Bodmin Generally

E-mail: bob.hawes@gmx.co.uk
Telephone: (01925) 231497
Mobile: 0779 163 4702

Bodmin Generally – An impression of Bodmin General in 00

Layout Details for Exhibition Managers

Layout Location;    Warrington, Cheshire.

Scale / Gauge;   76:1  16.5mm gauge (“00 Gauge”)

Dimensions;  18’ by 2’ (5500mm x 610mm) [+ 4’ (1200mm) behind for operators]

Scenic Length;   12’ (3650mm)

Transport;   2 Private Cars

Travelling;   Distance no object, but overnight accommodation is required for journeys exceeding much more than an hour.

Operators;   Four

Insurance Value;   £4000 Layout,  £4000 Rolling Stock

Power Supply;   1 power point of at least 5A

Lighting;   Supplied.

Barriers;   Essential.

Tables & Chairs;   1 large or 2 small tables behind the fiddle yard please if possible.  No chairs required as we have our own stools.

Programme Entry:

Bodmin Generally is based on the original Bodmin General Station in Cornwall.  The terminus station opened on 27th May 1887 and became a junction on 3rd September 1888.  It changed little up to the time of its closure to passenger traffic on 30th January 1967.  In its day it was, for its size, quite a busy terminus with lines coming in from Boscarne Junction, Wadebridge and Padstow to the North West and Bodmin Road (now Bodmin Parkway) in the South East, with both passenger and goods traffic from the two routes.  There were through china clay workings where the loco had to run round and split its train before proceeding to Boscarne Junction.  The full train was reassembled at Bodmin before proceeding onwards to St Blazey.  There was a small loco facility and a two road goods yard with a sizeable goods shed. 

The following paragraphs were written by the builder, Brian Stenning who sadly passed away in 2014.  The layout is now in the care of his friend Bob Hawes and operated as running in the summer of 1963 using his own rolling stock.

“I wanted to build a Western Region layout based on a prototype station.  Preferably, a small branch terminus, and after searching for a suitable track design I finally decided on Bodmin General around the late 1950s, early 1960s period.  I have adapted the track plan to suit the board size and whilst I have tried to make the buildings as near to the prototype as I could, with my limited modelling skills, I soon realized that I would have to settle on buildings that are similar but not exactly prototypical – hence the name Bodmin (Generally).  I hope the purists will forgive me.”

The base-boards are constructed of 9mm MDF on 2” x 1’’ softwood frames.  All trackwork is PECO Code 75 on a cork base and ballasted with granite chippings.  Points are controlled electrically with PECO point motors.

The station building is constructed using at least three Ratio station building kits suitably adapted, whilst the signal box and goods shed are also slightly modified Ratio kits.  The engine shed is scratch built using, in the main, Wills materials, as are the platform, retaining walls and the bridge.  Woodland Scenics materials have been used for the majority of the landscaping.

The layout is operated to a sequence based on the working timetable for the summer of 1963.  Rolling stock modified proprietary or kit-built and is fitted with Kadee couplers which are remotely uncoupled using magnets laid in the track.

Photo by Bob Hawes, his copyright.

Photo by Ian Bob Hawes, his copyright.

Photo by Bob Hawes, his copyright.

Photo by Bob Hawes, his copyright.

Photo by Bob Hawes, his copyright.

Photo by Ian Lampkin, his copyright.