This layout represents a section of the Victorian Railways 2'6" gauge branch line which ran from Moe to Walhalla in the mountains of Gippsland, Victoria. The modelled station, whilst called Thomson is not a model of the real location, fortunately, since it consisted of nothing much more than a nameboard. It is instead a freelanced representation of all the things we like about the Victorian Railways Narrow Gauge - from the portable station building and standard goods shed, to the small ballasted deck bridge over a creek, and a connecting timber tramway.

The layout has been constructed in On30 by John Humphrey and Ian Chadwick. John's home layout, the Montezuma Lumber Company is also featured in the Web Exhibition. Thomson uses many of the excellent products available today: the BGM Na class, the Bachmann Shay and 2-6-0 (modified to give it a colonial appearance), and Ian Lindsay Models' rolling stock amongst others.

The layout comprises a 12' x 2' (3.6m x 0.6m) sceniced area, with an attached 4' x'2' (1.2m x 0.6m) fiddle yard.

All locomotives are operated using DCC and are sound equipped.

The layout made its debut at the yearly exhibition in Perth, Western Australia, in 2003, and almost "scooped the pool" in the award ceremony:

  • Best model of a railroad as decided by group of Judges (First)
  • Best model railroad as voited by fellow exhibitors (First)
  • Best scenic display (Second)
  • Best presented operating layout (Second)

    Many thanks to John, Ian and operator Tim Shenton for providing me with their photographs, and allowing them to be used on the site.