The Sibford Hills Railway

[9396CLAS]

In the OO9 News, November 2025 there is an article about The Sibford Hills Railway.
I'm trying to relate the photograph of The Whole Layout with the Track Plan, in particular is there crossover of the track in red? I would have thought it was inadvisable to have a crossover in the hidden track. Or are the tracks at deferent levels?

[JulienW]

With this style of 'rabbit warren' layout I strongly suspect the area highlighted have the tracks crossing at different levels...

[Graeme Dunbar]

Taking a close look at the photos in the 'News', the cross-over can be seen in the first photo showing construction (top right, just under the skylight) and the one at the bottom of page 16 above the word 'will' in the caption. The do appear to be on the same level, just above the river level.

[Keith Hicks]

This is a standard X crossing at one level.  The original design by C J Freezer showed the track at different levels, but I couldn't make it work, so I used an N gauge crossing.

[B.Meldon]

X crossings are not good anywhere on a 009 layout, the two dead sections and flange gaps on each rail can and often do cause the locos to stall at slow speeds. It is best to avoid crossings altogether! Just change the track plan slightly so the two tunnel entrances along the front are connected and the one next to the river bridge goes towards the back of the layout. This will remove the crossing from the track plan.

[B.Meldon]

Something else that may affect the sidings is that 009 couplings do not couple up at all well on curves.It is best to make any sections of track, in sidings for example, that you think you may want to couple rolling stock to locos or other rolling stock stright.

[Terry Mowles]

I think you'll find there is no crossing used and that the tracks are at different elevations.

The photo on page 16 shows the difference in elevation of the tracks before they enter the tunnels.

[9396CLAS]

Terry,

I see what you mean, but the more I look at the photo it appears as if the photo is misaligned where the white rectangle is at the bottom, i.e. a slice of the photo has moved up.

Does Keith Hicks have another photo of that section of the layout?


 

[Graeme Dunbar]

I think the man himself has spoken a few posts back. No need for speculation! (It is an N gauge crossing.)

[JulienW]

With this style of 'rabbit warren' layout I strongly suspect the area highlighted have the tracks crossing at different levels...

This is a standard X crossing at one level.  The original design by C J Freezer showed the track at different levels, but I couldn't make it work, so I used an N gauge crossing.

I stand (well, sit at the computer) corrected.  Thanks for the clarification Keith.

[Terry Mowles]

Apologies, I somehow missed that post, probably time for new spectacles.

[B.Meldon]

Here is a modified track plan that removes the crossing:

[Keith Hicks]

This alternative track plan is a thought, but I have never had any problems with loco's stalling on the crossing.  I did have an uncoupling but I found that it was down to a poor adjustment of the couplings.