This site describes the South Downs Railway: a fictitious model railway set in the South Downs area of Southern England. It operates modern image era but is not intended to be representative of any real railway, or any realistic train operations. It has been created purely for personal entertainment.
A space of approximately 15 x 10 feet was available; to accommodate a reasonable amount of track and stock, "N" gauge was chosen as the design scale. Being a "techie" it was an obvious starting point that the railway would be DCC controlled.
Why modern image? The rolling stock is readily available, and my children recognise it. A DMU with 3 carriages tends to be better value that a steam loco with 2 carriages. But I'm not slavish to the image: the main station will still have a turntable - simply because I like the idea of them.
Why the South Downs? Well, that's where we live; the railway isn't intended to be real but the names are well known locally.
The railway has several features:
A long double track main line, with hidden and visible sections. each line is approximately 5 scale kilometers in length.
The line is a continuous run, allowing trains to run uninterrupted for longish periods.
- A 10 track fiddle yard, giving opportunity to store several trains. There are also "passing places" around the railway.
- Two return loops, allowing trains to change direction and back again.
- A "through" station, with a terminus platform.
- A small station with three platforms. the current design question is whether one of these should allow goods operation.
- A large terminus station with goods facilities.
- An oil depot, allowing oil trains to arrive and depart.
The railway has been designed around the concept of semi-automatic operation. It is intended to have computer control of main-line operations, with either automated or manual operation of major terminus areas. The main line and fiddle yard will normally be automatically controlled. Trains can be run into the stations and oil depot and back out from them, again under automatic control. The operator will need to prepare trains for departure in those areas, and can elect to drive a train manually through the layout. This isn't for everyone; but it is how I want my railway to be.