Dave Todd emailed me this morning to say he has a layout to pass on to someone in the group. He stays in Burntisland. I've asked if it was possible to get some photos and further details. In his initial contact this is what he said:
"My reason to contact you is I have a fully completed small layout 5 feet by 3 feet continuous run with sidings - no stock - which I would donate to the group for attending shows etc. It is based lightly on on a layout in the Railway Modeller a few years ago. It includes a transformer and controller and has four electrically operated points. I call it "The Steading" as it is based on a small station at a race stables."
He adds that unfortunately covid in the new year has affected his health and that as he is approaching his 92nd birthday and no longer drives he doesn't see himself exhibiting it.
Hi Graeme,
If you want it for the group to use - I have space to store it.
As I'm in Gorebridge it wouldn't be difficult for me to collect and transport.
If you let me know?
Thanks
Phil H
Thanks Phil.
That's a thought and something to include for discussion in the next meeting perhaps. My first thought was that it would be taken on by an individual as their layout with the hope they would exhibit, but some form of group or shared ownership is worth considering.
I received some more information from Dave Todd:
"Hello Graeme, thanks for your e.mail. The name of my layout should be "The Stables " and not the Steadings. I am having difficulty in finding the photos I have of the layout but send what I have which were taken from the video. The original layout is based on one in Railway Modeller of August 2019 and named Woodbury Wharf by Richard Holder. The photograph of the layout plan is more or less as it was with a few alterations, one being the track to the warehouse goes through into the back bit. The track is all Peco flexible with set track for the tight curves. The track is not ballasted as I did not know if this would be the final way for it. The photos I have sent are very small but it may be you have some way of enlarging them. It gets beyond me sometimes.
The centre part is all flat and could easily be altered to form a different appearance. There are no legs for it as I just put it on a table. The backscene can be removed to reduce the height for transporting. If you need more photos perhaps one of your members could so as things are not so good with mine these days and the layout will need to be brought out of storage.. I am normally available at any time. The type of layout it is is more suited to 0-4-0 locos but I have run several of the larger ones. Hope you can understand this. Kindest regards."
Unfortunately the photos did not attach to his email. I think it is useful to hear that Peco Setrack was used for the tight curves, which gives a good idea of what should run on the layout.
A link to Woodbury Wharf: https://richardholder.org.uk/woodbury.htm (https://richardholder.org.uk/woodbury.htm)
A further update from Dave Todd:
"Hello Graeme, back again. My daughter has now found the photograph of The Sables which I now forward. Hope they come through all right. When the layout was put into storage it was ready to just plug in and run. Kindest regards. Dave."
The photos he emailed me are below:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51929801029_f6c5e820df_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51929553758_de82693f28_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51930091415_390358880f_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51929462796_7f7d8e8670_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51930091425_c671e00cee_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51929553773_b206a6940a_z.jpg)