I think model railway layouts can be regarded as three-dimensional art forms with moveable and controllable components. I try to follow this concept with my modelling.

 

Figure 1 - Dumbelton Station

 

My approach to railway modelling is that it has to be fun and therefore not be bound by the strictures of prototype detail or historical accuracy. Advancing years and a limited budget also warrant a somewhat cheap and easy attitude, so my fourth and, most likely, last layout has developed accordingly.

 

 

Having sixty square metres of garage under the house and only one car to intrude was a good start. The layout runs around three walls, two of which are scenic, 8.2m x 5.8m, and the third has a fiddle yard and turntable mounted over a cupboard. The structure is very robust, as there are times when I need to stand on it and it is high enough for me to duck under. The base board is 12mm M.D.F., some of which has served on previous layouts. Scenery follows the usual techniques, with the exception of two large hills, which are actually 2 mm plywood curved over wooden formers and painted with acrylics. In order to create a quick overall effect, I tend to paint the surfaces prior to adding textures such as flock and other ground scatter. Even ballast has to wait until I am ready. This releases time for playing with my trains until the creative urge returns and also allows faults to be easily rectified. Most of the buildings are from commercial kits, with a few of my own constructions. Control is D.C. from an old electric blanket unit/bridge rectifier and simple transistor controllers made by me from the days of Dick Smith.

 

Figure 2 - Dumbelton MPD

 

Track is Peco Code 100 and all points are Electrofrog, with Peco motors driven by a C.D.U. built from more “Dick Smithery.” Track sections are switched via D.P.D.T.C.O (double-pole, double throw, centre off) switches and tension lock uncoupling is achieved by ramps raised and lowered by weighted cranks beneath the base boards and operated by fishing line a la Heath Robinson.

 

 

The scenario is a fictional western area of the U.K. served by the G.W.R. in the late thirties and, although my knowledge thereof is scant, most of my stock is appropriate. However, due to persistent white-anting, black and crimson trains have appeared! So it has become a joint G.W.R. /L.M.S. line and is even more fun.

 

 

The main station is Dumbelton, situated in a valley between two hills, beneath which are hidden pairs of return storage loops forming a dumbbell - hence the name. From this base level there is a junction on the main line with an incline rising through the hill and emerging to run above Dumbelton over a viaduct and a long embankment around the room. After arrival at the small country station at High Dudgeon Junction, once again trains disappear beneath the hill on two hidden storage loops above the lower level ones. An additional single line track enters the hillside and climbs above the hidden loops to emerge into the five track fiddle yard at High-Fye. From this configuration I have eight destinations that trains can depart to and arrive from, involving a quite substantial continuous run. There are opportunities for realistic length trains, double-heading and banking. The layout can employ three operators, but can be run single-handed, which introduces the spectacle of The Frantic Run-around Operator!

 

Figure 3 - Dumbelton goods shed with the entry to the left hand end hidden loop in the background

 

Traffic can be varied, with eight coach expresses, shorter local trains and several block consists of freight vehicles such as milk tankers and parcels trains. There is a steady and rather grisly traffic of cattle wagons from Dumbelton up to the Abattoir at High Dudgeon and a subsequent return run of empties and a couple of presumably full sausage wagons.

 

Figure 4 - High Dudgeon goods yard

 

As there is anything up to a dozen trains lurking around the system at any one time, including six out of sight beneath the hills, there is a need to keep track of them. I have resolved this by allocating each train or consist of vehicles an identity disk in the form of a large “penny washer”, which is placed on the section switch relevant to its location at the time and moved to follow the train in its travels. When trains are in the hidden loops they are protected by two on/off switches. One is an entry control and the other a holding control. When both switches are in the ‘off’ position the hidden train is held, entry to the loop is denied, a red warning light is illuminated and the identity disk is placed on the ‘hold’ switch.

 

 

To add to the realism, there are bells at both control panels worked by Morse keys, for which a modified bell code is provided. The bells, which are from the tip, are struck by Peco point motors fitted vertically with a return weight and are quite effective. As each station has a block switch protecting it, the bell codes can be quite important if there are two operators.

 

Figure 5 - Dumbelton goods shed and yard

 

Although there is a large mileage of track to maintain, I seldom need to use the abrasive, as frequent running sessions and a Trix wheel cleaner combined with a touch of surgical spirit and T.L.C. for the locomotives seems to keep things running quite well. A well- known frustration that comes with using stock of various manufacturers and of different ages is the vexatious differences in hook and bar couplings. There is no solution other than mixing couplings on a number of vehicles and, hopefully, remembering which ones! Another limitation of hook and bar is the permanent location of uncoupling ramps. I have partly overcome this by making my ramps rise and fall mechanically, so unwanted separation is avoided. A small removable adaptor to raise the hooks on the loco enables push shunting away from the uncoupler and ,incidentally, facilitates banking.

 

 

There is still much to do, but the layout is well and truly into the fun stage. Signal kits are coming for High Dudgeon at last and will eventually come to Dumbelton. A minor set-back occurred recently when a mouse invaded the landscape and devoured a couple of trees, so there is now a defensive moat of “Ratsak” around the room.

 

 

Our location in Daylesford in the Central Highlands of Victoria tends to isolate us from the Railway modelling community but a warm welcome is extended to visitors to the layout. There is even a box of tissues for the Rivet Counters.

 

 

 

Figure 6 - High Dudgeon Station