Modify fixtures between boards #5 & #6.
Continue laying track.
An abnormally cerebral week for the three of us with the morning spent modifying the fixings on the last two boards, but in the afternoon we tackled the the subject of the electrics.
When bringing together boards 5 & 6 (engine shed and masons yard) in order to fit tee-nuts, it was noticed that the bolt hole and locating pin positions on the 'inside' clashed with a proposed cut-out in the board edge that would become the banks of a flooded quarry. Even paring the space for the water to a minimum did not work, so the decision was made to move the fixings further in-board. The locator pin/socket had knurled casings which had been wood-glued in. These were tapped out and re-fitted in new holes. Likewise, new holes for the bolts were drilled and tee-nuts fitted.
The boards were temporarily laid across the racking legs and track laying continued. While Geoff fitted the final point on board 5, which had the cork underlay already fitted, Stephen transferred the salient track setting-out information to board 6, to show the line for the cork underlay.
Lunch intervened before we could get the cork underlay fitted, and we retired indoors. Still at the dining table, Stephen presented a layout showing the trackwork indicated as two rails, to aid scheme development. He also had two options for electrical connections and hence control options for the junction between the main station and the satellite area, each of which would have its own control panel and operator. Being the first time the matter had been discussed in earnest, voices were occasionally raised as different scenarios and solutions were thrashed out, but soon two main options were derived:-
A) Create a change-over area where a whole train could be sent, held and then collected by the other operator. (Previously identified as boards 2 & 3). The need for some additional switching to facilitate the handovers became obvious, but the physical nature and location of the switches was another matter, hence Stephens idea of small switch boxes on long leads, that could be fitted in different positions (with a bit of Velcro) for on-going trials.
This did not take into account any consideration regarding how the sections on the two new boards would be handled in terms of through trains and local shunting when in an exhibition format. This lead to further discussions which in turn prompted scheme B.
B) Have a single electrical break between boards 2 & 3. Each panel could control tracks up to the break. The Local panel would employ 3-position rotary switches to determine Main, Off or Local control of each section (As used on the original Cottesmore layout). The Main controller could then run trains right through to the fiddle yard whilst the Local panel could shunt in the masons yard or engine shed.
Another complication was the fact that operation in the workshop with all of the intervening boards was a different scenario to an exhibition, where both panels would be next to each other. The second solution worked perfectly for both workshop and exhibition situations.
The meeting finished amicably and with interest in refining a solution honed for the next meeting.
