I do not have a track plan for Bydemill – my 7mm scale, Edwardian-era, Great Western Railway layout. I based the track arrangement on GWR Highworth, and drew my plan full-size on kraft paper right before I started building it.
But I realized I could share at least a sense of the design by taking a couple of photos over the backdrops at each end of the layout. So, here they are:
Looking north from Swindon towards end of track. The main track is at the left, while the goods yard siding is at right, with a switch back track into the goods shed. The end of track can just be seen in front of the backdrop at upper left. The track arrangement is exactly as it was at Highworth, but with each end curved back on itself to keep the whole thing on a 2’x24′ shelf.
Looking south from the other end shows off the station and platform, with a colourful station garden. The cattle dock is in the foreground, right at the switch that forms the loop track. The catch point on the platform track prevents any stock at the pen from accidentally rolling into a train standing at the station. It’s in an unusual place but is 100% prototypical – an advantage of building from a real plan. The main track to Swindon disappears into the trees and under a footbridge at upper right, with a two-track staging area on the other side of the backdrop.
As the photos show, the layout is substantially complete. I have a few details to add, some other details to upgrade, some rolling stock kits to build, and a fascia to paint – but all of these things are enhancements and not strictly necessary. That’s a great place to be and I’m still surprised it took much less than two years to get to this point.
Lifelong model railway enthusiast and retired amateur shepherd who trained a border collie to work sheep. Professional writer and editor, with some podcasting and Internet TV presenting work thrown in for good measure.
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