Copyright © 2002-2009, Crawley Model Railway Society [June 09]
‘Rothern Bridge’
7mm:1ft Scale
O Gauge
Click image to view track plan
For more pictures, visit
Rothern Bridge is a finescale O-gauge end-to-end arrangement featuring a
through station based on Torrington in Devon during its LSWR, Southern
Railway or British Railways (Southern Region). Its viewing length is 32 feet
and is 55 feet long with both fiddle yards. In front of each fiddle yard there
are 'modesty boards' to protect the stock on the traverser. It is still possible
to look over the top and see what's "waiting in the wings".
From its original conception, the layout took five years to get it ready for its
first exhibition. There are eight main baseboards in the viewable area and
each is 3ft wide by 4ft long. The end fiddle yards are both 11ft long and
incorporate a screw driven end pivoting traverser with seven storage roads.
At the far end is a separate cassette for moving locomotives from one road
to another.
When we exhibit the layout all the stock run is typical for the area and
could be LSWR, Southern Railway or British Railways (Southern Region).
Trains will be correct for their period - i.e. a locomotive and the stock it
pulls will be of the same era but may not be the same era as another train
on the layout. So you may see some LSWR carriages from the 1920s pulled
by a T9 alongside some BR freight stock behind a Standard Class 4. Given
the varied interests of club members, some occasional out-of-region visiting
trains may be seen.
Rolling stock used on the layout uses the club's standard O-gauge couplings
using the Sprat and Winkle design but 4mm scale rather than 7mm.
Uncoupling is done over hidden magnets although sometimes these are too
well hidden!
As with any layout there are still things to be done - some more scenic
work, more figures and other paraphernalia. If you're into O gauge and want
somewhere to run your stock, come and visit us in our clubhouse.
Contact our secretary or the layout leaders for more information.
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