‘OO’ GAUGE LAYOUT TIDWORTH
South Eastern fantasy
Modelling a semi-fictional layout was a liberating experience for Ian Blackall, who took a real-world location and gave it an alternative future.
Words: Chris Gadsby
1
Photography: Chris Nevard
What makes this layout great?
The history of the railways is full of ‘what ifs’. What if Brunel hadn’t provided us with example after example of stunning architecture for us to recreate in miniature? What if the nationalisation of the railways never happened? And what if lines such as the Midland & South Western Junction Railway remained open?
It’s that final question which caught the attention of Ian Blackall, but unlike many closed railways it wasn’t Beeching who brought his axe down on its existence, as the military‐only branch line to Tidworth was closed in the 1950s. Why then, did it appeal so much to Ian?
2 Ian wanted a layout that was interesting enough to keep him occupied for a weekend, as he likes the social side of exhibitions and the fact that he gets to play trains all weekend. A two-day exhibition can be a draining experience though!