Welcome to our Thomas and Friends layout "Elsbridge"; this is a dual use layout, used by both youngsters in the day and then our associates at FOYD (Friends Of the Young Disabled) & adults in the evenings.

The photos below were taken on several occasions, unfortunately we don't yet have the talent to make a layout appear over night; but hopefully you can appreciate the progress made over time and the stages the work was done in.

The layout is largely OO gauge, however we are currently in the process of installing an N Gauge section; akin to the two track sections in Thomas & Friends under the control of the "Fat Controller" and the "Thin Controller". One interesting puzzle to solve at this moment in time is the "transition area" where the two sets of track "meet" and cargo etc is transferred from one to the other.

More updates and pictures to follow as and when we make further progress - come back soon to make sure you dont miss anything!

Elsbridge Update

Work on the Elsbridge layout is continuing to progress satisfactorily and recently some well known figures have started to appear; I refer to:

Michael Portillo – clearly getting ready for a new railway television series

Sir Topham Hatt - often unkindly referred to as ‘ The Fat Controller'.

Michael Sarsfield painted these figures; he has also painted and converted a large number of other figures for the layout. There will be more to come including further friends of Thomas.

Work began recently on a canal, which is partly finished and only needs a lock and a wharf to complete this small project.

Richard Grigg is finding it quite complicated to build the platform to jointly serve the narrow gauge (Thomas's Branch Line) and the standard gauge (Main Line). The problem arises because of the different platform lengths to serve these 2 areas within the layout.

Gwion Davies has put in some safety features in the form of crocodile clips from the layout's main electrical feed to the control area. This will eliminate the risk of electric shock if the leads are suddenly pulled away violently.

We hope to soon see engines from the Skarloey Railway running on the layout. These will need to be in 009 narrow Gauge where stock supplies are not always easy to source. However club members with contacts at the 009 Society will hopefully soon come to the club's rescue and find the requisite chassis. Stock running the narrow gauge belongs to a variety of members. Fortunately Michael Sarsfield is usually able to find the necessary stock to meet more unusual requirements.