Whittingly - What next?

Since the Rail200 event at the NEC National Festival or Railway Modelling, Whittingly Hospital has lived in its box in the garage. It was always intended to be the basis of an operational layout, not simply a diorama, so it is time to think about the transition. 

As a reminder, this overhead shot shows the layout as built within the Rail200 rules - which limited not just baseboard size, but overall height and the position of the front, disconnected, through track. The buildings were all constructed to fit within the available footprint and height limit. 

So here is Plan A. This was my original concept. The track layout is modified with a left-hand point by the end of the platform connecting the 3-way point to form a crossover, but otherwise the scenic area is unchanged. I would replace the backscene with a taller one, and add a cameo-style lighting pelmet. 

The key changes would be off-stage. To the left, a short extension gives a little more head shunt room beyond the platform canopy, and lengthens the two sidings through the buildings. On the right, a fiddle yard both provides for a change of train and completes a run-round loop with the 3-way point. I'd sketched a turntable yard, though if that doesn't look like it would work a sector plate would do. A train of 2 6-wheel coaches or 3-4 wagons and loco would be 15-18".

In this plan, the Rail200 challenge entry is kept largely unchanged, which minimises the work involved, and there are no board joins in the scenery. The downside is that only about half the layout length is scenic, shunting will go off-stage, and during key movements such as running around the loco can't be seen. 

Plan B is more ambitious. The extension to the left has become scenic, allowing the loco to be seen beyond the station canopy. A second board to the right provides the rest of the run-round loop and a point "on-stage", as well as the off-stage fiddle yard. This means pretty much all operation will be visible, and makes the scenic length around double that of the fiddle yard. 

The downsides are the complexities of extending the existing buildings. The engine shed would be particularly problematic, as sketched it crosses a board join, but the current structure is well fixed down and has an angled rear that is incomplete. I'm not sure how well the scene on the right-hand board works, messing up the balance of the existing scene without really adding to it. There's also an inconvenient backscene join, and it's harder to store. Finally, the resulting layout has lost the connection to the Rail200 challenge by growing well beyond its original size. While technically better, it would be better not starting from the current layout. 

Let me know what you think!

Glyn Valley Tramway Loco Shed.

April's BRM magazine shows another of my projects as a step-by-step guide. This one is is a Dapol laser-cut card kit for a narrow gauge engine shed. 

The prototype for the model was the Glyn Valley Tramway engine shed at Glyn Ceiriog, and still stands and can be seen on google streetview. 

It's a fine kit that makes a nice model. A first for me was using colouring pencils on the brickwork, which has worked really well. I modified assembly to allow the roof to be removed, and sat it on some card to lift it so my Glyn Valley Tram loco fitted through the door. I suspect the prototype was measured from current ground level, which might be equivalent to what was once rail height! 

It's nice to have a building kit that is intended for narrow gauge models. It will hold 3 009 locos, and would suit layouts in many different settings.

Steyning WRG Exhibition 2026

The Wealden Railway Group exhibition in Steyning yesterday was the first external show for the Sussex Downs 009 Group layout, Much Ditheryn. It was at the group's own members' day show last year, and has been to a previous members' day and an Amberley railway gala as an under-construction demonstration. 

The day didn't start well with two electrical issues, traced to loose/broken wires, but fortunately we resolved those quickly. We also had some issues with running as we found locos and stock that struggled with the gradients, curves, and possibly track imperfections, some adjustments may need to be made. However, most troublesome vehicles had been swapped out by soon after opening, and once we got into a rhythm things went well. Although lacking the finishing touches, it looked good and received some nice comments, and set-up and breakdown went well. 

Another new layout I was looking forward to seeing was Chris O'Donoghue's Caravanserai (009), set alongside the Nile in Egypt. It looked great, full of interest and very different!

The WRG show often has a good selection of NG layouts. Simon Hargreaves brought Dead Frog Basin (009), a delightful Inglenook which has been nicely completed and framed in an Ikea APA box since I last saw it. 

Giles Barnabe had built Ashleworth Quay in about 5 weeks. The premise uses "OO" for a 4' gauge line - OOn4 perhaps? It's compact and attractive with a clever backscene that really sets the scene. Sadly, perhaps because of its short development, it suffered from running issues. 

Ian Roberts had yet another 1:32 scale 16.5mm gauge layout, this time an island in the North Sea.

This large scale (SM32?) industrial layout by Les Coleman was "dead rail" (radio control). 

On to the standard gauge. Andrew Knights showed his new O-gauge shunting layout, I guess it's a micro layout in that scale!

London Road Sidings, a very compact shunting layout in OO by Terry Kempton.

A diesel depot (OO) by Tim Farmer.

Sidlow (OO) by Ian Buck

N-gauge tram layout that fits in a motorbike back pack by Mike Potter of Budget Model Railways.

Polbream, a very small but delightful scene in N by Tom Lloyd, featured in April's Model Rail magazine.

As always, a good friendly show with lots of chat.

Much Ditheryn

The Sussex Downs 009 Group has been working on its layout, Much Ditheryn. It has been shown a couple of times while under construction, including at the group's members' day exhibition last year. There's still much to do, but scenery is continuing to develop. I recently took some photos, some of which have appeared with a short introduction to the layout and the group in the March 009 News.

The layout is set in the Welsh-Shropshire boarders, and hopefully the architecture of the village fits that. 

A river runs through the layout in a ravine.

The track runs on different levels.

Round the back, there is a double-deck train turntable fiddle yard, and a mimic diagram control panel.

Much Ditheryn will be at the Wealden Railway Group exhibition at Steyning on Sunday 8th March. More details of the show here.  Do say hello!

Tonbridge with Loctern Quay

 Today I took Loctern Quay to the Tonbridge show. 

It performed well, other than the odd reluctant coupling (despite all the testing!), and received nice comments. The show was really busy in the morning, the afternoon more pleasant. It was a good show, a great selection of quality layouts and good trade support with useful suppliers. Good catering for exhibitors too! Some of my better photos snatched between operating sessions below. I didn't think to get a show guide, so I think I have the names of name all the layouts, but I may not and I don't have all the details! 

I'd been impressed with Express Daisy Sidings (EM) when I saw it in Railway Modeller, and it was good to see it in the flesh. I liked the shunting move counter, operated by a reed switch and a magnet in the loco, perhaps I should get one for Loctern Quay?

I'd seen Bulldog Quay, Oare Creek (EM) develop on RMWeb, so another layout I was pleased to see. The superb model ships rather steal the limelight, but the pre-grouping trains were delightful too. Talking of light, my one criticism is that spotlights on a pole at the back corner are a terrible way to light a layout...

The Victory (OO) is another simple but delightful model. The narrow peninsular design made it stand out and the high viewpoint drew attention to the detail, but it was another difficult model to photograph because of the lack of backscene. 

Tellindalloch in Autumn (OO) is another layout seen in Railway Modeller. The obvious feature is the Autumn forest setting, impressively modelled trees of a realistic and imposing height frame the scene nicely. The river is well modelled too, with twinkling lights to give the impression of flowing water. 

I think this is Dublingham Goods (OO). A nice model, but strangely using 3-rail track (hand-built) and ancient 3-rail locos. I don't know why. 

I think this is Surrey Arms (EM). Also with 3-rails, but that's because it is Southern electric. A fine model with subtle colouring. 

Moors View (N). Dartmoor in the winter. Very impressive scenery, and can't have been easy to do this well. 

The Yard (O, O16.5) - I've seen this before, but am always impressed and mesmerised by the operating lorries and crane. The actual trains are merely there as props to be loaded!

Wittenden (O-16.5/O9) - double narrow gauge!

Penmaenbach (OO)

The Rapido stand had decorated samples of their new Kerr Stuart loco. Very nice!

Loctern Quay - Prep for Tonbridge

Loctern Quay will be at the Tonbridge exhibition next Saturday, so this week I have been dusting, testing all the locos and checking all the couplings. There's always the odd coupling to tweak to get it working consistently, and a sticky place for locos was traced to a piece of stray ballast. Hoperfully, this means more reliable operation at the show. While I was at it, I had a bit of a play, and decided to get the new camera out and get some shots of operation.

A tram loco propels a train onto the quay. 

As the train loco uncouples and sets back across the crossing, the quay shunter moves forward. 

The little Bagnall draws a cut of wagons into the head shunt. 

Gradually, a new assortment of wagons collects on the back siding. 

The Bagnall shuffles wagons by the quayside warehouses. 

Finally, the train is ready to depart. 

All working well, so I just need to pack everything away now.