Melbourne Military Railway - No 2 Railway Training Centre (UK)

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Melbourne - Derbyshire, not Australia!

So, I have this strange idea that I think my modelling is good enough to be able to present a suitable exhibition layout. If I am deluded, please feel free to let me know so I dont make a fool of myself!!
To the layout idea:
I have have heard about a military railway traning centre in the midlands (keeping to LMS as much as possible) that was taken over by the War Department in 1939 until 1945 which was used to train the Royal Engineers on track laying, bridge buidling, loco maintenance and demolition works. This was based at Kings Newton but called the Melbourne Military Railway and received a regular delivery service of coal, munitions and supplies by rail as well being used for training purposes.

It was along similar lines to the Longmoor Military Railway and others in the UK. It was called No2 RTC as Longmoor was No1 RTC and trainees would go to Longmore first, then move onto Melbourne.

I know there is a book on the subject which I will obtain soon, but I understand it lacks detail on the track plan for the area, so I guess a visit to the Melbourne library will be required.

I think I can make a board or two with the HQ, engine shed etc with suitable loco's (8 in the stable apparently), and a few other boards, each with a diorama showing the various goings on (one with track laying/demolition, one with building a bridge/demolition etc). It might be quite interesting, providing one can get enough suitable material to make it as accurate as possible.

I might even consider making it even tougher, and going down the 3mm/ft route, however, the loco kits might prove difficult to get hold of, therefore 2mm/ft might be the sensible option. 4mm/ft will take up way too much room to do it justice.

If anyone has some info, ideas or anything pertaining to the inner goings on at one of these military training centres, it would be very much appreciated.

Google is lacking in detail for the Melbourne Military Railway - lots of info about Longmoor though.

Thanks
Ian

Ian Lancaster
Please visit my OO Gauge 1930's LMS layout "Jencaster"
http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=14622&forum_id=21&page=1
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Have you discarded this idea for an exhibition layout? It sounds like a cracking idea to me, there are some great N gauge locos these days and someone of your modelling ability would make the jump to N gauge easily….g'wan g'wan g'wan…;-)
Cheers,John.B.:mutley

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Good evening and thank you. I used to model in N gauge and think its probably the safest bet, however i am also attracted to the challenge of 3mm/ft. Its the space constraint that might swing it though. I am heading up to Melbourne in a couple of weeks so will try and do some research then. I know it was very extensive but without good reference material it will be impossible to recreate to a satisfactory standard. The role the men & women played in the war is too important to get it completely wrong or do half a job.

Ian Lancaster
Please visit my OO Gauge 1930's LMS layout "Jencaster"
http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=14622&forum_id=21&page=1
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