With that in mind, I would like to introduce Croft oN Shed, a N gauge layout based on Crofton Depot near Wakefield contained within my 5' x 4' shed. Having set Ashbrooke in 1993, primarily due to available DCC ready stock when it was first being built and the opportunity to reminisce on my childhood, it does mean that I miss out on more modern day operations, of which I am a fan. With massive improvements in N gauge stock in recent times, the scale is now far more appealing to the casual modeller. Indeed, I rejected N Gauge around 25 years ago due to that dearth of options.
As we know though, N Gauge does pack a lot into a tiny space and a tiny space is what I have. Despite this lack of space, I wanted to be relatively ambitious and was keen to run a variety of stock. Initially, I considered something based on Thirsk station so that I could run some high speed trains but the space just didn't offer enough room to do this without some significant challenges. This got me thinking where we might see a variety of high speed trains that aren't necessarily on the main line, leading to Crofton as a clear option.
Ironically, although N gauge now offers excellent DCC options, the layout will operate in analogue (at least for the time being), mainly to keep costs down. The lines nearby the depot play host to Grand Central services to Bradford, Northern stopping services between Wakefield and Pontefract and a variety of freight and departmental workings. The route is also occasionally used for diversionary purposes as well as empty stock moves. The depot itself offers maintenance for classes 170, 180, 220 and 221, meaning that there is scope for a wide range of stock to be presented.
Setting the layout in early 2023 opens up this range as much as possible. Much of this stock is already available and of very high quality, whilst RevolutioN are in the process of building examples of the Class 180. As a side note, a friend of mine is building a N gauge layout in his own shed that is based broadly on the East Coast mainline through Grantham in circa 2018 with a representation of termini at Leeds and Skegness, meaning that some of our collective stock will be able to visit both locations.
I've started by building a shelf around the shed at broadly shoulder height (the shed still needs to operate as a shed) with a removable section at the entrance. The layout will then model a representation of Crofton Depot and the Pontefract to Wakefield line passing by. Due to space constraints, the depot will be limited to 4-road with a head shunt. The two track Wakefield line will pass by with a freight loop on one side of the layout and a representation of Streethouse Station on the other side.
Whilst I've not laid anything down just yet, I have popped some track in to get a feel of what I need to do. The pictures below show where I am currently at. I need to do some bits and pieces such as sorting out some lighting and laying down a base layer but I hope to have at least the main loop around the shed up and running next month some time.
The overview of the space being used in the shed.
PXL_20250720_103627548 by James Lee, on FlickrA closer view of the line onto the removable section. I will need to rework the removable section having underestimated the room required for the turn.
PXL_20250720_103644104 by James Lee, on FlickrMore of a view of the West end of the layout. The depot headshunt is on the left, the main running lines through the middle and the freight loop to the right. The entrance to the depot headshunt will be at the top left. The available space means that the main lines will need to turn right at a setrack angle.
PXL_20250720_104359149 by James Lee, on FlickrThe view on the East of the layout, which will play host to Streethouse station.
PXL_20250720_104325549 by James Lee, on FlickrThe depot itself with Dapol Super Voyager, Gaugemaster Flying Banana and Graham Farish 158 'on shed'. A fourth line will sit between the 158 and 221 but there will need to be some trial and error to make this work as well as possible. In the foreground, there will be a crossover on the main line to allow access to the depot as well as the entrance to the freight loop. Again, some trial and error might be necessary here owing to space. A feature of the shed causing me more problems than expected is the actual construction of it - the supporting beams jut out, making for some particularly interesting track geometry and choices.
PXL_20250720_105507761 by James Lee, on FlickrThe scope is ambitious for the space but appears to be doable, although my traditional desire for a fiddle yard will have to be ignored. I'll leave it there for now but will share as I make progress.
