Narrow Gauge North

A 009 layout by Alan Martin
Scale 009 (4mm/1ft)
Gauge 9mm
Size 3’6" x 1’1"

This little layout started life in two A4 box files (permanently attached together) possibly some 15 years ago by a member of our local railway group. Having spent some time collecting dust, 'Eck as Like' was offered free to a good home, an offer too good to miss. There was no way of removing the layout from the box files without damaging it so the box files were carefully cut away and removed, leaving the layout on the heavy card base. Residing in my loft was a small baseboard which was being saved for another project and as luck would have it was a perfect fit for the 'new' layout. The only original parts left on the layout are the goods store, the three block pillars; acting as buffer stops and of course the track work. After reworking the scenery and adding a short length of standard gauge track in front of the new fiddle yard ‘Eck as Like’ was transformed into what you see today. Lower Martindale, set in middle England is served (if only occasionally) by a standard gauge single track which may well close in the near future, although the local business people are lobbying to keep it open. As part of their continuing campaign they have joined forces with the communities of the nearby villages and between them they have set up a company who has built a narrow gauge line to keep them all connected, thus allowing the local businesses, farmers etc. to bring their products and wares for onward transportation to the outside world. One of the locals has recently had a big win on the pools (the national lottery had not been thought of as yet) and being a fan of railways is in negotiations to purchase an old locomotive along with a few goods vehicles and the single siding to allow the connection to stay open. The outcome still remains to be seen but for the time being life continues at a leisurely pace.

The surrounding countryside is of outstanding beauty and attracts walkers/hikers/cyclists and campers to the area. The nearby village of Greater Martindale even boasts an 18 hole golf course and one of the locals is off to play in a tournament (he can be seen waiting on the platform). A young boy can be seen sitting on the wall with his toy glider whiling the time away watching the comings and goings at the station yard, no doubt his mother is wondering when he will be home for his lunch. . Other passengers can be seen making their way to or from the station on this busy Saturday morning. All of the above is of course just a figment of my imagination and in the real world would have never happened that way, but as it is my layout I can run it as I feel. Please do not feel that you are interrupting, the operator is only too pleased to take a break to answer any questions you may have.

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