The atmosphere of a 1980s freight terminal and depot was what KEVIN CRANE wanted to recapture, done to brilliant effect in ‘OO’ gauge.Photography, Jonathan Newton
Having worked on the railway since I was 17 years old, I have always had an interest in trains and particularly freight, due to jobs with Network SouthEast, Mainline Freight, EWS and, currently, GB Railfreight.
Railway modelling, however, never really crossed my mind until the early 2000s when I started to attend model railway exhibitions. That gave me the inspiration to build my first layout, in ‘N’ gauge, measuring just 4ft square. I did not have any aspiration at that time to build another, but that all changed with the introduction of Digital Command Control (DCC) and the emerging possibilities of sound fitment. The idea of being able to replicate the real sounds of diesel locomotives in model form was amazing.
Above: With scrap wagons loaded and ready for collection, the driver of 37423 Sir Murray Morrison prepares to draw the first pair out of the siding and then couple up to the remaining vehicles.
Unfortunately sound was only available in
