News
Surprise gift of model railway for Famous Trains!
Almost out of the blue, a benefactor has presented his large model railway to the Trustees of the Derby-based charity Famous Trains model railway, for use in its project in Markeaton Park. Enthusiast Derek Chandley saw a report about the project when reading a model railway magazine in Australia. Having a need to dispose of his 00-scale model railway from his home in Derbyshire, Derek contacted the Famous Trains model railway charity, and offered his railway free if the charity could arrange to take it away!
Famous Trains chairman Colin Boocock says, “There is an amazing match between Derek’s layout and our own plans for the railway in the building in Markeaton Park. We shall save ourselves a lot of work, and it should enable the model railway to open to the public a lot earlier than if we had to build a model railway from scratch!”
The model railway was formally handed over to the charity at a short ceremony on Monday 27th June. While the charity is preparing for its eventual exhibition to the public it will stay in secure storage.
The model railway is an 00-scale replica of Chinley station, Derbyshire, in the period of the 1960s and 1970s. It has four main line tracks running through it, as well as a goods yard and a working turntable for model steam locomotives. Hidden loops at the back of the layout will enable 16 different trains to run in sequence round the layout. The public will see trains from several different eras passing through, or stopping at the station. There is also a bay platform for local trains. The plans are to make this a fully-automated model railway so that operator involvement is minimised yet with a satisfying variety of trains running. An operator can manage shunting in the freight yard (for which Bachmann’s proposed new 3F 0-6-0 will be ideal!).
In the future, the Famous Trains model railway members intend to extend the layout to include a model Derbyshire quarry and a village with its own station, farmland and even a fairground with working rides. As many as possible of the scenic attractions will be workable by visitors using push-buttons.
The charity is seeking funds and sponsorships. Readers wanting to get involved with this exciting project in any way will be very welcome and should contact Colin Boocock at 01332 340540 or e-mail him on cpboocock@aol.com.
Derek Chandley (left) hands
over his Chinley model railway to
Famous Trains
model railway
charity chairman Colin Boocock. (Photo by Peter Swift)
