Kenninghall was my first attempt at modelling in O Gauge. I had purchased a J69 and J50 cheaply as they both needed some TLC. this was followed by a O3 and a O5 diesel shunter  kits. All  four being ‘East Anglian’ transition period, a suitable layout was designed.

Being my first O gauge layout all aspects can be described as basic.

In reflection I made many mistakes with this layout, but it was a learning curve. It was a nightmare to put up and take down at Exhibitions. Transporting was also troublesome and this resulted in an earlier than anticipated demise with water damage.

This layout has appeared in MODEL RAIL  No.88 FEBRUARY 2006

Merlin’s Lane is my first layout with O Gauge DCC Sound, although original thoughts were DCC only, I decided to go this way as I thought other gauges  diesel sounds  were not as I wanted. I thought the Heljan prepared sound box on their diesel locomotives was the way to go. Having decided this I purchased four more loco’s over the period of 18 months, I already had two. The next decision was what to run them with! I had already heard that Heljan intended to bring out an Engine Shed Kit, so thought there would be an outbreak of Layouts with the Shed as the centre piece. Although the Bachmann Fueling Point has been out for some time, the layouts I have seen with these on were usually part of a bigger layout. I decided I would make the Fuelling Point the centre piece of the layout and designed a layout based on a fuel and stabling point only..

Loco’s still to be weathered and layout to have further weathering.

This is another layout inspired by a manufacturer making a loco that really looked good. This was of course Ixion and the loco was the Hudswell Clarke. I purchased one and was completely delighted, another followed quickly. These were followed by several other industrial locomotives until I had seven loco’s of different parentage. I came up with the idea of a small industrial engine shed and a wagon repair siding. I really wanted to develop a layout that showed just how dirty and rundown such a facility could be. The main building was fashioned from a Heljan engine shed kit. Other items were kit bashed and scratch built, but all had to  blend with the required dirt and grime. I made four wagons for the wagon repair section.

At an Exhibition I purchased 3 packets of ‘used moulding sand’, the type that is used for moulding iron etc. It was quite fine, but it’s biggest plus was its colour, it was a lovely burnt brown. This was just the finish I needed for a well trod, run down Engine Shed. I used Johnsons Klear as the gluing agent and it worked fine. Sadly I have never seen any on sale again!

This is a pointless layout – As approved by Mr Colin French !!

‘SIZE’- 5′ x 18″      ‘AREA MODELLED ‘- STEAM SHED       ‘REGION’-INDUSTRIAL

‘STOCK’- INDUSTRIAL STEAM & DIESEL   0-4-0/0-6-0   ‘FIDDLE YARD’- TRANSVERSER

‘TRACK ‘ – PECO        ‘CONTROL’ -DC- GAUGEMASTER COMBI

My Son complains about a guest operator at Dereham Exhibition

I had several small BR locomotives in O gauge purchased over several years. I also had quite a lot of wagons left over from a previous layout. This layout, Kenninghall was exhibited for several years until it was written off due to water damage. I also had several buildings and bits and bobs that could be re-used. I really enjoyed shunting on Kenninghall  but became frustrated with three link couplings, the new layout, Sefton Yard would be the ‘test bed’ for hands free auto-coupling.  The first question was, what type suited my needs on  a small shunting layout. I will not go into the pro’s and con’s of every type of coupling available, but my decision was ‘Sprat and Winkle’ However I went for the 4mm type rather that the 7mm type, which I thought far to bulky for my needs. I would also loop at one end and hook at the other as I could keep all wagons the same way around. I also wanted the layout to depict quite a wide running era of 1956- 64 and the chance to run different regions and areas, both steam and diesel.

For the yard I needed a  well trodden look in certain areas, after some experiments I purchased a packet of ‘moulding clay’, This I pushed and pressed into the track, between the sleepers on the well used sections. I graduated this in places with sand and then ‘N gauge’ ballast. At the entry to the yard some ‘OO gauge’ was also laid as this saw less footfall. All surfaces were then hand painted and blended.

Sefton Yard holds up to 20 short wheelbase four wheel wagons so this is a perfect shunting puzzle. The sector plate is easy to make and is a great space saver, it holds 4 wagons and a small shunting loco..

‘SIZE’-    7′ x 2′             ‘ AREA MODELLED’  – GOODS YARD          ‘REGIONS’ – VARIOUS

‘STOCK’ -SMALL STEAM and DIESEL  0-4-0 / 0-6-0    ‘FIDDLE YARD’ – SECTOR PLATE

‘TRACK’ – PECO           ‘CONTROL’ – DC – GAUGEMASTER COMBI