Ridings - the Extension

This page shows the Extension to the layout, commenced at the very end of 2006, and still going in 2008.
It had always been planned to extend Ridings to give more operational variety. Indeed, when the railway was built, there were points installed to provide access to future boards. Also, when the roads were built, the pointwork and the guide tracks were installed in readiness for this.
Some time ago, I had made a conscious decision not to start work on further boards until the original extent of the layout was more-or-less complete. This was because I found constructing baseboards and tracklaying relatively easy, so I ran the risk of having plenty of baseboards that were not completed scenically and therefore not properly presentable. Furthermore, I needed to know whether various things would actually work - like the trolleybus overhead and the complex road system. I also needed to hone my skills at scenery and building construction, as the whole thing wouldn't look right if these didn't come up to scratch.
So, having effectively finished the main boards, as described on previous pages - only a small number of buildings remained, a little scenic work, and a bit more trolleybus overhead - I decided to start on the Extension. Another motivator for this was the fact that after a few Exhibitions it became clear that the operation of the railway left a lot to be desired - without a fiddle yard, and with only one line on the Branch, two-train operation was difficult and distracted me from operating the roads. Therefore, as planned, the extension incorporates a two-track main line and later a fiddle yard for easier interchangeability of trains in operation.
After the extension had been 'mocked up' with cardboard to ensure things fitted, the railway trackwork would be feasible, and it would all look OK, the main baseboards were constructed. The railway trackbed was then laid and track-laying done properly. The wiring on the two boards was then completed, and run back to the control panel, where the changes needed to reflect the new trackwork were made. The point position indicators were upgraded from the home-made ones to Heathcote Electronics memory type which remember the point position even when the power is off. In addition the power supply was upgraded for the bus stop solenoids, as the previous unit in use hadn't enough 'ummph' to cope with more than 3 or 4 on at a time, and a further hand-held controller added for the trolleybus avoiding the use of the third railway controller which would now be required for three train operation. Work was finished with the roads in time to have the extension working for the Sheffield Exhibition on 23rd June 2007, and afterwards continuing by making the adjustments learned from that operation - quite a bit of work was required 'behind the scenes', and then a start was made on the structures that will become the canal. In a change of plan, during December 2007 DCC control was added for the trolleybuses to avoid having to section the overhead to provide individual control of each trolleybus  - see 'Latest' Page.
Work currently continues on the canal sections to make the Extension ready for exhibiting this year (2008).

(>>) indicates a larger shot is available. Click on the arrows or the photo.

(>>) The railway track being extended from Board 4. The space I had allowed had to be widened to ensure sufficient separation of the railway, road and planned canal. Note the surgery required on the adjacent furniture to allow it to fit! There will be a goods passing loop in the main line (since swapped to the opposite track to avoid the facing crossover) which will disappear into a tunnel at the far end.	Board 6 with the road system. Obviously this has been mocked-up with straight bits of ply, and will eventually be sweeping curves. The large area on the left (covering a railway tunnel such that the trackwork seen here will not be on public view) will be a joint turning area for both roads, around some houses and shops. Further roads running off the edges will be tracked just in case I want to extend further, even though the room won't be big enough then!  (>>)	Back to Board 5 and the mock-up of the road system. There will be a canal in between the railway and the road in a dropped section to allow construction of a lock and some interesting bridges!  (>>)
Board 6 constructed. Three new trestles, along with modifications to an existing one were required to support the new boards. In all, some 120 feet of wood were needed! Connection of the boards to the existing layout was still required here, then trackbed and track was laid. The previous Boards 3 & 4 (the Town Centre) were permanently joined together, as they could be crated up for transport with the new board above.	(Above & Right) Two shots with the trackbed constructed, cork underlay down and painted, point motor holes cut and the track laid properly after preliminary checking for correct geometry. These shots also show a couple of class 101 diesel multiple units testing the track (using flying leads). Both main lines run back into Board 4 at each end. There will be a fiddle yard at the bottom left (not under construction yet).   (>>)	Still required at this stage was all the necessary wiring to make it fully operational, but the general concept can now be seen properly. (>>)
The wiring sockets between the boards and back to the control panel. Also shown is the essential microswitch on the point in the centre providing access to the reversing section. This is needed to switch the correct section into the reversing loop depending on the point setting.  (>>)	The control panel modified with the cab control lights and the point indicator lights on. The flying lead is for point switching. The reversing switch for the reversing section can be seen left-middle - the microswitch on the access point ensures that the reversing loop is powered from the correct main-line section.  (>>)	A row of terraces was already 'in stock' and this would be modified and then utilised along the new roadside which will be directly in front of these. The sweeping curve past these falls and then rises again as well, so the road had to match the contours of the row of houses. To the right of that you can see the dropped section which will become the canal, before reaching the railway embankment. (>>)
Not apparent in this shot is the 'fall' of the road from bottom left to its lowest point in the middle of the row, and then an incline back up to the terminus at the far end. (>>)	(>>)	(>>) Two shots after the guide slots had been routed. I have provided several 'holding areas' for vehicles, so that they can be waiting in the wings, not blocking the main roads. The road system has been made quite complex, as once everything's laid you can't change your mind and add bits! However, I did decide to add an extra link after experience at the 2007 Sheffield Exhibition - see below. Some holding tracks run off the edges in case I want to extend again.
The extension boards assembled away from the main layout so I could work on all sides. Here the roadway supports have been constructed so that the slopes coincide with the existing housing module (now tided up), and the guideway grooves have been routed. The narrow channel for the canal is more apparent now. (>>)	Guide wires inserted, and the essential points made operational. (>>)	Temporary roadway laid to enable testing with one of the Huddersfield motorbuses. All successful so far! The extension was therefore ready for operation at the the Sheffield Exhibition on the 23rd June 2007 - see photos on the main Ridings page. (>>)
The control panel updated with the road mimic diagram. As the bus stops had not been fitted at this stage, there are no switches yet for these. The space at the bottom was for further controllers, but these have been superseded by adopting DCC control  - see 'Latest' Page for information on the DCC additions. (>>)	Work after the 2007 Exhibition continued, initially to sort out problems discovered at the Exhibition, or finishing jobs that were left over from before it. These included: improving the board connections to make them more level, adding the short 'fiddle board' to the bottom of the picture on the right, inserting the remaining guide wires to the board edges, finishing the points and control wires, and laying a new link past the bus stop on the main board. It was discovered that this was required as vehicles returning by the short route to town could not get past a parked vehicle at the right-hand bus stop (see right). The rail joints have now been strengthened, so the next jobs are to start on the structure of the scenery, paint and ballast the track, and sort out the tunnel entrance.	The track modification mentioned on the left can be seen here, linking the upper road to the passing loop down the centre. Yes, its all pretty complex! (>>)
This picture shows the other, smaller, board with its point control wires. The scissors crossover is to enable the parking of vehicles in the siding with other vehicles arriving or setting off past them. The road bridge design was the next to be worked out - it was complicated by the canal. This occupies the 'slot' between the railway and the road, then snakes under the railway. In the picture on the right the canal floor and banks have been laid, and a retaining wall and a bridge have been constructed. Obviously all this still needs cladding with walling etc.  (>>)		Further along with the track weathered, all the retaining walls in place, and the two railway bridges created. The area at the front will become grass banking. The road bridge has been started but still requires side-walls. It can now be seen that the road crosses the railway and the canal at the same time - a triple-layer bridge! (>>)
View from the other side, after the canal had been laid, and the railway bridges constructed. The right-hand side of the canal will be a banking, not a towpath. (>>)	View through the three-tier bridge.  (>>)	Turning to the other end, the railway tunnel entrance has seen some work, as have the retaining walls, and the canal basin floor. The canal lock will be in the dropped section to the left. The canal finishes at Tunnel End! The canal will disappear into a tunnel here, just as the Huddersfield Narrow Canal does at Marsden. (>>)
The canal lock starts to make an appearance -the basic lock walls have been surfaced. The bridge connecting the main road with the track that dives under the railway has also been constructed.  There are a lot of walls to clad to finish this section! (>>)	The roadway at the top gets mocked-up with its bridge sides. This is a Wills kit which has been modified to suit the slope and extra length of this bridge. A canal bridge is required for a minor road here, so another Wills kit has been used. The modification to the latter can be seen on the right.	Most canal bridges in the locality were tapered towards the middle. It has also been 'skewed' to suit the diagonal nature of the crossing required here. The further roads have been constructed, and the bridges have been weathered. In addition, a start has been made on cladding the retaining walls with their plasticard stone sheets.  (>>)
A closer view after various walls have been built and cladded. All these will need weathering.  (>>)	View from the other side of the bridge..... (>>)	.....and a little further to the right. (>>)
Attention turns to the other Extension board, and the canal walling gets cladded, with the tunnel entrance being picked out for the first time. The canal bridge still needs to be arched into place - I'm waiting until it won't be in the way. (>>)	An unusual view from the end showing the lock preparations and the two tunnel mouths. The bridge and lock gates still need installing.  (>>) On the right is a long view of both boards with the walling finished but not painted.  (>>)
An atmospheric shot along the canal, looking into the lock throat. The canal tunnel can be made out in the distance.  (>>)	The railway track is now ballasted - a very tedious job, but you have to do it eventually! The loop has been 'ash ballasted' while the main lines are regular granite. This board now requires it's hillsides at the front - mainly on the left hand side, to blend in the roadways and the trackbed. (>>)	Little work to be done on embankments on this board - a bit by the canal and the railway tunnel entrance. However, there is still a lot of scenic work to be done behind the road on both boards, to blend in around the housing unit positioned there. These two shots show the progress on these boards - compare with these above. (>>)