We were recently away for a few days so I decided to move the track from around the pond and store it inside. However, as it was a fine, sunny day I decided that in the process I would set out a layout on the lawn to see how the loco ran over an undulating surface. Here are some photos of the trial.
At one end I had a simple terminus with a run around so the loco could be run round from the front to the back of the train for the return journey:
At the other end I had a siding and a loop so that the train automatically ended up ready for the return journey:
So here's the train just after setting off for the run towards the loop end:
And then out in the country:
Here it is on the return journey:
And finally arriving at the terminus with another train:
I was quite pleased with the trial as the lawn was far from level in places. For example, the trucks on the siding at the loop had to have the leading one off the rails to prevent them running down on to the main line. And the unevenness was also lateral with the loco and rolling stock tilting to one side quite noticeably on some sections.
The layout is now indoors, scattered about the place as I experiment with different variations. It can't return to the pond for some time as where it was is now covered with plant pots in places to keep the birds (crows, gulls and a heron) from taking the frogs from the pond.
