I intend to create a 00 model of Stourhampton in my loft which has a useable area 9.2m x 2.9m. The GW passenger station will be built on a 180 degree curve around one end, with extensive goods facilities on the two long sides. The curve at the other end will contain the fiddle yards.

The single-track Midland line will cross the GW North yard on a skew viaduct, run down the centre of the loft space, loop back over the GW fiddle yard, run behind the backscene and complete the circuit inside the wing gable. An exchange siding will link the GW and Midland lines.

As I'm sure anyone reading this will be anxious to tell me, this is a 'magnum opus', I'm under no illusions. To get something running at an earlier stage, the up and down lines will be linked by two temporary 360 degree loops made of 2nd radius set-track. These will be mounted on independent baseboards so they can be moved progressively down the loft as building proceeds. The Midland line will be static to begin with too.