I thought it might be worthwhile showing what the track plan was supposed to look like when the layout was first designed. It has not changed much except for in approximately two places, these are the track from Fairy Hill to Kyogle is more a right angle bend, and there is now a loop "The Risk" where the Blue Metal Siding was planned to go.

So what was I going to model? I wanted to model Casino and that region. I had to choose a name to start with. Cassino was chosen as my Model Railway Empire. The layout was planned with the area from Grafton to Cassino through to Acacia Ridge modelled as well as the Murwillumbah branch. The layout was located in the 12m x 6m Titan Shed. Basically the layout is around the walls, with a central peninsula. It is two levels and boy does it have some track.

A train can start in the Grafton Yard staging, from here is goes north past the Rocla Sleeper Siding, before arriving at Rappville Loop. From here it passes over the Bruxner highway level crossing, past the Bonalbo Ballast Siding, over the Richmond River before arriving at Cassino. From here the train can take the branch and travel to Old Cassino, north to Lismore, and finally arriving at Murwillumbah. There are considerable shunting opportunites on the branch with Old Cassino, Lismore and Murwillumbah having plenty of sidings to work with.

Alternatively, the train can keep to the mainline at Cassino, and go past the Cassino Meatworks, and enters a 5 turn helix to take the train up to the top level. Around the helix one turn from the top there is the Nammoona Ballast Siding. Just after the helix, we arrive at Fairy Hill Loop. From here we move onto Kyogle, past the Kyogle stock siding, around the Cougal Spiral before arriving at Border Loop. From here we travel to The Risk, Glenapp Loop, and then into Acacia Ridge Yard.

I have had one operating session with the complete track laid, and it takes almost 20 minutes to go from Grafton to Acacia Ridge if I am the only train on the track.

As I have mentioned in my "About me", I have a shed. Planning started in early 2005. Building started in about July 2005. By December 2005 the shed had been completed, it had been erected, it was wired, lights put up, insulation installed, walls and roof lined, floor, ceiling and walls painted, stairs and a retaining wall built outside. My model railway empire was about to start. Next I stalled a kitchenette, and connected up water and water waste.

Just to start things rolling, I am a member of the Railways Modeller's Club of Queensland Inc. I have been involved with these guys for close to 20 years. They have clubrooms on the other side of Brisbane to me just under 50km away - a lot more if you travel via the Gateway Motorway. I am also a member of a very informal groups of ratbags called the Tuesday Nighters. These groups provide me with inspiration and motivation to continue modelling and improve and share my skills.