Blackwood Junction was a large modern image layout depicting a fictional main line junction somewhere in Central Scotland. This layout was well-known on the Scottish exhibition circuit and also attended the 2016 Warley National Model Railway Exhibition. This is in addition to an important feature in the August 2015 edition of British Railway Modelling magazine.
Blackwood Junction represented a main line junction situated alongside an out-of-town industrial estate, and as such the layout was unusual in not featuring a railway station. The layout did, however, feature loops that allowed slow freight trains to be overtaken and a complex junction track layout. Due to this track layout, the electrical wiring and circuitry of the layout was done in such a way as to prohibit conflicting train movements from being selected – thus preventing collisions. The automated four-aspect signals added to the realism of operations.
A short tramway was also incorporated on the layout and operated automatically.
The buildings on this layout were also a noteworthy element: in particular the models of Balbirnie House (located near our clubrooms); the large Tesco’s warehouse; and the Leisure World complex (complete with swimming pool flumes!).
Blackwood Junction was sold in 2016 to Ayr Model Railway Club.