Wiring Up the Layout

Having wired up the 4 point motors on the layout yesterday, I have started to do further wiring up today.

I have decided to operate the building lights, street lamps, platform lamps, traffic lights and bellisa beacons directly from the boat’s 12v, so I ran the supply from the wall socket to near the switch panel (the screw block can just be seen bottom right corner of the first photo) so it is ready for when I install and need to connect the various lights.

I have now wired up the 3 isolating sections, 2 on the engine shed siding and one on the canal wharf siding.

I have stapled a copy of the switch layout under the baseboard to make life easier whilst working underneath fixed baseboards.

A close-up of the underside of the switch panel. Quite a lot more wiring to be done, but all in good time.

Wiring to 2 of the point motors, at the engine shed end of the station, and the isolating sections.

Keith.

Layout Point Motors Wired Up and Working.

Today I wired up the 4 point motors which are on the layout.

They even work!

Keith.

1st Four Point Motors Fitted.

Today I fitted the 4 point motors underneath the main layout points.

Keith.

All Trackwork now Completed.

Having laid the final trackwork in the fiddleyard, this has now completed all the track laying for the layout.

Keith.

Fiddleyard Pointwork

This morning I filled the 2 holes I drilled in the wrong place as one of the point motor fixing holes lined up exactly with the holes.

A piece of dowel glued in place has solved the problem.

This afternoon I fitted the pointwork in the fiddleyard.

At both ends.

Keith.

Start of Track Laying in Fiddleyard.

Not much done today, morning spent in Warwick, too warm this afternoon.

Earlier this evening I removed the shelf over the fiddleyard to give me access to drill the 2 holes at the back of the fiddleyard for the point motor rods, and drilled all the other point motor rod holes.

Unfortunately I drilled the holes for the two points at the front of the fiddleyard in the wrong place as the timber frame would be in the way of the point motor, so I have had to drill 2 more holes on the other side of the 2 points concerned.

Keith.

Final Trackwork on the Layout

This morning I fixed the final pieces of track on the layout.

These form what will be the double tracks through the station.

Next step is to lay and fix the trackwork in the fiddleyard.

Keith.

Canal Wharf Siding & Points.

The last 2 points on the layout at the canal end of the station and the canal wharf siding all fixed in place.

Keith.

Inspection Pit

This morning I cut the slot in the baseboard for the engine shed inspection pit, and fitted it and the track upto the point.

Closer view of the inspection pit.

Keith.

2nd Point

This evening I fixed the 2nd point in place.

I have positioned the engine siding in place with the engine shed, coal staithes and diesel tank temporarily in place to get an idea of what it will look like.

Keith.

First Point Fixed in Place

Having recently purchased all the pointwork for the layout, today I fixed the first point in place with it’s connecting track from under the farm hill.

Keith.

Layout Switch Panel

Yesterday I fitted all but 2 of the switches in the switch panel for the main layout.

This morning I took delivery of the last 2 remaining switches and fitted them.

Switch panel fixed to baseboard ready for wiring up.

Keith.

Beeton’s Garage

The last building purchase for Hadarford, Beeton’s Garage, but I may change the name.

Keith.

Track Laying

Having purchased all the pointwork recently, I spent a bit of time yesterday laying out the remaining trackwork.

Keith.

Vinyl Flooring

This morning Jo and I cleared the floor of the railway room and laid the vinyl flooring we bought in Brierley Hill in April.

Keith.

Purchases Whilst Away

Whilst out on our travels I kept an eye on eBay and was successful in purchasing this thatched cottage which completed the canal-side cottages.

I was also successful in purchasing this bakery which completed all the buildings in the village.

I purchased this van in the National Waterways Museum in Gloucester, same price as on the internet, but without the cost of postage.

I found this war memorial in an antiques shop! The gravestones were on eBay and all of them will go in the churchyard. 

Keith.

Time to get Cracking on Hadarford.

Got back to our mooring yesterday, having spent the last 4 months travelling around on our narrowboat.

Parcel arrived this morning, containing the final bits of track, all 14 points, 12 point motors (I already have 2), 
4 accessory switches, a pack of 5 mounting plates and a big bottle of ballast.

Looking forward to cracking on with Hadarford.

FULL STEAM AHEAD!