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Graeme Chase

This web page was last updated on January 11th, 2010..

My home layout is British prototype, OO scale.  Here are a few pictures that illustrate my work so far.

Click here to see the set on Flickr
Click her to see the pictures in slide show format



Childerditch Junction Station

Childerditch Junction Station

My OO gauge "what if" SR region branch line.
Set post war 1947 - 61 allows me to run SR, early BR and pre-nationalisation visitors.
Childerditch is an ancient hamlet overlooking the Thames in Essex. The junction assumes SR & LNER, LMS operated a ferry service, brdige over the Thames allowing the networks to connect and by-pass London. Childerditch Junction was a branch station built on this route, where trains can turn to London or north.
The trackplan is based on Dunster (GWR)
Island Platform and Goods Shed

Island Platform and Goods Shed

Track is Peco Code 100 flextrack and medium radius turnouts, laid on cork. All structures are cardboard or kits customised.
Code 100 allows my earlier Hornby & Mainline RTR to run alongside current RTR 
Q1 looking to Signal Box and single line

Q1 looking to Signal Box and single line

Baseboards are pink foam, on a 2 by 4 wooden frame.

The locomotive in the foreground is the Hornby RTR 0-6-0 SR Q1 class. The SR Q1 class is a type of austerity steam locomotive constructed during the Second World War. The class was designed by Oliver Bulleid for use on the intensive freight turns experienced during wartime on the Southern Railway network. A total of 40 locomotives were built. Bulleid incorporated many innovations and weight-saving concepts to produce a highly functional design. The class lasted in service until July 1966.

The highly unusual and controversial design represents the ultimate development of the British 0-6-0 freight engine, capable of hauling trains that were usually allocated to much larger locomotives on other railways. Among other nicknames, the class were known as "Coffee Pots" and "Charlies".

This is a fabulous model - proof OO gauge RTR is finally catching up to the european counterparts in terms of quality and performance -plus as I quite happliy admit one of may favourite designs - my first car was a Fiat Strada!
N15 with up fast to London

N15 with up fast to London

The Hornby RTR Model of Pendragon. The LSWR N15 class was a British 2-cylinder 4-6-0 express passenger steam locomotive designed by Robert W. Urie. The class has a complex build history spanning several years of construction from 1919 to 1926. The first examples were constructed for the London and South Western Railway (LSWR), where they hauled heavy express trains to the south coast ports and further west to Exeter.

Following the Grouping of railway companies in 1923, the LSWR became part of the Southern Railway (SR) and its publicity department gave the locomotives names associated with Arthurian legend.
N15 on embankment

N15 on embankment

Southern 4-6-0 N15 (Hornby RTR) express passenger locomotive with Maunsell carriage (Hornby BR) on the embankment. The brick pillar will support the distant signal (when built).
T9 and Signal Box
T9 and Signal Box

Fabulous Hornby T9 model - a RTR 4-4-0 express passenger locomotive passing the Childerditch Junction signal box. The signal box is a Hornby kit of Great Western signal box superdeatiled using a Willis interior kit.

The signal lever set up replicates the junction switch and when completed, signal layout.
Inside Goods Shed
Inside Goods Shed
Detailing on interior of Childerditch Junction Goods Shed.  Kit is a cardboard RTR by Metcalfe Models  www.metcalfemodels.com/
Goods Shed 2

Goods Shed 2

Capturing the scales and cargo waiting for a train.

Childerditch is a busy terminus - the village brewery has won many competitions and the Childerditch Best and Christmas Ale are distributed by rail to North London, south of the Thames to Dulwich and north Kent and east to Southend.

Rhubarb and roses form the agricultural traffic in May and through the summer.

It is rumoured one of the many secret ingredients for Butterbeer could be grown locally.

Western Visitor

Western Visitor

The magnificent Heljan Class 52 Western "Western Campaigner" hauling the Childerditch Pullman over the viaduct on the main to London.

Note the Dr Who Tardis on the viaduct. The viaduct was built to double track main standards, sadly the traffic never materialised and single track running (using tokens) is the result. 
 Childerditch Station
An ongoing and evolving project based on the customised Hornby kit of the GWR Dunster Station.

Details from Skaledale, Montys, Harburn Hamlet, Figures by Preiser, Dart Castings, Posters etc from various sources including Tiny Signs.

The platform was built from the excellent ScaleScenes www.scalescenes.com/         

Track Plan April 2009