This is a Club Layout Being built by a team of Club members
Scenario
South Repps is a station on the fictional East Norfolk Light Railway, a narrow gauge line opened in 1872, running between Overstrand and Felbrigg. When the Great Eastern Railway opened its Norwich to Cromer line in 1888 a goods interchange was created between the standard and narrow gauges at South Repps and at the same time the Mundesley and District Tramway extended its narrow gauge line to South Repps station.
The model
Built to 7mm scale, South Repps is an attempt to move away from proprietary modelling. The narrow gauge track will be hand built, all the buildings scratch built and rolling stock scratch built or from kits. Measuring 16′ x 2′, the layout will feature a through station with a bay platform for the tramway, sidings, a standard to narrow gauge transhipment facility, and loading of standard gauge wagons onto narrow gauge transporter wagons. It will be set in the very early years of the twentieth century.
Progress
The hand built narrow gauge track has been completed and wired up for test running. Work is in hand on the standard gauge sidings and fiddle yard and support stands for the layout are being built. A kit built loco and some rolling stock are ready and South Repps station, in the style of an Arthur Pain building, is under construction.
April 2024
Slow, steady and sometimes sideways.
Trackwork has been repaired/improved on two boards including O gauge and 16.5 track. Wiring will be installed and point tiebar design will be finalised for the narrow gauge.
Signals planned and being worked upon.
Needs point actuators fitting and control system for them. Unfortunately, the planned method has fallen through, so one/some of us have to acquire expertise, or we spend money. The scenery is not working out as planned. I take full blame for not leaving enough space for rolling hills. Instead, we will have nice brick walls. The line must have been more profitable than though in the 1880/90s to afford them.
Spending on the layout is up to date.
July 2024
Slow progress, as usual.
Track re-laid where needed.
Jon Sims has the control system under way, Merg Ezybus modules all built and tested electrically ready to install. Layout is going to be DCC, Standard gauge section installed and wired for DC as its only a tiny bit and one loco in steam.
Scenic structures being developed. Back wall and water tank unit, really just to hide the return track. Exit bridge mostly done. Station under construction.
Signals designed following narrow gauge prototypes from various lines and being constructed by David Mawdesley
Many items of rolling stock and locos built or under construction. Target for SR is to be ready to do Hoveton 2025 as in progress layout. Bearing in mind it was operational for a shuttle loco at the original Stalham show using temporary wiring and DC
October 2024
The first scratch-built signal has been tested with EzyBus and we know what we are doing now!
Some adjustments to track sections are being made to eliminate short track pieces and realign a fiddle yard exit – this is a benefit of soldered track as we just lift the rails and fit new sections. Completion of track laying will allow us to fit the point servos and electronic components underneath. Buildings locos and rolling stock are being constructed off site so hopefully once track and electronics are fixed the layout will magically transform into a swan
January 2025
Wiring has begun for the points & signals, David Mawdesley has finished building the signals. There is a lot of work being done at home and the next few months should see a lot of difference
April 2025
South Repps is gathering speed as it runs downhill towards the Stalham show deadline. Work is ongoing installing electrics – all track is wired and short circuits have been eliminated. All points have been fitted with servos and tested, the first signal has been installed and tested ok (the signals are removable to protect them from travel/ storage risk) and now the wiring is being installed for the EZYBUS (MERG) control system running the points and signals (probably complete by AGM) plus any other animations such as gates. Some scenic elements are close to completion – bridge and platform and much rolling stock is prepped and awaiting an opportunity to go through its paces.
July 2025
Narrow gauge track now complete and electrically tested on boards 2 and 3. DC test running has been performed satisfactorily but unfortunately the control panel will not now be completed and installed for a while as we get Clearpoint ready for Stalham.
Kadee couplings have been chosen for use on the Narrow gauge with 3 links for standard gauge.
We have tested a variety of magnets for uncoupling and are now installing across the layout prior to painting and ballasting track which will use chinchilla dust to represent ash ballast (not as previously planned sieved wood ash from my fire!).
Clifs decision to step back from the layout has left us with a large box of assorted rolling stock needing completing. Some is almost done and others need significant work – anyone interested in whitemetal o-16.5 loco construction please take one step forward ?
SR won’t be at Stalham this year but will be available for Hoveton 2026.