Narrow Gauge North

2024

By Mike Godfrey
Scale 7mm/ft
Gauge 9mm
Size 140cm x 70cm

The experience of my previous portable 09 exhibition layout, ‘Perry Vale’ (NL202, 213, 214) ), left me with good lessons learned and a hankering to try something much simpler. I resolved to go for no complicated electrical wiring; just two power input points. There would be no electric point motors; everything would be manual, using the GEM ‘Mercontrol’ point control system. All the track is PECO, much of it Set Track to avoid ‘binding’ issues with tight curves using flexible track. Instead of multiple baseboards with the need for electrical connectors and well aligned track at the baseboard joint, there would be one baseboard, 54” by 26”. This also meant the layout was easily moved in my car, by one person, and didn’t need a borrowed van for transport and a three man crew!

‘Simpleton’ has lived up to its aims; it has provided a lot of fun; a detailed scenic layout in a compact space, and in a reasonably short period of time. The layout has proved reliable in operation, easy to transport and set up and has expanded my skills and opened me to yet another area of the hobby…so, what next…I’m looking into radio control 0 Gauge trains now; narrow gauge of course!