Inspired by the real Exbury village area in the New Forest in Hampshire and its military importance to D-Day preparations, ‘Lower Exbury’ was created in 2009 by Jo Palmer as a Scalefour challenge layout for the 2011 ‘Railwells’ exhibition.
Her fictitious South Hampshire Light Railway represents the terminus of a ‘twig’ off a branch line with a now little-used river wharf and also serving the local (off-scene) brickworks. We are visiting in July 1952, during British Railways’ Southern Region era. The future is looking bleak. Even after trackwork was re-laid with second-hand rail from wartime sidings a few years earlier, the brickworks are facing closure and the remaining traffic is light. Basic passenger and freight services are worked by veteran pre-Grouping locomotives, elderly carriages and an assortment of period wagons.
‘Lower Exbury’ has developed an alter-ego called ‘Merched & Dynion’, set somewhere on the Western Region in South/Mid Wales. It may appear in this format at some time over the weekend.
The layout is built in 4mm scale using 18.83 mm gauge (P4) track standards. It was acquired by Alison in late 2015. Locomotives and stock has been built or converted from proprietary items by her husband David.
Track plan
Dimensions: 7ft 6in x 1ft 3in, space required 10ft x 5ft, front operated
