TAKING THE LONG WAY ROUND

Paul Lunn says: We can scale everything down to fit on a layout, but we can’t scale time. If you have a layout with, say, Barnstaple at one end and Halwill Junction at the other, a train will get from A to B in a matter of seconds. But it’s over 25 miles from Barnstaple to Halwill Junction, and a slow, stopping train would have taken at least an hour to make that journey. On a layout, you could park a train in a hidden siding for a while at some point between the two stations, but where’s the fun in that? This is where time delay circuits (TDCS) come into play. These are circuits of track built into the plan that allow a train to while away some time while remaining in motion. Unlike a hidden siding, some pleasure is derived from watching the train in action. The ‘U’-shaped layout above incorporates TDCS, spread over two levels, 2ft 6in and 3ft 9in high (to accommodate lowered bridge sections at Bideford and Torrington). A fourth side fits across the ends of the ‘U’, at 4ft 9in high, adjacent to what could be the door entrance wall, for easy duck-under access. Barnstaple to Halwill Junction has been chosen to illustrate the concept of modelling a line, rather than a location. Note how I’ve employed return time delay loops (RTDLS), comprising first, second and third radius curves at each end of the entire run, acting as off-scene storage and allowing passage of time before a train returns. Single-track TDCS comprise first radius curves and standard geometry points, allowing passage of time between stations or scenic sections. Time delay circuits with similar track components as the single-track time delay circuits, but with an additional loop (TDCWLS), allow trains to pass where the prototype had a passing loop. Two helices, marked as ‘H’ on the plan, create clearance between each level. Note that where shown, each square on the plan represents a square foot for 4mm scale/ ‘OO’ gauge.