| Exhibition Layouts |
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In addition to the permanent layouts on display the museum has several
railway layouts in the reserve collection that are transportable and can
be taken to exhibitions. The layouts have been built to show a fair selection
of what was commercially available at the time from that particular manufacturer..
Each has been designed to fold to protect the track in transit and storage, be self contained and able to be moved around, erected and taken down by one or two people in a few minutes, see below on 'how it's done'
Currently the layouts are:
1. Trix Twin, Bakelite track, 1938-58
2. Triang TT-3, 1957-67
3. Trix Twin, fibre track, c1960
4. Hornby Dublo, 1938-64
5. ATMA (Brazil), c1960
6. Triang/Hornby, 1965-71
The museum also has Scalextric which can be built into almost any shape
layout up to 30' x 20' - see bottom of page.
1. Trix Twin, Bakelite track. Size: 12' x 3'4"
Includes a working coal conveyor and a selection of both
the wood and metal buildings.
This layout folds in half.
(Coming soon, more pictures of this layout.)
2. Triang TT-3. Size: 12' x 3'4"
A and B type track, high level and working turntable.
This layout folds in half.
3. Trix Twin, fibre track. Size 8' x 4'
This layout has working coal conveyor, yard lamps and catenary over almost
all the track. Wiring the electric signals is almost complete.
To pack up the layout the catenary wires over the baseboard joints are unclipped and removed. The layout is then laid on one long side, the locking bolts are removed and the layout folded in half. The legs (one in each quadrant) are then folded up and locked in place with a slide bolt. The whole is then rotated on to one end, the locking bolts removed and then folded in half again. The hinged information panels are used to lock the folded layout together and keep out dust. It sounds complicated but takes about ten minutes to do.
The picture above shows the layout folded up on its transport bogie (a flat plate with two BMX bike wheels on a simple axle, the wheels have quick release pins so the bogie can be stored flat). Note one end and one side of the layout have separate cover panels, these have been removed in order to show how the layout interlocks. Folded it measures 4' x 2' x 2'6".
Click here for more pictures of this layout
4. Hornby Dublo. Size: 18' x 4'
Overall view
For more pictures and description click here.
An 8' by 4' layout using ATMA equipment from Brazil.
This layout folds in the same way as the Trix fibre layout.
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6. Triang/Hornby. Size: 24' x 4'
As well as trains there is working Minic Motorway and the Jump Jockey horse racing course is visitor operated. The layout is all catenary except for one line to allow Battle Space helicopters and satellites to be launched and missiles fired! For more pictures of this layout click
here. |
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How
It's Done
2. The side plates are released and the two baseboards open like a book pivoting on home made extended hinges which then fold down out of the way. All wiring is permanently in place and inter board wire links pivot with the hinge. 3. The two boards are bolted together, the trestle legs hinged down and the module rotated onto its legs. This is repeated for the other module and the two sections bolted together. (Both pairs of boards can be operated independently of each other but only one train can run. When both pairs of boards are connected together three trains can run at the same time but the Triang/Hornby automatic train control will soon be added on the long outer circuit to allow up to three trains on the one outer line.) 4. The side plates hinge down and become information panels. The feed is plugged into the mains, stock placed on the track and locos start to move - it's as simple as that! (Note the above pictures show this layout before it was fully finished) |
The layouts on permanent display in the museum.
a) Beddgelet Station, 1925-35.
Size 11' x 6'. Scale 5.5mm/foot, 12mm gauge.
Two of the locos were built around 1963 from GEM kits and the layout itself in 1971-2 although in true model railway fashion it is still not finished! It has been to many exhibitions and now is displayed as the 'loft' layout in the museum. Almost all the stock and the other locos are made from Plasticard although the stone walls are real granite built at a rate of 9" per hour.
b) Hornby '0', 1930 - 60, size 24' x 8'
c) French Hornby '0', 1930 - 65, size 15' x 7'6"
d). Hornby Dublo, 1938-64, size 15' x 5'
e) Hornby 00, 1972, a trade layout 6' x 4' made for shops as a point of sale aid.
Scalextric
An example of the type of 4 lane layout the museum can take to exhibitions, etc. Track can be assembled to fit almost any space and has computer timing - to prevent any arguements!
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