The layout is constructed on sectional baseboards bolted together to occupy a space measuring 6 metres by 2.5 metres, with small operating spaces included inside this area. Its location is in one half of a two-car garage which has concrete block walls, concrete floor and a lined plasterboard ceiling. Our climate is "wet tropical" - the temperature range is 10 to 35 degrees C, annual rainfall about 3-4 metres mostly falling in February-April. So heating not required, fans are essential, air conditioning is nice to have.

Operationally Victoria is represented by a four-platform stub-end terminus from which trains leave on double track up Grosvenor Bank, over the Thames and past Battersea Power Station, where the two lines divide to form a single-track wye connection onto a double-track continuous oval. So a steam-hauled passenger train can leave the terminus, take either branch of the wye and proceed onto one of the continuous loops. Later the train leaves the loops by the other branch of the wye and returns to Victoria. An ECS loco then withdraws the coaches into a siding to release the train engine which reverses back up the bank, over Grosvenor ridge and down into Stewarts Lane depot.

Where the wye tracks meet the loops there are several storage sidings, two of which usually hold goods trains equipped with brake vans at each end. Freight engines travel from the depot to pick up these trains which trundle around the continuous loops in between the passenger services. Beside the goods sidings is a small suburban station, Wandsworth Road, which can accommodate a two-car EMU on a shuttle service to and from Victoria. Also planned is a pair of elevated station platforms representing Battersea Park Road.

The track is mainly Peco code 100, with a few hand-made points in strategic locations. Third rail is cosmetic and consists of normal code 100 rail glued to the ends of the plastic sleepers with top of the conductor rail level with the running rails. The minimum curve radius is 760mm and all curves are superelevated using card packing under the ballast.

The layout scenery is far from completion. The backscenes were kindly painted by a fellow British modeller and foreground structures are gradually being built to complement the picture. In particular a lot of work still has to be done in the loco depot which has recently acquired a nine-road shed in suitably grotty condition, but will eventually get a model of the big coal loader, elevated water tank, and other bits and pieces.

A system of working colour-light signalling is included in the "gunnadoo" file!

The pictures below are by Graeme Hodges.