MINI COLCESTER....???

The recent surprising find in the loft of my hold home in Saffron Walden revealed some previously mislaid items of N gauge rolling stock, locomotives, buildings and scenics. There was also a 4ft x 2ft piece of sundeala board on a frame with an oval of track too.

These items belonged to my Sister and we believe they have been stored up in the loft since the 1990s. Amongst them were four steam locos including the Flying Scotsman in later BR livery and a Battle of Britain Class loco named Spitfire. There were two diesels as well. Several coaches, some trucks and a marvellous range of Hornby Minitrix buildings that mimic the stone clad range of the larger OO gauge ones that Hornby still use today.

All these items except the Flying Scotsman have been sold as trade to Great Eastern Models in Norwich. The loco was tested in store and after a little work it actually ran perfectly, not bad for a loco which probably last ran in the 90s.

The era for the locos and rolling stock are not my thing, im more modern image - but seeing this 2mm stock made me think about another aspect of Colcester - the space beneath the OO layout boards. So i got to thinking... what if Big Colcester had a Little Colcester running underneath it..??

The amount of space under the main boards will be technically wasted as the area on the side under the storage yards is used for stacking boxes with stock in. The leaves the main section on the other side of the shed which is 5 and a half feet across at its widest point and maximises the full 12 ft length of the shed too. This would allow for quite a sizeable N gauge layout.

If this goes ahead it would comprise of a four-track modern image route in DCC with a station and city scene (Mini Colcester) and a preserved railway line which will run as analogue to allow my Sisters Flying Scotsman loco to run on it.

This is of course a lot to take on whilst the OO gauge layout is still being built too and that one obviously must take priority, but its a relatively easy setup to add in once a majority of the main layout is in place. Obviously i dont need to tell to watch this space on developments regarding this N gauge idea...