It was decided (well Jade decided, I stamped my feet and held my breath… and then conceded defeat) that the wall at the back of the layout room could not be removed as this would leave no space for packaging and storing stock. Also I was informed of my wife's intentions to build a small N scale layout in the corner of this room. This was decided after I bought her a small Bavarian N scale train for her birthday.

The only problem now is that the layout will have to be a bit smaller. This may or may not mean that we have to reduce the length of our trains to around six meters (30 wagons).

Once we returned from the Brisbane Show, we purchased some timber to get started on the benchwork. Our initial purchase included 100 meters of 2"x1" and around 30 meters of 3"x2".

We set up the brackets for what will become Willowburn Yard or at least my version of it anyway, which is called "Summiton". The new plan for the layout will centre around Summiton yard (at the top of the Toowoomba Range) and incorporate both the Eastern and Western approaches on the range. The layout will also include Holmes passing loop and Harlexton ballast sidings.

After much thought… almost three seconds in all, it was decided to bring forward the era I was modeling to represent the present day, yesterday or possibly at a stretch last week. This was decided after having built one of our 2170 Maxi-Cab kits and being somewhat impressed with the results.

After much redrawing of the trackplan, I discovered that I can in fact fit coal trains of 30 wagons. This helped to lift my spirits for a while until my ever so tactful wife pointed out that I am only twenty one wagons short of having one complete train.

This could be seen as a problem… and after much careful thought it was.

As you can tell, I have my work cut out for me.

We wait with baited breath to see how it all pans out.