SMRS first venture into EM

After over 5 decades of continuous modelling and the production of many fine layouts the Committee of Southampton Model Railway Society has authorised the production of our first EM gauge layout.
A small(ish) layout was envisaged by the Committee. Our past 00 gauge creations have been on a larger scale and over 30 feet in length. Some of you may have seen models of Romsey (SR) and Acthorpe (LNER) in the railway press or on the exhibition circuit. A 40' long OO gauge model of Seaton Junction is at present under construction and some may have seen the first steps at our show in January of this year.

The 4 EM gaugers have now met and concensus appears to have been reached that a scale model of Torrington in Devon should be constructed.
You may be asking, 'Why Torrington?'
In the club library we do have the excellent book from Irwell Press on the lines to Torrington. A look at a scale map of the station precincts shows that the location was bounded by a bridge at the end of the platforms and another on the line to Bideford. The measurement between the bridges is near as dammit, 1,000 feet. That gives a layout of 13' 6" including the width of the bridges.
My thought is. 'Why has nobody modelled this location before? Can you honestly think of a more convenient location to model?'
More to the point we can fit it all in a 2 foot width.
Rather conveniently the Society had 4 baseboards measuring 4' X 2' taking up space beneath the O gauge layout. Ours now!
Stage 1 having been taken care of we can now concentrate on the track plan.
That plan will be taken from the 1950 diagram that was published in the OPC Book, Southern Sheds. It gives us a useable period of running between the late 1930s up to closure to passengers in 1965. Initial plans are to create different sequences depending on the stock available.
A map of the site is shown below. All we have to do now is to plan out where the track goes on the boards and start building the track and point work.



As stated, the EM gauge section of our club numbers 4 at present. If you are within striking distance of Southampton and like the idea of what we are up to then feel free to message me and pay us a visit.
That is the original Southampton in England. Appologies to our colonial readership.

 

Looks good Mark.  

Terry

What a splendid proposal Mark and I'm only sorry that I'm no longer a local resident, as it sounds great fun and reminds me of my childhood in Devon.

Hope to catch you on my annual visit in January.

Bill

I agree, that is a great looking plan. Plenty of operating potential. Good luck to you all.