STROLEY CENTRAL
OO Gauge by
Steve Boley
As featured in
Model Rail
issue 103 'Spring 2007'
My layout, which is probably now about 85%
finished - just scenery etc to complete - will eventually be able to
be set in FIVE different eras / areas due to my liking of a wide
variety of locos and liveries. My starting point however, is the
Present Day E.C.M.L. In my mind's eye, I see Doncaster as this
particular fictitious layout setting.
I class myself as a novice modeller and do not
belong to any local clubs due to pressures of work. I started on this project back in 1999 in the
garage of our previous home - so about six or seven months a year
could be dedicated to the task at hand. Kit and scenery building
(bashing) etc., could be attempted for the rest of the year in the
comfort of the office/workroom.
We moved to our present home very late in 2001,
and by September 2002, "she who must be obeyed," after much
badgering(!!), submitted and let me have the conservatory type
extension on the side of our bungalow as my railway room. Since then,
I haven't "looked back!"
With two scenic boards built and wired and the
scenery partly completed prior to the move in 2001, the vast majority
of the layout has been "attacked" since.
The railway room suffers from temperature
extremes (as it's a conservatory style extension), but I have a
halogen heater plus three or four layers of clothing(!!) etc for the
winter, and up against the internal perspex style roof, we have had material fixed to help keep out the summer rays.
Discolouration and distortion of the scenics is still a problem, but
thankfully so far (touch wood!!) no warping of baseboards.
As previously mentioned, I consider myself a
novice. Apart from an 8' x 4' layout when I was a kid (that feels like
500 years ago now!!!!) I've not attempted anything like this before.
I've made mistakes while building the layout, but can honestly say
that I've done it all by myself .... I've just been reminded by my
wife that she has hand-painted around 300 of the Preiser figures that
adorn the platforms and scenic areas - ooops sorry love!
As previously mentioned, the current scene on
the E.C.M.L. is my "starting point" for this layout. Plenty of action
via local, national and international passenger and freight services,
happens at Stroley Central. With six platforms and a four track main
line to the south (up) direction and a TMD and associated fuelling and
stabling roads plus a DMU servicing and stabling yard, action and
variety is hopefully "the name of the game!!"
If you like the sound of my commentary, please visit :-
www.stroleycentral.co.uk
Steve Boley
You can see all the layouts featured at
SimplyTrains on the layouts page. [more]
If you would like your pictures to appear
here then please email us or check for more details.[more]
Email us.
-
-
-
-
|
Click on the pictures to enlarge. Hit
your browsers back button to return.
|
Click on the pictures to enlarge. Hit
your browsers back button to return.
|
