Scale models

Barmouth Junction

my own 4mm scale layout

BR era 1948 - 1965

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geoffandshar@btinternet.com

The final pages on my website are of my own layout, which is being constructed in 4mm scale. The main station is Barmouth Junction, with other scenic sections of Dolgelley goods yard (not the station), Penmaenpool (the last stage not built yet) and a long scenic section with river bridge.

There are three storage yards for the layout, which are now all finished. These are Barmouth, Machynlleth and Ruabon. The panels are only temporary at present, until everything works OK, then new final ones will be built. The whole layout is DCC controlled using the Lenz system and various decoders have been used, some with sound. Sound is fitted to some loco’s, making it a most enjoyable experience to drive them and hear the clanking and hissing.

The plain track is SMP and all the points on the scenic sections have been made by my friend, John Bailey, who has also done a lot of wiring and various other bits. Without him, the layout would not have progressed so quickly.

Signals are now all in place at Barmouth Junction and have been beautifully made by another friend, Tony Geary. One other signal has been made by Tony Gee. These still have to have operating mechanisms fitted. Ballasting has been done on all the tracks at Barmouth Junction and scenic work is on-going. Now that all the signals have been made, the final panel can be done with the addition of a lever-frame to operate both signals and points.

Barmouth Junction

This is the main part of the railway, so I have given it lots of space. Being a junction, it will be a busy station with trains arriving and departing on four platforms. After leaving each platform, the line is single track, so operating should be interesting, as each operator will have to check the route is clear to proceed. It will probably be a single-line token working, with red and green LED lights on each panel.  A timetable/sequence has at last been done and has made the operation much more interesting.

I have set the period modelled in the BR era of 1948-1965, so a varied selection of motive power and different coaching stock can be run. Only engine classes that actually ran on the line will be on the layout and after researching, I had a list of 18 different ones. Mostly these loco’s are from Bachmann, with a rather nice kit-built Dukedog, which was made by Jonathan Matthews.

Dolgelley goods yard

Due to the usual space restrictions, I’m only modelling the goods yard and not the station here. The end of the scenic section is the road bridge, which goes over the tracks and the river. Scenic embankments, goods shed and road have been started and the road bridge is in place. The other structures still have to be constructed. There is now a river bed, made from many layers of varnish, so scenery should progress now, along with ballasting. The backscene has also been painted by Sara.

Penmaenpool station

A start has been made on the planning of this station, so new baseboards will be made shortly. For running purposes, I have put down tracks and a passing loop, complete with a two road loco shed and siding. This enables me to operate the whole layout as intended. The actual station was in a beautiful location, so hopefully, my model of it will do it justice when built.

Scenery is mostly finished, which compliments the lovely backscene, which has been professionally painted by Sara Heller. Station furniture, signs and lamps and a few other items have to be added yet. The main station building is in the process of being constructed.

Magnificent view of Barmouth estuary

All that is left of Barmouth Junction today

Dolgelley in the 1960’s (photographer unknown)