This EM model is set around 1928-35 and is a representation of Hungerford station on the Great Western Railway main line to the west of Reading. (Formally part of the Berkshire and Hampshire railway).
Much research was carried out in the early 1980’s to identify the railway structures and buildings that existed in Hungerford around the period in which the model is based, few of which remain today. The station itself has been reduced to a couple of platforms with bus shelter style waiting areas. Due to having to for-shorten the ends of the layout some town buildings have either been omitted or reduced in size. The canal represents a short portion of the Kennet and Avon which runs close to the railway immediately to the East of the town.
The track layout through the station is to scale length and generally accurate with the exception of the cross over opposite the horse dock which was actually added in 1948. Whilst we do not operate to a time table, the operating sequence comprising some 24 distinct trains is our attempt to reproduce a representation of the kinds of traffic that would be seen on the line. These include West of England expresses, Plymouth boat traffic, parcels, freight and pick up goods. Hungerford saw a considerable amount of horse traffic due to its close proximity to the Newbury race course. The vast majority of the rolling stock has been built from kits although in recent years, and because of the enormous improvement latterly in the quality of ready to run models, a small number of proprietary models have been introduced albeit modified to run on EM track (18.2mm gauge).
Track plan
