Model layout on track
Doug close to completing train landscape of CBD
DOUG Clarkson’s love of trains is only matched by his passion for Toowoomba, so it only made sense he would merge the two together.
Some of Toowoomba’s most famous and recognisable CBD landmarks have been recreated and constructed by Mr Clarkson as part of a massive model train landscape.
The huge “Garden City Central” layout, stretching several metres in length, was on display at the Heritage Bank Toowoomba Royal Show yesterday.
Featuring replicas of the Spotted Cow, the Toowoomba train station, Mills Precinct, Grand Central Shopping Centre and Laurel Bank Park, Mr Clarkson said it had taken 18 months just to get to this point.
The Toowoomba Model Railway Club members said he wasn’t finished yet.
“It was Ted’s (Freeman, club president) idea, but then of course he asked me to do all the designs,” Mr Clarkson said.
“He laid the tracks, and I did all the buildings and foliage.
“This was a version of Toowoomba with its most important aspects, as far as the public were concerned.
“They’ve been to those places, and so they want to see it smaller.”
Mr Clarkson has made serious progress since the layout made its public debut last year.
While it captured the essence of Toowoomba, the layout is not geographically arranged like the real city.
“The hardest part is you’ve got to compress Grand Central, because I haven’t got the space, and I’ve got to allow for the track to turn and make access if the train comes off,” Mr Clarkson said.
“I took a lot of photos and drew sketches to get things right.”
The trains head through the Mills Precinct, passing Laurel Bank Park before they come up alongside the main station and go past the Spotted Cow and McDonald’s before heading under Grand Central before moving back to the start.
Mr Clarkson said he preferred to build the landscape rather than the tracks, which include building model buildings, roads, signs, cars, trees and even painting skylines.
“I like the scenery, I like gardening and I’ve designed gardens before, and I like painting as well,” he said.
“Ted likes laying the track, and that’s fine with me.”
Hundreds of patrons enjoyed the club’s models and layouts at the showgrounds yesterday as part of the Toowoomba Show holiday.
For more information about the club, head to toowoombamodelrailwayclub.com.au.