Making tracks for a narrow gauge layout in waiting

 I was based in Florida taking care of an ill family member for most of the Pandemic. That meant months away from workbenches, paint, and trains. Track building seemed to be the perfect diversion, and Fast Tracks could easily provide endless hours of diversion in a single box, and everything could fit neatly in a small space. I could literally work in a few square feet. I built a dozens of turnouts and even hand laid several double slip switches for an HOm (HOn3-1/2), meter gauge layout. 

A number 7 double slip is tricky in HOm because of clearances, there is a reason that you don't see double slips in some geometries. I created a paper template.

Not long after I started making tracks I bought a substantial collection of Bemo rolling stock and locomotives from the family of an old friend who passed away. Buying the collection did the family a good turn, and now I own about 15% of the Rhaetian Railways roster in the 1980's. These models are 15-30 years old, but are very high quality, even by todays standards. So, tracks and a meaningful roster of trains are in hand. I managed to keep my sanity during the pandemic thanks to Fast Tracks!

Bahnhof Tiefencastel Layout in Waiting

I made a point of visiting Bahnhof Tiefencastel while travelling in 2024. I've long thought of this location along the Rhaetian Railways (RhB) as an ideal location to model, especially in the 1980s, because it had an active cement silo and freight house. I've already downloaded the LiDAR of the topography, and amazingly this station complex can fit in a reasonable size in HO at almost true scale providing one shortens the passing siding past the road overpass (this has been extended in more recent times, and the station tracks simplified).