Stoke Summit

Wolverhampton MRC’s much exhibited Stoke Summit is one of the most popular tail-chaser layouts currently on the exhibition circuit, offering the viewer the spectacle of an endless succession of scale length trains. Based on the classic East Coast Main Line racing ground between Peterborough and Grantham it took two years to complete and was first exhibited in 1996. It was featured in the February 2004 issue of Trains On-line.

Peppercorn A1 pacific 60117 Bois Roussel emerges into daylight whilst hauling a passenger train of blood and custard coaches. The scenic treatment of the cutting is quite effective in this view.

Gresley’s A4 ‘streaks’ were once masters of the high speed dash along the East Coast main line, though it is only in model form that the experience can regularly be recreated today. Again the cutting treatment and lineside modelling is worthy of attention.

A Gresley A3 passes the Stoke signal box at speed. The layout, at 30 feet long, gives the viewer plenty of time to savour the moment and wait for the next. The fiddle yard holds no less then 38 full length trains, so another express or freight is sure to pass soon.