LAYOUT | OO | LOCKDOWN FEN
FACTFILE
NAME: Lockdown Fen
SCALE/GAUGE: 4mm:1ft/16.5mm/OO
SIZE: 1100 × 220m plus 400mm Fiddleyard
ERA/REGION: BR(ER)
LAYOUT TYPE: Inglenook shunting twig
When the restrictions to our daily lives resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic took effect in early 2020, like many others, I had a lot of time on my hands at home and I decided to see what I could achieve with a new layout. In retrospect, it was a very good decision, and I was glad I had a creative and constructive hobby to fall back on after. The rather clichéd name of the layout was a working title that just stuck.
One of my favourite parts of the layout design and construction process is tracking down research resources and trying to identify and reproduce characteristic elements. I had time to spare and wanted to start building, but I still spent a lot of time pulling together ideas for the layout first. Although it is not in my normal geographical or historical areas of interest, the Wisbech and Upwell (W&U) line has always looked like an interesting modelling project, so, over time, I assembled a number of books about the line.
The production of the J70 “tram” locomotive by Rapido Trains was just too much of a temptation and, as well as the unusual motive power, the line had several signature features that would be interesting
