Welcome to my small layout. Many of you may be more familiar with my construction videos with Boris the Greyhound, or activities with the SR7mm Group, or helping with various Guild events. Until comparatively recently I didn’t have my own railway, but an opportunity arose, a few years ago, to acquire two micro layouts originally constructed by Jim Read. I have plans to build my own larger railway at some stage, but I wanted something that I could use to practice various modelling techniques on, away from the SR7mm Group railway. This particular railway used to be Maltby Mineral Water Depot, and is depicted elsewhere on the Guild YouTube channel in that form. I’ve converted it to a brewery, which is situated quite near to Manors station near Newcastle Central, in order to justify the ES1 locomotive.

I have a particular interest in the lines of the NER, particularly what was the Central Division; so basically, the old Stockton and Darlington railway, and associated lines. I had acquired some stock, and had original plans to build a line based on the Newcastle Quayside branch. My early unsatisfactory efforts are still in the loft put aside, hence my requirement to practice certain things beforehand elsewhere.

The railway is quite simple in arrangement, and is only 55” x 18”. All track is hand-built, and I have converted operation to DCC. Points were originally worked by hand operated wire in tube. These are now operated by servos with ‘Frog Juicers’, controlled by a Digikejis DR4024, and still using the original wire in tube to a certain extent. The DR4024 is powered from its own 12v PSU, so this can be used for other things such as the lamp via a 12v to 5v converter. DCC is controlled by a PiSPROG running JMRI, and points are now operated from a touch screen. The PiSPROG is small 3A capable DCC controller attached to a Raspberry Pi4, so more than enough power for two locomotives at a time, and locomotives are driven using the Engine Driver app on a small tablet. In addition, all the larger traverser lines have home-made aysynchronous DCC boards to prevent collisions if I can’t slow them down in time. Dingham electromagnets are also fitted, but I haven’t had time to convert enough stock to bring them into use yet.

The grounded wagon body is leftover parts from various Slaters BR Meat Van kits, and the water column is from Skytrex. I went a bit to town with the static grass in practising, and I think it looks quite effective, if, maybe, slightly unrealistic. The plants are made from old garden broom bristles, dipped in PVA and then into multicoloured scatter material. I’ve got various other items to dot around, including people, but I forgot to buy a pack of Skytrex crates at Stafford; I was otherwise occupied. Locomotive stock is a J71 (Connoisseur/YouChoos sound), ES1 (Judith Edge) and a Sentinel Y3 (Dapol/Olivia’s Trains sound), plus a Wickham from Ellis as a bit of whimsy. Goods vehicles are either weathered (or not) ready to run, or kit built items.

The overhead line, characteristic on the Trafalgar Yard - Newcastle Quayside line, is built from 4mm brass rod for the posts – thank you, Ian, for doing the M3 mounting threads – and items from Hobbycraft intended for home assembly of jewellery. The wires themselves are nylon covered stainless steel in green or black, the horns on the overhead line are made from 12BA nuts and bolts, and the insulators are small plastic beads. The whole assembly is tensioned by two springs, and 6BA nuts & bolts for adjustment, at the large fiddle yard end.

Operating the railway, rather than building or modifying it, is very pleasurable, if Boris doesn’t stick his nose in (he definitely doesn’t like the sound of the Sentinel). I’m looking at the feasibility of making it a bit more presentable for showing, with a suitable lighting rig (got the LED strips, just need to work out a method of fitting them) that will still allow me to put it in the back of the car, and a method of operation that will interest viewers. Well, sometime, maybe.

Join Peter at 1545 for a live Zoom session where he will talk about the new aspects of this layout. Click here to join