Millport Victoria
By Norman Heaton
Millport last appeared at Bolton Exhibition in 1999 shortly after Norman sadly died. Without his knowledge of its electrical idiosyncrasies it suffered a catastrophic fault and was put in to store pending a complete rewire.
Finally we have got around to inspecting the layout with a view to determining its future. It was with some trepidation that we opened the boxes fearing what ten years of storage would have done to the layout. However our fears were groundless as Millport has survived remarkably well.
Work on rebuilding the protective transportation boxes has now been completed.
 |
 |
The turntable is being replaced using a modified Heljan product and the Engine Shed rebuilt. You can follow the progress on the replacement turntable and the other work being undertaken on the layout by reading Simon Fenton’s blog on the RM Web.
For any layout based on an urban conurbation, the architecture becomes all important in making a realistic setting and so it is with Millport. Buildings are based upon actual prototypes, indeed the station building and canopy is a copy of Wigan Wallgate Station (still in existence today). A myriad of details further helps to fix the period as that of a bustling Edwardian town.
Norman was particularly fascinated by this era and its innovations and set to giving Millport a Barber's Shop for the sole purpose of including an advertisement for 'Clamps Rotary Brushing Apparatus'!
New back scenes have been fitted and Peter Thomas is about to begin painting the industrial landscape in which Millport is set.
 |
The complete rewire will still be needed as will a new control panel; Steve Roberts will be beginning this unenviable task shortly
Some of the boards will be appearing at the December Exhibition as a static exhibit where at least we will be able to display Norman's stock. Consisting of a stud of approximately fifteen LNWR locos, mainly kit built with extra detailing although there are some that have had to be scratch built where necessary. Passenger stock is also hand built using Ratio, Slater’s and etched brass kits with the use of Trevor Charlton sides and finished by Larry Goddard or David Sudley. The resultant rakes of stock are some of the finest examples of pre-grouping vehicles to be seen on the exhibition circuit. Goods stock is again a mix of kit and scratch built items (the perils of modelling a pre-group railway).
For those interested we will keep you updated with details of Millport’s progress.
Last Updated: 22:24:12 18/01/2012
