It was obvious from the start that with such a wide range of interests from pre-nationalisation to the modern day, we were not going to please all of the Alsager OO group even some of the time, hence the birth of : THE VALE OF USQUAM.

	The word USQUAM is the Latin meaning of anywhere so the layout is set anywhere we like. To cover the problem of time we have set up four operating era’s, so hopefully we should be able to please everyone all of the time.

			At this time the layout is far from complete. Usquam is a valley anywhere in Great Britain with what we hope are some of the best features to be found incorporated into our layout.

	Viewing from the front,the station of Usquam town is set to the right hand side, serving the town and a goods shed, but not unusually for a place of this size has no engine shed as trains pass through.

			If shunting is required either the train engine does it or a small engine would be sent from the nearest large shed.

	Moving further to the left we come to Usquam Manor Farm with the branch line in the foreground, the main line in the back ground, and Usquam old road in front of it, and onwards for Usquam road halt serving the village of Old Usquam and Usquam Downs. Moving on we see St Catherine’s Church, dwarfed by Wolfsons Viaduct, and Usquam canal basin with some of Narrow Boat Tours boats moored up.

			Roy, is our electronics man, he has designed the point control units, the running of trains will be controlled by the layout multi lane fiddle yard.

	This fiddle yard is fully programmable and is controlled by a microprocessor system for all the indicators, lane selection and sequencing.

			The points themselves are each controlled by their own independent CDU (Capacitor Discharge Unit) which are in turn controlled from the Microprocessor system, allowing the switching of ALL points simultaneously if required.

	Mike, is our man with the soldering iron and cutters, and many cases, sore knees.

			Mike does the jobs under the layout, soldering wires terminating to point motors, connector blocks and 15way, 25way, 37way and 50way connectors.

	Jobs that in most cases no one sees, you could say it’s an unenviable task but without it nothing runs on the top.

			Each and every wire is meticulously documented ready for the inevitable wiring problems we are likely to encounter when the layout starts its exhibition life. (Mike's our man for this as well !)

	As time goes on, we are using different wiring methods, and these 'evolve' as we come across new idea's. We are looking more closely at electronics systems as well.

			John, worker of all skills. His hands are busy working on all sections of the layout, his main target at the moment is the removable sections of track (left). An idea he came up with a long time ago admittedly not an original one in the world of model railway but one that he believes will work for the layout at exhibitions.

	Paul, close friend of the late Barry, both designers and builders of all The Vale of Usquam layout tables.

			Paul with Barry spent many nights at home designing and building the wooden structure that  now holds the above layout.

	It is a system of build that at the end of a day the complete layout can be pulled apart with a few men in minutes and believe me that is a blessing.

			Watson the branch line and scenic's worker. Watson a model railway man with needed experience waits with impatient desire to hit the railway boards. His skill will come forth as hills, grass, buildings and so much more appear.

	Steve the scratch builder and scenic's man. Steve like Watson eagerly waits for the moment he can start adding the three dimensional shapes we all look at, his task at the moment is the building of the railway station.

	The rest of the members of the 00 Gauge Group are :		Alan our man of knowledge is always there to give us that hidden information we seek Wilf  there to give a helping hand and believe me there have been moments his help was surely needed. Bob, he's our supplier of obscure bits and bobs (that's not a pun) that we may need for the building of the layout, you know the sort of thing, we need a widget, not a gadget ... he'll find one ! And not forgetting our younger members who gladly help out when not working on their own layout.

	We hope you liked and enjoyed our '00' gauge layout and the next time you come and visit our website, it will be a little bit nearer its completion.