SHIPLEY MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY Layouts

Leicester South (GC)

4mm OO Finescale

Leicester South (GC) is a new 4mm scale OO gauge layout being built by the team that produced the multi-award winning ‘Tebay’, with help from new members.

The layout will model an actual location a few hundred yards south from Leicester Central station as it was in British Railway days between 1948 and 1963.

The layout measures 30 feet x 14 feet, based on the ex Great Central route a few hundred yards south of Leicester Central station in the period 1948 to 1963 so BR and ex LNER, LMS, SR and GWR stock will be seen along with the two named trains, the Master Cutler and the South Yorkshireman. As a result of our research we intend to model 50 trains, so extensive storage sidings are required to hold these trains for realistic timetable operation.

We are delighted to be awarded a grant from Awards for All and this will enable members to construct the main control panel, to purchase point motors for the storage sidings and to install fluorescent lighting units.

Buildings and infrastructure

Double track main line & parallel double track goods loops (on a rising gradient facing north)
Carriage shed and sidings
A large goods yard and goods shed
Line leading into the engine shed (but not the shed itself)
Four bridges over a river (and the river!)
Houses and commercial buildings

Trains

Express trains including Master Cutler and South Yorkshireman
Semi-fast and local trains
Empty coaching stock
Parcel trains
Fish trains, such as the combined Hull and Grimsby-Plymouth service headed by Standard Class 7 Britannia 70044 'Earl Haigh'.
Freights including the famous high speed Annesley-Woodford ‘Runners’
The twice weekly Newcastle - Park Royal Brewery Guiness train
Trip freights
Light engine movements to and from the engine shed
Extensive shunting in the goods yard

Rolling Stock

Because the time period chosen covers both Eastern Region ownership (up to 1958) and London Midland ownership, and because of inter-regional trains, coaches of BR, Southern, LMS, LNER and a few GWR origin ran through with a good mix of goods and parcels stock.

Locomotives were also very varied and included the BR standard 9F, Britannia pacifics, standard class 5, A3 pacifics such as 60052 Prince Palatine (seen above passing under the Midland Railway Leicester-Burton upon Trent line at Bridge 379 with a London Marylebone to Manchester London Road express), V2 2-6-2s, B1 and B16 4-6-0s, K3 2-6-0s, Ol 2-8-0s , the LMS Jubilees, Black 5s, Royal Scots, DMU’s and lots more.

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