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. A line going off to the left of the layout was a goods line connecting with Bishopbriggs but this was closed and the track lifted.
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 a DMU 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 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.
The layout is DCC using NCE controllers but an analogue 12V supply for the points and signals. It is operated by 4 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 although a second person can also operate here and one available to talk to the public. Communication is by bell codes and block instruments and, if necessary, by telephone.