Downsbay and Rye-Rother Road

This layout built by Doug Richards, is a stay at home project housed in the utility room at his home. The fictional location is based somewhere in the south of England circa 1960 where BR Southern Region operates both steam and electric third rail services. This allows the use of EMUs as well as steam hauled coaching stock on passenger trains.

Downsbay is a fair size terminal station with three platforms and a small goods yard, as well as a locomotive depot and EMU berthing sidings. Leaving the station, trains have access to two tunnels; one allows the main line trains to arrive from and depart to the rest of the world; while the other provides access down the branch line to Rye-Rother Road.

The branch line from Downsbay to Rye-Rother Road is usually served by a Push-Pull set and short goods trains. Overall, the layout allows a variety of Southern Region motive power and rolling stock to operate with potential for interesting operation whenever required.

All the trackwork is Peco Code 75 with live frog points and train operation using analogue controls. The various structures and scenic items are scratch built.

The image gallery below showcases some views of Downsbay and Rye-Rother Road during a number of operating sessions.

Downsbay