Southern Highlands - Construction, November 2021
Throughout the month of November the Group concentrated on laying track. The goal was to finish the trackwork up to where the layout could be separated for wiring. Apart from the span where the girder bridges are located, all main line tracks are in place. The sidings have track laid to cross modules joins and they will be finished once definitive dimensions of the building features adjacent to them have been obtained, so the exact location of any trackwork will be known.
View of the track laying completed by the end of November. The sidings for the Maltings and goods shed will be finished at a later date. A 44 class locomotive on a mixed train sits on the scenery side to help give perspective of the layout size.
Across all the module ends, the rails were cut with a razor saw and the cork with a sharp knife before the layout was unbolted. Part of the layout has been kept together in order to commence work on the backdrop and layout lighting. Wiring of the layout has started, with the end transition piece between the station and scenery sides nearing completion.
End view of one of the scenery modules showing the track join at the edge, with the rails held in place by ControlIt sleeper boards. Holes with track feeds, which were soldered onto the bottom of the rails as it was being laid, can also be seen. Sleeper pieces will be glued in place to cover the wires and holes.
Wiring on the end transition piece. The track feeds have been soldered to the main power circuits, which will be terminated into connectors at either end of the module.
Modelling work continues on the signal box, with the roof trusses and beams added and final coats of paint added, before the corrugated iron roof is installed.
The signal box kit with roofing supports added. Since this photo was taken, final paintwork has been applied on the walls and trim and work has started on the roof.