Return to Gerald Road…

I’m not quite sure what the catalyst was for this return journey, but one thing I have learnt in recent times is that when a feeling occurs, to embrace it…

Gerald Road for those uninitiated, is my re-imagined caricature of the Avonside branch in Bristol. Set in the 70s, a home for my nostalgic reworked Farish 03 shunter and short wheelbase vacuum brake (oh, annd unfitted) wagons.

This more compact version of the scheme as first discussed last year, after I sold on the original which was twice this size. What you were looking at is Paxton Road dressed in different stage furniture.

Yesterday I tackled one of those jobs that turn out to be a lot easier than you remembered. I created the two under track sliding magnetic un-couplers. This meant I could cut the slots for these and the access (on and off the layout ends) in the pre-cut MDF that was sat here ready to use since I built Denton Road and prepared it at the same time!

Two plain tracks enter the scene and one leaves, the pub the office the warehouse and the semi detached house frame it, just two structures remain outstanding; a small office at the front and a low relief warehouse at the back. I’m hoping today will allow me the time to lay and wire the truck, add the plugs and sockets and internal layout lighting. The plan is to use the same sector fiddlestick as on Paxton Road so I’m still also as a connector for that, stating this more as a reminder for myself than information for you!

However, Gerald Road is one of those projects that waxes and wanes, so, instead I may end up weathering some wagons, making some DG couplings and enjoying the sunshine putting all these parts away for storage and bringing them out another day. That is no hardship. Removing the pressure we place upon ourselves, pressure to get to some imagined sense of completion, that is something I’ve learnt the hard way. I hope that by reading this you begin to accept the same for yourself. Have a wonderful Sunday, until next time, more soon…

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