The Corkscrew-Lines

Update - No.1 - 09.02.11

Originally posted to friends and family only in Feb 2011

Hello and welcome!

Basic shell of the garage is erected

I have been talking about building a model railway for probably the last 10 years or so but always putting it off using various excuses - the usual one being I have to finish building my house. Well, the excuses have to end and it's time to put up or shut up! The house is now finished and I have spent the last few weeks clearing the garage (where the layout will be built) ready for work to begin......no more excuses - it's time to get to work!

I hope you'll enjoy this blog because you are either a perfectly normal person who is foolish enough to show some interest in what I want to do or because you are one of the complete "Cranks" or "Neds" known to me and you intend to turn up here and play trains once I've done all the hard work! You could also of course be one of our family friends with absolutely no interest in trains and this will explain to you why Mrs Corky is constantly rolling her eyes and sighing when model railways are constantly being mentioned! If you don't think you fit into any of these categories then please accept my apologies and I'll understand if your finger is now heading for the delete button!

Garage is clad and awaiting wooden doors

It's probably a good idea to give you all a very brief description of what I'm trying to achieve. I want to build a OO gauge multi-level railway which winds itself around the garage on a total of 4 levels (2 scenic and 2 for stock storage and return loops) using a central Helix or Spiral to climb between the decks - hence the long term working title of "The Corkscrew Lines". The plan is very North American in size and concept but will be set in Britain. The era is the 1960's based on the West Country and firmly set in Western & Southern Region territory - think Wessex or North Devon. Control will be digital with all locos fitted with sound chips eventually and controlled with walk around throttles. Track work will be Peco Code 75 flexitrack and points because on a project as large as this I won't have the time to use hand built track.

The one thing that has never wavered through all the years of planning despite numerous changes to design and concept, is a determination that nothing will be destroyed or broken up if we have to move house in the future. Whilst we have no intention of moving right now, circumstances change and we may need to relocate. If that happens the layout needs to be modular so it can be unbolted and taken to it's new home and simply reassembled. This means nothing is attached to the walls and new lightweight techniques for baseboard construction need to be used. Remember, the layout will be on 4 levels so this is a major challenge. I will probably describe how I intend to build the baseboards in the next thrilling instalment....don't say you haven't been warned!

Finished garage with wooden cladding and painted doors

Why am I waffling on about all this stuff you may well ask? Well, you probably suffered the emails I sent out over the last few years detailing the construction of our house - the dreaded "Siltside Progress!" People responded to the emails and either offered support, encouragement or advice and that sharing of collective spirit got us through the longest days and hardest parts of the build. I am hoping a similar thing will happen here with this blog and you Guys telling me to get on with it or offering a possible solution to a problem or just some encouragement. This is a lifetime project and it will be many, many years before it is finished. I will doubtless need some moral support along the way if my enthusiasm starts to flag!

Interior of the garage during the house build

Anyway that's enough for the first posting. I've attached some photos of the garage, which was designed from the outset to house the layout. They show how it looked when being built, when it was being used as a workshop for the house build and then the more recent shots show the room being plastered, painted and finally the doors being plugged with insulation board ready for habitation.