After the emotional strain of the switch surgery I needed a break and considered what else needed doing soon. I wanted to plan out the right hand end of the board and make sure there was space for the planned signals to fit around the major engineering structure that is Sandford Rd overbridge.
I measured up and comparing to photographs in my reference books marked and cut out a portal from mount board. This was duplicated by using this as a template. In my memory the road wasn't particularly wide and so I made a spacer to make a dry run.
It didn't look nearly wide enough and it turns out my memory deceived me regarding the use of traffic calming measures at this location. I had thought that there was a single footpath and that pinch points controlled traffic to a single file over the bridge. I had estimated the width as less than 20' on this basis. Looking at photographs in a local history book and my own photographs it is clear that I was mistaken. The pinch points are either side of the bridge but there is plenty of width. There is still only a footpath on the side nearest the station.
Looking North
Looking South
Remeasuring the available space on the baseboard I settled on a width of 60mm over faces. This allows space for the signals each side of the bridge to be accommodated on the baseboard.
A good deal of cutting and several scalpel blades later I had a full kit of parts, excepting the wing or retaining walls. I've 'upgraded' to a Swan Morten No.4 handle recently and it is preferable to the X-Acto No.2 type knife I have used for many years. I won't be giving this up but now have a choice depending on the suitability for the task at hand.
An hour later they were fully assembled.
I can be somewhat impatient at times and used superglue for speed of assembly. I will likely go back and strengthen the assembly before finally securing to the baseboard but there is a way to go before that time yet. Painting and ballasting are two operations that will be difficult to accomplish unless it can be removed! It is placed temporarily for the moment to see that it looks okay.
The over high coach nearly passes under. I really ought to swap the wheels for 6mm ones.
Now I need some sticky backed ashlar stonework in the colour in the photograph that follows
This is the best picture I could get of the bridge without trespassing. The path I was on two years ago when I took this is so overgrown now that it is not easy to get to this location any more but it offers a better glimpse of the prototype than is possible from the deck.
- 18
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