Plans...

The first step is to plan ahead...

We start out with a map of the area around Cannon Street c1928...

clearly there is too much here to fit on a manageable baseboard width so some rationalisation will be necessary but we could still include enough to create a layout that will hopefully be interesting to operate and watch...

So we printed out the map to full 1:148 scale and laid it out on tables. Clearly to include the distinctive curving approach to the station a straight layout would be out of the question.

Cutting and pasting then begins to work out where compression would be needed to incorporate all the key railway features and surrounding architecture we wanted to include...

Lockwood Street and Gibson Street  have both moved closer to the station and sadly the separate "goods station" (in reality little more than a roof on columns) had to go but the former passenger station is retained to full scale. The main approach lines and other 'essentials' have been drawn in. Other track work in the yards either side are still to be firmed up at this stage.