Taunton Model Railway Group

Now some seven years since inception, Bath Green Park continues to be our main project and we are now currently altering the travelling version of it to place the fiddle yard behind the main layout. There is now a 180 degree curve left in the non-scenic section immediately after the junction between the Midland and S&D routes, and then a ‘balloon’ entry into the fiddle yard using a reverse curve to remove the requirement to handle locos. This will in fact increase the actual track length of the layout while actually shortening the ‘footprint’ of it by some dozen or so feet. This will allow it to be used in more exhibition halls and at the same time reduce the operators required by one. The fiddle yard (now known as the transit yard) is being fully automated with diode matrix route switching to allow the Junction operator to control it directly.

Stand-alone control panels for the two goods yards, also utilising diode matrix route switching, are well underway with the Midland yard already completed and the S&D yard due to be completed by July 2007. We will be exhibiting the travelling version of Bath Green Park at Railex Taunton and also the Warley Show at the NEC later this year. See below for dates.

98% of the signalling at Bath is complete, illuminated, working, and fully interlocked with the pointwork, including now the distant and ground signals. Additional isolating sections with magnetic uncouplers have been inserted on the arrival roads to make goods traffic entry into the two yards more prototypical. The scenic work at Bath continues apace as more photographs of the period are found, as well as more ‘personal memories’ being recounted to us at our open days; although most scenic effort is going into the interface area between the Junction and Tamerig on the home version of the layout that stays in our clubroom. Under investigation and coming soon is full point and signalling rodding.

Recent alterations to our other layout, Tamerig Central, have taken place to ensure that a smooth flow of trains to and from Bath can take place without affecting operations on Tamerig itself. Tamerig track reworking and rewiring is almost complete with the Midland loco shed, carriage sidings and parcels depot back in operation. The final task here is getting all the signals working again and also the full automation of the signals on the two automatic circuits. The recent changes to the station including a new interior S&D reversing curve have made a big difference, scenic upgrading of the station area to renovate it is also underway. The older parts of Tamerig are now approaching 40 years old.

The baseboards are made from 9mm plywood and supported on box sections with circular holes cut out to provide strength with lightness. Gradients are faithfully reproduced before the wood is covered with high density foam rubber sheet which forms the underlay for the track. All track is hand built using scale rail with turnouts sited as per the original track diagrams and operated by slow acting motors which are sited beneath the boards. We have 4 control panels and the trains are made up as per the prototype using much detailed proprietary, kit or hand built locomotives and rolling stock.

All buildings are hand built with the Bath stone being faithfully reproduced, these are being fitted with the correct profile window frames using brass etchings. A 3D effect back scene has been produced by another member and will give a real Bath ‘feel’ to the completed layout. When erected, the Exhibition layout measures 20m x 3.6m.

The ‘Piece de Resistance’ must surely be the modelling of the station itself. The overall roof, the bridges and signals have all been constructed to match the originals from etched brass kits produced by Alan Gibson ( Tel: 01603-715862), using drawings made by one of our members. In order to achieve accuracy, our research included many site visits to take photographs and measurements. A comprehensive library of relevant books have also been vital for this project.

We acknowledge the considerable help and support from our many sponsors and also the individuals who loaned us their unpublished photographs.

Taunton Model Railway Group's (TMRG) award winning Bath Green Park Layout has over the last 6 months has been awarded two further trophies to add to its collection. The first award being the Train World Cup which was presented at October's Taunton RAILEX show, for the Best Layout as voted for by the public. The second award as shown in the picture is TMRG members at the recent Bristol Show being presented with the Hornby Magazine Cup again for the best layout as voted for by the readers.

Once again they will coincide with the West Somerset Gala Weekends when we will open our doors so you can view one of the finest layouts in the country ‘BATH GREEN PARK’ at Bishop Lydeard Station. All between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

Date	Event
8/9th Mar. ( Sat/Sun)	W S R Spring Steam Gala pt. 1
14/15/16th Mar. (Fri/Sat/Sun)	W S R Spring Steam Gala pt. 2
14/15th June (Sat/Sun)	W S R Mixed Traffic W/End
2/3th Aug. (Sat/Sun)	W S R A Steam Fare & Vintage Rally
3/4/5th Oct. (Fri/Sat/Sun)	W S R Autumn Steam Gala
25/26th Oct. (Sat/Sun)	W S R Somerset in Autumn
27/28th Dec. (Sat/Sun)	W S R Winter Steam Festival

For further details on openings or for information on any of the various kits please contact the club

All the pictures and text in this press release are copyright to either Harvey Godber or Taunton Model Railway Group or its members.
All rights reserved and no copying is allowed without the express permission of the copyright holders.