TODD HALL
A small circular N gauge model railway. North Lancashire/South Westmorland British Railways circa 1950s/early 1960s with mostly steam locomotives. Layout includes station, sidings, hall, flour mill and factory.
POINTLESS SHUNTING
A small 009 scale puzzle for you. Roll the dice and choose your road – but no points are allowed!
BLACKWELLS BREWERY
Built in EM scale, Blackwell’s Brewery Company (also known as the BBC) was situated not far from Shenfield on the ex-GER cross-country route to Ongar and Dunmow. The line closed in the 1960’s, a victim of Dr. Beeching, and no trace can be found of it today
CHURWALDEN
Although N gauge it could probably be classified Nn as it is narrow gauge stock running on standard gauge track. The layout is based on the operations of the Rhätische Bahn (RhB), the largest narrow gauge operator in Switzerland, is a winter layout with a Christmas feel. It is a fictitious layout, Churwalden is in an area of Graubünden which is not served by the railway.
RAVEN HILL
An O9 scale scenic model of a 15” gauge railway modelled in 7mm scale and inspired by the North Yorkshire Moors scenery. Trains run along the hillside into “Raven Hill” village station, a through station on the fictitious Penny Howe Light Railway which is portrayed in the 1960’s when a land owner has re-laid the line running on an old tramway track bed. Holiday makers and day-trippers are catered-for, while the railway also carries light goods and food supplies to the farms and villages.
MAENTWROG
A freelance design with Ffestiniog rolling stock.
My main interest is the construction of locos in 4mm scale based on those in operation on the Ffestiniog Railway. The models on display today have been built over the last 30 years using a variety of sources and methods, some kits on homemade chassis, some straight kits, and one “ready to run”. The layout dates back to 1969 and was designed to fit into the back of my (the original) Mini Traveller. Handmade track was all that was available then and it was originally made to 8mm gauge. It was modified to 9mm in the late 1970’s when 009 items appeared in the market.
BILDESTON JUNCTION
Set in the Suffolk countryside during the 1950’s represents a ‘might-have-been’ branch line serving Bildeston village.
In 1901 a light railway linking Hadleigh and Long Melford through West Suffolk villages was proposed and surveyed by Colonel Stephens. Although the route did not pass through the village of Bildeston we have assumed that the latter’s population objected and demanded to be included in a revised plan. We have also included a line from Bildeston to Stowmarket to give further impetus to developing the rural economy. Hence the layout name Bildeston Junction.
During the 1950’s, by which time the Bildeston line had passed into nationalisation, early diesels have made their appearance alongside the traditional ex GER and LNER locos that have served the area for many years. However, it is not unusual for trains from other regions to make an appearance on the layout from time to time to add variety and interest at exhibitions.
FENN STREET YARD
When the warehouses and industrial area was built by the local Landowner and MP, Sir Jedidiah Mortlake, the nearby river was a convenient source for the movement of goods. However, over time the river began to silt up making transport of said goods more difficult.
Conveniently at this time the local mainline railway company proposed to build a branch line to a nearby town. Sir Jedidiah studying the proposed route realised that by a small change of route his industrial area could be connected to the mainline, but the railway company refused his suggestion. Outraged and determined to keep his business profitable and out of spite he decided to build his own industrial railway from Fenn Street down to the
branch line, operated by his own locomotives.
In reality, the layout has been built to show that you don’t need masses of room to have an absorbing model railway in 0 gauge.
HOLMEHURST
Holmehurst was originally built and exhibited at 30 shows between 1995 – 2003, by a former member / Chairman; Keith Lodge. Having taken early retirement and with plans to fulfil his dreams to live on a narrow boat, Keith very kindly donated the layout to IRMA.
The layout was built as purely GWR operation (just post war). Following discussions with the various club members from the ‘O’ gauge group, it was agreed that to accommodate the variety of stock owned by members (both regions and period) that the layout would be better operated as a preserved line.
The layout has recently been updated with a new scenic board and fiddle yard.
WOODBRIDGE
The layout was donated to the Felixstowe N Gauge group by the family of Ted Cotton who originally built it. The layout depicts what may have become of Woodbridge station.
The Goods facilities are no longer in use but the horse tramway has become a preserved line / tourist attraction. A number of key buildings / structures have been scratch built giving the layout its character.
