Oldest railway layout

Oldun · April 10, 2014, 06:09:09 PM

Not sure if its been posted before but, here goes:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2593294/Model-railway-built-1912-officially-OLDEST-world-recognised-time-Guinness-Book-Records.html

Roger

Komata · April 10, 2014, 07:05:14 PM

An interesting article, thank you for bringing it to our attention. The article doesn't state the scale/ gauge, but I suspect that it is O.

can anyone confirm this?

A small detail, though: The article says that the layout has been restored to its original 1929 state, despite being constructed in 1912.

Sometimes journalists do need to check what they write...

E Pinniger · April 10, 2014, 07:14:52 PM

I saw this at the NRM last year (it's in their publicly accessible stores, well worth visiting) - I think it's gauge 1 (45mm) but I'm not totally sure of this, might be Gauge 2 or an odd one-off scale/gauge. It's certainly bigger than O.

The NRM have a list of public demonstration days here - http://www.nrm.org.uk/planavisit/events/signallingdemo.aspx

Komata · April 10, 2014, 08:45:19 PM

Thanks

FWIW: The former New Zealand Railways Department Auckland District, had an HO scale training layout at its Beach Road (Auckland) Staff Training site, being used for the same purpose as the one at the NRM. The layout was professionally-built, complete with working semaphores and lever frames. When I saw it (1973) it was no longer in use, and have no idea as to its fate.

I suspect though, that it was probably scrapped when the national railway system was privatised and rationalised.

Malc · April 10, 2014, 11:26:09 PM

Nice layout, but a bit lacking in scenery. Is it really a model railway, or just a training tool?

Oldun · April 11, 2014, 12:13:10 AM

It is a training tool but, I wouldn't say no if they offered it to me. Soon build some
scenery for it

Komata · April 11, 2014, 02:09:50 AM

Oldun

Re: 'I wouldn't say no if they offered it to me. Soon build some
scenery for it'.

No, no, no sir, you don't understand, building the scenery would 'de-value' it and it would 'loose its provenance as an example of Edwardian technology and innovation.....'

(In other words, you'd RUIN it

)

Thought you'd like to know - its historical value would (at lest in the view of some people) far outweigh its value as an actual model railway. It' the 'atmosphere' and 'associations' that the model has that make it SOOOOO valuable...

(Takes off Historian's hat).

Actually, I agree with you, scenery would definitely improve it.

scottmitchell74 · April 11, 2014, 03:10:24 AM

That layout's bad to the bone and I'd love to have it as-is. Very cool!

ozzie Bill. · April 11, 2014, 04:39:29 AM

A small detail, though: The article says that the layout has been restored to its original 1929 state, despite being constructed in 1912.
Not necessarily. It may have been upgraded in 1929 to meet "modern" needs, so the article may be correct. Cheers, Bill.

Oldun · April 11, 2014, 10:04:10 AM

Quote from: ozzie Bill. on April 11, 2014, 04:39:29 AM
A small detail, though: The article says that the layout has been restored to its original 1929 state, despite being constructed in 1912.
Not necessarily. It may have been upgraded in 1929 to meet "modern" needs, so the article may be correct. Cheers, Bill.

All I can ask is 'have you watched/seen the video, if not its worth it as it explains the whys
and wherefores as to its changes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MTaPwuDAqg&feature=player_embedded#t=0

Roger

Komata · April 11, 2014, 01:55:56 PM

Oldun

Thanks for posting the link. I hadn't seen it, only read the newspaper article.

FWIW, the video took me back some twenty-odd years to when I was running a mainline junction signal box (correctly 'signal cabin' but always refered-to as a 'signal box' by operating staff), complete with a full 31 lever 'tall' frame (as used on the training layout). This was the last fully-operational lever frame signal box in New Zealand's North Island, and also controlled another 'sub box' (for yard duties) off to one side. (metaphorically). What I was working-with was pretty much as was demonstrated on the layout, except that we were all 'electrified' (the lever-frame being modified for electrical contacts, not wires), with the perils of operating Double Line Automatic and Single Line CTC, and interacting with two train Controllers, adding to the fun. Great times - but only in retrospect; at the time it was very hard, and highly destructive in respect of personal relationships ('Nuff said)

Do you know what section-control system was being demonstrated n the video? I am familiar with the Tyers Block Section (known locally as 'Tablet' operation) method of running (one train, one tablet, one section; sole occupancy), and its attendant mechanical systems, but the one's being demonstrated were of a different type. Any information as to what was being used?

Again, thanks.

Takes off (slightly) rose -coloured glasses...