Newbury 2001 - Edgware Road

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Stand 2: Edgware Road

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The Metropolitan Railway's first works was built on a very compact site at Chapel Street, adjacent to Edgware Road station. This was on the original 4 miles of line linking London's then western suburbs at Paddington with the City. The line was constructed to mixed gauge and was first operated using GWR broad gauge stock. At the date in which the model is set, both GWR broad gauge and the Met's own narrow (4' 8½") gauge stock were in use. The location, being compact, gives an ideal opportunity to build a fully scaled model at 7mm/ft without compromises.

Our research suggests that the original trackwork was of baulk road and this has been used in the model. The rail section was 56 lb/yd flange rail which has been represented by modifying scale 'bridge' rail. Point and crossing work has been constructed with the aid of the Society's etched ironwork. The original track used deep ballasting and it has only been necessary to model the baulk road's transoms around pointwork and in sidings. As a result, a rather unusual method of model construction has been used; baulks in thin plywood have been glued to the 3mm cork underlay and the modified 'bridge' rail attached to these using 'high strength Araldite' (the underside of the rail having been heavily scored with a course file). We can attest to this making a very strong bond. Where the timbers are more visible the cork underlay has been excavated as necessary and deeper timbers modelled.

As can be seen, a great deal of work has yet to be done to produce the very interesting rolling stock and buildings for this model of the historically significant world's first underground railway.

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