Narrow Gauge North

2024

An 00n3 layout by Chester Model Railway Club
Scale 4mm/1ft
Gauge 12mm
Size 17’4” x 14’4”

It is a rare day in Dingle as the sun is shining and it is very busy.  Wagons are being shunted, and there are enough trains to move, not just the locals, but the whole population of Southwest Ireland!  But this is only a model after all, and it would be less than appealing to run a prototypical service, hence the numerous visitors from other railways in Ireland and the Isle of Man.

All trains, whatever their origins, run in their real liveries and formations.

The 3ft gauge Tralee and Dingle Railway was opened in 1891 and was 37 miles long.  The closure of the railway in 1953 was inevitable, given the onslaught of the road traffic, though to its dying day it was considered to be the “last great adventure in railroading” by Pat Whitehouse, amongst others!  Having read accounts of hair-raising journeys along the line in the late 40’s and 50’s, it seemed you were lucky to manage the journey in one piece, the Irish Railway authorities demanding you sign a disclaimer of responsibility for injury, before travel.

As a group we decided to model part of the railway back in 1994, partly as a challenge to improve our own modelling skills, and also to exploit the growing availability of high quality etched brass, white metal and plastic kits from such manufacturers as ‘Backwoods Miniatures’,,’Branchlines’,  ‘Parkside Dundas’ and ‘Worsley Works’.  The stock is constructed from these kits, usually with some modification, though there are a few scratch built items.  All of the buildings and structures, however, have had to be carefully researched and then scratch built.  The track is also hand made and is code 60 rail, either glued, or soldered to rivets located in plywood sleepers, to the correct gauge of 12mm.

This project has been an experimental one as far as we are concerned, and we have all learned a great deal, whether it has been in making stock, buildings, a working turntable, baseboard construction or working level crossing gates.  We do not claim to be brilliant modellers, or the layout would be perfect, but we do believe we have progressed a long way, and, most importantly, we enjoy what we are doing.

More information and additional photos can be found on the Chester Model Railway Club web site