3 - 1986 - Baigent's Yard

My first attempt at putting my ideas about a layout set in an industrial works was set in a works yard. I thought that it should be ' looked into', rather than be open at the sides, and so I had the plan of building it one of the long drawers from a chest of drawers. In the event, I built a baseboard to the dimensions of the inside of the drawer - just under 3 feet by 15 inches - and placed it inside when the track-laying was done. There was a traverser to serve the two tracks exiting

at the right-hand side.

The track-plan was perforce rather simple, and I used a cross-over to help operation by making a passing loop of reasonable length in the available space. Track was Peco 00 gauge flexitrack and points, but the cross-over was a Fleischmann diamond crossing - easily available in a German model shop.

After the track was laid the ground-level was built up to just below rail-top height, and then covered with a German HO product, made from thin sheets of foam embossed with the cobbles. This had a sticky back - it really 'grabbed', so the placing had to be right first time. I put strips of the foam on lengths of card to go between the rails, but the rail fixings can be seen in the gaps, which spoils the effect a bit. I put carefully shaped pieces of plasticard between the point blades so that the blades could move, but most of the sleepers were hidden. Point operation was by Peco point motors under the baseboard - yes, I made it removable so that I could get at the underboard wiring when required

The buildings were made from card - the Triwall stuff for those at the back - covered in another German HO product - card printed with photographic images of brickwork or slates, then embossed to give a 3-D effect. This was made by Vollmer, and I also tried using the N-gauge version to give forced perspective where appropriate. Stonework was card painted with Heki Grundfarbe.

A view of the main works buildings at the back of the layout, showing the cobbles, brickwork and stonework. The drainpipes were made from clothes hanger wire. The scratch-built stock is described on the 7mm Rolling Stock page.

I wrote a short article which appeared in the Railway Modeller for March 1989, describing the layout and the thinking behind it. I expanded the drawer concept to show how a complete chest of drawers could be used to house a 3-board layout, which could be put away when not required, leaving a piece of furniture that would be acceptable to the most discerning wife/girlfriend.

Operation was not as good as I had hoped, mainly due to the cross-over, but the industrial yard idea had worked quite well scenically. When we moved back to England I scrapped Baigent's Yard, but kept all the bits and pieces - doors, windows, junk, etc. - and bought in a stock of the Volmer brick card and the foam cobbles so that I could develop the concept further.

Page created 24 May 2011 Last edited 5 June 2011