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Phoenix Park
A sizeable number of the members of Bingham Model Railway Club model in 4mm’00’ Gauge to ‘Finescale’ standards. The club has always built and owned the layouts whilst stock belongs to members. Of these members, there is no one dominant era or geographical area, and as a consequence a layout has to be able to accommodate stock dating from 1918 to 1980 covering GNR, LNWR, LNER (Southern Division), BR(ER), BR (LMR), and BR (Corporate Blue/Sectorisation). We have written various ‘Time Sequences’, derived from working timetables, so that stock from various eras can be operated in a prototypical fashion.
Members wish to run LNER designed Pacifics and Mikados, Stanier Jubilees and Black 5’s, BR Standards, Diesels and other favourite locomotives and stock. The location had also to be able, without serious compression, to fit baseboards that can be erected in the club room, enable passing trains to be viewed and also allow for operational interest.
Previous experience, and articles in the modelling press, all pointed to using a prototypical track plan. A search through books and magazines revealed Thorneywood Station on the Nottingham Suburban Railway. Not only were there modest goods facilities, but a private siding to a brick works was accessed via a restricted height tunnel.
Phoenix Park is being constructed on baseboards which have a 17ft x 14ft footprint, with the viewing area built as an elipse having a radius of 18ft.The minimum radius curves on the scenic and main running lines will be 4ft. The longer side has the potential for a separate shed diorama to be included. The track plan is based on one drawn by Barry Norman and printed in Model Railway Journal. The curve has been reversed from that drawn by Barry and a further head shunt included. It is planned that the back scene will also have a curve to match the front. This will provide a viewing area of approximately 20ft when measured in a linear fashion.
The height of the layout, after some debate, has been fixed at 4ft above ground level. This is a compromise between our previous layout and the waist level layouts which give a ‘helicopter’ view, so that work can be comfortably undertaken (and also allow for the occasional ‘hand of god’) on the wide front boards.
The fiddle yard will be constructed to allow for a selection of long trains to be
held in the usual sidings and bi-
It is anticipated that mainly card buildings will be constructed to give a homogeneous appearance. Some pictures of the first module can be seen below. An automated uncoupling system will be required for working the yards and it is anticipated that the DG or B&B systems will be used.
Timed Sequences
The following ‘timed sequences’ are envisaged:
S&K Summer Saturday -
LNER (Ex Great Central) 1930’s
BR (Ex Great Central) 1950’s
LNER/GNR Mainline 1920’s / 30’s
LMR Stoke area 1950’s / 60’s
LNWR Stoke area 1918 to 1928
1980’s Midland Mainline (Belper / Ambergate area)
