Penzance 1913

[martink]

After considering several possibilities for the next layout, I have settled on pre-1914 Penzance. At this time the station had only 2 platforms, but still had its small loco depot with turntable and the single-track timber viaduct running along the beach.

The size will be 6' x 2' and the scale 1:480, the same as Dauntsey Lock. It will be set up for automated exhibition running, both passenger and goods. Chyandour Cliff will have working road traffic, mostly horse-drawn at this period.

The track plan shows both the real and dummy tracks, almost complete except for one crossover and two short stubs off the turntable. The main technical challenges with this design are the reversing loop (already up and running, and just as tricky with a linear motor as with normal DC), the turntable, and coupling/spacing issues with reversing trains in the station.

Penzance1a.jpg (184.18 KiB) Viewed 1096 times

[martink]

After a break over the new year, it is back at it again. The reversing loop is up and running, and so is the first attempt at a turntable.

https://youtu.be/PXay57VdjaI

[martink]

The trackwork for the station area is now complete, all soldered together into a single piece. These are the live tracks, and additional dummy tracks for the rest of the loco depot and the headshunt / carriage siding next to the main line will be added as part of the scenery. The next tasks are cutting out the plywood trackbed to support it and attaching the electrical connectors to the underside of the track, then some initial testing.