Southern Highlands - Construction, February 2023 (Final)
The final month of work on the Southern Highlands layout consisted of the final finishing of the backdrop, paintwork and detailing. All the layout components were then carefully packaged ready for transport to the display home at Braemar, NSW. Over the last weekend of February 2023, the layout was installed.
A truck load of layout. All the pieces for the display layout were loaded and tied down in position. Not seen in the shadows at the front of the truck are the backdrops, lights, and other components that make up the display.
The staircase to the loft in the 'Bowral' display home. The layout was designed so that all the pieces could be carried up this space and into the loft.
Saturday morning and the empty loft space where the layout is to be installed.
Progress through Saturday as all the layout pieces and required tools and equipment are in the loft, with some of the layout modules bolted together.
Once all the modules were levelled and bolted in position, trains were run to check all the trackwork before the backdrop and lights were installed.
Progress on the layout installation at the end of work on Saturday evening. The backdrop and lights have been installed and trains are running on each main line.
With all the layout infrastructure set up and tested by the end of Saturday, this left the Group plenty of time on Sunday to tidy up and add any final touches to the layout infrastructure and scenery.
View through the rear wall end of the layout across to Mittagong Station, with a goods train about to pass over a shortened version of Wingecaribee Viaduct.
General view of the scenery side of the layout featuring the viaduct over the Wingecarribee River and a farm scene on the hillside, as the main line tracks sweep through the terrain.
A representation of the viaduct at Picton with Stonequarry Creek flowing through the centre arch.
An overview of Mittagong Station with shops, houses, a War Memorial and a Scout Hall in town. Adjacent to the station are water columns and a water tank for servicing steam locomotives, and a siding with a goods shed and a 5-ton yard crane.
The Mittagong Maltings towers over the main line as a Sydney bound passenger train passes in front. The road overbridge carries traffic on the original Hume Highway.
Overview of the display layout, backdrop and lighting as finished by the Group.
A three-quarter view of the front and scenery side of the layout.
As a comparison to the empty loft space at the start of Saturday morning, the display layout installed and finished by the Group on Sunday afternoon.
More of the Southern Highlands display layout can be seen in the Image Gallery and Video Gallery. The layout can be viewed in person in the loft of the Clarendon Homes 'Bowral' display home located at 68-72 Old Hume Highway, Braemar, NSW 2575, Australia.
Guildford Model Railway Group would like to thank Clarendon Homes for commissioning our Group to build the Southern Highlands display layout. GMRG has appreciated the full creative freedom given to us from Clarendon Homes on the design, construction and finish of the layout. Guildford Model Railway Group hopes that the Southern Highlands layout will be seen and enjoyed by many visitors to the display home.