by Stuart Conlon and Tim Hitch

As the competition is for a modern layout this is the theme of our proposal. The accent is therefore very much on modern so the theme is the HS1 from Ebbsfleet to Ripple Lane/Stratford. Hence the name.

There is no way we can model an existing area so the idea is to capture an idea of the area the HS1 runs through together with the HS1 itself. As it is very modern there may be some trains on the CTRL that should be there as well as Eurostars, connecting London to other cities than Paris and Brussels.

As this is East of London there are also factories, warehouses, and a cement works with a container depot off the layout together with other freight destinations, and all the other urban paraphernalia of industrial east London. This is all serviced by a single track remnant of 50s and 60s railway closures. There is even an occasional "parliamentary" DMU wending its way awaiting route rejuvenation or even redoubling. Just off the scene is a an urban through road route connecting the M25 with the North Circular.

Choates Lane Cement Works

Choates Lane is a small cement works that supplies London and the South East, and is part of the Castle cement Group which is owned by Heidelberg Cement Group. It has a one kiln that can be fired by a variety of fuels, mainly recycled material. These include CemFuel, ProFuel, and of course coal. Coal, CemFuel1 and some of the ProFuel2 are delivered by rail and the cement is also taken away by rail. Buildings on the layout include the pre-heater tower, chimney, raw mills, cement mills, rail silo, coal unloading facilities and CemFuel unloading and storage facilities.

Greekmouth Power Station

A relic from the 70's, Greekmouth Power Station in slightly smaller than Drax Power Station in Yorkshire. Built in the same style it is just off board, but is supplied with coal, via a rail link.

Hornchurch Marsh Freightliner Dock and Depot

To the east of the cement works lays one of the biggest container docks in England. Recently built to meet the growing demands of London, it rivals Felixstowe in size, but it can take the new Super Ship like the MV Emma Maersk. The junction is on the right hand side of the layout, and numerous Freightliner locomotives can be seen entering and exiting the yard.

Olympic traffic

Following London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics, aggregates traffic has increased. A new terminal at Temple Mills has been opened to accept this and can take either box or hopper wagons. Concrete products are required for the new stadium and some of the contracts have been awarded to Plasmor. Plasmor has been a great supporter of rail transportation. The amount of concrete that needs to be poured has also prompted British Industrial Sand (B.I.S.) to send trains to Temple Mills.

High Speed Link 2 (HS2)

Since the BAA debacle of Terminal 5, inter-European rail travel has increased 10 fold. This has prompted the government, in conjunction with Network Rail, to commence works on the approach lines to the proposed HS2. This will mean that the occasional Network Rail train can seen.

Gallions Reach Refinery

To supply the ever increasing demand of the motorist, oil is out shipped from Gallions Reach. The refinery supplies nearly 68% of the petrol and 90% of the Diesel for the South East, as well as other specialist petrochemicals. Tanker trains can be seen crossing the layout.

Chavland Fashion

To supply the Urban Youth with tasteful and functional clothing and bling, Chavland Fashion has just moved into a previously derelict building. However, the company is facing prosecution, as they used the near by working railway as a back drop for a fashion shoot. Obviously this is very dangerous and the British Transport Police are on scene to interview all those concerned.

Technical Information

We are using Code 55 Peco track work. DC Controllers can 2-4 dependent on the amount of operators. Working signals will also be a feature of the layout. PECO point motors will also be used on the front of the layout. Boards have been designed and will be ready for early June. The boards construction is mainly of 9mm ply with 2 x 1 softwood for the ends. 2 bolts will connect the boards together. There are 2 end boards for transportation, these will allow the layout to be fitted into a medium sized car.

Size: 3 boards 4' x 3' for a layout 12' x3'.

Operation: Cab control DC; 2 controllers, 2/3 operators

Page last updated: 07/08/08