Dudley Frey
More photos
History
The layout was developed by the club to take the place of 'Walmcompton' which had passed it's effective life. The initial planning took place in 2000 and shown in a very basic form at the club's exhibition in 2002 and the first train to run was set off by the widow of Tony Frey, a long standing member of the club hence the name. Since that day it has been shown at a number of venues and because the layout is constantly being updated (see below for future plans) we hope it will be invited to future exhibitions for some time to come.
The Layout
The actual size of the layout is 16' by 3'3" seperating into four sections enabling it to be transported in members' cars. It consists of four tracks laid as a tail chaser, the outer two being slow and the inner two being for the normal fast trains. The station is wired so that trains on the fast line can be brought into the platforms, both to serve the passengers and to allow other trains to overtake. There is also a goods yard where goods trains can call (see below in future plans). Because the members interests are so varied the actual location and era has been deliberately left vague and the layout is now being run as steam in the morning and modern image in the afternoon at exhibitions. The number of trains that can be run at any one time is fifteen and we like to have six members in attendance at exhibitions.
Future Plans
Now in progress:-
Under present construction is a fully automated signaling system using three aspect
lights. Passing units activate a sensor so changing each light within that track
and in certain circumstances other tracks. The goods yard is being re-wired, so that
goods trains can be shunted, using magnetic couplings from a separate hand held
controller with it's own control panel.
Future developments:-
When the layout was first designed it was made with the ability to add additional
boards at one end and we have these boards available. One will be used to build an
oil storage depot and the other the terminus at St Albans as it was some time ago.
Current Bookings
- 17th and 18th March 2012 at East Grinstead
Value for Exhibition Purposes
£5 500
Point of Contact
Ron Drew - 01923 679790
Colin Heath - 01923 464615
dudleyfrey@swhmrs.org.uk