BRADWELL

 

This is a new club ‘N’ gauge layout set in the Peak district in the mid 1960’s when diesel locomotives have replaced the majority of the steam workings. The fictitious station is situated on an alternative Midland Railway main line between Derby and Manchester which was not built as the Duke of Devonshire, the owner of Chatsworth House would not permit the line to be built over his land. We have assumed that permission in our case was obtained. The station design is based on Bakewell but with a bay platform for DMU’s from Manchester to terminate. The old station goods yard will form part of exchange sidings used by trains working to a local cement works operated by privately owned industrial diesels. It is hoped that this industrial branch line will incorporate a level crossing with working gates. In addition there will also be an up goods loop so that freight trains can be overtaken by faster passenger trains. The 8 baseboards were built using a combination of 9mm and 18mm plywood. Alignment dowels are used to ensure that tracks will line up correctly. The layout is 15 foot long and will use Peco Finescale code 55 track at the front and code 80 rail in the rear 7 road fiddle yard, which will hold at least 15 trains. Three digital controllers will be used for loco control with servo motors being used to operate the points. The train operation is planned to consist of DMU’s and diesel hauled passenger trains on the main line, which will include frequent appearances of the Blue Pullman. Steam trains will be seen on some freight workings and the occasional passenger train. Various industrial diesels will transport presflow cement wagons from the transfer sidings to the works. Presently baseboards and backscene boards are in position and a ‘buzz bar’ has been installed for the digital control system. The majority of the track on the main line at the front of the layout has been laid, as has one road through the fiddle yard. The point control boxes have been installed, together with associated wiring and connections. Several servo motors have been installed to test the point operation.