Maeport East

by David Passingham

The following pages show David Passingham's excellent 00 layout, Maeport East. The layout is still under construction. All images are copyright David Passingham.

Three trains on the viaduct

Three trains on the viaduct


Dean Single in full glory

Dean Single in full glory


Dock end of the station

Dock end of the station


Looking towards the viaduct

Looking towards the viaduct


The branch tracks and halt

The branch tracks and halt


Approaching the tunnel

Approaching the tunnel


The cottage seen from the hills

The cottage seen from the hills


The cottage garden

The cottage garden


The cottage and lane

The cottage and lane


Feeding the geese

Feeding the geese


Haycart in the sun

Haycart in the sun


Clerestories on the viaduct

Clerestories on the viaduct


D. Preece, Ironmonger

D. Preece, Ironmonger


The shop-fronts

The shop-fronts




An aerial view of the start of the village.


D. Preece, Ironmonger

First 4 buildings of small village still under construction. There are 2 cottages, an Inn and a blacksmith and wheelwrights yard.




The main line and the branch line running towards the tunnels.




Close-up of cottages and Inn.




Closer view of cottages – gardens still to be finished.




Distant view of farm and surrounding countryside, built on a hill covering a corner of the fiddle yard.




Overall view of the village




The blacksmith's workshop




Another view of the blacksmith




Looking down the village street




The pub




Conversation outside one of the village houses




517 Class No. 565 shunts the yard




No. 565 was converted from a Hornby 14xx Class loco. You can see how it was built in the Projects section.




No. 565 in rural surroundings




38xx "County" Class No. 3818, heavily modified from the Hornby version. You can see how it was done in the GWR Projects section.




No. 3818 running light


April 2004

There have been a few changes at Maeport. The first is that I have changed to Digital control. It was a big step to take and it took a few hours to fix the bus wire around the whole layout. However it has been really successful and is so easy to use. I am very pleased I decided to do it.




New cottages under development in the village


I chose the Lenz digital system as my local model shop had a very good demonstration and I was very impressed with its capabilities. I have not used it to its full potential yet but I run the whole layout on one controller, no section switches – the only thing I have to worry about is changing the points. It is so nice to be able to drive a train into the station, draw another loco up to the rear of the coaches and drive off in the other direction with the coaches, without having to flick any switches or worry about section breaks.




A closer look at one of the new thatched cottages


The second recent change at Maeport was due to a very severe storm, when half of the cliff and surrounding farmland at the entrance to the harbour was washed away ! The GWR took advantage of this and purchased the land from the local farmer who had no further use for it. The site was levied and a loco shed, coaling facility and turntable are now being constructed.




The new turntable in place, based on a modified Finecast kit


The turntable is a South Eastern Finecast kit. It has a vac-formed well and bridge supports and the track base is a piece of Paxalin. I had to strengthen them all with quite thick Plasticard to ensure they were sufficiently rigid.




A new back garden has sprung up next to the blacksmith




The mainline (front) and branch (rear). Guess which side of the bridge has been fully finished with scenery!




Close up of a back-dated Bachman 45xx on the branch goods. It is still awaiting number plates, coal and copper chimney top.




517 tank on the main line. No 1 & 2 Brook Lane cottage in full view




Rear view of 517-hauled train. Coaches are Ratio 4-wheel stock




Looking down Brook Lane towards Oakford village



River side cottages just peeping out from the trees




An overall view of Oakford village. The coaches on the mainline are repainted Hornby




Close-up of Oakford village shop. They sell almost every thing. It is fully detailed inside but you cannot see most of it!