ARA Club Layouts
Below are links to detail pages on layouts built and operated by the different groups within the Association.
Barnwell NEW
00 gauge. DCC, Era 5
32 feet x 2 feet overall, 20 feet viewable.
Barnwell is a work in progress. Several of the scenic elements seen on the layout at the moment are considered to be ‘place holders’, and will be enhanced or replaced as the model evolves.
Barnwell is designed for stand-alone end-to-end operation at exhibitions; but can also be used as an extension of the club's large 00 layout, Lawton Hey.
As Barnwell station’s architecture might suggest, the layout is imagined to be somewhere originally operated by the North Staffordshire Railway Company, and later by the LMS and BR Midland Region,
The station is served by local passenger trains and has a small goods yard. Also, as a secondary main line, a variety of through passenger and goods trains frequent the route. It is not unusual to see inter-regional goods traffic or passenger excursion workings pass through.
A totally independent line runs on an elevated section at the rear of the layout. This operates as an automated shuttle.
The vast majority of what is presented has been designed and scratch-built by members of Alsager Railway Association. There is still much to add.
Why Barnwell?
F.A.L. Barnwell was the last General Manager of the North Staffordshire Railway Company before being absorbed by the LMS in 1923.
Hassell Harbour Bridge 0 Gauge
Lawton Hey 00 Gauge
Lawton Hey is a small market town.
Its fictional location is such that it benefits from multi-regional railway connections, and even now, in the 1960s, facilities have been upgraded to accommodate diesel locomotives as they gain a foothold over steam.
Newcastle by the Water N Gauge
Newcastle by the Water comprises a four track line which has dedicated passenger and freight lines. The large railway station is the junction for a single line branch.
The locomotives and stock run on the layout represent the modern era on a typical English mainline. (24ft x 4ft)
Fredstone Lane N Gauge
The layout consists of 6 4x4ft boards which will be packed into pairs for transportation. It incorporates a double track main line & a freight avoiding line complete with loops to allow diverted stock to pass.
N Gauge DCC only
Smalldale is a small village situated between Buxton and Chapel-en-le-Frith just east of Dove Holes. The quarry is now a popular rock climbing area, but it was once part of the ICI Buxton lime operations.
NEW
Beginners Group Modelling in 00 Gauge
A small hands on model railway featuring Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.
Even the very youngest can have a go.
NEW
The Potteries Loop Line
The group is in the process of building models of various Loop Line stations, all of which can be run together.
To run together the are built to a modular standard.
They are operated by Digital Command Control (DCC).
There is now one fiddle yard. The whole layout is now configured as a round and round layout with the former seperate fiddle yards combined to make one.
So far we have
BURSLEM operational and new buildings and scenery being developed.
Two generic scenic boards, one depicting the Cobridge tunnel portal. The other a generic representative scene of the Potteries.
TUNSTALL in storage.
COBRIDGE complete (in storage)
Tiny Town Z Gauge
