The layout is available for exhibition bookings. It can be available for one or two day weekend bookings in Dorset, or the surrounding counties. Bookings further afield may be possible subject to location, days and cheap accommodation (Travel Lodge, etc) availability. Weekdays may be available subject to my annual leave availability.
Please use the Contact Form for all booking enquiries.
The main module is 1200mm long by 400mm deep. The two fiddle yards, one for either end, are 1200mm long. the layout can be operated by one or two people.
A minimum of 2'6" is required behind the layout but 3' would be more comfortable.
The layout can be powered by 1 x 13A wall socket. I can supply my own extension lead and RCS plug .
A second module is in progress which adds another 4' (1200mm) on to Dib's Yard. the second module is called "Shelly Sidings" and will sit between Dibs Yard and the right hand fiddle yard (seen form the public side).
Work started on this module in October 2024, an is anticipated to be fully operational, but certainly not scenically complete, by the end of January 2025.
Shelly's Sidings is the second module and is built to the same dimensions as Dib's Yard, albeit with a different board construction method. this time the material is entirely 9mm plywood, doubled at the end frames.
Many of the same techniques are used as Dib's Yard, for example the track is Code 100, with respaced sleepers. the power delivery will be analogue, and the point control will be manual through a rod system, as will the remote uncouplers.
The branch line snakes through the board from 150mm from the rear of the board at the dib's yard end to 150mm from the front of the board at the fiddle yard end. There is a siding one the public side for guards vans. There are three sidings which used to server Shelly's Mill, and they are on the operator side.
This review was written by someone unknown to me but passed to me by a friend. It followed the exhibition in Weymouth.
BMRE 2025 (East Dorset N Gauge Group) (Confirmed)
Saturday 8th February
Sunday 9th February
The Hamworthy Club
Magna Road
Canford Magna
Bournmouth / Wimbourne (Not Hamworth y,Poole!)
BH21 3AL
Chatham MRC (Confirmed)
Saturday 19th July
Sunday 20th July
The Chatham Show 2025
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
https://www.chatham-mrc.co.uk/exhibition
Sedgmoor / Highbridge / Burnham On Sea (Perspective)
Saturday 22nd August
Sunday 23rd August
Likely to be at:
King Alfred School,
Burnham Road,
Highbridge,
Somerset TA9 3EE
Open to bookings for 2026. Please use the contact form if you would like to book this layout for your exhibition
Saturday, November 2nd 2024 - 1000 - 1630
Sunday, November 3rd 2024 - 1000 - 1600
Weymouth MRA Exhibition 2024
Weymouth College,
Cranford Avenue,
Weymouth,
Dorset DT4 7LQ.
https://www.weymouthmra.org.uk
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th May 2023 (Provisionally booked to exhibit)
New Forest Model Railway Society
Brockenhurst Village Hall,
Highwood Road,
Brockenhurst,
SO42 7RY
1000-1700 on Saturday and 1000-1630 on Sunday.
Saturday, October 28th 2023 - 1000 - 1630
Sunday, October 29th 2023 - 1000 - 1600
Weymouth MRA Exhibition 2023
Weymouth College,
Cranford Avenue,
Weymouth,
Dorset DT4 7LQ.
https://www.weymouthmra.org.uk
Saturday & Sunday 29th - 30th October 2022
Weymouth MRA Exhibition
Budmouth Academy
Weymouth
Dorset
Saturday, August 20th 2022
The Gardeners Retreat Restaurant,
Lynch Lane Garden Centre,
Lynch Lane,
Weymouth
Dorset DT4 9DN
Saturday, May 21st 2022
Weymouth MRA open day
Memorial Hall,
Victoria Avenue,
Upwey,
Weymouth,
Dorset.
October 2021 - Weymouth MRA Open Day
Video (right)of 2021 open day courtesy of Keith Tucker.
Saturday, April 23rd 2022
The Gardeners Retreat Restaurant,
Lynch Lane Garden Centre,
Lynch Lane,
Weymouth
Dorset DT4 9DN
This video shows how I run Dib's Yard at exhibitions.
Well, if I am honest - its how I intend to. Often I am busy talking to member of the public so I make mistakes, loose concentration, or just generally mess things up!
This video shows how I assembly Dib's Yard at exhibitions.