Dead Frog Basin, An 009 Inglenook.

Simon H

Western Thunderer
I thought that I'd already posted something about this layout on WT, but if so, I can't find it!
I started it about 10 years ago, shortly after Peco launched their Setrack 009 points. At the time, there was some debate in NG circles about how useful they would be, as, being in the Setrack range, they have dead frogs.
As much of the opinion wasn't based on actually using the things, I thought I'd build a small test track to see how well (or not) they would work with modern chassis such as the Minitrains range, which have flywheels.
Results were encouraging enough to develop the thing into a layout; I decided to put it into an IKEA APA Box (the Swedish Box in the blog title) this link should take you to the blog: Dead Frogs in a Swedish Box.
I'll put a few more details up in a while; it's not light enough to go out to the garage and take photos yet...
Simon.
 

Simon H

Western Thunderer
The layout in its current state is in an IKEA APA Box, which measures approx 27½" long, 11½" high and 14½" deep. The first time I took it out to an exhibition, the board was outside the box as I preferred it that way, and it had a 13" fiddlestick at the right hand end.
However, things change...we moved house, and somewhere in the process I decided that the layout would be safer back in its box. I'd also come across a photo backscene by Gaugemaster whose subject was the town we moved to, so it seemed appropriate to use it for the layout in its new home.
I also decided to "feed" the layout from the other end, and as I had to build a new fiddle yard anyway I felt I may as well build a cassette system and a tray for the cassettes to sit on. The tray is approximately 15¼ long x 11¼ deep, and (fairly) neatly slots into the side of the APA Box. Each cassette is 13" long x 1⅛" wide, has a base of thin ply and the sides made from L section brass.
Anyway, here it is:
17727297105741488868414665300421.jpg
 

Simon H

Western Thunderer
As Andyj mentioned above, I'm exhibiting the layout on Sunday, the exhibition is in Steyning, West Sussex. Details here:
advert 2026 - WEALDEN RAILWAY GROUP advert 2026
 
Top