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SHIPLEY MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY Layouts

This layout was featured in the December 2003 issue of the Railway Modeller.

The model is based closely on Hungerford station, situated on the Great Western Railway main line from Reading to Westbury and Taunton, as it was in the late 1920s. Much research has been done to accurately show the railway structures and buildings, and the adjoining section of the town. Very few of these buildings still exist 75 years later. Due to having to for-shorten the ends of the layout, some town buildings have had to be omitted or reduced in size. A section of the Kennet and Avon canal, which runs close to the railway immediately east of the town, has also been modelled.

The track layout through the station area is to scale length and generally accurate, with the exception of a cross-over at the London end of the platforms which was not added until the 1940s. Intended operation is a sequence showing a representative selection of trains, e.g. West of England expresses, Plymouth boat traffic, parcels, and milk to London. Somewhat surprisingly, Hungerford was both the terminus for commuter trains from London and Reading, and for local services from Yeovil and Westbury.

Freight traffic was limited to local pick-up services, but there was considerable livestock movement, especially race horses.

The plain track is SMP, while turnouts and crossings are of soldered construction using brass rivets on EM Gauge Society wood sleepers. The turnouts are operated by solenoids on the scenic section of the layout, and by Tortoise slow-acting motors in the storage sidings, which simplified the wiring for route selection.

Buildings are constructed from various materials including embossed card, pasticard, plywood and scribed plaster. Locomotives and rolling stock are the products of most of the 4mm scale kit manufacturers, along with some ready-to-run items, all suitably modified for use on EM gauge. Prototypical three-link couplings are currently used despite operator eyestrain!

A main controller is used for each mainline, one for the up and one for the down. The turnouts are used for power routing and isolation to lengths of track incluiding sidings and run round loops. The goods yard has its own controller while two more power the rear fiddle yard enabling its operators to marshal trains ready to depart. The turnouts are electronically interlocked to the signals and LEDs on the main control panel show their status. All other switching is done by relays.

The layout is viewable on 3 sides and occupies a space of 24’ 10” x 11’ 0” (excluding barriers).

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