Although the current incarnation of the North American section dates from 1998 when the core of the
group re-joined the club, the section was originally formed around 30 years earlier when
Alan Waredraper (father of the current section head) first moved to the area and joined
the I & WEMRC.
Exhibition go-ers of the 70's and early 80's still remember and talk about East Falls, which
started as a relatively small layout (18' x 5') built in Alan's conservatory, then grew into a
bigger 'L' shape, and then was squared off again at approx 25' x 25'.
Although the section models mainly in HO gauge (3.5mm scale), the section had brief period in the
late 70's where the main layout was in N gauge.
Schaffons Crossing ...
The section's current layout is HO gauge, 25' x 7', and like most previous layouts is designed with
two main aims: to run long trains in the American style, and to run plenty of them, continuously.
The main line is a folded figure-of-eight, and allows us to run several trains in each direction,
and the overhead circuit, shuttle and logging section all provide additional running. Always
movement on this layout!
There is no particular region or era the layout is modelled on, giving scope for a wide variety of
stock to be used, and the members between them have an extensive and varied collection of HO gauge stock.
... and Whistling Woods
The layout also has a smaller 7' x 7' configuration - the logging section and a circular main line -
which goes by the name of Whistling Woods.
