Track layout complete (for the time being)

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After many hours of tinkering the track layout of my N-gauge model railway is complete.  The new sections aren’t powered yet but a few hours with the soldering iron should sort that out.  I have also taken the opportunity to add some extra lighting.

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The layout features:
  • 11 turn outs (or points) – all are Peco electrofrog;
  • 7 sidings (of varying lengths, 5 can be isolated to park locomotives);
  • 3 tunnel mouths (1 double width, 2 single);
  • 2 station platforms (may be more to come);
  • 3 “loop” paths.

Package from Hattons

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IMG_0785

This is the package from Hattons. The order was placed on 01/05/2009, it was packed in the UK on 07/05/2009 and it arrived in Perth (Australia) on 12/05/2009. Everything was intact and exactly as I ordered. This was a test order to see how things went – I will be ordering some more significant stuff from them sometime soon.

Dynamics of birding

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I find it amusing how it will often take me a long time to find a particular bird for the first time, yet once I have found it I seem to find them everywhere. This has happened with:

  • Australasian Pipits (saw my first near Dampier recently, have now seen them 2 minutes from the office in an area I had looked before);
  • Western Spinebills (first seen in Pinnaroo a few years back, we now have a family of them frequenting the backyard);
  • Australian Reed-Warblers (seen first on a BAWA walk, now I see them in the reeds everywhere);
  • Brown Honeyeaters (for years I thought they were small Singing Honeyeaters);
  • Common Greenshanks (seen first on a BAWA walk, now I see them all the time in Dampier).

I suspect that the same will happen with the Little Grassbird and a few other conspicuous absentees from my list.

Help name my layout

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My N-gauge model train layout is progressing well.  I spent a few hours tonight wiring block switches and covering foam with plaster-of-paris strips for the tunnel section.  The layout is predominantly 1970s-1980s British diesel but also tends to have anything else that catches my eye…

I think the layout needs a name (most others around the place, especially those on the web, are named).  Therefore, if you are reading this (I think at least a few people read this?) and have a suggestion please comment.  Thanks!

A few new birds for the list

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  • Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), seen in the Dampier and Karratha area;
  • Horsfield’s Bushlark (Mirafra javanica), seen in the Dampier and Karratha area;
  • Purple-crowned Lorikeet (Glossopsitta porphyrocephala), seen at both Gnowangerup and Wagin;
The list is now at 173 174.