Lostwood Bridge

Things are now on the move for the creation of the next layout at the club. This will be operated by DCC and be named Lostwood Bridge. The track plan is loosely based on a real location near Burnley Lancashire. Eventually it will be a complete round and round layout measuring 20ft x 10ft. The track plan for the front scenic section is shown below.

Armed with plenty of track and the original drawing the DCC team make a start on trying to make the drawing become a reality. Only 4 of the front section boards are being used here and the 5th one is yet to be built.

Having tried several possible options based on the drawing the layout on the left seems to offer the best operating potential. Although the boards are currently flat the finished model will have the tracks at different levels with the main running lines passing under the sidings seen in the foreground.

The baseboard production area. The space that has for some time been devoted to Triptan Fell our N gauge layout has now been cleared and used as the "workshop" for the production of the baseboards needed for Lostwood Bridge. Roger the groups secretary is seen here sweeping up after a building session.

All of the baseboards are now erected and work is starting on setting the track levels. Once this has been done the tracks can be laid permanently in position.

With most of the baseboard levels set a length of test track is laid along the front of the model so that a loco and coaches can be used to ensure that it is not too steep, and that the transitions from level to slope are smooth.

Having proved that the gradient on the main running lines will be ok, the layout of the container terminal is checked.

One of the main features of the layout and the terminal will be the "Heljan" crane that can load and unload container wagons using an electro magnet. Here it is being checked to make sure it is not higher than the layouts backscene

Now that our exhibition is out of the way and we have the space, the whole of the layout can be erected and worked on. Most of the basic items needed to complete the model have now been obtained. These include the track, the DCC main unit with controllers and the Heljan crane that will be a main feature in the yard.

More pictures will be posted as this model develops Watch this space

This page updated 22nd April 2008