This model railway has now been withdrawn from sale.

This is no ordinary toy train set - this is a veritable work of art - a true collector's item by a well-known professional model maker.  It is now no longer up for sale.  This famous model railway (it has regularly appeared in over a dozen magazine articles), has been completely refurbished and restored by its original professional builder and therefore remains in full working order.  This includes all the controls, illuminated hidden siding markers, illuminated sunset feature, illuminated building interiors of incredible detail and, of course, electric points - there are even four electric uncouplers on the main lines.  But this fabulous model railway is most famous for its original design and incredible scenery whereby 00 gauge, 4mm scale main line trains of considerable length can be seen running through the broad, open landscape of the Yorkshire dales - and yet the whole is fitted into a room just 8 feet by 10.  Quite amazing!   A trend-setter in its day this model remains one of the best - as well as one of the most famous - scenic model railways in the country.  This was surely  a unique opportunity to acquire such an iconic model, so rarely do complete models of this calibre come on the market. 

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Visitor's eye views, starting from the left... 
(a plan follows)

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Click here to move to plan of layout.
Click here to move to plan of hidden bits.

indentThe model is transportable, rather than portable, but it does come apart into four corners and a smaller central section.
indentA typical section is five feet long by 4 feet wide and two feet high, which includes the permanently-attached backscene.  The control panel is separate and is attached directly to a timber support structure which holds up the whole model.  Access to the operator's well is by ducking under from the 'Visitor's Viewing' area.  There is room in the operating area for two operators - just - while two or three visitors can view from the cut-out arc, which was originally to allow the door to open into the room.
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indentThe Hidden Sidings Hidden under the scenery are a number of storage sidings for a selection of representative trains.

indentWhereas many model railways only allow you to run trains round in a circle, this model, called 'Tupdale', has storage sidings for three in each direction. (It would be possible to fit further wiring to increase the number of trains per siding but there simply is not enough width available behind the operator to increase the number of sidings.)
indentThere is also a return loop - and here there is space for a second loop along side the final half - but the gradients and curves require that the operator uses short trains on the loop!  As with the rest of the layout, the sharpest radius is 17", which equates to 'second radius' and thus Tupdale is suitable for modern engines which need such curves.   The extra pickups fitted to modern engines are definitely helpful and are much to be recommended.

indent(If you'd like to now see a couple of YouTube videos of this layout, right-click here and open in a new 'tab'!)

indentTypical of the detail to be found on this model railway is this faithful copy of a typical Yorkshire 'Bank Barn'.   The large doors are for getting a cart into the barn for off-loading hay and are reached up a ramp set onto the hillside.  All the farmer has to do is to drop the hay down slots at the side of the floor to the animals in the byres below.  The ground floor has its own access doors lower down the hill...

indentNotice that beside the barn is a small segment of limestone pavement.  The 'clints' and 'grykes' of this natural phenomena are not restricted to Yorkshire but the county is famous for them and, like the dry stone walls which surround the railway, are faithfully modelled in this truly stunning example of the model-maker's art.

 And more...

indentThis is the operator's view of the second tunnel mouth and the loco-shed beside it.  Originally intended for a small quarry, as research results ruled that out by the mid-1950s the owner's request for a loco shed were acceded to.  I think a dairy would have had more operational value (milk from Appleby was sent by passenger train to London well into the 60s) but the model could always be amended...
indentNote too the ex-Midland Railway signal box, one of a pair, complete with detailed illuminated interiors - yes, really!

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Signalbox interior

Above   The illuminated interior of Tupdale's other signal box at night.

Left   By the 1970s and 80s steam was long gone - banned for 10 years from 1968 but while the goods yards were all closed - along with most of the stations - the Engineer's department took over some sidings for engineering trains - a useful operational extra for   'Blue Period' modellers.

Important points to note...

indentBefore anyone asks, it must be stated clearly that what is for sale is the layout, complete with support stand and  controls, only; none of the rolling stock featured in the photos is included in the sale, but some of it may be available to the winner by separate negotiation.

indentDelivery can be arranged if necessary to anywhere on the English mainland* at a Pound (£1) a mile from the 14th Cent. Cross, Stalbridge, Dorset, or the model can be collected by a large vehicle  (A long wheel-based van at least ten feet clear inside is needed.)  The model is second hand, used and 'bought as seen' but, well looked after, in normal house-hold temperatures there are years of life left in it yet!   Any questions, please e-mail me directly on tupdale[at]countrysidemodels.co.uk. (* Prices for delivery into the heart of Wales or Scotland by agreement.)

indentOne final comment; to build a layout like this new today would cost upwards of £20,000 at today's prices - which is a useful guide to its insurance value for replacement.  This suggests that a model of this quality for the money asked, really is very good value for money, even without any further thoughts as to its investment potential.  That I leave for you to consider for yourselves...

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For more detail on this awesome layout, click here to see Tupdale's original photo gallery.
(Opens in a new page. I hope to add more new photos there soon too...)