Bond Lane has a number of innovations - not necessarily things that have not been done before but they are definitely not common place.
We use multiple LCD screens, sound and dynamic lighting to bring atmosphere to the layout. All of these elements are synchronised - including street lights turning on in the night time scene and light flashes to help sell the lightning during the thunderstorm.
Behind the scenes the layout also has a number of innovations to make it easier to transport and operate. It has a double folding design so it can fit in the boot of the car and store easily:
Bond Lane folding mechanism
The layout has an on scene yard and a loop that allow some interesting locomotive and stock movements, although there is no way of uncoupling on scene.
Off scene there are five loops that can be used for storage and this makes it relatively simple to keep things moving. The loops on the right hand side can also be isolated completed via a switch allowing all three loops to store stock while moving locomotives in and out of the on scene yard.
Bond Lane layout plan
We were aided and abetted by Dan Evason of Tunnel Lane Models (https://www.facebook.com/Tunnellane/) with pulling together the scenery elements. We have not aimed for any particular era - instead attempting to go for something relatively generic that can be influenced by the addition of different road vehicles and rolling stock.
AWARDS
03/03/2024 51st Redditch Model Railway Exhibition
Awarded Jack Jones Memorial Cup for Best In Show (Visitor Vote)
31/08/2024 Didcot Model Railway Exhibition
Awarded Best In Show (Committee Vote)
13/10/2024 Warley at Statfold
Highly Commended Runners Up (Sandwell Mayor Award)
NEW FOR 2024
Bond Lane has now been fitted with a motorised platform to allow us to lower it on demand when needed. This allows us to display it at eye level for anyone regardless of their height, standing or sitting.
Bond Lane is owned by Adam Limbrick, but it is very much a family affair and so Mum (Vall) and Dad (Neil) are usually not too far away. As a family we volunteer on the Severn Valley Railway and Neil is a Director of both of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society and the SVR.
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