Our new models room first opened in 2008 contains the Gauge1 Model Railway layout,
a large number of model carts made by local people and models by David Wray. There is also a
model of Pitstone Windmill made by and donated by Mr John Vivian of Cowley, Oxford in 1982.
Most of the model carts were made by Stuart Putman of Dagnall and Horace Fiddler of Cheddington.
Much Hammering Gauge 1 model railway layout was built in the mid 80s by members
of the Chiltern group of the Gauge 1 Model Railway Association, an international
association for modellers of Gauge 1 trains, known as the Premier gauge it uses
a track gauge of 45mm. The majority of the members run live steam locomotives in their gardens.
Members of the Chiltern group wanted to demonstrate and promote Gauge 1 to the
public at model railway shows. There already existed a large main line layout
that featured long steam hauled express trains which, due to its size was only
exhibited once a year at a national model railway show, this layout took around 20 plus members
5 days to erect.
Much Hammering used electric locomotives and represented a typical British country
branch line terminus. 5 or 6 people could erect it in a few hours and it was small
enough to visit many exhibitions which it did throughout the late 80s and the 90s,
winning many prizes in the process. Being electric it was more acceptable
to exhibition managers in these perhaps over cautious times!
Sadly the membership wasn't getting any younger and enthusiasm waned as the Millennium
came and went.The layout needed around 5 people to operate it and the Chiltern group
approached the Pitstone Green Museum to give the layout a permanent home. The Museum
originally housed the layout in its short form in the Nissen hut.
Over the winter 2007/8 the museum volunteers purpose built a new building to house
the layout at it's full length and the railway has been running there since the beginning
of the 2008 season. Ownership of the layout was eventually passed to the museum and
a complete rebuild of the two extreme ends of the layout undertaken. The operating
system was changed to Radio Control only making it easier and more reliable
to operate. We are always looking for more helpers to run Much Hammering
and welcome addional locomotives.
The Much Hammering Gauge1 Layout