A New Club Layout!

I must admit I was surprised. We were discussing the next layout to be built after "Chasebury" is completed, and Colin was trying to resurrect the '00' gauge (it must be the only gauge he hasn't tried!). After all, the baseboards had been built, we had bought the track and we even had buildings, point motors and enough wire to rewire London, but still nobody seemed keen. It then dawned on me that most of the people actively discussing what should be done, and offering their help, were also interested in 'EM' gauge. The suggestion that we build in 'EM' instead seemed to strike a chord with everyone. After long discussion, attention shifted to a track plan in 'EM'.

What to build? Richard and I were in the middle of building (and still are) an '0' gauge layout based on a high level passenger line on top of railway arches in North London, with a street level single line tramway diving underneath it. This had partly been inspired by an abortive Rod and Geoff creation. Colin suggested a plan comprising a goods yard below, a passenger line above and, joy of joys, a dedicated London Transport line. So it is proposed that the high level line should be a single track terminus in Eastern/North London with a single LT line to an adjacent platform. The centre platform will be shared between BR and LT. The lower goods yard will have a Midland interchange (off baseboard) and will feature coal as well as general merchandise. There may be provision for a limited passenger through service if Simon gets his way! The era will be the early 1950's, but it may occasionally shift back to the 1930's when we have built sufficient LNER and Metropolitan stock to populate the layout.

The four baseboards will each be 3 feet 9 inches by 18 inches, and will be built almost exclusively of plywood. They will all be scenic and the two end boards will incorporate the upper and lower level fiddle yards respectively. We will use the existing Chasebury trestles for support and members already have sufficient stock to run a full service. Happily the initial plans have passed the severe scrutiny of the Committee and approval has been given for the project to proceed.

The photos above - "Inspirations for the new 'EM' layout", and below the photos, the proposed track plan for "St. Paul's Road".