Club layout · Exhibition railway

Black Bridge

A TT:120 exhibition railway inspired by the Bedlington coalfield in the early 1950s, with a scratch-built viaduct, industrial scenery and DCC sound.

TT:120

Bedlington coalfield · Early 1950s

THE STORY

EXPLORE THE LAYOUT

EXHIBITION DETAILS

THE STORY

A closer look at Black Bridge

Black Bridge is a modular TT:120 railway inspired by the Bedlington coalfield and its viaduct in the early 1950s. Its twin-track route runs between a rotating traverser and a return loop, while a separate industrial coal line represents Doctor Pit and the area’s opencast mines. An East Coast Main Line diversion brings a wider variety of trains alongside the coalfield and ironstone freight.

The railway began as a circular layout for the club’s TT:120 book, using the first Hornby products in the scale. It was later converted to a traverser-to-loop arrangement for further publications. Black Bridge was built to illustrate three books in the club’s railway series: book 5 on TT:120, book 6 on small layouts and book 7 on industrial railways. The layout is complete, active and available for exhibitions; additional drop-in sections may be added in future.

LAYOUT FACTS

SCALE AND GAUGE

TT:120

PERIOD AND SETTING

Bedlington coalfield · Early 1950s

STATUS

Active layout

CONTROL SYSTEM

DCC digital with sound

LAYOUT SIZE

22 ft long × up to 2 ft deep

OWNERSHIP & PURPOSE

Club layout · Exhibition railway

For further information, contact the club and name the layout you are interested in.

LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER

Explore Black Bridge.

See the railway on display and take a closer look at the industrial buildings and viaduct. Select either photograph to enlarge it.

Black Bridge displayed at MDMRC in 2026, showing the long modular railway on its exhibition tables.

Black Bridge at MDMRC in 2026

Black Bridge on display at MDMRC in 2026.

Black Bridge factory and viaduct

Industrial buildings and the viaduct on Black Bridge.

Modular construction. Flexible running.

The modular laser-cut baseboards sit on supplied folding tables. A drop-in section carries the viaduct and river. The central viaduct is scratch-built from 3D-printed elements, and most of the buildings are also scratch-built.

Digitrax DCC, sound and Bluetooth are used to control the trains. The railway is designed for one person to operate, with a rotating traverser allowing trains to be changed around quickly. The station and traverser are at the right-hand end, with the return loop on the left and the operator working behind the layout.

Look out for the separate industrial coal line at the rear, the viaduct and the scratch-built buildings. Black Bridge is shown at exhibitions, with operation by its exhibition team.

The layout is complete. New drop-in sections may be added later, allowing the modular railway to develop further.

EXPLORE BOOKS BY MEMBERS

See Black Bridge at the NEC.

Black Bridge is due to appear at The National Festival of Railway Modelling at the NEC, Birmingham, on 21 and 22 November 2026.

The layout is also available for other exhibition invitations through the club coordinator. Please send the event dates, venue, available floor space and access arrangements when enquiring.

NATIONAL FESTIVAL SHOW INFORMATION

FOR EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

Practical details. No guesswork.

Black Bridge is an exhibition-only layout, available through the club coordinator. Visitors view it from the front, with the station and traverser on the right and the return loop on the left. It sits on supplied folding tables at normal table height, offering a lower viewpoint for younger visitors and wheelchair users. Availability and arrangements must be agreed before booking.

LAYOUT DIMENSIONS

22 ft long × up to 2 ft deep

SPACE & DISPLAY

22 ft × 2 ft baseboards on supplied folding tables, plus walking and operating access behind the layout. Agree the full floor space before booking.

VIEWING SIDES / HEIGHT

Front viewing at normal table height, providing a lower viewpoint for younger visitors and wheelchair users. Operation is from the rear.

ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

One electrical socket for a low-output six-way distribution unit serving lighting and transformers.

OPERATORS

Designed for one operator, working from the rear

TRANSPORT

One vehicle, a Ford Connect. Level access is preferred. Exhibition enquiries are handled through the club coordinator, with no stated distance limit.

Technical details last checked: 2 November 2026 · Dave Ashwood questionnaires

EXHIBITION ENQUIRIES

Thinking of inviting this layout?

Send the layout name, event dates, venue, available space and access arrangements. The club will put you in touch with the appropriate layout owner or exhibition contact to discuss availability and practical details.

EXHIBITION ENQUIRIES

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