Small Locomotive Light Railway Model Engineering Steam Trains - Moore's Trains photographs

Thames Ditton Miniature Steam Railway - Small Vintage Locomotive Steam Train Light Railway model engineering photos - just like the big ones you can drive with Microsoft train simulator

British Model Steam Train Railways
My name is Craig Moore and I enjoy seeing trains thunder past, be they old restored steam engines to modern electric or diesel superfast intercity express trains. Many people have a fascination with trains from the child playing with his Thomas the Tank Engine Hornby railway set to the train spotting enthusiast. Britain is blessed with conservation groups who restore, maintain, preserve and run old steam engines, track, stations, points and signal boxes. They take the same care in restoring the passenger carriages as they do the wagons and trucks.

Thames Ditton Miniature Steam Railway
Malden District Society of Model Engineers Ltd is a club society of around 190 members devoted to promoting the hobby of large scale model engineering to all those interested in the hobby of Model Engineering. The large and small scale railway tracks are open to the public from Easter until October on the first Sunday of each month and every Bank Holiday from 1pm. Trains start running at 2pm.

The principle station is Willowbank station complete with 3 platforms and its own signalbox. Angel Road is a junction without a station but its own Signalbox, and lastly Hampton Court Junction where the locomotives sheds and carriage sidings are located, The ground level track is over a 1800ft long oval comprising of two circuits with a number of sidings and passing loops, at one point there are 4 running tracks side by side.

The Roundhouse locomotive shed, took 7 years 7 months and 7 days to build. It was officially opened in 1986. As you will see from the 1990 picture it is a built around the turntable, the shed consists of 16 Roads where our resident and visitors locomotive are sheded and serviced. It is a great visitor pull as they love to see the engines moving on the turntable and then being put to bed in their own railway engine shed at the end of a busy day.

Willowbank Station is the main station on the ground level track, it is here that the 1000 plus passengers depart and arrive for their train rides on an open day afternoon. The station has one through road and one arrival road and two departure roads. Trains are controlled from the Signalbox in the centre of the station. The signal box is a true replication of British Railways mechanical signalling practice using a 17 lever frame. The signalling is of the semaphore system of signals which are electrically operated in conjunction with train operated track circuit protection.

The elevated track is 1,620ft long with gradients of 1 in 120 and 1 in 80. The track is like a figure of eight with one loop folded back on top of the original loop. The station is called Rythe High Level. This second elevated track was completed on Sunday December 26th 1971 after 5 years work. The late Robbie Roberts 3½" gauge Tich christened the track with wheels of just 1 3/4" dia and cylinders of 11/16" bore completed the circuit with its wheels a blur and its exhaust like an angry bee.

The Elevated track is capable of running 3½" and 5" gauge locomotive as well as small 7¼" gauge locomotive. On a good day up to 6 engines can be in operation. The locomotives are predominately 5" gauge, though the odd 3½" gauge locomotive is sometimes seen running. The 7¼" gauge rail is used for the passenger cars.

http://www.malden-dsme.co.uk

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