Virginston

PLEASE CLICK ON LINK BELOW FOR VIRGINSTOW GALLERY

VIRGINSTOW

A joint Southern/GWR Branch line Terminus Station

Virginstow History

The layout was originally built by Malcolm Diodge, in the mid 1990’s.  The location of Virginstow was chosen to run stock typical of what might be seen at Launceston in the mid 1950’s, but in a single small terminus station.  Virginstow village lies north of Launceston, and just east of the North Cornall line.

The layout was later sold to Don Dickson, a fellow member of Three Towns Model Railway Group.  Don exhibited the layout around the West country area, including exhibitions held by Nailsea & District Model Railway Club, where Don was a member.

The layout was then sold to Stephen Ash, but was not exhibited further.  A major renovation commenced in 2012, which increased the length of track, beyond the station, and replaced magnetic uncoupling with an electro-mechanical version; other improvements were also made to scenery, track and electrics.

Stephen has now gifted the layout to Heather Hatch, Don’s daughter.  Heather has made small improvements, mainly refreshing the scenery and adding a few additional cameos.

Don Dickson died in 2010 and so this layout is now exhibited in his memory. 

I hope you like it.

Virginstow Location

In 1865 a branch line was opened from Plymouth to Launceston.  By 1886, a new line had been constructed by the North Cornwall railway from Halwill to Launceston, the first part of their line to Padstow.  This layout assumes that a short branch was built off this line into a terminus at Virginstow.  The two lines in Launceston were linked in 1943.

This model depicts the station in the mid 50’s to early 60’s when most passenger services were operated through Plymouth, via Lifton, by the Western Region, and some through to Exeter, via Okehampton by the Southern Region.  Freight traffic movements were of the type expected for a predominately agricultural area; outward included milk, and perishables, whilst incoming mainly comprised coal, fertilisers and animal feedstuffs.

N Gauge, 2mm to foot
Size:  7’ x 2’
Supporting Tables required