Orchard Wharf is the Model Railway Club’s EM gauge layout. It was conceived to offer more operational opportunities than its predecessor, Empire Mills. This increase in operation is about the only aspect of the layout that has remained the same as the original concept. The planned length was to be 16ft and it can be operated at this length in its usual location in the clubrooms. But to make the most of the operational possibilities, the full exhibition layout is now 27ft long, with additions and alterations to the original storage facilities.

Setting

The setting for the layout is close to home, in the former Docklands of East London. Whilst there was (and is) an actual Orchard Wharf, it has never had a rail connection. However, we have created a fictional line that ran past Orchard Wharf, with a connection to the docks at a lower level. This allows us to have shunting operations on the dockside, while trains pass to and fro on the ‘main line’ above. The connecting line adds a further operational opportunity by permitting the transfer of wagons between BR and the PLA, who operate the dockside facilities. In order to allow the dockside tracks to extend the full 16ft length of the original layout, it was necessary to restrict the main line at one end to a single line. The ‘reason’ for this is engineering work, with train operations being under the control of a pilotman. This means that every main line train must stop to pick up either the pilotman or a written authority (in the Down direction), or stop to drop off the pilotman in the Up direction.

Modelling and technology

Trackwork is a mixture of C&L track with bullhead rail, flat bottom rail soldered to copper-clad sleepers, and brass strip in some of the storage sidings. The dockside track is of the second type of construction, with an added brass inner checkrail, as the these tracks will be set into a concrete surface. Locomotive control is DCC, using MERG equipment, while layout control (points, signals, etc.) is by CBUS. Most couplings are Sprat & Winkle, which require an underboard magnetic uncoupler. Rather than use electromagnets, we are using rare earth magnets that swivel by means of a servo. These magnets are strong enough to operate the couplings through the 6mm plywood baseboard + 3mm of cork underlay. For use on the trains that shuttle back and forth along the main lines, some wagons are fitted with magnetic couplings, to ease the swapping out of vehicles. For the buildings, considerable use has been made of an in-house laser cutting facility. This allows every building to be individually designed and built, but takes time.

You can follow progress (and as an MRC member you can comment) on our forum thread

Time periods

When the layout was first proposed, we had no fixed idea about the timescale of the layout. The group discussed options and we have come up with a novel answer. We would be able to exhibit the layout as one of four different periods. Each of the periods would cover 5 years, the earliest being 1948 to 1953. The other periods would cover the next 5 years, so the latest prototype year would be 1968. The obvious changes between periods would, of course, be to the locomotives and rolling stock. The earliest period will see some locos still carrying their ‘big 4’ identities, while freight stock will include former private owner wagons. Passenger stock will be ex-LNER QuintArts hauled by either F5/6 or N7 tank locos.

As the periods progress, loco classes will change and some of the passenger sets will change to ex-LNER bogie suburban stock. In the latest time period, DMUs will operate the passenger service. The locomotives used on the dockside will also change, eventually becoming the Yorkshire Engine Co. ‘Janus’ diesels. Some of the buildings also change to reflect the progress of time, such as the wider availability of coloured paints following the war and the sprouting of TV aerials. An advantage of laser cut buildings is that several duplicates can be made, making such alterations easy to manage. However, the dockside buildings will remain unaltered, to economise on storage space.

Get involved

We welcome club members to join the team and contribute their skills, or learn some new ones, at this early stage in the layout’s development. Come along to Keen House on a Thursday evening and speak to Ben Weiner or John Jesson, or contact us via the website: contact form here.

Working sessions are usually on Thursday afternoons and evenings, and Saturdays. The group usually decides whether to hold the weekend session through discussion on the layout’s email group during the preceding week.

As noted above, you can follow progress (and as an MRC member you can comment) on our forum thread