Kimble

Kimble is currently the largest indoor layout in the club: 0 Gauge Scale 1:43.5, (7mm to the foot). It has been widely exhibited, received many awards and featured in the modelling press.

Kimble has over 15 members who contribute, operate and associate with the layout. New members are always welcome. Their skill's vary from novice to expert but with a common interest in producing a visually accurate and working fine-scale layout. Members are invited to contribute by constructing buildings, {all buildings are scratch built but inspired by actual prototypes}, adding scenery details, constructing or refining the track and pointwork, improving electronic control methods, bringing in their own stock to run and of course to operate the layout.

The group meets from 7.30-10pm every Thursday and new members can join through this website or just turn up and make themselves known to one of the members.
Once a month the group has a meeting to discuss finances and anything that is pertinent to the improvement of the layout. Another Thursday in the month is set aside to operate the layout to practice for exhibition running. Members also meet to work on the layout at various times during the week with access to the club rooms through their personal security fob and key.

The current layout has been in production over many years and its electronics have been upgraded using Model Electronics Railway Group [MERG] control modules for both loco control and accessories. As many members are also members of the MERG group, constant evaluation, design and development of control systems takes place which benefits both Kimble and the wider railway modelling community.

The continuos double track layout, depicts a BR-LMR (1949-1967) main line, with a Brewery at one end and the town of Kimble situated on a higher level behind. There is a through station in the middle of the layout based on Great Central practice, which connects to a high level Motive Power Depot [MPD] with its prototypical buildings, lighting, coaling plant, oiling station and turntable. At the other end of the layout, a viaduct is sited with its associated valley, rocky outcrops, pine trees and a tunnel.

The layout measures 12.2m x 4.9m [40’ x 16’] and is normally viewed by the public from the front. However, if the exhibition organiser can accommodate it, the layout can be viewed from both ends as well. It has its own integral LED lighting for exhibition use and a lifting section to allow members easy access to the centre of the layout. In here, at the back of the layout, 6 storage loops form the storage yard, which can accommodate two full length trains or multiple shorter ones in each loop. Removable cassettes allow for refreshing some stock within an operating cycle.

All stock is managed in the storage yard by two operators and handed over electronically to two more operators outside the layout who drive the trains. The layout is fully signalled and operators are expected to run prototypically, obeying all signals. Two separate controller points inside the layout operate the signals and the comprehensive motive power depot.

The layout needs at least 7 operators one for the Up Main line, one for the Down Main line both operating from the front corners of the layout. A further two operators for the Up and Down storage yard. A signalman who is in charge of all the movements around the layout and sets the appropriate signals. An operator for the MPD and an operator for the private railway in the Brewery complete the operating crew. At exhibitions, the crew prefer to have one or two spare members who can interact with the public and field any queries.

When demonstrating at exhibitions, the layout is stocked to authentically represent the period from early BR-LMR. steam to diesel transition. However, there is more flexibility when running trains at the club, where members also run their BR region Eastern, Western and Southern trains when not practising for an exhibition.