Layouts for Children | THE BURY ST EDMUNDS MODEL RAILWAY CLUB

Introduction

Convinced that the hobby must attract the young if it is not going to fade away, and am inspired by the joy that model railways be it Brio, Duplo, or something more sophisticated seem to bring to our grandchildren the club is developing a suite of children’s interactive layouts which together are enough to keep a significant number of children occupied at a show. Five of these are available and the sixth (a shunting puzzle with a war hammer theme) is still under construction..

Some of the clubs and members Layouts that might appeal to junior members. Available for shows.

Childrens BRIO layout

This is simply a pair of connected boards and a large box of Brio salvaged from car boot sales. We have found it best to set something up to start with but children from about 18 months upwards can creates their own layout push the trains along.

Scale: about 1/40

Size: 2.5m x .75m. Requires I metre of clearance round the layout for access. Comes with its own low legs and is only 600mm high.

Total space required: About 5.5 x 3m

Power: None

Operators: Light supervision by a single operator. If co-located with another BSEMRC children’s layout no additional operators are required.

Transport: fits in a car boot

Tomy Train Thomas the Tank Engine.

A Tomy Train track makes 3 separate but linked circuits, with some appropriate buildings. It comes with a selection of push along and battery motorized locomotives, lots of rolling stock and accessories. This is designed to be used and abused by children as young as 2 years (as tested on various grandchildren) with only light touch adult supervision to sort out rights of way disputes and change the odd battery.

Scale: about 1/30

Size: 2340 X 920mm. It has its own legs and only stands 600mm off the ground.

Total space required: About 5m X 3m as there needs to be at least 1m of access space for multiple children all the way round.

Power: None. Locomotives are battery powered

Other requirements: none

Operators: Light supervision by a single operator. If co-located with another BSEMRC children’s layout no additional operators are required.

Transport: Fits in a car boot

Thomas the Tank layout built by Matthew P

Thomas N Gauge interactive layout

This layout has two independent tracks on a preformed Noch board which run Tomix Thomas the Tank Engine trains (Thomas, James and Percy) with appropriate rolling stock. There are two controllers which have been modified to restrict the top speed to prevent an overenthusiastic child sending the rolling stock flying.

Scale: N Gauge

Size: 1200 X 500mm, it sits on top of a standard 6 X 2ft table. (We prefer the table to be supplied but can provide one if notified).

Total space required: 2.5m (Width) X 3m (Depth) as the operators need chairs in front and the supervisors chairs behind the layout.

Electric: One 13amp socket. We can provide a short extension to plug the two plugs we have into.

Other requirements: 2x6ft table and 4 chairs required for supervisors and operators. We cannot provide the chairs.

Operators: Two adults to supervise its use and change the locomotives periodically. At a one-day event the same adults can also supervise the Tomy Train and Brio interactive layouts if close by.

Transport: Fits in a car boot

N Gauge Thomas layout , 2 independant tracks operated by seperate controllers

G scale layout.

Project Managed by Matthew P,

Built by David F, David T ,Frank, Bill,and Phil

This is a child friendly Thomas layout in G scale (think playmobile sized). It is not intended to be modelers work of art. There are typically two loops for continuous running and additional sidings. Locomotives include Thomas, Percy, James, Toby, Emily, Winston and Devious Diesel, most have appropriate sound and moving eyes. Rolling stock is mainly suitable Bachmann Thomas and friends’ wagons with some LGB novelty wagons for amusement. There is a selection of scenery which like the track is put up on the day and subject to variation but includes roads, vehicles, people (including Thomas related figures), animals, platforms and buildings.

Scale: G scale (1/24)

Era: The Island of Sodor in the late 1950’s

Size: Minimum 14ft by 8ft but can be expanded in both dimensions.

Space Requirements: This is a tabletop layout. It requires a minimum of six 6ft x 2ft tables (giving the 14 x 8ft size). All tables must be the same height. The size can be expanded in one or both dimensions for every 2 additional tables provided. For example, 8 tables can be configured as 18 x12ft or 20 x 8ft. It is sometimes possible to use tables of different sizes but please enquire before assuming this will be adequate. If a size larger than the standard 14 x 8ft is required extra track has to be organised so the size / number of tables available needs to be made clear well in advance. An additional 1m operating space is required at the back and on one side of the layout. It is sometimes possible to provide the tables though this requires additional transport.

Environment: This layout can be run indoors or outside in reasonable weather conditions (i.e: dry (a must), warmish (for the operators) and not too windy.

Control: Massoth DCC

Power: A single 13 amp socket is required.

Operators: Two for a one-day show, three for 2-day shows.

Transport: The layout (excluding any tables) fit in 2 cars.

and a few pics of the layout