Thanks guys. I knew I was going to sell it soon anyway but wasn't expecting it to be now! I'm a little torn between stripping all the electrics out of it and just selling the base and track (already been asked if I can do this for a guy who runs analog) which would mean I would have everything ready to start the new layout once it arrives in NZ some time next year. Plus I can spend the time between designing the layout and sourcing new track material. Definitely going down the flex track route so I don't have the same issues as I had with this one - lots of short sections with rail joiners galore! I actually have about 10 meters of flex that has concrete ties, not sure what the brand is but I do like the look of it. The new layout plan in my head involves a more twin mainline system for running longer trains (the ICE and TGV in the pics above both have 6 carriages each and are about a meter long) so would be nice to have those hooting around at a scale speed. Then a second track system that is more alpine with steeper gradients, bridges, tunnels, using the Kato Glacier Express. I have a very large shed back in New Zealand that will allow quite a large layout - which is always nice. Anyway - I'll be lurking in the background and once I'm back home will probably be asking more questions!
Well, the layout left the building last night and the new owner is super happy. He's just retired and was looking for a hobby and Brynderwyn just happened to appear in his feed at just the right time. Took me about 2 hours to explain how it all works, how to use JMRI etc but he is an electronics engineer so he should pick it up pretty quick. Before he arrived I took it for one last spin. I am pretty stoked with how the layout worked. I managed to get the arduino's communicating at a higher speed, which meant the reed switches worked and the automation scripts to run loco's around the track. The hardest part was sorting out the signal's using signal heads then masts and then the signal logic. Anyway - here's the last video of the ICE running from the lower station, past the crossing and up to the upper station where it stop's to pick up/drop off passengers, before returning down to the lower station.