The Harrow Model Railway Club

Established 1958 

General

The Harrow Model Railway Club came into existence in 1958 when a small group of friends decided to develop a "00" Gauge layout that could be operated as far as practicable in accordance with prototype regulations and practice.

The layout is fully signaled from 7 signal boxes and according to prototype absolute block regulations using block instruments purchased from British Railways in the days before they became collectors items. The signals were originally all multiple aspect colour light signals as these could be built fairly easily to suit specific locations but we have now devised methods of building and operating semaphore signals. The latest extensions and resignalled areas are now fully equipped with semaphore including working disc shunt signals, banner repeaters and theatre type platform arrival indicators with the newest development being illumination for signal spectacles and banner repeaters.

The signaling and the points are interlocked. This requires a vast number of relays with a separate relay room with provision for over 1,500 relays.

The signals do not control the current supply to the track except in certain locations at the end of automatic sections between rooms. Except in various sidings the trains are isolated and switched from one driver to another either by the signalman or automatically by micro switches working off the point motors.

Current collection is by stud contact as the railway was originally 3 rail and it was not practical to convert to 2 rail. The stud contact system has meant that is has been easy to install track circuits.

The railway is worked by over 125 locomotives and the stock includes some 420 freight vehicles and 90 items of coaching stock, a large number of these being the original Hornby dublo 3 rail items.

Operation

The basis of operation is that during a operating session any 1 person will carry out a set duty which will involve driving or signaling but not both. The railway runs every Monday except bank holidays and members must advise the club beforehand if they are unavailable to attend.

The members are allocated duties each week by the locomotive and signaling superintendents according to duties they are qualified to perform. A member will normally work a different duty each week except when he is learning a particular duty. When member first join the club they learn the easiest driving positions and the basic rules and then progress though the links. When qualified to work every driving link they can if wish learn the various signaling duties, simplest first. The railway is run to timetables based on real-time.

Various timetables are available if insufficient members are unable to work the complete layout.

The most important train is an express called the “Newanglain” the name coming from Newark and Angel Road which were the principle station on the original club layout. This named train is featured on all timetables and departs Greenhill at 8pm and from Angel Road at 9pm.

There is a separate control office where the duty controller has a large schematic diagram of the whole system along the wall together with a train graph and an automatic telephone system for communication with signal boxes and driving positions.

The control office is responsible for the issue of timetables, monitoring the passage of trains using indicators connected to the track circuits and arranging any alterations required if there is any disruptions to the service or there is any extra traffic to be worked. There main function however is to organize the movement of freight traffic and the position of all the wagons is shown on their diagram.

Freight wagons move only on the authority of a train order form issued by control which states which wagons are to be run on any particular train, the order in which they are to be marshaled, the class of train and details of any intermediate shunting needed. The timings of most freight trains are in the timetables although extras are run as required. All trains carry head and tail lamps appropriate to the class of train.

Maintenance

A system of this size obviously requires a lot of attention just for maintenance as well as extensions or alterations with Thursday evenings being regular working sessions. Various members are each responsible for a department e.g.. Permanent way, Signaling, Electrical etc and any defects are reported on specially printed forms.

The drivers have to record certain details for the trains run and these include the locomotive number and the mileage run. This has been calculated on the basis that 1 mile equals 2 actual yards and the locos which are all individually numbered are serviced according to the distance they have run.

The Railway in Detail

The Railway now occupies almost a complete floor in the house but originally only the back room was used. It later spread to the Kenmoor and Angel Road rooms in the front of the house and the layout in the back room has been extensively altered and rebuilt over the years. This rebuilding is continuing as new features are thought of and as the standard of our work improves.

The names of the various locations on the railway are all based on the names and addresses of members except Newark which was chosen when the club started as it was printed on the kit that was used to build the first station.

Greenhill

This is the major terminus serving not only the main lines but also the local lines to Hawthorn plus handing freight trains to and from Minehead. The station has eight platforms together with five carriage sidings, locomotive shed and a large yard to handle the exchange of freight traffic between the various lines.

The signal box at Greenhill controls the main line station area and also the main line platforms at Balmoral Junction. A full time shunting driver is required to deal with all the shunting in this area and if therefore known as “Greenhill Shunt”. Trains on the main lines between Greenhill and Elmstone are driven by the “up and Down” main drivers with Local and Branch drivers driving trains to and from Hawthorne and Minehead respectively.

Ducross.

This station is the Junction for the Wilson Gardens and Murryfields lines and has three platforms. There is a small goods yard which handles mainly timber traffic and a dairy siding.

The signalman at Ducross controls not only the mains lines and station area but also the line to Murryfields and Wilson Gardens which are run on the “One Engine in Steam” basis.

The Ducross Relief driver shunts the station and drives trains to and from Murryfields and Wilson Gardens. The controller that the driver uses can be plugged into various sockets around the layout so that he can always be near the train that he is driving. Sometimes there is no-one available to man this link in which case the work is shared between the main line drivers and allowance is made for this in the timetables.

Wilson Gardens has a small goods yard together with a salt works and Murryfields has one siding for the use of the local coal merchant.

Elmstone.

This station has two though platforms with two through roads and all four are signaled for running in both directions. The facilities here consist of a goods yard, oil depot, carriage sidings and a one road loco shed.

The shunting here is carried out by the main line drivers a separate controller being available for use if required. The signal box can be switched out if no signalman is available.

Trains run automatically between Elmstone and Newmilton, this section of track being permanently energized.

Local and Branch Lines.

The line between Greenhill and Hawthorne is called the Local line. There are signal boxes at Balmoral and Hawthorne and in the both cases the signalman cannot see the train and have to work from illuminated track circuit diagrams and C.C.T.V. Balmoral signal box can be switched out if not required.

There is a colliery at Minehead together with one goods siding and there is another siding at Wycombe. Balmoral has a Locomotive Shed, a goods yard and a siding for storing the branch push-pull coach.

Chatsworth is the site of the salt mine which serves the works at Wilson Gardens.

Hawthorn is equipped with three platform faces, goods yard, loco shed and sidings for container and oil traffic.

Although the Local Line is double track the service is such that one driver is required. A separate driver is normally provided for the Branch Line and has a controller which can be plugged into various sockets.

Kenmoor

This station was originally intended as a terminus and has five platforms and two bays. There is a Locomotive Shed at one end and two locomotive stabling points at the other. Other facilities are provided on a lower level and consists of carriage sidings situated underneath the station which serves both Kenmoor and Angel Road, a goods yard at Sitham and another goods yard has two connections with the main line plus a low level automatic single track, direct to the Angel Road area.

The Kenmoor room has its own Up and Down main drivers and there is a separate controller available for shunting. The signal box controls the whole room together with Newmilton and Upper Wooton which has a yard used for storage and is equipped with its own controller.

Angel Road.

The station at Angel Road has nine platform faces together with six sidings and a large Locomotive Shed.

There is also a smaller locomotive shed at Stepford which has a five platform station. The signalling is designed so that trains to and from Newark yard can only use the relief platform. A small bay is provided for parcels traffic.

The main goods yard for the area is at Newark with only one siding at Royston. This is in the “Block Section” between Angel Road and Kenmoor and the point is worked by the driver having received a release from the Angel Road signal box.

There are only two drivers in this room although a separate controller is provided for shunting at Newark. The Angel Road up driver is responsible for shunting Angel Road and Stepford Stations and the Locomotives sheds. The down main carries out all shunting duties at Newark yard, he has a second controller to which he can switch as needed. The Angel Road Signal Box controls all movements within the room.

Visitors and Membership

 The club is always ready to welcome visitors, but only by prior arrangement due to very limited space available on track nights. Normally only two visitors per evening can be accommodated but for visiting clubs it may be possible to arrange a special running session at another time. This is worked on a much simplified timetable and runs for about 2 hours as opposed to the normal Monday running session which lasts from 7.30 pm to hopefully, just after 10.00 pm

The number of members required to run the railway to its fullest extent is 19 and membership of the club is limited to about 25 which allows for members on holiday and shift work and will also allow for training as required. Vacancies exist from time to time and prospective members who have a genuine interest in railway operation, and are prepared to become one of the team and who can attend on a regular basis as their circumstances permit, are welcome. At present the one off entrance fee is £12.50 and a subsequent payment of £1.00 per week of attendance. Other arrangements are available with the Treasurer.

There is a club room for the use of the membership on the floor above the railway and this is also equipped as a work room.

Any Enquires to:-

Harrow Model Railway Club

Hon: Sec : Norman.F.W. Balch

Telephone:- 020 8427 7085

Fax Number :- 020 82484175

Email:- Please Click here

For More information including pictures see the clubs official website by Clicking here!

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