Duxbury is the OO gauge club layout of the L&WMRS.

As such, it designed to keep a large number of operators busy whilst providing a continuous circuit for members who wish to test locomotives and rolling stock.

As a club layout, it has to please the greatest number of people most of the time. So, with this in mind, Duxbury Station is loosely based on Aylesbury GC/Met./GWR Station circa 1960.

By doing this, we can cater for steam, albeit in BR guise, as well as diesels. The variety of steam locomotives that can be run is quite large, being drawn from ex-GCR, LNER, LMS, GWR (from the Princes Risborough branch) and BR standard types.

Aylesbury was the one time terminus for the Metropolitan Railway trains from Aldgate, Liverpool Street and Baker Street with a bay being provided for the purpose. These trains were electrically hauled to Rickmansworth were a BR locomotive would take over.

However, with the extension of electrification to Amersham, the Aylesbury service was discontinued in the early 1960's.

We have taken modeller's license and imagined that London Transport extended the 3rd and 4th rail all the way to Aylesbury. This way, Duxbury can have the little modelled London Transport scene complete with authentic Underground stock and conductor rails.

The layout itself is made up of ten 2ft x 4ft plywood baseboards giving an overall dimension of 16ft x 8ft. The mainline and branch leave their fiddle yards and curve round into the main station area, passing the engine shed, turntable and LT storage sidings on the right. The station has one bay platform with a run round, two through platforms and a loop platform which normally serves the branch but can hold other down trains to let express trains pass. Behind the branch platform is a small two road parcels and sundry goods depot. The two track main line leaves the station and curves back around into the fiddle yard.

The main layout can not only provide continuous running, but has been designed to operate on the out and back system for exhibition purposes. A maximum of eight operators can be accommodated servicing the Up line, Down line, Branch, Engine Shed, Goods Yard, Signalman, and two fiddle yard operators. Trains are driven to signals set by the Signalman on the main control panel. Subsidiary panels are provided for the Engine Shed, Goods Yard and Fiddle yards.

Track is a mixture of SMP flexible track and copper clad construction points and crossovers, all Code 75. Signalling is a variety of colour light and semaphore. All points, signals and electromagnetic uncouplers are electrically remote controlled.

At present the layout operational with only minor tweeks needed for long-term use.  Most effort is now being concentrated on completion of the scenic details with the platforms slabbing and painting, construction of the goods yard building and paraphernalia and the town above the south bound tunnel.

With thanks to P. Weighell for some of the photographs.