This layout combines two layouts, Glebe Street and Glebe Street Shed which can be shown separately.
The year is 1963 and the layout is set in urban Glasgow, somewhere NE of Partick in the Maryhill area, but it is an imaginary location. The layout is on two levels, the lower level being entirely goods featuring Glebe Street Goods Station which extends across the main road, Glebe Street, into a foundry located beside a branch of the Forth and Clyde canal. The yard is operated by a mixture of steam and early diesel power with a wide variety of classes evident.
The upper level is a solely passenger line terminating at Sauchtonburn station, part of the Glasgow suburban network. This is operated by a combination of a loco hauled trains and DMUs as the transition from steam to diesel is underway and, although the line is not yet electrified, there is evidence of the start of construction for electrification. Other evidence that modernisation has started is that colour light signals and powered points have been installed, and on the layout the signals and points are fully interlocked and follow prototype practice.
A tram operates from the front of the layout by the goods station, crossing the railway line into the foundry, under the high-level station, and round the back of the layout.
A line going off to the left of Glebe Street Goods Yard is a goods line connecting with Bishopbriggs and, when it was constructed, the opportunity was taken to build a small engine shed. Because of the cramped space between Lochhead Street and Wylie Street, the shed was connected by a ‘kick back’ off the turntable and is only used for servicing with no engineering facilities. However the usual servicing facilities of coaling and watering, and an ashpit for disposal are provided. With the move to diesel power, an additional short storage siding was provided with refuelling facilities, but with no road access this must be topped with deliveries by tank wagon via the turntable The cramped nature of the site necessitated the far edge of the turntable to extend just under Wylie Street, and the line to Bishopbriggs exits the layout to the left under the Wylie Street bridge.
The layout is DCC using NCE controllers but an analogue 12V supply for the points and signals. It is operated by 5 people at any one time, one in the rear at the cassettes, one at the end operating the high level, one in front operating the goods yard, one at the engine shed and one available to talk to the public. Communication is by bell codes and block instruments and, if necessary, by telephone – and sometimes we just speak to each other!