 | | Widnes Road - MkII
A finescale DCC 4mm Exhibition Layout set in the north-west in the mid 1980's. Although a fictional depot, the design is based on a small fueling point and shed built to serve an off-scene marshaling yard for the Runcorn and Widnes industrial complexes including the ICI chemical works; and was inspired by visits to Warrington Bank Quay in the late 80's and 90's. As the layout grows, eventually the western end of the yard itself will be modelled, including a wagon repair shop.
The layout is 12' long by 20'' wide, with a 9' scenic section; requires two operators, and fits in a SWB Transit Van. Invites to shows throughout the UK are welcome, just use the 'get in touch' button.
Latest Update 30/11/08
See Widnes Road at the following 2009 Confirmed Exhibition Appearances:
Dartford 2009 - Temple Hill Primary School, St Edmunds Road; Temple Hill, Dartford Kent DA1 5ND
Saturday 24th January 2009 (10:00am - 5:00pm)
Sunday 25th January 2009 (10:00am – 4:30pm)
Provisional invites; 2009
Sudbury MRC - 3rd October 2009
Royston & District MRC - 21st November 2009
Confirmed Appearances 2011
Warley National Model Railway Exhibition 2011
19th & 20th November 2011, NEC Birmingham
Latest Update 30/11/09
Depot building hardstanding completed, track weathered, guard rails added, small details including porta-loo, pallett trolley etc. Photos from Letchworth added.
Latest Update 21/9/08:
Catenary added to front siding, loco inspection platform built from Peter Clark Kit, more scenery completed including many signs, signal (not yet wired up) and lots of lovely weeds.
Update 01/07/08:
Perth, Scotland, June 28th and 29th 2008
The 1st Showing of Widnes Road MkII at Perth was a great weekend; for the first outing with the new board there were remarkably few teething problems and the new improved fiddle yard was a huge improvement. The show itself was one of the best I've attended, a friendly bunch and some great layouts to see. Cheers to Malcolm for putting up with my driving and helping to operate it for the weekend.
Some photos from the show have been added.
Previous Updates:
A great leap forward, the new layout boards are built, track manufactured, tested, laid and wired, tortoise point motors installed. Track has now been extensively tested and adjusted, and is complete. New fiddleyard traverser built and tested. Main road bridge over depot entrance constructed.
Latest work undertaken for the Bexley Show (Erith MRC);
Class 25 and both Class 20's both sound fitted (SWD chips) and detailed, all locos weathered. New traincrew mess room added, CCTV cameras, extra staff, last of the unfinished surfaces have been covered, more small details, signage etc.
Notes:
This layout was originally conceived as an exercise in what could be achieved in a very tight space, and a short time.
As initially built the scenic section was only 4'-6", and with a small three road traverser was a total of under 7' by 1' 6". After a number of successful outings in 2006 and 2007, for the 2008 exhibition season Widnes Road will be extended to a 9' scenic section, with 3' fiddle yard. Watch this space for photos...
It was originally built in less than 6 months from conception to exhibition, although as with all layouts, these things are never completely finished.
Previous Outings:
2006 - Theydon Bois - November 06;
2007 - Enfield Town 07
- Erith MRC, Bexley September 07
2008 - Perth, Scotland, June 2008
- Erith MRC, Bexley, September 2008
- Epping Railway Show, Theydon Bois Village Hall, Essex, Saturday 15th November 2008
- Letchworth, Herts. Model Railway Exhibition, Saturday 29th November 2008
Widnes Road has a number of provisional invites for 2009 to 2011(!) (see above), however further exhibition invites are welcome. Just leave me a message or e-mail me on paulsmith95@btinternet.com
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