Layouts - 1st Floor, D Block

FIRST FLOOR AND D BLOCK LAYOUTS

Layouts on the 1st Floor of D-Block

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS & THE LADYKILLERS (OO)

Dawn Quest

Brief Encounters is a monochrome layout depicting a scene from the famous film of the same name. Brief Encounters appeared at ABRAIL 2024 as a late entry, and has made a return for 2025 back by popular demand.

The Ladykillers layout is Dawn Quest's latest exhibition layout and made its first appearance in November 2024. It is based on the classic Ealing comedy film and includes a house based on Mrs. Wilberforce's house from the film

McKINLEY RAILWAY DEMONSTRATION
featuring KANINCHENBAU (HO)

David Townend/McKinley Railway

We enjoy exploring how technology can help improve the model railway experience and make operations more interesting. We started with computer assistance driving trains around McKinley Railway. We have since added timetabling, freight operations and waybills using contactless payment technology. One of our key objectives is to share our learnings and help railway modellers at all experience levels. We do this through our website and YouTube channel “McKinley Railway”, attending exhibitions and having groups visit us and operate our layout. For the Abrail Exhibition we have two demonstration modules to share some of this knowledge with the wider modelling community and will be using these to explain the principles at the show. They are ‘00’ gauge demonstration layouts with a difference!

We also are showing further automation including some integration with JMRI and Kaninchenbau , a computer controlled H0e layout using iTrain. It is modelled in the European Alpine region. The automated, hands-off method of operation allows discussions about the layout to be undertaken whilst the layout continues to run. Our aim is simply to share our knowledge with others, so come along meet the Team and find out how our ideas can help

LUDLOW (N)

Liverpool Model Railway Society
This layout is based on Ludlow in Shropshire, which is on the Shrewsbury to Hereford line. It is set in the late 50’s early 60’s and depicts both the sidings and the main lines but also incorporates the line from Clee Hill, which is a quarry line. It is a circular layout with the fiddle yard concealed under the embankment to the rear of the layout. It took about two years to build the basic layout but like all models there is always something that you want to improve and add. The only original parts of the railway left in Ludlow are the main lines, the footbridge and the goods shed, which has now become a local brewery. During the construction it was very hard to find accurate photographs of the front of the station and the line so we are always looking for more information so we can continue to improve the layout.

STREETON WAY SIDINGS (O)

Richard Bridgman

A busy goods yard serving
Streeton and the surrounding area, although fictitious it‘s based on the LNER steam era.

TITFIELD STATION & FILM SET (OO)

Leamington & Warwick Model Railway Society

The “Titfield Station & Film Set” layout is inspired by the Ealing Studios film comedy, “The Titfield Thunderbolt”. Filmed on location in June and July of 1952, the movie was shot in various parts of Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and London, as well as in the Studio. The completed film was premiered in March 1953 (HM Queen’s Coronation Year).

Since the layout’s last exhibition appearance, when it used kat ad scratch built rolling stock with DC control, it has been modified and extended to bring it up to modern standards.

After the introduction of the Rapido Trains “Titfield Thunderbolt Deluxe Train Pack”, the layout is now operating with full sound and DCC digital control. Voice extracts, taken from the film soundtrack, can be heard to match the action you can see in front of you.

The layout itself combines together with some of the features and locations found in the movie but brought together in one place. Look out for the crowds waving from the bridge, the squire’s Bullnose Morris Cowley car, the steam roller, the water tower (a studio-built prop.) and Pearse & Crump’s bus. The film crews are on hand with their cameras, flood lights and recording gear together with the production personnel and studio mini bus.

The layout is owned and built by John Mole and is operated with the assistance of members of Leamington & Warwick Model Railway Society.