As a kid I was heavily into real and model railways, thanks to my Dad.  We had a large OO gauge layout in the loft, although like many it was more playing trains that modelling!  Then in my late teens/early 20s, the modelling side of the hobby just ceased to hold the interest.  OO gauge was looking more and more toy like and lacked the realism for me, and as a result my interest wained.

In my mid-30s, a revival of the model side, thanks to a friend, came about and I acquired a significant number of modern image O gauge items, and while I still love the realism and presence of 7mm today, I had to accept the realisation that I just didn’t have the space for what I wanted to do.  I struggled for a while to find a layout proposal in a scale that would work in the space I had.  One of my big problems being a broad interest in anything on rails!  Whether its from pre-grouping to nationalisation, steam to electric, trains to trams and light rail, seeing a picture would spark my mind off into ‘ooh that would make a nice little layout!’.

The Farthing and Bath incentive

A few years ago on rmWeb I discovered @Mikkel, who has a blog on the site and creates miniature working dioramas based around his fictional town of Farthing. The models are set in the pre-grouping era of the Great Western and his modelling is wonderful and detailed, but each of the dioramas are only small, probably 3ft x 1ft at maximum, with a communal traverser that can be used with any of them.  The various blog entries, many of which focus on little stories set around the dioramas are wonderful light hearted reading, and really show a different take on what we traditionally see in model format.

Just recently, when having a few days of “I want to have a layout I can work on and run, but cannot come up with anything that works for me from a scenic and operational viewpoint”, Mikkle posted a new update and the cogs started turning once more.  Usually, this is an ‘oh-no’ point as the likelyhood is another batch of used and redundant envelopes will be heading for the bin covered in track layout sketches!  But on this occasion, there was a penny drop moment and an idea that maybe following a similar principal could work, using small 3’ x 1’ boards that could be packed away in a protective box.  But designed in such a way that at some point in the future, they could have ‘extra’ connecting boards added and be joined up to make a bigger layout.

Having joined the 2mm Association around two years ago, my thoughts also turned to a visit that the North Mercia Area Group, organised by Laurie Adams, had from Jerry Clifford (@queensquare) of this parish.  Jerry has to be in the top group of high class 2mm modellers and many will probably know of his Bath Queen Park layout that he is building or his Tucking Mill or Highbury Colliery layouts.  The visit showed off several buildings, as well as locomotive and rolling stock models for the Bath layout, and included a stunning model that has been built for him of a Midland Railway 2-4-0 outside framed locomotive, shown below.

Midland Railway 2-4-0 owned by Jerry Clifford for his Bath Queen Square layout. Picture by Marsh Lane

A couple of pictures from his visit provide a photographic interlude in this post, but also show how a compact Midland engine shed could be provided within a similar 3’ x 1’ space.  The work pictured is entirely Jerry's for his own layouts and all credit goes to him and is included here to a) show off his skilful modelling, and b) to demonstrate the kind of thing that could be achieved. 

A suggestion of what could be achieved in a small space for a motive power depot.  Models and Bath MPD layout by Jerry Clifford.

My modelling aspirations

So, having taken the decision to progress this and see where it does, that is where I now am.  I have a bit of a fascination with the Midland Railway where pre-grouping is concerned, probably part of that being down to the fact that the company used smaller locos that in the main had no, or very little, complicated valve gear!  This certainly makes building (or conversion of RTR) to 2FS far easier.  I must admit, with a focus on realism I really am drawn to the finescale gauges, and for this project 2mm ticked all the boxes.  Ok, there would be an amount of kit and scratch building involved but more and more I have been developing an interest in ‘having a go’ in this area.

So that is the background for this blog, and what will hopefully become a series of layouts, that will include a main line terminal station - I love the early 1900s architecture and platform furniture - goods warehouse/yard and main line approach’s and possibly some form of engine shed when the locomotive fleet is built up.  As you can see, there is no shortage of ‘modules’ that could easily be connected together and work together in the future.

The plan going forward

I am coming to this with a blank canvas, there being no existing stock, so progress will be slow, and with the effects of the pandemic behind us, money will not be easily available to splash around, but in many respects, I think that helps to encourage the innovative and ingenuity aspects of how something can be built without resorting to expensive means or always ‘buying in’ things.

The first of the modules to be created will be Forge Gate Goods Warehouse, modelled on a Midland-style building, that will take a lot of incentive from Birmingham Lawley Street, Nottingham Goods and Sheffield Wicker freight depots.  My thought is that the two or three-story building will take up the full 3’ x 1’ board, with the inside track work being raised by 2mm to allow the board to be ‘set down into’ a bigger layout in the future.  One side of the building will be left off to allow the viewer to see the activity inside, and I have a few ideas for small scenarios and story scenes that could be depicted.  I still need to pour over the various editions of Midland Record that I have here, but inside I am thinking that there will be three pairs of sidings, a couple perhaps shorter than others, with wooden platforms between them for loading/offloading goods, and the offices that would have been at the rear will also be depicted.

For me, it forms an ideal first module, as I can hand build the track (using 2mm Association Easitrak) and there are no points involved!  Alongside the goods warehouse, a small two or three foot long traverser will be constructed to allow shunting movements to take place.  Longer term, the next module will probably depict the approach lines to the warehouse, and give the opportunity for point building, but first things first … I’ll get the goods warehouse and some wagons sorted out.  The initial stage will also give the opportunity to built and fit DG couplings and work out positioning of magnets within the shed, hopefully making use of the delayed action feature to reduce the number of magnets actually needed.

Loco wise, I am thinking that the purchase of a Graham Farish Fowler 4F (372-063) with Midland numbers might be a good first option, then remove the LMS branding from the cab side. I believe the design dates from the early 1910s, (Edit: although as pointed out in the comments further Class 4 designs were not built until 1917) so fits with the pre post-World War I/pre-Grouping period that I am thinking.  The question, which I need to look into, is whether it is an easy conversion to 2FS or whether I bite the bullet and scratch-build a chassis for it.  The latter is tempting as it is only a straight 0-6-0, with no complicated valve gear and other than the brake equipment, there is little under frame detail.  I have had an aspiration that if I could scratch-build my own chassis for locos, then I can ensure that the pick-ups, DCC fitment and running qualities are as good as I can make them, which paired with the running qualities of 2FS track work, should (in theory at least) make for a superb model.

Conclusion

So there we are, an introduction to what may be a series of working diorama’s with a bigger layout aim at the end of them.  If you are still reading and haven’t got bored or fallen asleep well done, you may get a bonus points award for getting this far!!  I hope anyone interested will follow the blog, I may keep the blog for the bigger ‘overview’ posts and create a thread for the day-to-day update posts, I have yet to decide.

I welcome all thoughts and comments, please do feel free to chip in!

Happy modelling!

Rich