Calverdale

Calverdale

This layout generally achieved all I wished of it. Trains ran at sensible speeds according to their function, much hands off shunting was achieved, and derailments, stalling etc. (although never eliminated) were at least fairly rare. Needless to say there were some classic mistakes. Two that come to mind are a milk depot with only a single siding accessed via two single slips which required occupation of two main lines, and a horrendous 180 degree 15" radius mainline at one end. However it gave us much fun to operate and attended some 50 shows in about a 5 year period. Recently its present owner gave 'the team' the opportunity to play (sorry, operate) it again at last year's Hull exhibition and it gave me great pleasure to see it working almost as well as when first built some ten years earlier.

I should add that the building of 'Calverdale' saw use of the then new Peco electrofrog points and what a tremendous improvement they made. I'm sure they were the most significant reason for the near elimination of locomotive stalling.

But as the time drew near for 'Calverdale's' withdrawal from the exhibition circuit the need for another layout grew ever stronger. By this time Mark, now fourteen and a valued member of the Calverdale team was considered old enough to enter a Father/Son liaison to help build the next layout. We decided to model a Great Western type branch terminus, as this was considered neutral territory to both of us, me being a firm LMS man, and he (as it later transpired) being a diesel enthusiast (more of which later). This then became layout number four, 'Nether Stowey'.

Stanier 2-6-4 arrives at Calverdale

Returning home from Calverdale

Royal Airforce on a milk train departs from Calverdale