Cwmbach and fresh energy…

Recent progress with the traverser on my latest 'hi-fi' Cameo layout 'Cwmbach' encouraged some proper testing (although not powered, yet). My rake of 9 HEA wagons and an 08 were placed and pushed around for a very pleasant quarter of an hour last weekend...

I knew the concept would work as I'd traced the movements on a piece of paper - but to see the trio of trios shuffling from the arrival road, via the traverser, to the departure road was rather magical. The basic concept is simple - a train arrives, the loco runs around (using the traverser) and then propels a short cut of wagons under the screens, where a magnet is hidden at the end of the road to uncouple the cut. 3 HEA (or up to four 16T) will fit on the traverser, and are slid over to the departure road and pushed, by hand, back into the scenic section - and potentially, a load could be dropped in here too...

At the end of a mindful few minutes a loaded train is assembled, the brake van repositioned before departing back on to the fiddle stick (behind the photographer in the above 'long' view). 

I can see this being an operating success (whilst different from the larger scale double tuning fork usually on the 'lower' shelf in the workshop). If taken out on the road I think it would suit a smaller one day event, and show the possibilities of fitting a hi-fi N gauge scenic layout in the modern home in a self contained form. We'll have to see, but with this 'testing' complete I feel a fresh energy for moving on with the wiring this weekend. Until next time, more soon...

Support my work

I love writing and creating material for the blog. If you enjoy what you read and engage with I would be appreciative of any donation, large or small, to help me keep it advert and restriction free. Alternatively, feel free to buy me a coffee, where regular memberships start from just £1.