Modelling the East Coast Main Line in the British Railways Era

Book excerpt: Modelling the East Coast Main Line in the British Railways Era follows the construction of an East Coast Main Line layout in 00 gauge, based on the Little Bytham prototype. Little Bytham, nestled in rural Lincolnshire, is the station nearest to where the fastest steam exploits in the country were achieved. Nearby, the Flying Scotsman became the first steam locomotive to reach 100 miles per hour, Papyrus broke the world speed record for a non-streamlined locomotive, and Mallard set the current world speed record for a steam locomotive. This practical guide escorts the reader through all aspects of constructing an East Coast Main Line layout and topics include baseboard construction, track laying and ballasting; wiring and making signals; modelling scenery, buildings, locomotives, carriages and wagons and how to plan an operation sequence.The book also covers research, planning and preparation; constructional procedures, methods and techniques applicable to all scales, gauges, and time periods, and is a practical guide to all aspects of constructing an East Coast Main Line layout. Lavishly illustrated with over 600 colour photographs including step-by-step sequences.