* First Model Railway

First “N” Gauge Model Railway

Office Bay Window

The area in front of the office window had previously been used for storage, and was identified as being ripe for another attraction for the station on a modest scale; the decision was made to create from scratch a small model railway layout which could be viewed from the outside to the delight of passengers. Permission was granted by director Ian Longworth who was very supportive of the project and the many other activities of the group.

Stationmaster and volunteer Grant Taylor created this to “N” gauge as a larger scale would not allow for the radius of curves in the small space; over the course of that season the layout was completed, to a theme of the pre-war Great Western Railway and feature three independently operating loops controlled from with the office area. This ran regularly when the trains were due to pass outside and was fitted with some viewing steps outside for younger enthusiasts.

Removal & Storage

The area housing the model was later deemed to be required for operational reasons, when a computer terminal and printer were installed at the station, and so sadly the layout was dismantled and placed into storage where it remains today, seeking an alternative location in the fullness of time. A larger “OO” gauge layout has since been established in the disused store room, information on which may be found here.

The group are always keen to develop and enhance the entire site, but accommodation for this small model has thus far proved impractical. If you can help, or are interested in modelling, we would consider selling it to fund other projects and you can get in touch with us here.

Devil In The Detail...

The layout had many detailed features, most of which were placed to be viewed at close quarters through the window; as well as a station with two island platforms and a footbridge, there was also a fire station complete with appliances, car parking with many period vehicles, a farmstead complete with sty and pigs, a lake with swans, parcels collection diorama and a large church and graveyard at one end.

Quite a number of items of stock were obtained, purchased and donated, and in order to display as much of this as possible a locomotive shed ad goods yard were also added to the layout, and the tiny locomotives worked on rotation to even their use; over the time the layout was in operation these locomotives, carriages and wagons clocked up a great many scale miles and

Thanks & Acknowledgements

The creation of this initial model display would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of individuals who were happy to help in a number of areas as stationmaster Grant Taylor built and refined the model:-

William Cubbon Duncan Longworth

Roger Webster Peter Jordan

Bill Galley James Maddrell

Tony Matthews Steve Haworth

Andrew Williams Ian Longworth

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