My new layout is going to be a fictional branch line, located somewhere on the border of the Southern and Western Regions of BR in the mid-to-late 1980’s. For those of you familiar with the Swanage preservation line, I plan to have it modeled very loosely on that station, however it is subject to change.

It’ll be a 9.5’ x 10’ shelf layout, between 12â€& 18†in width. This layout will be built modularly, so that I can take it apart for shows (hopefully) and moving. I’m tired of having to start over all the time.

It will have 3-4 storage lines, depending on space, and a single platform station w/ a short bay. The main platform will be long enough to take a 4-car EMU (such as the 411) or 3 coaches and a loco. The bay platform will be long enough to take a 2 car DMU. I’m also hoping to get a single road engine shed, or at the very least, a siding to hold a loco w/ fueling facilities.

Space permitting, I’ll also be including a run ‘round loop for the loco’s to get around the coaches, and a couple short sidings and a loading platform for goods trains. Maybe even a permanent way siding? Not sure on that yet.

Passenger service will be serviced primarily by EMU & DMU classes 108, 121, 159, 411 & 423 (when they come out!). There will also be 3-coach trains made up of MK1 coaches in BR Blue/Grey, NSE & various parcel/mail coaches & vans of the era.

Freight service will be primarily in the Railfreight Red/Grey livery, with some ‘older stock’ making an appearance. Engineering trains will also show up once in a while. There will not be any tanker or hopper traffic, such as TTA, TEA, HEA, HBA, as there will be no facilities for them, with the exception of a weekly tanker for the stations refueling facility..

Because this is a branch line, it will have restrictions on the locomotives that can run on it. Outside of the class 08 station pilot, motive power will primarily be classes 20, 24, 25, 33 and 73 in various BR & NSE liveries of the era. Classes 31 & 37 would be the largest locomotives to come onto the branch. There will not be any class 47, 50 or 58 as they are too large (and would look terribly silly pulling only 3 coaches or 4-5 goods wagons!)

I may even have the occasional steamer run by the local preservation line.

Hope this has perked your interest!