Billton Goods

BILLTON GOODS (Tony Briddon)

tony.briddon45@talktalk.net located St Albans area

17’ x 6’ inc. operator space

3mm:ft; 12mm gauge.

As seen at ‘Ally Pally’ Peterborough and York

Railway Modeller Sept 2016 (some scenic alterations since)

Billton Goods portrays a typical ex LNWR/LMS goods depot as operating in the early 1950’s. Horse use is becoming rare, Scammel Scarabs and Bedfords are common and HGV’s are mostly operated by the nationalised British Road Services (BRS).

The layout depicts the working of a typical ‘LMS’ goods depot of the period. Short freights from the nearest marshalling yard are ‘tripped’ to the depot. The loco shunts the depot and returns with wagons for forwarding. Whilst this is happening parcels, milk, mineral and passenger trains pass on the mainline. The aim is to portray as accurately as possible railway operations of the period and the grimy, sooty conditions prevailing on the railways in the early 1950’s.

All track, structures, engines and rolling stock are handmade – the only items on the layout not handmade are the figures. All the buildings are modelled on prototypes, mostly from the Northampton area; in particular the signalbox is a model of the one in which my father worked during the ‘steam era’. Points and signals are operated manually which simplifies wiring and improves reliability. Automated uncoupling is by modified DG couplings and electromagnets.

3mm is well supported by The 3mm Society and associated specialist traders and a wide range of loco, coach and wagon kits as well as track components is available to members. The operators are happy to discuss any aspect of 3mm modelling and individuals are welcome to view operations behind the layout, space permitting.

Please enter description of your layout including scale/gauge, images, layout size, location and any other requirements for exhibition managers.