‘O’ Gauge – 7mm

Owned and built by Keith Robinson and members of the Halifax Model Railway Club ‘O’ Gauge group.

The Settle & Carlisle Railway was built by the Midland Railway Company. It was started in 1871 and took 5 years to complete, opening on 4^th May 1876 for goods traffic only as not all railway stations had clocks and so passengers were not allowed to use the line until 6^th June 1876.

This was clearly no ordinary line to build running through some of the most rugged country in the land. Starting from Settle in the south, the line passed through Ribblehead (with its famous viaduct); Dent (the highest station in the country); Garsdale (the junction for Hawes and the North Eastern Railway and in the later years, well known for its stockade turntable); through Blea Moor tunnel (one of the longest in the country) to Ais Gill summit (the highest part of the railway line) running down to Kirkby Stephen station (with links to Ravenstonedale from 1901 to BR days). Crosby Garrett (with one of the tallest viaducts over the Smardale valley); Appleby (another junction with the North Eastern Railway); then down through the lower lands of Long Marton, NewBiggin, Culgaith, Langwathby, Little Saldale, Lazenby and Kirkoswald; on to Armathwaite, Cotehill, Scotby and onto Carlisle; some 76 miles of very difficult terrain and all with a ruling gradient 0f 1 in 100 some engineering in the 19^th Century.

Originally there were five baseboards for a layout called Leeds Road, built by Robin Taylor and the Keighley Model Railway Club in the late 1980’s.

HortonRoyd was started by two former members; Simon & Adam Goodyear; and existing member John Taylor.

The layout utilising the original baseboards from Leeds Road, was used as the basis of the track plan for the main station of Horton Royd. It now forms a much larger oval of some 54’ by 14’ (incorporating Kirkby Stephen above) with a large hand built junction to the north end and a curved viaduct to the south end.

The modelling period is a long one as the current members of the ‘O’ gauge group have interests ranging from the Midland, Lancashire & Yorkshire, to the late LMS and early BR.

Now the original central station boards are in the process of being altered to allow easier operation of both main lines and access to the bays. Trackwork is now being relaid with a new junction to the south to suit. With all new trackwork, most of the electrical circuits, point motors and track electrics have to be rewired etc.

The Group membership currently stands at approximately 12 in number with new interested members.

This is one of the clubs major projects, which is still not completely finished. Since its last appearance all the trackwork has been replaced. In the operating group's opinion the Peco Finescale track originally laid was not designed for the rigours of the exhibition circuit with a layout of this size. It was decided to replace all the trackwork on the layout with Peco standard track, no small affair !!!. All four sides are viewable giving variation to the viewer: ranging from a busy station at one side through to countryside at the other; with some industry at each end comprising an oil refinery and a quarry linked by a common head shunt, which also receive and dispatch trains to the main lines.: all adding scope to the operating potential.

Based on modern day practices, the club has tried to create an up to date atmosphere. There are four main lines split across two levels. The electrified upper level caters mainly for passenger traffic, with just the occasional freight working. The large station complex has four through roads; the two centre roads allowing express passenger and fast freight trains to pass through the station whilst slower trains stop at the platforms; and bay platforms are provide for terminating local services. The lower level caters mainly for the heavy freight traffic of the area and the occasional local passenger service. It gives plenty of opportunity to see a wide variety of diesels. There are two hidden fiddle yards, one for each level providing storage capacity in each direction so that variety can be provided.

Whilst the trackwork was being replaced much of the layout was rewired. At the same time, working signals and new control panels were installed. The scenic aspect has been improved: not only the countryside, but smaller details such as the addition of road vehicles and passengers etc.

The location is purely fictitous,  but the group has tried to create what it thought was missing on the exhibition scene: a large modern image layout providing spectators with plenty of activity, not only in terms of volumes of traffic, but also in respect of scale length trains, without sacrificing authenticity. It wanted to avoid seeing trains disappearing into one tunnel while the rear of the same train was still appearing from another.

All the stock running on the layout is owned by the members and is a mixture of proprietary, detailed and kit built. There is no set timetable as the group try to have something running all the time. There is no set period, so viewers should be able to see a great variety of stock from the last 10 years or so. However, this does not stop the odd infiltrator from appearing now and again.