The Model

The model itself concentrates on Churchleigh Town and is set roughly in the period just after the privatisation and the delivery of the class 66 although modeller’s license is often employed to distort time slightly. The model is built on two four feet by two feet boards, giving an overall size of eight feet by two feet. Trains enter and exit via tunnel that disappears beneath the streets of Churchleigh, which acts as a scenic break. All track is Peco, with Electrofrog points used throughout. The layout is divided into eight isolating sections, which along with the points are controlled by a hand held signal box style diagrammatic switch box. Controls also appear here for the two signals on the layout, one two-aspect signal and a ground ‘call-on’ signal, both Eckon. This control box connects to the layout via a 36-way centronics printer cable, cut in the middle to give a plug and socket arrangement. The two boards are interconnected via a 25-way din cable treated in the same manner. Control is via a Guagemaster hand held controller. The layout is also provided with lighting in the buildings and floodlights illuminate the yard.