In 2009 the Epsom & Ewell Model Railway Club took the brave decision, to build a new N gauge, contemporary image layout. This was brave because the small group didn’t have much experience in N gauge modelling or knowledge of the then current prototype scene. We wanted to run long trains through scenery, so we planned to avoid having a station on the layout.
We chose to model a real place, Hinksey Yard, which is just south of Oxford and set the layout in 2010. It’s a DB Schenker (formerly EWS) Local Distribution Centre, often called a “Virtual Quarry”. Regular deliveries of ballast are stockpiled to allow trains to be prepared for weekend engineering works. Rail, sleeper and ballast wagons all appear in the yard as well as spoil wagons returning from engineering occupations. It is busy enough to need its own dedicated shunting engine.
Passing passenger trains include First Great Western HSTs and Cross Country Voyagers. Freight services include Freightliner and EWS intermodal container services, car transporters from Cowley Works, scrap in containers, MoD traffic, coal & oil for Didcot power station. We also run a steam special with Pullman coaches.
Our model is a compressed representation of part of this yard – a full-size model would be around 50′ long. The scenic part of the layout is 18′ long by 19″ deep and fits onto five baseboards which are stored in a travelling wardrobe. Track is standard Peco code 55 Electrofrog, using some 60 points and around 85 yards of track. Point motors are Seep and control is conventional DC for the mainline and DCC for the Yard itself. Scenic work includes scratch-built footbridges and offices as well as plentiful use of scatter, fine grass fibres and tree foliage nets. There are also some rabbits and deer to spot.
Rolling stock comes from the Farish, Dapol, Revolution and CJM ranges supplemented with kits and 3D prints. The stock has all been weathered – look out for the filthy oil tanker train!
Layout plan
