The Ffarquhar Branch
Background of the original layout
In the mid 50’s, The Rev. W. Awdry (Creator of Thomas the tank engine0 was commissioned to build a layout to display at the Wisbech trades fair. At the time he was struggling to get a new Island of Sodor layout built with constant mishaps and derailments, so the idea of making a smaller layout would be easier to do. The result, The Ffarquhar Branch, a 4x6ft layout based on the top station on Thomas’ Branch Line. It was simple little layout which operated very smoothly and reliable by its engines Thomas, Percy, Toby and spare engine Duck. This layout performed well without a hitch for nearly 12 years before it was cut down to Ffarquhar MrkII, due to the railway room in the new house being too small for the layout to fit in.
My Replica
In 2007, with kind permission from Christopher Awdry, I set out to try and replicate this layout but the result was more based off the illustrations in the books than the actual layout. In 2011 I tried again, only this one was more based off the MrkII version and went on the exhibition circuit in November 2012. After my last exhibition in 2014, my Dad suggested I’d try one more time only this time make it exactly like the original. I thought about it and after a week I agreed to give it one last try. So that Christmas I got the essential items and work began on the baseboards in January 2015.
To help me along with the layout, I’ve printed out a copy of the 1959 December issue of Railway Modeller upon which the Ffarquhar Branch is featured in the ‘Railway of the Month’ category. The article gave me clear instructions as to how each item was made and how I can go about making it myself using ready at hand items, which was the aim of the original layout from the start.
Baseboards
The original layout was made to fold up into a box of 2ft x 6ft x 1ft 9inches so I had to take a look at examples of folding layouts to understand the principles on how it was done and how to go about it myself. After fixing on some 2x2 batons to the edges of the layout for scenic back scenes, Box hinges were screwed on the two which go over the baseboard joint. It is important that the boards are flushed together and that each surface was even with each other. Box clamps were fitted on each side to ensure a good, strong join was made. The surface board is 4mm thick sundeala hobby board which will be handy for when tracking down the track. The board was then given a coat of emulsion paint and the markings for the track layout was drawn out.
Trackwork
Trackwork on the original layout was done using Wreen track so for my one I used Peco Streamline Flexible track and Peco set track code 100. The main oval was the first to be laid before the station area was laid. For ballast I used Peco foam underlay but as this stuff disintegrates after 10 years I haven’t glued it to the track as recommended so it makes things easier when re ballasting. While ballasting, small neo-magnets are fitted areas where I need to uncouple rolling stock using Spratt and Winkle couplings. I used to use magnets from door stops and cut a small hole in the underlay to help me know where the magnet is while shunting wagons at exhibitions. In the fiddle yard behind the station, Peco Settrack isolating tracks were also laid as marked in the layout’s track plan.
Wiring
The wiring on the layout is standard DC control with Peco PL-10 and PL-11 point motors used throughout the layout. This would be the longest bit of work done on the layout as it took some time to work out which wire controlled what point motor as well as wiring points to operate simultaneously. But once finished everything worked like a dream. On the original layout, The Reverend Awdry made his controller from bits or radio dials and switches as controllers back then, to him, didn’t provide the right kind of movement he wanted from his engines. For me I find Gaugemaster’s controllers just the thing to get excellent running from your engines. Originally I had a D model controller powering the layout but like with Revd Awdry the location proved difficult when carrying out shunting and the constant straining over to see if the hook was above the magnet made things difficult. So the solution, again like the original, was done by having the controller above the fiddle yard in a gantry sort of fashion. The D model controller was switched to the Combi Controller for its light-weightiness and just the right size for the layout. All track wiring was then fed to run on the controller and thus completed the wiring.
Scenery
The scenery started on the first half of the layout with the construction of the main hill side. This was constructed using mainly newspaper cushions and polystyrene blocks. A top cover of newspaper completed the surface before the grass was applied. A friend of mine recommended using hanging basket liner for the grass, so after buying a roll from Homebase for £3, I had a nice hillside formed up. The liner was trimmed down in areas and given a wash of Green Sap and Burnt Umber paint to help bring the colour up. For areas where I didn’t require rough wild grass, I find Javis Scenic Scatters very useful as they have just the right shade of colours that I require for areas such as roads, tracksides etc. Bushes and shrubs were made using Woodland Scenics’ Olive green & Light green foliage. Trees are Noch as well some homemade ones using the instructions from the article.
Buildings
Buildings on the layout are mostly Bilt-eezi card kits but others are made from scratch using Model Craft and Prototype models brick papers or print out models online. Items such as the loco coal stage and Hackenbeck Halt are made from bulsa wood and matchsticks and are given a brush of wood stain to bring up the colour. Backscences are Bilt-eezi. Originally the station backscene was a Peco one but it didn’t suite the scene that well and looked out of period with the model. On the original layout the back scenes were from Basset Lowke, but as they are no longer made, I found Bilt-eezi's back scenes more suitable.
Signalling is done with the Ratio signal kits. The kits were of the GWR ready assembly range with upper quadrant arms fitted to match the original models. Operating them is done using the kit’s signal operation kit.
The layout was ready for it's first exhibition in November 2016 at the Friends of Cultra Model Railway Show. It's turn out was well received and many stopped by to see the engines performing their tasks on the layout and to take note on how the layout was built and operated.
The layout's operation follows the original 1950's operational sequence, which the Railway Modeller article explains in full. Workings of the 1960's sequence is being looked upon and tested but success on that will be notified at a later date.
The locos of the layout are mock up replicas of the original models that ran on the original. So far only a few were made using the same kits and models that the Reverend used while others were either altered RTR locos to bare the appearance of the originals using reference photographs which I took with kind permission from the Talyllyn Railway. This list of the engines and rolling stock are as follows
Locomotives
Thomas
Thomas' model was bought in December 2015 in the form of a Stewart Reidpath tank engine. The model came with it's original motor which was quite worn in parts and ran very loudly. This was common for these motors as they were one of the earliest examples of DC control in 00. There was also the issue with sticking while run rounding a train and a few pushes from the hand would send the engine on it's way again-only to stick once more. So to help me out with this issue, I sent the model off to a friend who cleverly designed and 3D printed a new chassis for my model. The model came back and has been a reliable runner since with no signs of trouble whatsoever ever. The model bares the livery of the original model carried from the 1940's to the late 60's.
Percy
Percy was a tricky model to make as the original model was an altered brass kit from the manufacture LARKO. These kits are no longer produced so to replicate this model I had to study the appearance of the original and alter a RTR model to resemble it. The best choice for the moment was the Bachman 0-4-0 Percy/Greg model as it's wheel spacing and footplate length roughly match those of the original. Now some heavy modification had to be done to this model and after several rebuilds, the current appearance is the best that my labour could manage. The body work comprises of parts from several broken Hornby/Tri-ang models with some parts scratch built. The motor casing for the chassis also had to be heavily modified so that the boiler was the correct height and so that the motor was able to run. The original model was painted in BR Green until the late 1960's when it was painted in a brighter green to match the pictures in the books, but patches of the original paintwork can still be seen. My model is painted to match the latter livery.
Now at the moment a new model is being planned and a fellow 3D modeller kindly designed a 3D printed replica of the body of the original model to fit the Bachmann chassis. But I think maybe there is a way that perhaps a new chassis could be made for this second attempt but how that will go about is yet to be planned. So far the bodywork and footplate have been designed and printed but a chassis will be made at a later stage.
Toby
For now, Toby's model is a SliverFox J70/Y6 tram kit powered by a Tenshodo motor bogie. The model is painted in chocolate brown and side plates sky blue. At the moment a new model is being planned to be made using the original instructional guide the Reverend gives in the Railway Modeller. A spare model is also being planned to be made using the K's/Keyser white metal kit.
Daisy
Daisy's model like the original is made from a Tri-ang Class 101 DMU. I got the model second hand from a family friend and made it up using the same method the Reverend used for his model, Cut the driver's cab from the dummy car and stick it to the end of the powered unit. A spare model is being planned but is currently waiting on new wheels from Ultrascale.
Mavis
Mavis was a fun model to make. She was made using the Dapol/ex Airfix Class 04 Shunter kit with plasticard side plates and Ratio fence cowcatchers. The body was filled with bits of lead and modelling clay to weigh it down and a Tenshodo motor bogie was fitted to power it. A smooth runner with the extra weight added and often makes several appearances during the layout's operation.
Duck (Spare model)
A Gaiety Model 57xx Pannier tank body mounted on a Tri-ang 0-6-0 chassis. At the moment the model is being converted to have finer wheels in replacement to the 'clumsy' Tri-ang ones.
Rolling Stock
Annie and Clarabel
Thomas' trusty coaches. Like with Mavis these models were fun to make and were my first attempted at scratch building coach stock with plywood. Wooden bodies on Ratio bogie bolster kits, these model perform well and look the part behind Thomas. Just incase anything happens some spare models are being designed for 3D print, using reference profile photos of the originals.
Scratch built models
3D designed ones for print.
Henrietta and Elsie
Tob's quarry train. At first Henrietta was made from a modified Marklin coach but was shortly replaced with a repainted Bachmann model. It was not until recently that a new model bought off shapeways which portrays the Wisbech coach she is based off much better. Fitted with Bachmann coach wheels is quite a nice model to have.
Elsie was one of my first scratch built plastic models. Using scale plans of the original luggage van she is based off, the body work was made using Wills plasticard sheets and the chassis from a broken Ratio coach kit.
The goods stock on the line is a mixture of Ratio and Parkside Dundas kits and Tri-ang. Each have been repainted and liveried to match the original rolling stock seen on the original layout.
All wagons and coach stock are fitted with Mrk1 Spratt and Winkle couplings. Originally fitted with delay type couplings but this proved to make things difficult for shunting.
Having recently gone through a small upgrade to help with the operation, the layout will making it's next public appearance at the North Down Model Railway Society's model show in Bangor Grammar School, County Down and will later return to the Friends of Cultra show in November later this year.
I'm very pleased at how this layout turned out and hope to continue exhibiting this layout as much as I could.
If you have any questions about the layout, you're more than welcome to ask.
Mind you, I wasa bit of a kiddie when I came to looking at the other exhibits! 
