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Mutrix Yard by Ken Capper

A new S7 layout from the S7 Group Secretary - 6 months in the making so far. The scenic section is 12' long but the whole shebang will probably end up at about 34' to allow for juggling at each end. The idea is for a traverser at the end of the fiddle yard pictured for loco release and a sector plate at the far end with a loco release as well.

The background.

The idea is to have a fictitious goods yard with running lines behind somewhere between Euston and Willesden, maybe an avoiding line. The running lines will be 4-rail for the electric services to Watford and the goods yard will have 4 sidings, the period is around 1960. I have started the whole thing with building the 5-road fiddle yard which allows trains to switch from the goods yard to the running lines.


The Track Plan.

This is the track plan - at the moment!


The Layout under Construction

Photo 1 - Scary first steps, sleepers are stuck down on to the Templot plan using double sided tape.

The glass of red wine helped to bolster confidence.

The wider section of baseboards will be the scenic area.


Photo 2 - This shows the first point at one of the entrances to the fiddle yard being constructed using Templot.

The wooden bases to the copper clad sleepers are to align the railhead with the S7 walnut sleepers on the scenic section.


Photo 3 - The other end of the fiddle yard 12ft away.

The S-bend is to allow better access from the loft ladder.


Photo 4 - As above but with track. It is laid on 50mm foam on top of floor insulation slabs.

These are supported by cross members.

Will this work? We will see, but is easy to deal with and cheap.


Photo 5 - The fiddle yard from the scenic area. Running lines to the right and goods entrance to the left.

The curves look quite tight but the minimum radius is 7ft.


Photo 6 - At the same time from the other end with some finished and unfinished stock.
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