Navigation Road is an EM gauge exhibition layout set in North East London in the early 1970s. It was donated to the Group some years ago as an unfinished layout. As conceived the builder had planned an industrial diesel era layout, set in West Country, with a small diesel depot and a backdrop of typical industrial premises, served by private sidings.
When presented the layout was largely completed to a stage where all the track was in place to a very high standard and the majority ballasted, some elements of the scenery was underway, but no buildings were available. Several features were already integral to the design, including two under bridges and an inspection pit for the one road depot. We decided to keep the depot area and finish the larger underbridge to serve a canal, which was partly completed, whilst the second bridge would be road access to a factory.
With its North London setting agreed we decided on an entirely industrial backdrop consist of two factories, one with its own engine shed for its internal shunters, a disused brewery and warehouse. Almost all structures are scratch-built using the usual methods of embossed brick plasticard on a cardboard or similar base.
The canal running under the railway is a popular feature at exhibitions. It is simply a carefully painted base, using enamel paint to get the desired shade which was then painted with clear varnish, applying several separate coats.
The layout runs from a sector plate at one end to a cassette fiddle yard at the other. In addition there is a hidden return line running through the low relief buildings. This reduces the need for stock handling.
The rolling stock represents what could be seen coming off the North London line onto the Eastern Region circa 1970, so shunters are provided by Stratford depot, but mainline locos come from all four regions surrounding the Capital. Goods stock reflects the general mixed goods so common in the era, with steel carrying types for the factory and four-wheeled vans for the entrance to the docks behind the signal box.
Spratt and Winkle couplings are fitted to certain wagons, we use the 3mm scale couplings as these are slightly smaller and hopefully less conspicuous. These are activated by electro magnets concealed under the track.
All images Copyright Jamie Warne – BRM and used with permission.