% Incline behind
Note indent to Access Velux Window, restricting corner tracks.
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Above:
UK Radius 3 505mm exit loop from 'Central' Storage
with Loco Storage Tracks Inbetween, 2% Incline Behind
Descending WR branch to the right
Notice track plan error already in place! (No junction on GWR branch)

Left:
Central Storage - with gravel scrubland between yard tracks
Notice the tracklaying error! (Triangle Junction)
Corrected from version above
Then recorrected for access to the dead-end storage
and GWR Branchline
7 Through Tracks x 4.5metres plus foreground exit track
Latest Mod/Correction: Link from 'Exit' track '0' to 'entry' side of loop

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Above:
Roco bridge indicating where (the Suspension Bridge) was to be
with scenic valley below featuring a logging line
Chapelton Sawmills were never like this!
A 9-Arch Double Track Viaduct has now replaced the Suspension Bridge.

Relaid Storage Area - including access to 'Taunton=Barnstaple' Route and Dead-End Storage beneath 'Ilfracombe'

Left: Mid-left section Storage'St Davids' (Exeter). Realigned bends
Incline at Rear 2 percent double track for 20cm height gain
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Above: Ilfracombe above and Victoria Road Below
Dead End/Reversing Storage beyond

The Scenic Approach to Barnstaple Junction
The adjacent scenic approach to Barnstaple shows how features evolved to their present form (see later pictures)
It was originally intended to be 'Lynton Terminus' / Little Switzerland skiing resort, and at the back, a location to use my Triang Grand Suspension Bridge, after all these years...
Rather than convert the bridge to Double Track, it was decided that a 'typical' Multi Arch Viaduct (Wills) would be much more appropriate (and not impede any hasty exit through the FIRE EXIT window behind!).

Below & Right
The North Devon Tourist Industry is boosted by
the Mixed Gauge 'preserved railway' and 'logging line'
in the bottom of the valley,
with a working Monorail 'Exmoor Ranger' passing through
(aka Andabad Pass from Lady Penelope and Thunderbirds (R))
A Cable Car across the Valley completes the scene.

Viaduct

Right:
Winding WR Branchline in
Scenic Interlude to Barnstaple Junction
The gap beyond the branch is a now Cricket Pitch, and
below the Pitch is a Mineworks open for Tourists

Jumping Ahead: August Status
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Storage Area with Correct Pointwork and LED Lighting and Target Numbers for Point Indentification
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Loco Storage Area - About 16 locos can be stabled within the Reverse Loop

The Original Beechingless Barnstaple (1976)
Moving Adaptions - adjusting to the new (1979)
Beechingless Barnstaple (1976-2005)
Beechingless Barnstaple 2007 - The Total Rebuild
1 - Aluminium Framing and Polycarbonate bases
2 - Ilfracombe Construction - Fireproof Expanded Polystyrene Top Layer
3 - Track Laying in the Storage Area
4 - Blue Sky and Lower Level Lighting/ Scenic Level Early Days
5 - More Early Scenic Level Basics - including the change to a Viaduct
6 - Rocoline reaches Barnstaple Junction
The Simplicity of DCC Power Distribution
720 LED Lighting of Storage Level
7- Scenic Level Solid Foam Construction (May 2007)
8a - Video Monitoring of Storage Area
8b - Rocoline: Revised Ilfracombe Approach and Test Loops
8c - Rocoline: Revised Viaduct Branchline and Barnstaple East / Yard
8d - Rocoline: Revised Barnstaple Bridge, Pilton
9 - Rocomotion - the beginning

LGB
Scandinavian
Shunting Puxzzle - Bruksbanen - G Scale

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Christmas 1997
Christmas 1998

Created in HTMLEdit Studio by Phil Spiegelhalter on 21st September 2006/ revised August 2007