Croft Early GWR

Mikemill

Western Thunderer
This is Croft, my G1 GWR branch line layout. Unlike most garden layouts I wanted to treat a G1 layout as seen in the smaller scales. The layout is 30ft long by 2ft wide.

As I prefer the earlier period of the GWR but there were no commercially made models available, so the entire layout is scratch built.


Mike


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Mikemill

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the kind remarks and many likes of Croft, an appreciation of your peers is most welcome.
Here are some more images of the layout. Leaving the station complex the line crosses a river, the bridge is inspired by the Victoria bridge on the Seven Valley Railway, and appropriately a River class loco is leading the train over the bridge.


Mike
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Loss of Memory

Mikemill

Western Thunderer
I heard on the radio the other day that people have been experiencing loss of memory due to long periods of lockdown, I think I am one of them as I have just realised that I posted a series of images on Croft in February. Apologies for posting twice on the same subject.


Mike
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
That all looks truly marvellous. Was Watlington an inspiration for the Goods Shed?

Looking forward to some more pictures.
 

Mikemill

Western Thunderer
Keith

Yes, Watlington was the inspiration for the goods shed, I would like to model the twin gable station building at some point. I went to the Princess Risborough railway a few summers ago where they have rebuilt one of the station buildings in the same style, a very well preserved branch.

Mike
 

Joe's Garage

Western Thunderer
This is a very fine model railway, I can just imagine the sheer size of the locomotives. Gauge One at its best....

Thank you for sharing....no matter how many times!

Julian
 

Keith Phillips

Western Thunderer
Keith

Yes, Watlington was the inspiration for the goods shed, I would like to model the twin gable station building at some point. I went to the Princess Risborough railway a few summers ago where they have rebuilt one of the station buildings in the same style, a very well preserved branch.

Mike

My home ground before moving to Devon. I have a G1 line in the garden and would also like to have Watlington Station building on it. Such a pretty little structure.

All the best,

Keith
 

Joe's Garage

Western Thunderer
This is very tantalising......personally I think the 2 cylinder Saints etc were one of the most handsome steam locomotives ever built.....they truly must have been a beautiful sight in the early 1900s, my predecessors would have been on the lineside spotting them at lunchtime??
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....
 

FH47331

Member
Would love to see more of the layout Mike. Simply amazing. Did you scratchbuild all the locos? How many years has this take you so far?
Richie
 

Mikemill

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the kind comments.

I wanted to treat a G1 layout as in the smaller scales, and as I prefer the pre grouping period of the GWR there were no commercial items available so I would have to build all the engines and rolling stock.

I bought a CNC milling machine which proved to be invaluable and eased the task. After learning how to use the CAD, CAM process I realised I could use the mill to make buildings as well as stock. To date the layout has taken five years to build.

Mike
 

FH47331

Member
Would love to see more of it Mike, you have made amazing progress in five years. Excuse my ignorance, but what does a CNC milling machine do? I am assuming it is to do with cutting metal?

Rich
 

Joe's Garage

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the kind comments.

I wanted to treat a G1 layout as in the smaller scales, and as I prefer the pre grouping period of the GWR there were no commercial items available so I would have to build all the engines and rolling stock.

I bought a CNC milling machine which proved to be invaluable and eased the task. After learning how to use the CAD, CAM process I realised I could use the mill to make buildings as well as stock. To date the layout has taken five years to build.

Mike
Only 5 years....!! That puts me to shame......did you sleep at all!! I have wanted to build a model of Abbottsbury since 1970 but still have not moving, a few false starts but not in 1/32 scale.....yet!

Seriously Mike you mention garden but this layout looks like it is in a shed(?), do you have photos of the other end please?

I can really imagine the clonk as the wheels move over the rails.....lovely.

Again thanks for sharing

All the best

Julian
 

Mikemill

Western Thunderer
Julian

I have a large workshop that is 30ft long the layout runs down one side of the workshop. It's only 30in wide so it dosn't take up much room.
there is 5ft to the right of the lattice bridge that opens out to two tracks.
As to time I used to work making props and sets for the film industry, where you have to work to very short time limits, thus I am used to making things quickly.

Mike
 
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