The Layouts that James Built!

As on Sunday 21st December, I have started the next phase of the never finished layout (is there any other kind?). I purchased the framing and baseboard, and have painted some of them so I can start the actual construction of two new modules. The two modules will each be 1800mm x 300mm (about 6 x 1 feet), making an extension to the layout of 12 x 1 feet.

But I am adding the ability into these modules so that they can be one 6 x 2 feet module, which unhinges to a 12 x 1 feet layout, making it easier to transport and set up. I plan to give this layout the ability to be connected to my current C&SFT layout so that it can be operated either as an extension to that layout, or as a switching layout by itself. I would like to model a fictional Canadian Pacific branch line, but it could be somewhat hard to make the layout scenery realistic as both an extension of the C&SFT (that is, Illinois / Indiana) and a terminus of a Canadian branch line.

But whether it can be international in flavour is not really the point - I like the idea of having more layout or layouts to switch! The biggest given is the available space, and the main emphasis in my layouts over the last 4 or so years has been the amount of operation I can pack into the available space. And a branch terminus, whether attached to the C&SFT layout or not, will give that.