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Epsom & Ewell MRC: Layouts
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EPSOM & EWELL MODEL RAILWAY CLUB

MODEL LAYOUTS

The Club has been actively constructing and exhibiting model railway layouts for many years.
The first large scenic layout built to exhibition standards was the highly popular 'Nonsuch' built during the early 1960's. Portraying a Southern Railway (SR) station somewhere in the West Country, an oval track layout allowed for through running. The Great Western Railway (GWR) also operated services from 'Nonsuch' along its separate branch line to 'Ruxley' via 'Bonesgate'. The layout was subject of a multi-part article that appeared in Model Railway Constructor magazine during those early years. 'Nonsuch' and 'Bonesgate' were both scrapped long ago, but 'Ruxley' still exists although now in a much altered and improved condition (see below).
The Club currently has five layouts: Several of the Club's members have exhibited their own layouts:

Horton Regis

Horton Regis (7mm finescale) portrays a London & South Western Railway (LSWR) terminus somewhere on the east Dorset coast in the early 1900's. As with Bournemouth, there is also the presence of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (SDJR), including through Midland Railway carriages.

Horton regis

Ruxley

Ruxley (4mm 'OO' gauge) portrays GWR branch line operation during the 1930's. This highly detailed scenic layout was built and first exhibited during the 1960's, has since seen much improvement and alteration and remains in constant demand for Exhibitions.

The layout can appear in various forms, as a terminus (Ruxley), as a through station (Woodcote), or in extended form with both stations.


Shirebrook

Shirebrook (4mm 'OO' gauge) has been constructed to replace the Clubs old layout Westhill, which has been sold and is now in private ownership. It is considered to be a entry point layout of double OO track gauge, constructed from ready to run materials, in particular, Peco code 75 track. This accepts most of the British outline models commercially manufactured over the last twelve to fifteen years.

As with most club layouts consideration was given as to whether the layout was to be freelance or follow a prototype. A sketch plan revealed a similarity to the track layout of Shirebrook on the Derbyshire/Nottingshire border (to the north of Mansfield). After a field visit, the decision was taken to build the new layout as a prototype, and the period chosen is British Railways "Corporate Blue" (1979/80's).

The layout is fully operational and, providing sufficient manpower is available on the designated club night, can be set up and running in around 35 to 40 minutes. Assembled from twenty-four separate boards, it provides a continuous circular run of just under one hundred feet. The layout has been designed to run scale length trains, with twenty-two storage roads, most of which are able to accommodate thirty two wagon MGR train or twelve Mark 1 coaches and a locomotive.

If you would like to come and visit the club, we always welcome visitors who would consider becoming part of the team.

The layout
Shirebrook

The prototype Wadhurst Station
The prototype Wadhurst Station - looking south towards Hastings.
Wadhurst

Wadhurst (4mm 'P4' finescale) is currently under construction.

When completed the layout will be an accurate representation of the prototype station in Sussex on the original South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) London to Hastings line, portraying the late 1940's era when still operated by the Southern Railway.

The layout
Wadhurst (under construction)

Hornby

Hornby Junction (4mm 'OO') is designed to show how to produce a simple model railway from readily available commercial parts. It has been sponsored by Hornby Railway who have provide all the stock and many of the buildings. It was described in the Hornby Magazine (issue 2).

Hornby Junction
Hornby Junction
Hornby Junction (Photographs © Chris Nevard).

Club member's layouts

Owner Layout Name Scale/Gauge, Prototype, Period Notes
Frank Warren Coombe Wharf 4mm/P4, LB&SCR, 1903 Entry for the Scalefour Society's 18.83 Challenge.
Michael Ball Ferring 4mm/P4, LB&SCR, c.1910 Scalefour News, No.100 (1996)
More Photos
Chris Dadson Hayling Island 4mm/P4, BR, 1959 Model Railway Journal, No.93 (1997)
Currently under redevelopment
Philip Reid St. Nicholas 4mm/OO, BR, 1980's  
Chris Robertson Staindrop 7mm/O, LNER 1928/1930  
Dennis Tillman Winnham 7mm/O, BR  
Dave Searle West Wittering 4mm/P4, LB&SCR, 1883 More Photos

If you would like further information, please contact . . .

Peter Swift (Secretary) on Telephone 01483 576 274

Last updated: 9th March July 2009
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