Struan Bridge is a 7mm / O Gauge model railway layout, designed and owned by Martin Poulter.
Located at the end of a branch line is Struan Bridge. Set along a fictional Perthshire glen of the River Garry, this single platform railway terminus provides goods and passenger services to the local villages. The branch line diverges away from the Inverness and Perth mainline at the junction just north of Pitlochry.
Passenger services from Inverness and Perth are provided using Class 122 railcars and loco hauled services with 2/3 carriage formations. Due to the absence of a run-around loop in the station, loco hauled services will require shunt releasing before the loco can be reconnected to the rear for the return service. A loco pilot, mainly a resident Class 08 from Inverness, will carry out the shunt release as and when required.
As well as railway engineering trains, freight services will be in operation. These will be mainly mixed trip workings from the Inverness and Perth areas. A goods yard that is adjacent to the station platform, provides loading and unloading facilities for the local farmers and trades.
The main traction for loco hauled passenger and freight services is provided by the regional depots, Inverness, Motherwell, Eastfield and Haymarket. The mainstay traction is Sulzer Type 2 locomotives, Class 24/25/26 and 27’s. English Electric Type 3 locomotives, Class 37’s will also be a regular feature. Struan Bridge signal box is responsible for managing all the rail traffic in and out of the station. Semaphore signals and ‘disc’ ground signals are in operation and along with all the points, they are mechanically operated from the lever frame within the signal box. All points will be fitted with forward facing point locking mechanism.
The Layout
Modelled in 7mm/O Gauge, this model railway layout is set in the Scottish Region during the BR Blue TOPS era, specifically the years 1974 -1987. It is designed to be portable and constructed and modelled to an exhibition standard.
The track diagram below illustrates the layout overall size and also provides the basic design of the track layout.
Struan Bridge has a good level of prototypically weathered rolling stock that will feature during running sessions. Being set in the 1970’s and early 1980’s Scottish region, Sulzer Type 2 Class 24/25/26 and Class 27 locomotives will be the common loco hauled traction on both freight and passenger services. English Electric Type 3 locomotives will be a regular feature also. A Class 08 will also be a regular feature as the station pilot.
Class 122 railcars will provide passenger services in addition to the loco hauled services.
Being fully DCC operated using the Digitrax DCC system, all locomotives are sound equipped. The signals and points are fitted with servo motors and controlled by the Megapoints servo control boards via toggle switches on the mini panel.
The size of the layout (including the traverser sections) is 20 feet long x 16 inches wide. The overall viewing area is 14 feet long. The traverser is hidden behind the scenic break, which is the removable bridge section by the side of the signal box. Struan Bridge will be exhibition ready in 2027 and will hopefully be a feature for many years to come.