COLCESTER LAYOUTS Website

(c) 2023 Colin Smith

COLCESTER MK4

What is going to happen...

THE LAYOUT REBUILD

Colcester International has hit a problem. It appears that the supporting framework of the running boards has moved or shifted and after only two years in place this isnt exactly good news. It has caused the Sundeala board to sag or move too and therefore effected the running tracks too.

With DCC its essential that contact between the train wheels and the track is kept constant otherwise information being passed from the controller to the train will be lost, as well as the possibility of more derailments due to uneven track.

Therefore the answer is to STOP where i am at present, remove the scenic areas done so far and also take up the Sundeala board to get better access to the frame and sort out the issues there.

Why so drastic...??

Colcester has to work - at present it doesnt, well not to my satisfaction anyway... so the decision to sort out the basic frame and boards allows me to replace the Sundeala with plywood instead for added stability. It also gives me a chance to improve the trackwork too and make that work better, especially for the Hi-Speed units like the Javelins, Pendolinos and forthcoming Azuma. It also allows me to change another aspect which has caused me problems which is the lower loop line (DC) which suffers from access issues - ive yet to decide on this but this has two possible solutions which im looking into. I will also be able to start on the Garden Loop as it will need to be part of this new build because not only has this been delayed 2yrs already but integrating at this new stage would have benefits.

Whats the plan...??

Okay, so as already outlined its going to be a complete stripdown to the frame, sort out its issues and then rebuild. New plywood surfaces to replace the Sundeala and give a more solid base for the the trains to run on. Sort out the lower level line (DC) which at present has access issues. Simplify the track and restore as much of the existing scenic areas back onto the layout again because other areas like Furman Smithy village are already built and need to fit back onto the layout.

So... to recap then:

REMOVE THE PRESENT SCENICS AND TRACK
REMOVE SUNDEALA BOARD DOWN TO FRAME
CORRECT ALL FRAME LEVEL ISSUES
RE-BOARD THE FRAME WITH PLYWOOD
RE-CHECK LEVELS ARE GOOD
START PLANNING OUT THE LAYOUT AGAIN
INCORPORATE THE GARDEN LOOP INTO THE BUILD
SORT OUT THE LOWER DC LEVEL LINE
ADD BACK IN AS MUCH OF THE PREVIOUS SCENIC AREAS AS POSSBILE
HAVE A "LEGACY LAYOUT" FOR MY LATE FATHER WHO WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE SEEN IT RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

These changes are going to take time, money and alot of effort on my part but i feel they are the only way forward to sort out inherent problems which have cropped up in the 2 plus years of operating the present layout.

MARCH 2021 UPDATE

As of this month, a radical new change in the plan has occurred which will give better access to the shed and improve certain aspects of Colcester International overall.

The changes will be as follows:

REMOVAL OF THE PRESENT SCENERY AND TRACK
REMOVE SUNDEALA BOARD FROM FRAME
CORRECT FRAME ISSUES AND RE-BUILD FRAME FOR NEW PLAN
REMOVE ANY BOARD ACROSS THE SHED DOORWAY
RE-BOARD THE FRAME WITH PLYWOOD
RE-CHECK ALL LEVELS
START PLANNING OUT THE LAYOUT AGAIN
DC LINE WILL NOT BE PART OF NEW LAYOUT
LAYOUT WILL BECOME FULLY DCC
NO VIADUCT LOOP LINE
NEW UPPER / LOWER STORAGE YARDS
NEW DEPOT LOCATION
EXTENSIVE NEW SCENIC AREAS ADDED
REINSTATE FURMAN SMITHY VILLAGE BOARD
COLCESTER INTERNATIONAL STATION WILL BE 4 PLATFORMS AND 5 TRACKS WITH TRACK 3 BEING AN AVOIDING LINE FOR NON-STOP PASSENGER & FREIGHT SERVICES
INCORPORATE GARDEN LOOP INTO THE BUILD
HAVE A "LEGACY LAYOUT" FOR MY LATE FATHER WHO WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE SEEN IT RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

The new plan has been added to the Gallery below.

Proposed plans for the Mk4 layout...

REVISED PLAN MARCH 2021

RE-BUILD PLAN JAN 2021

Better laid out Depot area to make use of the corner space better.

REVISED PLAN MARCH 2021

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LAYOUT PAGE

COLCESTER LAYOUTS

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COLCESTER LAYOUTS Website

(c) 2023 Colin Smith

COLCESTER MK4

What is going to happen...

THE LAYOUT REBUILD

Colcester International has hit a problem. It appears that the supporting framework of the running boards has moved or shifted and after only two years in place this isnt exactly good news. It has caused the Sundeala board to sag or move too and therefore effected the running tracks too.

With DCC its essential that contact between the train wheels and the track is kept constant otherwise information being passed from the controller to the train will be lost, as well as the possibility of more derailments due to uneven track.

Therefore the answer is to STOP where i am at present, remove the scenic areas done so far and also take up the Sundeala board to get better access to the frame and sort out the issues there.

Why so drastic...??

Whats the plan...??

So... to recap then:

​

REMOVE THE PRESENT SCENICS AND TRACK

REMOVE SUNDEALA BOARD DOWN TO FRAME

CORRECT ALL FRAME LEVEL ISSUES

RE-BOARD THE FRAME WITH PLYWOOD

RE-CHECK LEVELS ARE GOOD

START PLANNING OUT THE LAYOUT AGAIN

INCORPORATE THE GARDEN LOOP INTO THE BUILD

SORT OUT THE LOWER DC LEVEL LINE

ADD BACK IN AS MUCH OF THE PREVIOUS SCENIC AREAS AS POSSBILE

HAVE A "LEGACY LAYOUT" FOR MY LATE FATHER WHO WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE SEEN IT RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

​

These changes are going to take time, money and alot of effort on my part but i feel they are the only way forward to sort out inherent problems which have cropped up in the 2 plus years of operating the present layout.

​

​

MARCH 2021 UPDATE

As of this month, a radical new change in the plan has occurred which will give better access to the shed and improve certain aspects of Colcester International overall.

The changes will be as follows:

​

REMOVAL OF THE PRESENT SCENERY AND TRACK

REMOVE SUNDEALA BOARD FROM FRAME

CORRECT FRAME ISSUES AND RE-BUILD FRAME FOR NEW PLAN

REMOVE ANY BOARD ACROSS THE SHED DOORWAY

RE-BOARD THE FRAME WITH PLYWOOD

RE-CHECK ALL LEVELS

START PLANNING OUT THE LAYOUT AGAIN

DC LINE WILL NOT BE PART OF NEW LAYOUT

LAYOUT WILL BECOME FULLY DCC

NO VIADUCT LOOP LINE

NEW UPPER / LOWER STORAGE YARDS

NEW DEPOT LOCATION

EXTENSIVE NEW SCENIC AREAS ADDED

REINSTATE FURMAN SMITHY VILLAGE BOARD

COLCESTER INTERNATIONAL STATION WILL BE 4 PLATFORMS AND 5 TRACKS WITH TRACK 3 BEING AN AVOIDING LINE FOR NON-STOP PASSENGER & FREIGHT SERVICES

INCORPORATE GARDEN LOOP INTO THE BUILD

HAVE A "LEGACY LAYOUT" FOR MY LATE FATHER WHO WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE SEEN IT RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

​

The new plan has been added to the Gallery below.

Proposed plans for the Mk4 layout...