As model railway clubs and enthusiasts often dismantle layouts in order to produce new projects there is no guarantee that all of these layouts are still in existance
Broom Junction (O gauge)
Warley MRS layout sometimes appears at the Warley Exhibition.
Clifford Sidings (OO gauge)
Jack Freuville's project ( in Belgium)
Kineton SMJ (N gauge)
Leamington & Warwick MRS early BR days layout in the process of construction.
Fenny Compton (OO gauge)
Jack Freuville's project ( in Belgium)
Byfield (OO gauge)
Northampton Byfield Group's 1930s layout.
Woodford (OO gauge)
Woodford MRC layout at Woodford Halse Social Club, sometimes viewable at special open days at this members only club. Byfield being added to this huge layout.
Blakesley (OO gauge)
Si Donald’s project.
Blakesley (? gauge)
A model of Blakesley station was made around 1968 by lady modeller Vivien Thompson from a drawing by draughtsman Bill Ibbott. Info required.
Towcester (OO gauge)
Seen in the 1970s at the old Birmingham Science Museum, does it still exist in store somewhere?
Towcester (OO gauge)
Mike Hemmings‘ project. LMS period layout.
Towcester (N gauge)
Brian Elphick’s project.
Towcester in the 1970s (OO gauge)
John Norton & George Woodcock’s ‘what if’ layout which has featured in magazines and appeared at some model railway exhibitions.
Blisworth SMJR (O gauge)
Kettering & District MRS layout.
A historic model railway link with the East & West JR
One of the first model railway layouts to feature scenery, if not the very first, was that built by CW Bartholomew at Blakesley Hall around 1900. He was a big shareholder in the E&WJR at a time when the GCR was thinking of taking over the E&WJR route. His father Charles had strong links with the MS&LR ( later to become the GCR) having been a director of one of its constituents, the South Yorkshire Railway as well as owning Wombwell Colliery. It was clockwork, probably O gauge and supplied by Bassett – Lowke of Northampton. George Bailey (a labourer at the hall) had the job of building the scenery for the squire and thus was truly an unsung pioneer of model railways.
Dick Bodily (26th February 2014)
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