History

The layout was developed by the club to take the place of ‘Walmcompton’ which had passed it’s effective life. The initial planning took place in 2000 and shown in a very basic form at the club’s exhibition in 2002 and the first train to run was set off by the widow of Tony Frey, a long standing member of the club hence the name. Since that day it has been shown at a number of venues and because the layout is constantly being updated, we hope it will be invited to future exhibitions for some time to come.

The Layout

The actual size of the layout is 16′ by 3’3″ separating into four sections enabling it to be transported in members’ cars. It consists of four tracks laid as a tail chaser, the outer two being slow and the inner two being for the normal fast trains. The station is wired so that trains on the fast line can be brought into the platforms, both to serve the passengers and to allow other trains to overtake. There is also a goods yard where goods trains can call. Because the members interests are so varied the actual location and era has been deliberately left vague and the layout is now being run as steam in the morning and modern image in the afternoon at exhibitions.

A fully automated signalling system using three aspect lights is now fully operational. Passing units activate a sensor so changing each light within that track and in certain circumstances other tracks.

The number of trains that can be run at any one time is fifteen and we like to have six members in attendance at exhibitions.

Value for Exhibition Purposes – £9000

A post privatisation terminus west of Glasgow

Built and owned by Colin Heath, member of SW Herts MRS, the N Gauge Society and N Gauge Forum.

Allanbrae does not appear on any map.  A Scottish sounding name emanating in large part from two operators who have provided invaluable assistance in recent years, it is probably located on the banks of Loch Lomond, or thereabouts.  It is still operated by diesel traction some years after privatisation.  Once a 5 platform terminus with a complex track arrangement it has been simplified considerably over the years, with the main approach being singled; only 3 platforms remain though the old Platform 5 is now a Royal Mail depot.  The original  platform 1 is now part of the car park and bus/taxi stands.

Services, primarily to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling/Perth are operated by a mix of 156, 158 and 170 DMUs and sometimes a Voyager  to Manchester.  There is a daily portion of the Caledonian Sleeper.  Mail trains serve the depot.  This and the sleeper are hauled by Class 67s.  Liveries cover a mix of years.  Beyond the road bridge the kickback leads to a Traction depot for locos and an unspecified freight facility.  Depending on my mood this might be an oil depot, a paper mill, aluminium works or Whisky distillery.  Or a mix of these, so a Class 66 will also appear from time to time along with the 08 station shunter.

Inspiration for the layout  included Helensburgh , Laargs and Iain Futers’ small Scottish layouts, including his O gauge layout Victoria Park.

Notes for Exhibition Managers

Value  £4000  One power point.  Self supporting

2-3 operators depending on show.   2-3 Chairs.

Baseboard Size  7ft by 1ft.  Footprint say 7ft by 6ft.,

Originally conceived as an extension to Dudley Frey, we are now constructing a small standalone layout suitable for taking to exhibitions. Details to be added in due course.

Many schemes were thought up for Railways on the Black Isle, north of Inverness.  A branch was built from Muir of Ord to Fortrose.  This layout assumes that it was extended, as some tried to do, to the fishing and holiday resort of Cromarty.  It is assumed that while the Highland/LMS dominated, the GNoSR/LNER obtained the right to run trains from Aberdeen and other of their destinations.  Tourist and fish traffic initially developed though such a line would have succumbed to the Axe by the mid/later 60s.

We will often start the day using steam locos but in the afternoon we may decide that motive power becomes diesel, with a class 120 DMU, Class 20, 24, 26 and 27 locos featuring.  And the odd interloper in both eras.  Apart from trains to Muir of Ord to connect with Kyle and Far North Line services, through trains are run from Inverness, Aberdeen and even Perth.  On summer Saturdays there may be a train from Glasgow or Edinburgh. 

Baseboards are plywood kits from White Rose.  Track is Peco code 55.  This is the first layout I have built since neurosurgery to correct the tremor in my right hand.  I have used a number of kit buildings from Metcalfe.

Notes for Exhibition Managers

Value  £4000                       One power point.  Self supporting.

2-3 operators depending on show.       2-3 Chairs

Baseboard Size  9ft 6 ins by 1ft.  Footprint say 10 by 6 plus access at ends.

Exhibited by Colin Heath