COLCESTER MK4 UPDATE... Final structural work complete..!!

On October 15th 2022 with help from Chris Weet, the final main structural work was completed on the new mk4 layout for Colcester. This saw the last of the strengthening formers put in place along with the main beam from side wall of the shed added too and extended out to the 5ft marker to form a base for the semicircular end and support post. Added to this are two extra formers to run from the entrance door to the support post and also back to the layout again to help define the extent of the semicircle although with some allowance given for the sundeala board to overlap a little bit.

The added strength was needed due to the fact that the semicircular end will hold an additional mid level board on which Furman Smithy Station itself will be place. The mid level board will link the two inclines and will act as a break so that locomotives coming up to the upper board do not have to tackle the gradient in one go. This was a lesson learnt from using gradients previously and the issues that came with them. This time it will be different.

At present it appears my work to clear an access way into the shed from the door by removing the board that went across it has been totally undone, however this is not true... on the right of the shed entrance the boards that originally held Furman Smithy Station and the original storage yards for the mk3 layout are going to be reduced in width. At present they are 2ft wide but will be taken back to approximately to 1 and a half feet which will still allow for a 6 road storage yard both on the lower and upper level giving a total of 12 roads. This will be the next section which will be worked on.