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Construction (I)

The baseboards were constructed from fibreboard on a 2" x 1" softwood framework for lightness. These would then sit on ready made trestle legs. The trackwork, all Peco Streamline, was laid on the boards loosely pinned down whilst the sleepers and chairs were painted. This stage of the layout almost resulted in it disappearing down the dump: On and off it must have taken 2 years to finish painting them! Things did improve once a start was made on the fourth board and the end was in sight.

Interior of the goods shed

With the trackwork painting complete the electrics were installed. The Gaugemaster controller originally purchased for the doomed garden railway was attached to the fiddle-yard board along with an electronic encasement for the control panel. A temporary wiring loom was formed to test out the principle of the electrics before a more substantial loom was constructed. The ballast was then laid and suitably dirtied in the right places: A motorcycling colleague from work supplied a jar full of something which at some time may have started life as engine oil, and this gave the desired effect.

Interior of the signal box, incl. ligthing arrangement

Whilst all this was happening, orders were placed with Derrick Bidwell for initially the station building and signal box, then the road bridge, and finally the platforms, engine shed and goods shed. I make no apologies for not building my own buildings or trees, having tried in the past and failed dismally. The first two orders were dispatched by post, but upon completion of the last order, Derrick rang to ask if he could display them at an exhibition in Birmingham and on his way home he would deliver them personally. Felixstowe is not exactly on the way home from Birmingham to Launceston in Cornwall !