Layouts due to appear in 2011
ALDBURY TOWN Scale OO P4 Size 10ft x 6ft
OWNER :- MIKE GOSLING
This layout is a small GWR station on an imaginary single track branch line somewhere in the area of the South West Midlands where the GWR and MR were in competition. The year is 1946 and the world of railways is getting back to normal after the war. Some rolling stock is distinctly unkempt but Swindon is once again sprucing up some tatty items into the latest liveries.
During the second-world war the line proved a useful secondary route for coal and other goods for the war effort. The track was re-laid by the LMS to allow the heavier trains to run, which is why there are three bolt chairs and steel rail keys on a GWR line.
BARENTAL DORF Scale HO 12mm Size12ft x 6ft
OWNER :- RAY WILLIAMS
This compact layout was designed to alleviate the stresses at the end of the day's work by allowing me to capture memories of walks between Filisur and Giaris in Switzerland, watching the trains of the Rhatische Bahn going by.
The bright red of the RhB stock, mostly Bemo, contrasts with the green and grey of the landscape. Rocks in the river bed come from Switzerland allowing the rock faces, of polystyrene and polyfilla, to be colour matched. The buildings represent ones seen in the area and train run under catenary.
A small extension has no trains running by is designed to provide running space for Swiss Post buses which are guided in Faller style along the roads by hidden wire buried in the road. The buses are fitted with working lights front & rear with working stop lights – all thanks to modern electronics.
BATH GREEN PARK Scale OO fine Size 65ft x 12ft
OWNER :- TAUNTON MODEL RAILWAY GROUP
What can one say about this super layout of the Midland/Somerset and Dorset railway terminus junction in the splendid Roman City of Bath, without writing War & Peace.
BEER QUARRY Scale O 16.5mm 7mm gauge Size 10ft x 5ft
OWNER :- CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS
This represents the agricultural lime quarrying and processing plant at Beer, Devon and is set in the 1960/70s when in full operation. The majority of the buildings, plant & kiln are faithful to the originals but positions are changed slightly to suit the baseboard size and shape.
The narrow gauge line is imaginary, though a tramway powered by man or horse served an earlier lime kiln nearby. The fictional line enables a variety of typical small industrial locos and stock to be run.
BRIXHAM Scale OO EM Size 16ft x 6ft
OWNER :- TED FARMER
The model based on the early 1930 period is built to 4mm (EM gauge) and set out to portray the terminus at Brixham as closely as space limitations permit. It has been necessary to make minor alterations to the track layout to reduce the length and achieve a more manageable size.
The locomotives and rolling stock are mostly kit built from various manufactures. Not all would have found their way to Brixham but are typical of branch line operation in this period. The scenery follows the usual methods but as with all models of prototypes the buildings are scratch build with 2mm-card shells clad in various materials to suit the finish required.
CREWLISLE Scale OO 4mm Size 11.5ft x 11.5ft
OWNER :- PETER GOODMAN
A fictitious part of the WCML in NW England, between the mid 1950's and mid 1980s. There are normally at least two and sometimes as many as four locos running simultaneously on the three levels of the layout run by DCC with sound. On the high level there is a four platform terminus, steam shed, diesel shed, & goods yard. The double track continuous run on low level with overhead catenary represents the WCML and is connected to the terminus via the double junction. The reversing loop (which can hold two six coach expresses) leaves the main line under the signal cabin, runs down the inside of the operating well, under the high level goods yard and rejoins the main line under the coaling stage.
DAGNELL END Scale OO 4mm Size 18ft x 12ft
OWNER :- REDDITCH MODEL RAILWAY CLUB
Dagnell End was conceived as a fictitious station on the Hounslow loop in South-West London in the 1960s of BR southern Region. The layout was planned as a challenge in building an urban landscape to make a change from building layouts with green fields. The buildings are scratch built from photographs taken on field visits by club members. The underground trains are modified and motorised EFE models, which work on an automatic cycle. The main trains represent the variety that could be seen working on this Southern line in the 1960's. Most of the southern electric units are scratch built, with mainline trains control by use of NCE DCC system.
DOVEY VALLEY RAILWAY Scale 4mm 9mm gauge Size 9.5ft x 8.5ft
OWNER :- DICK WYATT
This narrow gauge railway is a fictitious 2ft 3ins running from the terminus of standard Mawddwy Railway to a slate quarries 6 miles away at the head of Dovey Valley.
In order to justify the intensive service operated on this model, it has been assumed that a large hydro-electric power station dam is being constructed on the defunct slate quarries.
The summer of 1960 is the date setting, when the line was busy with tourist passenger trains as well as freight for the dam construction site.
The locos and rolling stock are mainly kit built, although there are some heavily modified proprietary items as well, and the couplings used ensure that there is a realistic gap between vehicles.
A feature of the model is the slate fencing which was typical of minor railways in this part of Wales. This model was built and first exhibited in 1976; it also featured on the Two Ronnies Christmas Show 1983.
ELM PARK Scale EM Size 16ft x 6ft
OWNER :- BENTLEY MODEL RAILWAY GROUP
This layout is a fictitious area of South-East London, served by a spur off the old L&SER main line from Victoria. As built, the station was a through line reducing to single track trough a short tunnel but increasing competition from buses and the underground led to passenger services being cut after the war. All trains terminate here and use the line into the tunnel as a run-round. Freight trains use the tunnel to service various industries. The small general freight yard and lino factory remain in use and rail served. Passenger services are served by class 33 locos, although the odd class73 sometimes appears.
The track is hand built, buildings are scratch built with plastic moulding sheets on hardboard backing. The period modelled is the late 1960's, which allows diesels of green and blue livery to run.
ESME RIVER Scale On30USA narrow gauge 20ft x 5ft
OWNER :- PAUL DAVIS
The ESME RIVER railroad is completely fictitious it has no resemblance to any known railroad, period modelled is around the 1940 to 50. It is roughly based South of Bristol Tennessee USA running from there into the Blue Ridge Mountains to Elizibethton. Although none of the buildings are again based on anything found in that region all of them are from imagination.
ESME RIVER has taken 9 months to build and features of interest are a working stone saw, working stone chute and fully detailed building interiors.
EUROBAHN ZWEI Scale HO 1/84 Size11ft x 4ft
OWNER :- GARY BALL
This layout covers the period of 1905 to1965 with unusual locos from Austrian, Swiss, Italian and German origins with stream, diesel and electric locos.
All trains start from a hidden yard with a twin track line running under catenary to a front station then to continue on. The third single track line starts from the front station over an automatically controlled level crossing into a tunnel then out on to a 1/20 incline up to a small station, which has a Bavaria style castle / hotel. This line is controlled automatically at 30 second intervals.
Additional interest is a gathering of classic cars and an alpine road through a tunnel up to a castle.
FLOCKBURGH Scale 3mm 14.2 gauge 12ft x 6ft
OWNER :- BRIAN PARKER
Set around the late 1950s early 60s latter days of steam, Flockburgh represents the end of a small branch line on the England / Scotland border. With Dr Beeching's axe hovering over, a prosperous goods traffic ensures survival for now and steady trickle of passengers still use the service, provide a mix of locos as the branch struggles on.
Locos and rolling stock are mainly built from brass, plastic and white metal kits. Couplings are Spratt & Winkle mark 1s operated by permanent magnets.
Buildings make use of Daler board and plasticard and are based on photographs taken of prototypes from around the country.
THE GLYN VALLEY TRAMWAY Scale OO9 9mm gauge 8ft x 6ft
OWNER :- PETER BINNS
This layout is a compressed model of Glyceriog station (the passenger terminal) on the quarry line between an interchange wharf on the Shropshire union canal at Chirk, North Wales, and numerous granite quarries 9 miles away. The line opened in 1873 and closed in 1935.
The track is Peco 009 and the hills are polystyrene covered in grass mat. Buildings are constructed from card and plasticard.The locomotives are Peco Glyn valley tram loco's on various ‘N' gauge chassis and the wagons and coaches are mainly Parkside Dundas kits or scratch built on ‘N' gauge chassis.
GREAT SNORING Scale OO 21ft x 5ft
OWNER :- NORTH ROAD M R C PLYMOUTH
This layout is a fictitious branch line set in East Anglia circa 1946 /1947.
The war is over but the railway is still recovering from over use and minimal maintenance.
This three mile branch line from Fakenham (M&GN joint) was a sleepy backwater until the Americans opened up an airbase close to the village of Great Snoring.
To accommodate all the USAAF fuel, ammunition and Hershey bar trains, the branch was very quickly double-tracked, and the local passenger service was increased to cope with all the service traffic.
With the Yanks gone, the branch is gradually returning to its pre-war level of activity, whilst still retaining a few through passenger coach workings to Norwich.
MILLANFORD Scale OO 16ft6ins x 10ft 3ins
OWNER :- ABINGDON & DISTRICT M R C
Joint Owners Andrew McMillan & Steve Bomford
Fictional branch line loosely in the West Midlands GWR of the mid 1930's against a fine summer back ground, operating stock over a slightly wider period.
This layout took 10 yrs to construct at ‘one night a week to build basis' in order to maintain domestic harmony. This resulted in slow a process, however, it left time available to build/convert various engines and items of rolling stock.
Millanford is built to relatively fine scale standard with working signals, turntable and gates. Recent additions to the rolling stock has been automatic un-coupling of coach rakes, using an adaptation of Mike Clark's Gangway Coach Coupling Unit.
OAKLEY Scale OO 21ft x 8ft
OWNER :- SUTTON COALFIELD RAILWAY SOCIETY
Joint Owners Roger Strike & Mark Bradley
This imaginary location set in the 1930's period of Shropshire in the valley of East Onny river. It is served by branch lines from Craven Arms (LMS) and Montgomery (GWR) hence trains from both companies. The stock is proprietary some of which has been modified or detailed to suite the 1930s. The buildings are mainly scratch built or modified kits. The layout is central console controlled with mimic diagram, route setting and interlocking operating signals. The operating program is far more intensive than a small terminus would have in reality. The intention being to keep both the public and the operator's interested by always keeping the trains moving.
PENDENNIS Scale OO 30ft x 2ft
OWNER :- BLACKWATER M R G
Pendennis represents a fictitious but typical small Cornish fishing town with a quay.
Originally only a small village, served by a modest narrow gauge railway, but gradually developed into a thriving town thanks to the China clay trade and now has regular freight and passenger services. Due to diminished fishing quotas Pendennis quay has now been taken over by English China Clay Ltd and is operated by them to ship clay products to other UK and Scandinavian ports.
The layout operates modern image and is set in the period of between 1985 and the present day.
PURBECK Scale OO9 9mm gauge 11ft x 5ft
OWNER :- JOHN THORNE
Purbeck is set in the 1950's and assumes that the industrial lines on the Isle of Purbeck were extended to not only carry the ball clay but to include a passenger and local freight service. These trains ran into a station at Corfe, with the line extending through the Dorset countryside into the clay works of the Purbeck Clay Company.
The model shows ball clay industry weathering beds, drag liner and a clay processing works just to illustrate but not actual. Some buildings are scratch built from originals, also scratch built are the Lewin & Manning Wardle locos working the clay trains. Also modified is the original school wagon which daily transported school children from Goathorn to Norden (Corfe).
Featured on the layout are working lights, loco turntable, wagon turntable in the clay works, goods yard crane, drag liner and buildings with fitted interiors.
ROCKER BRIDGE Scale OO fine 9ft x 3ft
OWNER :- MIKE BRIGGS
Is a fictitiously situated on the single-track line to Fleetwood just outside Preston. The Beeching era saw the track plan rationalised to cope with commuter traffic whilst the goods avoiding line has now become a long siding from Preston, that now remains to serve the privately owned wagon works which always seems busy. The old goods line to Fleetwood South via the Rocker tunnel has been taken over in part by the Diesel Shunter Preservation Society, the chairman of which coincidentally owners the wagon works. The period is early 1970s so DMUs operate the commuter service, which operate automatic and wagon works traffic is operator controlled.
STODMARSH Scale O 10ft x 6ft
OWNER :- KEVIN CARTWRIGHT
Construction of the line terminated at Stodmarsh due to financial pressures and a decline in both goods and passengers transport. The Southern Railway closed the line in 1940 but was forced to reopen it 3 yrs later to help with the war effort during the preparations for D-Day. It was used to transport men, munitions and machinery to the south coast embarkation ports. You join us on a day of total chaos. The American and British Forces are on manoeuvres. The Yanks are on the bridge giving everyone the wrong directions and the local residents are running for cover as the Luftwaffe has dropped some incendiary bombs. The National Fire Service has just managed to put out the grass fire, whilst Captain Mainwaring's Home Guard has captured a shot down German airman. Private Walker has released someone's chickens while acquiring some eggs and most of the British Army is having a brew up in their lorry for it has broken down. Occasionally during the melee, you should see a train working in the station.
THISTLEMERE Scale OO 14ft x6ft
OWNER:- Jointly by COLIN POSTLETHWAITE & GRAEME MARRIOTT
A modern image DCC layout with locos sound chipped, era 1970 to 1990 pre de-nationalisation. The layout is loosely based on a scene of a North West and Scottish terminus with freight yard. The engine shed, signal box, station booking hall, freight depot and other buildings all have lighting fitted.
There are various cameo scenes on the layout such as the welder and workshop in the engines shed and the car repairs being performed at the end of the front road. The freight depot has hidden surprises and some not so obvious ones. Look out for the stubborn dog and the sea gulls!!
Realistic shunting and terminus operation is made realistic by the use of Kadee couplers on rolling stock and carefully hidden magnets.