Newfield 7mm O
Newfield is an O gauge layout, 16ft 6” by 2ft. It is operated from the front, and requires 1ft to the rear to allow for movement of the fiddle yard. Total size required 16ft x 4ft 6ins.
The layout is a representation of Newfield Wharf in Stoke-on-Trent. The line was originally built by the North Staffordshire Railway, (and was off the loop line via zigzag due to the plans being changed and the loop being built lower than planned). The line (as built it had no run around, and was for goods only) and all the trains were propelled into the yard from the rear; this was to stop any runaways as the line was at the top of a steep hill.
The layout was purchased from an airline pilot who had built the layout in his hotel bedroom in Bahrain, and was only exhibited once in Bahrain in an incomplete form. The layout returned to the UK by sea. And then it was stored for some time. Then since perched I have made some modifications to the layout: adding a station, a signal box and signals, rebuilding some scenery, rewired to allow for two-train operation if required and have changed it’s setting from Staffordshire to Derbyshire and changed the company to M R for which I had the stock. A new fiddle yard has been built to accommodate more stock and allow for easier changes between tracks The original layout has been modified so it has been built to connect to a colliery (off scene) to the wharf area, that is used to load/unload wagons.
The stock on the layout has been built over the past 35 years, and was built for use on our club layout Hammeston Wharf. The Midland rail motor won the best kit built locomotive at Nottingham show in 2001. It has a mechanism that moves the valve gear into the correct position before moving off, and includes head, tail and coach lights. Some rolling stock is fitted with Dingham couplings that allow for remote uncoupling wagon movements. The coaches won the best coaching stock prize at Wigan show in 2004. All the rolling stock has been built and painted by myself from kits.
Although no layout is ever finished, (most never are) some of the signalling and line side details have yet to be completed. And a working lever frame may be installed one day. I would like to thank Ken Ball who has painted the back scene for me; and other members of Macclesfield Model Railway Group and our O gauge team, who have also helped with the scenery and the operating of the layout.
If you have any questions about O gauge or electrical problems please ask, I am willing to help if I can! The layout has not been used for 10 years and has been in store at home when building another layout at the club Purgatory Peak (On30) and at present working on finishing another 009 layout started over 40 years ago. I am also building a small Hof layout as a test/demo layout. The layout can also have seats outside barrier, so you can stop and see layout at its best angle and chat as its only a small layout, that can be built by anyone at home.
