Simply a layoutin a box, "Just in Case" model railway has been on display at the WAMRC Chard exhibitions in 2023 and 2024 joining numerous layouts of different gauges, scenarios and stages of completion. Traders were on hand selling both new and pre-loved items to enabling you to start or enhance your hobby.

Doors opened from 10am to 4pm with just £5 entry with children FREE​**

 

We have been to numerous other events as well as exhibitions including school fetes and care homes where it was a hit with children, young and not so young, being able to contol the train themselves. **​

 

So, What is it?

 

​A simple single line N gauge railway running through countryside with farmland and associated animals. Trains enter and leave through short tunnels into the rear fiddle yard. Whilst the layout has been built using 2nd or third user Kato track left over from other layouts the use of additional ballast and scenery provides a realistic outcome much as is found using “normal” code 55/80 track. Because it is Kato it is easy to run as DC or DCC and also quick to change from one to the other.

Based nowhere in particular and without an “era” you will see all manner of locomotive power running short length trains both passenger and freight. A very busy single line! Early steam, from small tank locos to Bullied Pacific’s and from Class 04 Diesels and railcars through to 37’s and beyond are likely to be seen; even possibly some more recent stock if running DCC. Running DCC does allow multiple trains to follow each other round much more easily.One operator, can achieve full DC operation usually about 30 minutes with set-up, (Although trains can run much sooner). Full DCC operation usually needs two operators enabling trains, points and stock changes etc. to happen whilst talking! It also takes a little longer to set up.

If genuinely interested younger members of the viewing public may be encouraged with an opportunity to run a train themselves for a spell.​  Sometimes even a well known little blue train makes an appearance!

 

Scenery:

 

The scenery is constructed on a crushed newspaper base firstly covered with layers of kitchen roll wetted with diluted PVA glue. Once dry, usually a couple of days during warmish weather everything got another covering of Kitchen towel brushed into place to give added texture before any other landscaping materials were added. Again once dry the track bed and "structural" scenery received a single layer of plaster of Paris material. The whole thing was then painted with a grey emulsion to give a base to work with which also allowed the marking out the position of roads/hedges/fields etc. Then the areas that were to become covered in grass and other foliage were given a base coat of green which was feathered out where there was to be a join such as road and grass. The track bed was the first to be laid and sorted for height and keeping bank edges realistic, there is some discolouration and evidence of a potential problem with water appearing to be washing the track bed away, but it doesn't stop the trains.....yet!

What nearly did stop the trains was the difference in the depth of the top and bottom of the case as it isn't 50:50 with the top (the bit behind the scenery) a lot thinner so the top has to be supported and then the tunnels and entrances had to be built up to sit high enough for the trains and coaches that would be used to go through; remembering to add at least 5mm extra for the height of the track!

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Around 90% of the hedges on the layout have been scratch built from pot scourers and if requested I can give demonstrations how to do this at exhibitions.

With a small change to the procedure stone walls can also be made for a fraction of the cost of buying the mass produced items. It also allows you to define the colour etc. and both methods can easily be adapted to show "thin" areas that require short lengths of fencing to make fields secure for stock.

 

Within the completed scenery there is a dog, a number of waving children, cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. Near the house there are also bee hives and a variety of trees have been planted in the orchard. Some vehicles have been stuck into place whilst others may come and go during an exhibition, the Police, the postman or even a milkman may show up and/or disappear! Being a small simple to operate layout it does allow for plenty of dialogue with visitors about model railways as a hobby regardless of scale and the benefits of joining a club in order to both learn and pass on skills.​

 

Exhibition Managers information​

 

Can be found using the tab above.

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