About the layout

Bow Junction is the MRC’s new 7mm layout featuring part of the North London Line(see below) It is being built to Scale 7 specifications. Scale 7 modellers work to a scale of 7mm to 1ft (1:43.5) using a true-to-scale standard gauge of 33mm, and wheel profiles which match closely to the real thing. Working to Scale 7 Standards is no more difficult than working to fine-scale 0 gauge standards

History of the prototype being modelled

In about 1850 the London to Birmingham Railway which was soon to become the London North Western Railway (LNWR) wanted a route by which it could send goods traffic originating in the North of England directly to the Docks in East London.

Therefore it supported a scheme to build a line from its line near Camden east across London and then South down the Docks at Poplar. This new line became The North London Railway.
This new line passed under the Eastern Counties, ( Later called the Great Eastern) near Bow in East London. This line terminated at Fenchurch Street Station.

The LNWR realised if they could link into the Great Eastern they would be able to run trains directly into the City of London instead of only as far as Euston.

This Junction was created at Bow, which is also the site of the North London’s Locomotive Works. This is the junction which forms the centrepiece of our layout.

The model

As stated above the layout is built around this junction. The period modelled is about 1910. The main double track runs from the left which is the direction of the rest of England to the right which goes down to the Docks at Poplar. In the middle there is a double junction with the two lines which run into Fenchurch Street. At the back of the layout are the Locomotive works which will be quite substantial buildings

Progress to date

The baseboards are being built by a Club Member and are well underway. Track building has begun and to date all the complicated point work comprising the junction is complete. All the track is hand built and we have had two skill transfer sessions on building the common crossings for the point work. In fact, it is our intention to run training sessions as we progress.

There is very much more to do, such as signalling, electrics, making buildings rolling stock and locomotive construction.

If you want to join the Bow Junction Team you will be most welcome.

Layout leader

The layout leader is Peter Mann who has been a member of the Model Railway Club since 1985. He was the Club Secretary for 4 years and then the Club Chairman for 7 years. Currently, he is a Vice President and for 11 years was on the Committee of the Scale 7 Group