To build a small out and back layout to demonstrate a gravity shunt run round in operation.

You can however get away with using one point and a siding on a gradient to do the same job at a much reduced installation cost, with the single point installation also having lower maintainance requirements thus lower running costs. This exact arrangement was used on the Killin branch in the Scottish Highlands and on several other remote single line branches.

This layout must be accomplished on absolute minimum resources. I have given this project a total cost ceiling of 200 UK pounds sterling including loco, stock and scenics, everyone has said it is not possible for so little but I intend to have a go anyway :-).

The track I am using was purchased second hand at a car boot sale for 3 pounds sterling (a good start at a better price!). This included 9 feet of track on three 5inch x 3foot wooden boards, these were also fitted with 3rd rail, one section being fitted with inside (center) rail as used on London Underground, the other two sections were fitted with outside (S.R.) brass third rail. By using the lengths of third rail to build the pointwork and gravity siding I have just enough rail for a 12ft long layout with an 18 inch long gravity shunt siding.

I am scratch building the single set of points required using the spare lengths of track that were the center third rail on the sections purchased (steel rail). This point will be operated by a ground lever which in turn will be controlled manually via hidden pushrods from the fiddle yard. The track will NOT be powered, motive power will be provided onboard the locomotive, the pointwork will be constructed with breaks for electrical isolation to allow for possible electrification of the track at a later date if required.

The trackwork is simple in that there is only one point and two stop blocks on four 36 x 12inch base boards. (including fiddle yard board/frame) These will be arranged to be held with four `transport plates' forming two boxes with the scenics on the inside, the resulting 36 x 12 x 10 inch boxes will be fitted with carrying handles and should be moveable by one person.

I am not sure whether to use a three track traverser (as shown in above plan) or a two track `turntable' in the fiddle yard or maybe a `cartridge' system where each train has its own carrier which mates up to a short spur just out of view from the scenic area. I will be looking into the pros and cons of each system over the next few weeks, any suggestions, ideas or your own experiences of such systems would be very much appreciated.

I have plans to build a small diesel shunter which will be powered with internal batteries driving a motor through reduction gearing with final drive being via a belt to pulley wheels on the locomotives axles, most of the motor and transmission was originally part of the cassette transport mechanism in an old betamax video recorder. This will be controlled remotely with a digital proportional radio reciever and servo unit, this unit will control the vehicles speed, direction, couplings and possibly running lights. The loco will not be based on any existing type or class as it will be made with whatever spare bits are available at the time of construction, the collection of usefull spares and possible parts is growing steadily.

I have had spare radio gear tucked away for years, I have a multi-channel FM digital transmitter two recievers and two servo units ready for loco and coach control systems development, the radio equipment was left over from when I used to race radio controlled track and offroad vehicles which became a rather expensive hobby as the high speeds involved in competition racing often produced spectacular crashes and expensive breakages! I may have to invest in a couple of newer Micro-Servos to save space but I'll have a bash with the standard types I have first to keep costs to a minimum.

I will initially be requiring one passenger coach which will be fitted with a radio controlled braking system and its own assisted flywheel unit to make sure the coach starts away and rolls smoothly when the brakes are released, it will then travel propelled by gravity (assisted by the flywheel) with the only control functions being proportional braking and controlled couplings.

Scenic details beyond the railway fence are Helen's department, I aim to have board C heavily wooded with trees overhanging the platform & waiting shelter with dense trees hiding the scenic access to fiddle yard. Board B will also be mostly covered with trees and shrubs, Scenic development will be attended to in the later stages of construction once everything runs reliably, until then I'll be collecting tree making materials :)

It will be easily possible to make more baseboards to extend the scenic section of the line between board C and the fiddle yard board still using the A, B and C boards for the gravity shunt run round at one end of the line.

Parts are being collected to build a Southern Railway type rail built signal post and a ground disc signal. The rail built signal will be operated manually by pushrods below the baseboard, the ground signal (point indicator disc) will be operated via mechanical linkages from the point operating bar.

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