I joined the 16mm Association way back in the 80s but at the time I was too busy with both business career and parallelcareer in the Naval Reserve to achieve very much beyond a great deal of reading and planning. Also it seemed pointless starting construction when our big, old house was on the market. How was I to know that it would take seven years to find a buyer? Our move to a more manageable property in North Wales coincided with our joint retirement but the first two years were devoted to getting our new home squared away. Civil engineering started in earnest in 1999.
Ownership of a boisterous golden retriever, eleven grandchildren, a glass back and the prospect of a creaking dotage all pointed firmly in the direction of an elevated line at a comfortable height. A decision I have not regretted. The W.B.R. is level throughout to ensure easy running and to enable mixed traffic of steam and battery diesel to co-exist.
All track is Peco™ SM32. I had to compromise on the intended sweeping curves and the minimum radius on the main run is 5' in one place. To fit in the loop behind the potting shed I had to squeeze it down to 3'8". My own locos and stock, and the majority of visitors, have little difficulty negotiating this. The access to the steaming-up facilities is 30" radius. The turntable will just accommodate my Roundhouse 2-6-2 Russell.
The trackbed is constructed from 18mm WBP ply or well seasoned tongued and grooved boards all covered with good quality roofing felt and bedded down into a generous layer of felt adhesive. It has three hinged 'bridge' sections and one lift-out section to provide access. Despite gloomy predictions none of these have given any trouble to date. If I were starting all over again I would use ply throughout. It would have saved me a lot of tricky carpentry.
Construction and tracklaying were completed in four stages. I started with the main running circuit. This was laid in 2000. The next year I added the Weal Barrow terminus. The turntable and engine servicing bays were built up in 2003. Finally the long branch and return loop were added in 2004.
There is still much to do, mainly on the scenic front. A good start has been made on this aspect and there are plans aplenty to keep me busy for the years to come. There is even talk of extending off the loop into the garden shed and through into the garage!!!