EXCLUSIVE FIRST ACCESS FOR SUBSCRIBERS! Be the first to watch our new video update on the transformation of Topley Dale into a brand-new modern day layout as MIKE WILD brings the story up to date..
Rebuilding a model railway is rewarding and, sometimes, challenging! It can be hard work undoing my own modelling, particularly the most recent scenery and trackwork carried out on the layout, but when you peel away the original and then bring it back to life with new track there is a great sense of achievement.
Topley Dale’s rebuild is turning out to be quite a comprehensive task. The main line on the upper level is being entirely replaced with concrete sleeper track – there’s another 8ft to be done – which makes a huge difference to its appearance and that has also seen each section rewired progressively to tidy up the underside of the baseboard and do away with the original ‘not quite so tidy’ wiring.
Above: Accurascale Class 37/4 37425 leads a rake of JNA spoil wagons past the new depot and Norton Bridge signalbox. The depot is taking shape with all track laid.
One of the most significant changes you will see here is the removal of the original station. This had become a source of problems as the platforms were past their best an…
