O Gauge Model Railway
Brambleton has one of the largest 'O' gauge outdoor model railways in the country.
Everything was designed with ease of train operation in mind. The nine stations are strategically placed to be the right distance apart for the duration of a wound clockwork spring. The trackbase at stations is at waist height so there's no need to bend down and the main station is a brick built shed which the line passes through allowing stock to be added or removed easily.
With such a large railway, some form of signalling was required, so each station was equipped with redundant British Rail block instruments allowing station operators to communicate with neighbouring stations using special bell codes, so avoiding collisions, in theory anyway!
During the summer months, running sessions took place twice a week utilising the Club’s large collection of clockwork loco’s and rolling stock from manufacturers like Hornby, Bassett-Lowke and Bing. There were even a few live steam meths fired Bowman engines that the older members could operate.
Nowadays, running sessions on our O gauge layout take place twice a month. With no power provided to the rails, locomotives need to be battery, steam or clockwork powered.