A classic GWR branch line terminus in OO gauge, beautifully built … · LAYT FOCUS KEY DETAILS BUILDINGS All the major buildings and structures are scratchbuilt using a variety of

78 www.RMweb.co.uk BRM | February 2015

LAYOUT FOCUS

FACT FILE

1

◗ Layout Name: Much Murkle◗ Scale: 4mm:1ft scale, 16.5mm gauge OO◗ Length: 12’ x 2’◗ Layout type: terminus to fi ddleyard◗ Control: 12V DC analogue◗ Location: GWR in Herefordshire◗ Period: 1930s onwards◗ Time to build: Five years◗ Words: Nick Wood◗ Photographs: Andy York

LAYOUT FOCUS

Deep in the Herefordshire countryside, a GWR ‘Dukedog’ 4-4-0 disturbs the peace as it arrives with the branch goods trip. The line in the foreground leads to Rancoutt’s cider factory - a major source of income for the branch.

78 Much Murkle HS BJ TWEAKS.indd 78 24/12/2014 14:55

BRM | February 2015 www.model-railways-live.co.uk 79

MUCH MURKLE

OOGAUGE

A classic GWR branch line terminus in OO gauge, beautifully built and described by Nick Wood.

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80 www.RMweb.co.uk

LAYOUT FOCUS

BRM | Februry 2015

If we all followed our roots and early infl uences, my modest train set would have O gauge trackwork and blue diesels running on former Great Central metals, rather than Pannier Tanks on the Great Western.

I spent my fi rst 24 years living in North Lincolnshire. I went to school in Gainsborough where in the late-1960s and early-1970s we spotted Brush Type 2s and 4s and EE Type 3s and their tatty freights running on the line at the top of the school fi elds. I didn’t have a model railway at all as a child and was always more interested in models than the real thing.

I avidly read old copies of Railway Modeller many times over, which in those days seemed to be full of Great Western layouts both large and small. I remember that Reverend Teddy Boston’s ‘Oulton Priors’ was a particular favourite of mine at the time but I also loved the smaller layouts like the Tyling Branch and even non-GWR layouts like ‘Marthwaite’ and ‘Charmout’.

Eventually in my early twenties I joined Gainsborough Model Railway Society with its huge O gauge layout depicting King’s Cross to Leeds. Here was a layout that operated prototypically with signalboxes, bell codes and timetables, but was scenically under-developed at the time. I got involved helping to operate Leeds terminus and building wagon kits.

I enjoyed this very much but the lack of realistic scenery was always a disappointment. My involvement at Gainsborough MRS was to be cut short

by the contraction of the steel industry at Scunthorpe, where I worked at the time, resulting in me moving to new employment in Berkshire.

IGNITING THE FLAMEI, like many others I suspect, have dabbled with railway modelling since my childhood days, gradually building up a collection of unrelated items and doing nothing much of any consequence with them. A few false starts along the way, and of course, all abandoned at an early stage because they were too ambitious and poorly planned. For many years after getting married, I lost interest and left my collection untouched in boxes in the loft and cellar.

Something would occasionally spark my interest again, and I would seek out the modelling armchair only for the embers to die. Eventually though, after a spur of the moment visit to the Trainwest exhibition, the spark ignited a fl ame. I saw Dave Spencer’s ‘Penrhos’, which truly inspired me. Here was a layout of modest size, built with Peco track and proprietary stock, but built to a high scenic standard. I felt something similar would be achievable with the proper planning.

It was featured in the modelling press that same month and I bought the magazine, which became my reference point for some time. This all cumulated in charging my desire once again to build my own small layout, to a standard I would be happy with, and that would bring back those memories of browsing through old copies of RM and dreaming of that ‘one day’.

LAYOUT FOCUS

2Passenger services are operated by

the classic ‘14XX’ and autocoach combination or GWR diesel railcars.

GREENERYI have had many positive comments about the scenery and get asked lots of questions at exhibitions relating to the materials and methods used to create the groundcover. There is nothing particularly special in the materials used, which come from mainstream suppliers advertised in the modelling press or seen at exhibitions. Different fl ocks, scatters, static grass and fi ne foliage are used in various shades but I avoid bright and garish colours. All are applied with PVA glue. Perhaps what actually interests most people is how these are blended into a believable scene. Some might think that you need the eye of an artist to achieve this but I don’t consider that I possess that particular quality. I made a visit to Herefordshire at the time of year I wanted to represent and just looked at meadows, trees, hedgerows, lanes and fi eld fencing and gates whilst I was there. I took many photographs and made notes. I also searched the internet for photographs to give me ideas. It was then a question of choosing different materials that I could use and build up in layers to create a believable representation. The only regret I have is that I didn’t make provision to drop the contours below the trackbed at some point, as this would have greatly improved the visual impact and photographic opportunities.


www.model-railways-live.co.uk 81BRM | December 2014

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Serving the cider factory, quarry and local agricultural community means that the station is always busy. A ‘Collett Goods’ 0-6-0 shunts the Rancoutt’s siding.


82 www.RMweb.co.uk

LAYOUT FOCUS

BRM | February 2015

LAYOUT FOCUSLAYOUT FOCUS

After searching for a suitable location and making the decision that it was going to be in Herefordshire, I created a back story to justify its existence and the types of traffi c that would be seen. The community of Much Murkle is west of Newent at the end of an eight mile branch. It is predominantly agricultural, requiring mainly general goods and livestock traffi c. Rancoutt’s Cider has a loading dock to transport its produce by rail to London, the Midlands and beyond. Much Murkle quarry is further down the line and mineral trains have to reverse at the terminus as there is no run-round facility at the quarry sidings.

CREATING THE SPACEI was keen to create a spacious feeling, a tall order given the variety of trains required and the size

I fi rmly believe that anyone starting out can achieve the standard that I have, providing they are prepared to ask for

help, seek constructive criticism and listen to what is offered.

‘

‘available. A lot of thought was given to how this could be achieved. A trackplan was developed that is very simple but catered for all of the movements required and left plenty of scope for scenic development. The key to achieving this feeling of space was to avoid straight sections of track wherever possible and the use of cassettes to minimise the space taken up by the fi ddle yard.

I resisted the temptation to include an engine shed at the terminus. The siding space could be better used for a cattle and milk dock which otherwise would have to be located elsewhere. On most small layouts I see, the shed has a locomotive standing outside that rarely moves, adding little operating interest to the layout. My shed is therefore located off-scene creating the occasional light engine movements.

Consequently there are only eight points on ‘Much Murkle’. It can be operated in a realistic and very rewarding manner but unwary operators can get themselves in a complete mess by not thinking out their shunting moves in advance. It keeps two operators very busy at exhibitions and actually works best with three.

Like the trackplan, the electrics were kept simple. The layout is wired for DC control and split into four electrical sections. I have a highly prized KPC handheld controller, which has very fi ne control. These are no longer available so I reserve it for exhibition running, using a Gaugemaster ‘HH’ hand-held controller at home. The points are controlled using the ‘Big Bang Theory’; traditional stud and probe, a capacitor discharge unit and Peco solenoid motors. DG autocouplers are operated by electromagnets under the track and activated by push-button switches whilst the signals are controlled by Fawn Electronics’ ‘Little Jemmy’ motors (see January BRM).

I started building ‘Much Murkle’ in 2008. I have done everything myself from the baseboards upwards and it attended its fi rst exhibition in October 2013. This may seem like a long time to build a small layout but my modelling competes with a number of other interests for my spare time. Together, ‘Much Murkle’ and I have now attended fi ve exhibitions and in 2014, we had the honour of winning ‘Best Visiting Layout’ at the Sutton Coldfi eld show in April and exhibiting at RMweb Live last September. We currently have bookings for nine more exhibitions running into 2017.

I fi rmly believe that anyone starting out can achieve the standard that I have, providing they are prepared to ask for help, seek constructive criticism and listen to what is offered. I have learnt so much over the last few years and received encouragement by joining forums such as RMweb, YMR and MRG and made many friends along the way. Joining Andover Model Railway Club has expanded my involvement with exhibitions and has given me a new project to work on - building another exhibition layout, but that is another story…

My wife Janet puts up with the mess in our home from my modelling activities and accompanies me to most exhibitions, helping to set up and operate when needed. Friends, Mike Hughes, Paul Leonard, Steve Rogerson, Andrew Fendick and Kevin Pugh, all members of Andover MRC generously make themselves available to take ‘Much Murkle’ out to

exhibitions at weekends. I appreciate all the help I receive and would like to say, a BIG thank you

to you all! BRM

4A detailed and fl ush-glazed Hornby/Lima GWR railcar arrives with a horsebox in tow. At a time when rural roads were poor, the railway provided a vital link for agricultural communities.

all members of Andover MRC generously make themselves available to take ‘Much Murkle’ out to

exhibitions at weekends. I appreciate all the help I receive and would like to say, a BIG thank you

to you all! BRM

Left A ‘57XX’ pannier tank waits for departure time with a gas tank coupled ahead of the single coach. Note the carefully weathered and painted permanent way - a great demonstration of what can be achieved with Code 100 track.


www.model-railways-live.co.uk 83BRM | February 2015

KEY DETAILS LOCOMOTIVES & STOCKLocomotives must have crew, lamps and real coal as a minimum amount

of detailing. Most have had number changes and other detailing added.

The majority of goods stock is kit-built but I am happy to use RTR items that suit the setting. A number of open wagons have loads

and others are correctly sheeted with tarpaulins. Passenger stock is also a mix of detailed RTR and kit-built coaches. All the rolling stock has wheels changed to those by Alan Gibson and is weathered to various degrees. Unless permanently coupled together, stock has DG auto-couplings.

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LAYOUT FOCUS

KEY DETAILS BUILDINGSAll the major buildings and structures

are scratchbuilt using a variety of materials. Card and Scalescenes textures have been used extensively as I enjoy working in this medium but styrene sheet and real wood, free, courtesy of a caffeine addiction, has also been utilised.

I enjoy creating cameo scenes but didn’t want to over populate ‘Much Murkle’. Figures are placed in small groups that in most scenes are

conversing, perhaps that should be gossiping in some cases, or going about their daily work. The cameos are not just confi ned to the little people; the animals, goods, luggage and parcels have all been placed with the same care and thought applied. The principle I tried to apply was that if there were no trains on the layout the scene should not look out of place.

6 Like all the structures, the main station building is scratchbuilt - using card and real wood to achieve

the appropriate texture, and covered in enamel advertisments, as was common in the 1930s.


MY FAVOURITE LOCOMOTIVEIt is usually the one that is running the best during any particular session, although I have to say that my locomotives generally do run well. I have a particular liking for my Bachmann ‘Dukedog’ that usually hauls the trains in and out of Rancoutt’s Cider. Like all of my locomotives it has had real coal, crew and lamps added and has been weathered.

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LAYO

UT O

F THE

MON

THMU

CH M

URKL

EG

AU

GE

OO

How

did

you

get

sta

rted

in t

he h

obby

? I’m

not

real

ly w

hat y

ou w

ould

cal

l a ra

ilway

en

thus

iast

, alth

ough

I di

d so

me

spot

ting

whe

n I

was

you

nger

. I a

m m

ore

inte

rest

ed in

the

hist

ory

of

railw

ays.

My

mai

n in

tere

st is

in m

akin

g th

ings

and

cr

eatin

g a

wel

l-pre

sent

ed a

nd b

elie

vabl

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ttin

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get

a re

al th

rill o

ut o

f exh

ibiti

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nd d

o en

joy

oper

atin

g,

but m

ost o

f the

tim

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refe

r oth

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to ru

n m

y ra

ilway

w

hils

t I a

nsw

er q

uest

ions

at t

he fr

ont o

f hou

se.

Wha

t fa

ctor

s in

spir

ed ‘M

uch

Mur

kle’

? Al

thou

gh a

GW

R br

anch

line

app

eale

d, I

wan

ted

to

avoi

d th

e W

est C

ount

ry a

s a

sett

ing,

as

it ha

s be

en

done

man

y tim

es b

efor

e. I

foun

d a

phot

ogra

ph o

n th

e in

tern

et o

f a c

onsi

gnm

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f cid

er b

ound

for

the

USA

afte

r the

end

of p

rohi

bitio

n. It

was

abo

ut

to b

e di

spat

ched

by

rail

from

a c

over

ed ti

mbe

r lo

adin

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t Bul

mer

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Her

efor

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a G

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‘Atb

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4-4

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his

wou

ld m

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the

fiddl

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akin

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in H

eref

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hire

incl

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esto

n’s

at M

uch

Mar

cle.

Th

ese

phot

ogra

phs

show

ed th

at th

e bu

ildin

gs w

ere

quite

dis

tinct

and

wer

e in

valu

able

in d

esig

ning

a

repr

esen

tatio

n of

a c

ider

-mak

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facil

ity th

at

wou

ld s

tand

up

to s

ome

scru

tiny.

A v

isit

to th

e ar

ea

incl

udin

g W

esto

n’s

Cide

r con

firm

ed th

at it

wou

ld b

e id

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or m

y se

ttin

g.

Wha

t ot

her

layo

uts

do y

ou a

dmir

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Sett

ing

asid

e th

ose

layo

uts

of y

este

ryea

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ch

influ

ence

d m

e gr

eatly

, my

favo

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s in

rece

nt ti

mes

ar

e al

l sm

all l

ayou

ts b

ut q

uite

div

erse

in th

eir t

hem

e su

ch a

s; Gi

les

Fave

ll’s

‘The

End

Of T

he L

ine’

(co

min

g ne

xt m

onth

in B

RM

); Ge

off F

orst

er’s

‘Pen

hydd

’ (s

adly

no

long

er);

Paul

Mar

shal

l-Pot

ter’s

‘Alb

ion

Yard

’; an

d fin

ally

‘Pen

rhos

’ bui

lt by

Dav

e Sp

ence

r but

no

w in

the

hand

s of

Ian

Perr

in (

luck

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ap!)

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co

mm

on d

enom

inat

or is

thei

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l tho

ught

out

pla

n,

oper

atio

n an

d ex

celle

nt s

ceni

c tr

eatm

ents

.

How

do

you

fit r

ailw

ay m

odel

ling

into

yo

ur li

fe?

I am

fort

unat

e th

at I

am s

elf-e

mpl

oyed

and

wor

k fro

m h

ome

mos

t of t

he ti

me.

Alth

ough

the

wor

k ca

n be

full-

time,

in re

ality

ther

e ar

e sl

ack

perio

ds th

at I

can

ofte

n fil

l with

my

hobb

y. I

usua

lly h

ave

a pr

ojec

t on

the

go, r

eady

to p

ick u

p w

hen

I hav

e a

spar

e fe

w

min

utes

.

Whe

re d

o yo

u lo

ok fo

r so

luti

ons

to

mod

ellin

g pr

oble

ms?

Fo

r yea

rs I

did

mos

t of m

y m

odel

ling

alon

e, re

lyin

g on

mag

azin

es a

nd b

ooks

. Whe

n I s

tart

ed ‘M

uch

Mur

kle’

I jo

ined

a n

umbe

r of i

nter

net f

orum

s w

hich

ha

ve b

een

inva

luab

le. I

t see

ms

som

eone

will

alw

ays

have

a s

ugge

stio

n or

an

answ

er to

ove

rcom

e a

prob

lem

. I re

cent

ly jo

ined

And

over

Mod

el R

ailw

ay

Club

and

ben

efit e

norm

ousl

y fro

m b

eing

abl

e to

talk

ov

er p

robl

ems

with

exp

erie

nced

mod

elle

rs fa

ce-t

o-fa

ce.

Do

you

have

any

pre

ferr

ed s

uppl

iers

?I h

ave

used

man

y sm

all s

uppl

iers

for k

its a

nd

deta

iling

par

ts a

nd a

ll ha

ve b

een

very

hel

pful

. I

wou

ld s

ingl

e ou

t Sca

lesc

enes

as

bein

g on

e of

my

favo

ured

sup

plie

rs a

s I h

ave

real

ly e

njoy

ed u

sing

Jo

hn W

iffen

’s te

xtur

es a

nd c

onst

ruct

ion

met

hods

for

scra

tchb

uild

ing

the

stru

ctur

es o

n ‘M

uch

Mur

kle’

.

Wha

t de

velo

pmen

ts w

ould

you

like

to

see

in t

he h

obby

? Th

e ho

bby

is m

ovin

g fo

rwar

d te

chni

cally

in s

o m

any

way

s, 3-

D pr

intin

g, la

ser-

cutt

ing,

aut

omat

ed a

nd

digi

tal c

ontr

ol, a

nd e

ver-

impr

ovin

g so

und

syst

ems

to

nam

e a

few

, all

of w

hich

is v

ery

excit

ing.

W

hils

t I m

arve

l at a

ll of

thes

e th

ings

, I w

ould

sel

fishl

y lik

e to

see

Bac

hman

n or

Hor

nby

prod

uce

som

e ne

w

GWR

seco

ndar

y co

achi

ng s

tock

to re

plac

e th

e 30

+ ye

ar o

ld o

fferin

gs o

n w

hich

we

still

rely

(Yo

u’re

not

al

one

in th

at! -

Ed.

).

QA&

Each

grid

squ

are

repr

esen

ts 1

foot

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

GA

UG

E


Documents

A classic GWR branch line terminus in OO gauge, beautifully built … · LAYT FOCUS KEY DETAILS BUILDINGS All the major buildings and structures are scratchbuilt using a variety of