CLAYTON END SIGNALMAN
The initial design for ‘Clayton End Signalman’ was to create a front-operated, box-theatre style layout depicting a fictitious, out-of-town railway in the Peak District. Why ‘front-operated’ you may ask? Well, my wife and I have always been customer-focused, in libraries and banking services respectively; more recently, I have taught at university. We enjoy public interaction, welcome questions, and try to help if we can.
As the layout is meant to be midway between the West and East coast main lines, a variety of cross-country traffic is expected. The layout originally contained just a signal box and MPD, partly situated in a railway cutting, with the area overlooked by a small group of houses, along with the ‘Travellers Rest’ public house.
The location is reached via two tunnels, and it is assumed that traffic is generated from east and west. Activity is mainly freight, and diesel locomotives are stabled overnight in a two-track shed. Sometimes, heritage steam may even make an appearance.
An extension was added during 2021, to provide some local industrial activity, featuring a quarry and stone terminal. At the same time, an eight-track traverser was created to generate outbound traffic via a left-side front tunnel and, inbound traffic via
