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de Havilland Model Railway Society
History of Havil Junction
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Havil Junction is the society's older, 00 gauge, layout which represented the outcome of many years work in our original premises and was originally 44 x 15 feet. Initially the layout was of the Midland & GC stations at Nottingham with a fiddle yard from which the track emerged into a freelance Midland station (Havil - from de Havilland). Then due to a change in premises the Nottingham stations were abandoned, following which Havil station became the main focus of the layout. Further years passed and the society gained more space, so an 18 foot extension in the middle of the layout allowed the addition of the large bridges, based on Millers Dale, to be modelled crossing an industrial valley with typical grimy housing of the era. In addition a three-road engine shed was added and the existing tram circuit was extended through the valley giving a total run exceeding sixty feet. Then due to yet another move to new premises the layout had to undergo a further metamorphosis. Unfortunately we had to drastically reduce the size but did manage to retain the core urban area, keeping much of the original character. Now installed in our new premises the layout is fixed but still subject of much modification and development, including a completely re-modelled station. Further details and photographs, extracted from an article that appeared in Model Rail, when the layout was in it's previous form are given below. Havil may be viewed at our exhibition or during either of our weekly club meetings. |
Description of Havil Junction
EXTRACTS FROM THE MODEL RAIL ARTICLE SPRING 1998.
Reproduced with kind permission of the Editor, Model Rail.
Please note, this article was written before the rebuild reducing Havil's size.
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CONTROL "They were all keen and knowledgeable railway enthusiasts so a main line track plan was evolved with a novel control system. This system closely follows real steam era signalling practice and brings together signalling, setting of points and electrical control of the trains. In what was to become known as 'Conditional Link Control' the miniature lever frame that controls the points and signals also controls the power supply to the track. You simply set the route with the levers, according to the illuminated track diagram, the appropriate signals come 'off' and the track sections are automatically switched on ready for the controller to move the train. Cab control section switches are thus eliminated and there is no need to 'think electric' or set section switches when selecting a route. |
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Havil Junction station note the burnt out station building |
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There are two main control positions - the equivalent of signal boxes - and the controller in each one drives the trains towards himself and into his field of vision. Clearing the advance starting signal in either direction automatically passes the train on to the next controller and communication between the two (one of whom is in the hidden sidings area) is by miniature block instruments once made by Tri-ang Hornby. This applies to both the up and down lines with a driver on each. A number of well known layouts, including Heckmondwike and Bodmin employ systems derived from the Hatfield original." TRACK "Havil Junction's track is all hand made. The most widely used flexible tracks are really for 'H0' (3.5mm:1ft scale) and the sleepers are too small and too closely spaced for 4mm:1ft scale. Havil's track uses ply sleepers cut to length in a jig and punched at '00' gauge to take brass gimp pins, used in upholstery. These are glued and pressed in place and cut off level with the underside of the sleeper. With rows of sleepers laid out in a simple spacing jig, the rails are soldered to the pins. For curves, one rail is soldered in the jig, the assembly is then glued in place and the second rail is then added. The resulting track looks much more realistic and in keeping with 4mm:1ft scale" |
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The industrial approaches south of Havil with a tram emerging from under the railway bridge |
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TRAMS The layout includes a lengthy tram run starting from the streets behind Havil Junction station the railway is crossed then a gentle hill takes the trams down to where they swing under the viaducts before ascending a steep cobbled street, with typical stepped terrace houses. The tramway now crosses the railway again and goes downhill once more to swing under the railway yet again to reach the power station before turning, a total circuit of over sixty feet. PERMISSIVE BLOCK WORKING "Another, possibly unique feature of Havil Junction is the operation of "Permissive Block Working," a system which was used by the Midland Railway to increase track occupancy and allow slow coal trains to 'queue up' for paths. Havil Junction's Permissive Block section can accommodate up to four trains and is controlled by a separate panel and operator who is placed behind the LMS goods warehouse where he has a clear view of the whole goods line - essential when closing up trains to just a few centimetres apart! |
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The viaduct scene south of Havil Junction station. The goods line on which permissive block is used is nearest the camera |
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Society Layouts :- |
Havil |
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Exhibitions :- |
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de Havilland :- |
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