Revamp (maybe)

After a lot of discussion about what went well during the exhibition, what wasn't really needed and what didn't really work, we ended up with two problem areas.

First was the set of double points from the outer loop to the shuttle, which we've already decided to remove and will streamline the front of the layout, reducing derailments etc.

The fiddle yard has also come under scrutiny, while it is very large there are a number of reverse curves and this made moving trains difficult, also crossing to the outer loop via either of the two diamond crossovers proved difficult and required stopping whichever train was running on the inside. Then there's Canadian Pacific - on the inside loop it hit the points levers of the fiddle yard due to the overhang on the bends, on the outside loop it hit the edge of the boards!

I didn't want to lose the run round ability but also want to be able to park long, complete trains - especially on the outer loop. So I've revisited my Scarm design, firstly to remove the points from the front and then to design a more train-friendly fiddle yard.

This is the design I have in mind...

It will require some major work to achieve this look. Mainly because of the design of HD points with their operating lever (manual) or large solenoid (electric) which gets in the way of joining two points immediately together, you have to use quarter rails normally, which then reduces the number of sidings you can have due to the extra space this eats up.

I tried, and failed to find a way to modify manual points, however the electric ones seem somewhat easier, so after about 30 minutes I'd stripped two pairs of electric points and used the solenoid from a left-handed pair and grafted them onto a right-hand pair, placing the solenoid on the opposite side to where it would normally be...

I'll need to modify eleven more sets of points to make this work. These seem to operate fine in their new state but of course there's the small issue of building more electronics to operate them, and then there's the control panel - currently there's little room left for more switches unless I either redesign it, or build a second panel purely for the fiddle yard.

And if I electrify these, what about all the others? - Then what about electrifying the upper loop points so there's no more running around the back to change the points over.

I swear this thing will never be finished...