These are the club layouts available now (or under construction). To book a layout email us here
Aldingbourne Central
Status:Available for exhibitions Scale: OO gauge (4mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: 14ft wide x 10ft deep Ideal Space/Footprint: 15ft wide x 12ft deep Layout Style: Circular Era: Anything goes Power: DC Notes: Seats at front for public operation, space at rear for master controls to override public if this becomes necessary Aldingbourne Central is a OO gauge layout that has been specifically designed and built so that it can be operated by the general public (whatever their age) when out at exhibitions. Compromising of two large, and one dipped oval circuits, the layout also has a main station along with a village station for the '"branch line". The mainline features a tunnel through a hill across the rear, and features a scenic village which all the trains must pass through on their journey around the layout. The purpose of three different running lines is so as to allow three individuals or groups to operate the layout at any one time, with the aim of the layout being to encourage the younger generation to take up railway modelling. But do not let that put you off starting railway modelling - you can start at whatever age, wherever you are, whatever your occupation is!
Whilst there is an, albeit smaller quantity of layouts out there aimed at allowing the youngsters to drive and operate, this layout is fairly unique due to both the size of the total layout - so therefore amount of running track available - but also the extensive scenic treatment the layout has received throughout its time, along with the amount of hard work that goes into maintaining such a valued asset to many model railway exhibitions.
While the younger ones who want to try driving often love to race the trains, many quickly learn the arts of driving the trains properly - accepting the (sometimes challenging) task of coming to a gentle stand-still with the whole train in the station.
Because of its uniqueness and ability to allow the public to operate, Aldingbourne has always proved extremely popular at the majority of the model railway exhibitions it has attended.
Brailles End
Status: Being refurbished Scale: OO gauge (4mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: tbc Layout Style: Circular Era: 30/40s Power: DCC A classic GWR branchline station layout that is being updated and refreshed by the club. Look out for photos in the coming months.
Consall Forge
Status: Under construction Scale: N gauge (2mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: 12ft wide x 3ft deep Layout Style: Circular Era: Varied Power: Dual - DC and DCC Nestling in the steep sided River Churnet valley, alongside the Caldon Canal and in the heart of "Little Switzerland" is a station. Little used as the station was, the line upon which it was built was a major secondary route in which could and did have both the longest and fastest trains diverted along its length. Unfortunately though, and like many other such lines, first the passenger service disappeared and then some years later, the long goods trains also disappeared.
Fortunately a preservation Society stepped in - The Churnet Valley Railway. We have chosen to model the line as it is in its preservation days while retaining some of the main line working. This station was so minor that changes throughout its life were minimal, thus we can run it in pre-nationalisation, British Rail or preservation days, allowing the maximum variety of traffic, from steam to diesel to both together as is how the line runs in its preserved life.
Above all else, this layout is about the railway, the river and the canal, all of which run through beautiful scenery and allows us to capitalise on an aspect of modelling which N Gauge is perfect for.
Crookham Vale
Status: Available for exhibitions Scale: OO9 gauge (4mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: 9ft wide x 5ft deep Layout Style: Circular Era: 1940s Power: DC In a hillside village surrounded by its church, countryside and farmland, a sand quarry resides that is linked to a busy village street with a station perched along it. From this station, it provides for both passenger and cargo traffic throughout the village due to its rail links to London, Bristol and the mainline, whilst the quarry's sand and gravel exports can also head to the Kennett and Avon canal for destinations further afield.
Crookham Vale was built by those just starting out with the club, to develop both layout building and exhibiting at shows, and was the proud receiver of Bognor Regis Town Mayors' Favourite Layout in Show Award for our Annual 2024 exhibition.
Fordham
Status: Available for exhibitions Scale: OO gauge (4mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: 20ft wide x 6.5ft deep Layout Style: End to End Era: 1944 World War 2 Southern Steam and Electric Power: DCC Set in May 1944 during a pre D-Day exercise (Fabius IV), the layout depicts a fictionalised version of Ford station (West Sussex, where Gaugemaster now resides), and the Brighton - Portsmouth West Coastway line, including the Arun Valley junction.
Heavy military traffic is depicted on the railway, with the Army conducting their exercise to "capture" Arundel having earlier landed at Climping in a practise invasion.
Pines Railway
Status: Available for exhibitions Scale: N gauge (2mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: 6ft wide x 2.5ft deep Layout Style: Circular Era: Anything goes Power: DC
Notes: Two operators operate this layout from the right hand end Pines Railway started off as an N gauge test track in the main club room, but has been redesigned and rebuilt to show off what can be done to a model railway layout - featuring two spiral rises, Pines Railway has a lot of track and running areas within what is really only a very small space, even for a gauge as small as N. The additional advantage is that this could be done on any scale, whether Z to O, OO to G or bigger! Consisting of the main station 'in the valley below' the trains leave the station and climb one spiral rise to reach a passing loop and village halt - 'Pines Rise', before dropping back down a second spiral rise to return to the main station. Behind this is a servicing yard and small wagon sorting sidings for the odd mini freight train to be sorting in. Despite sounding fairly simple, Pines Railway demonstrates the kind of engineering that can go into a model railway, along with the complexity and joy that can be created in such a small space. Despite seeing multiple other layouts that show what you can fit into a small space, Pines Railway demonstrates how much detail can be created in such a compact space. Visitors should keep a look out for the cat on the roof of one of the buildings with the anxious owner trying to coax it down to safety.
Trenance Downs
Status: Available for exhibitions Scale: OO gauge (4mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: 20ft wide x 5ft deep Layout Style: End-to-End Era: BR Green through to Early Privatisation Power: DCC Trenance Downs is a fictitious small branch line serving a small village community and terminus station sited near Trethowel (north of St Austell) in Cornwall with passengers served by a variety of stock, but also recalls the variety of diesel hauled China Clay workings accommodating multiple post steam eras, from diesel hydraulics hauling clay hoods to their class 25 and 37 replacements, hauling a variety of rolling stock including polybulks, slurry tankers, ferry wagons and CDAs.
Along with the frequent China Clay traffic, there is also aggregate traffic from a small quarry that operates from further outside the terminus station.
Troutbeck Bridge
Status: Available for exhibitions Scale: OO gauge (4mm:1ft) Minimum Space/Footprint: 4ft wide x 9ft deep Layout Style: Circular Era: LMS to Preserved Power: DC
Troutbeck Bridge is a fictional layout depicting an extension from Windermere in the Lakes. Built by junior members, it can represent a broad range of eras so that a wide variety of stock can be run. The scenery has recently been completely refreshed with new buildings, waterfall and rock outcrops. The trains emerges from a tunnel over a striking viaduct that spans a small valley with a beck tumbling over the rocks below. The station is a single platform with a passing loop for freight services and stabled trains. There is a small goods yard that gives plenty of scope for an operator to shunt to an off scene quarry, whilst another controls the main running line.