Commission: Lametton Halt…

I was delighted to be asked to work on this commission. A customer came to speak to me at the NEC exhibition about an idea he had for a cameo layout based loosely on the railway to Looe. You see, the branch holds a bit of a special fascination for me since getting lost down its rabbit hole a year or two ago…

Looe on a cold wet weekend a few weeks ago courtesy of C.Gore

Our discussion shaped the basic concept quite quickly so when we began the layout design process it was focused more upon the planning than the story. This was a case of finding a way to bring the story to life, rather than discovering what it was we were telling.

I’ve said it before, but in a 4x1 cameo there are only so many track plans! Layout design instead becomes the way we dress these. Chris was set on the Looe line yet keen to feature a siding, in reality it was only Sandplace that had such a facility. The arrangement of the small halt and road bridge at St Keynes appealed, with its old lime kiln and overgrown canal too… what if…

What if a small yard existed here to serve the tiny settlement of Lametton as well as the lime kiln? 

Trying out options, more for Chris’s benefit as they were expressions of his initial ideas - then evolving to narrow the raikway footprint in the depth of the board. The short kickback siding is a good option here - serving the lime kiln but will be depicted overgrown and out of use. At the front the overgrown canal features on the right, with the small bridge over this at the end of the platform inspired by Causeland. Stage left exit framed by another bridge, this time Landlooe.

The resulting composition feels very much Looe branch, whilst not being anywhere specific. It should allow a mindful operation of the occasional branch passenger train, perhaps an 0-4-2 and auto or 45xx and B set… equally the 45xx could bring through the pick up goods to Looe, shunting the yard and dropping off another laden coal wagon… equally what would stop you indulging in a bubble car DMU with 37 on clay hoods or rather more incongruous, a GWR 150 Sprinter alongside an EWS 66 with CDA!

Now not every design becomes a layout build here in the workshop but in this case I’m excited to have been asked to realise this in 3D. The weather is too changeable to make a start plus I’m busy with large scale models for some months, expect to see this come together in the late spring and early summer. 

If you’d like to work together to bring your dream layout to life, to tease out and develop your story and translate this into a scheme that fits your space, your life and your budget then my Layout Design Service starts at £180. Until next time though, more soon…

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