Seasons to be cheerful

Bruce Taylor

I was interested to read your articles about modelling the weather (MR254). Layouts depicting bright sunny days aren’t for me, and I had considered going along the winter route for my own layout. Then, while discussing an Oxford Model Railway Club layout ‘Shawbury Heath’ (for which I am part of the team) the subject of which season to model it in came up. As the layout was to be based in the early years of the Second World War, we decided to back-date it to late 1939, during the ‘Phoney War’ period, thus allowing a certain amount of normality before wartime regulations came into force. Then, to carry on the theme, I decided that my own layout ‘Toft End’, a 1903-based North Staffordshire industrial railway, could follow suit. As you say, you can create some great scenic effects by changing the colours of the leaves. In my case, the local coal mine is also in step with the season. It’s in full swing and coal is being stockpiled for the winter. So yes, I am joining you (twice!) in modelling the forgotten season.