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Layout size 11' 6" x 2' 6"
Oakridge is a fictitious
branch line terminus somewhere in Gloucestershire, served by the LMS and
the GWR. The time is the 1930s. The line was supposedly constructed by
the Midland Railway with the Great Western having a connection and running
powers from their nearby line. In reality Oakridge is a small village
between Stroud and Cirencester, which never had a railway station, although
nearby Stroud was served by both the MR and GWR at separate stations.
The station building
and station master's house are Midland designs translated from Matlock
in the Peak District of Derbyshire. There is a small goods yard and a
private siding serving the premises of Wilkinson's Wire Works. The trackwork
was hand built using C&L components.
The layout was originally
designed and built by Tony Kell of the Normanton and Pontefract R.M.S.
as an exercise in "minimum space 0 gauge". It was then set in the Peak
District of Derbyshire and called "Wistow", which was actually a North
Eastern Railway station near Selby. The layout was then bought by Lawrie
Smith of the Enfield Town MRC, who retained the name and LMS Peak District
theme. It appeared at 11 exhibitions under Lawrie's management. In 2002
ownership of the layout changed again to Keith Plum and Alan Briers of
the Enfield Town MRC, who changed the name and geographical setting to
allow GWR stock to appear as well as LMS, giving greater variety.
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Photos
& diagram © courtesy of L. Smith
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revised
11th Jan 03
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Having attended a
number of shows the layout was wearing out, and so after much deliberation,
we decided to dismantle Oakridge, mainly because it was uneconomical to
repair. We have saved the buildings so they may form the start of a new
project, or not, but they were too good to waste. Keith. July 2004.
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