I have
always thought of 'Railway Modelling' or 'Model railroading' as
one of the most fascinating hobbies. This is a hobby, where
enthusiasts create rail transport system models at a reduced scale(size). The scaled down models include almost all track and non track
equipments used by Railways in reality like locomotives, rolling
stock, streetcars, tracks, signalling, and roads, buildings, vehicles
and lights. To make the modelling more realistic, enthusiasts even
add full scenarios with model figures and features such as streams,
hills, and canyons.
This
hobby perhaps is as old as the Railways themselves are. Wikipedia
says: “The earliest
model railways were the 'carpet railways' in the 1840s. Electric
trains appeared around the start of the 20th century, but these were
crude likenesses. Model trains today are more realistic. Today
modelers create model railway / railroad layouts, often recreating
real locations and periods throughout history.”
The
hobby is so popular that all over the world, 100's of manufacturers
offer specialty Railway models to the enthusiasts. Yet, historically
speaking, the hobby of Railway Modelling and the name of a British
company 'Hornby,' go almost synonymously. This company was founded by
one Frank Hornby (1863 - 1936) who applied for a patent in 1901 to
protect an invention he called ‘Improvements in Toy or Educational
Devices for Children and Young People’. Nobody then would have
imagined how this product would influence the model railway hobby
eventually.
Interestingly,
this Frank Hornby was also the inventor of one of the greatest
mechanical toy ever invented, popularly known as Meccano. Frank
Hornby Hornby introduced his toy trains in 1920. These were powered
by a high quality clockwork motor, and made of metal pressings held
together by Meccano nuts and bolts. Hornby Trains were an instant
success and the company was quick to introduce more engines and
accessories. In 1925 the first Hornby electric train was produced,
By 1929, Hornby had evolved a much safer system and electric models
worked from a six volt DC source.
Model
railway layouts usually require much floor space and physical efforts
for a single man or a family. This lead to development of model
railway enthusiast's clubs and it may not be an exaggeration to say
that in almost all major cities of the world ( and even in small
towns and communities of developed world), we have such clubs in
existence. These clubs regularly create new layouts and hold
exhibitions, which are extremely popular with elderly people as well
as children.
When I
was young, I inherited a small railway track from my father with one
locomotive and couple of bogeys. This toy unfortunately was almost in
broken condition, yet I used to play with it for hours. I was never
ever able to get another model railroad as these were all imported
and prohibitively expensive. This has however never dampened my
enthusiasm for model railroads and whenever I get a chance, I still
enjoy visiting a model railroad layout. In my hometown Pune, one of
my business friend ( he is unfortunately no more) had created a
wonderful model railroad layout. This layout is still functional
(being maintained by his son) and draws number of visitors even
today.
I
recently came across details of a layout created by a model railroad
club in Luton England. The club has its own
website,
which says following about themselves.
“We
are a small friendly club which has been in existence since the mid
1950's and caters for a wide range of modelling and general railway
interests. The club has around 30 members and has ownership of its
own premises in the centre of Luton. We meet on Monday nights from
8pm until around 10pm.
The
building comprises two floors with the ground floor being a general
members meeting room and this area can be arranged for more formal
meeting such as speakers, AGM or quiz nights. Our 'N' Gauge layout
also occupies part of the space and a second layout is currently
under development. The upper floor currently houses the 'OO', 'On30'
and 'O' gauge layouts and working materials. We have a small
reference library for members use, facilities for refreshments. Each
year we hold a modelling contest and photographic competition, which
is open to all members and all gauges. Exhibitions are held in
alternate years as a main club show featuring all gauges and in the
intervening year therer is a specialist 'O' Gauge show in a
neighbouring location. Regular visits are made by club members to
other exhibitions and shows, sometimes we even can be found
exhibiting a layout or two!”
There
is nothing extra ordinary about this club and there must have been
thousands of such clubs all over the world. Yet this club has created
recently one of the most creative model railroad layout, that I find
absolutely remarkable. The club calls this display as “
Loggies group layouts - 03:24 08-08-1963 (The Great Train Robbery)”
and
describes it as “A
number of the Club members in the 'O' Gauge section (Loggies) have
constructed a themed Diorama. This portrays the event that became
commonly known as The Great Train Robbery.”
On 8th
August 1963, the train travelling between Glasgow and London Euston
was stopped by the gang of crooks at 3 AM on a bridge between
Linslade and Cheddington in Buckinghamshire. The thieves had then
broken into the High Value Package coach and managed to run away with
120 mailbags weighing about two and a half tonnes stuffed with £2.6m
in used banknotes.
Luton
model railroad club has created in miniature this diorama (A
three-dimensional miniature or life-size scene) that depicts the
night in August 1963. Scenes created show bags of cash being unloaded
from a carriage and the robbers making off with their loot. It took a
group of club members almost one year to complete the diorama, which
features sound and lighting effects along with 15 figures on display.
However no personalities have been identified.
I find
this initiative by the Luton club really remarkable. Instead of
creating dioramas where model trains just go round and round, this is
something highly creative and should be followed by other clubs of
the world. Luton Model railroad club however deserves all praise for
their efforts from the model train enthusiasts.
12th
April 2014
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