Like many, my interest in the clay branch lines of Cornwall and Devon comes from the use of large diesel locomotives on trains of traditional vacuum-fitted wagons in a scenic setting. This interest led to various plans, inspired by layouts like ‘Pengwynn Crossing’, in its original guise, as well as the writings of Iain Rice and John Greenwood and their layout projects from this area.
I had planned to enter the Scalefour Society's D&E Layout Challenge and had drawn-up a few alternative schemes based around this concept. Life got in the way and it didn't happen but, eventually, I decided to try and build my own layout. Too many of my plans ended up looking like ‘Wheal Elizabeth’, so the idea was parked while I dabbled with a 1970s Highland scheme and assisted my Scalefour Area Group in building ‘St Merryn’, a North Cornwall terminus inspired by Padstow.
‘Wheal Elizabeth’ was originally built by Andrew Ullyot as part of the Scalefour Society's Diesel & Electric layout challenge in 2008, where it was the runner-up. When the layout was advertised for sale by Andrew, I jumped at the opportunity to acquire it, initially, with a view to incorporating the layout into a larger, overly ambitious, home scheme. Subsequently, I decided to return the layout to its original concept and exhibit it at selected shows. It made its debut in revised form at the
