The group's Knaresborough Viaduct layout was the lead feature in the February 2025 edition of Hornby Magazine, also appearing on the front cover of the publication. Unfortunately, the publishers of the periodical, Key Model World, unlike other quality model railway themed publications, has not given the group permission to reproduce the article on this website. It has, however, provided copies of the photographs that were taken for the article. This review therefore, features some of those images with a revised narrative, intended to negate any potential copyright issues.
The North Yorkshire landmark of Knaresborough Viaduct presents what is probably a unique railway modelling opportunity. The real viaduct is part of the York to Leeds line which runs via Harrogate, and had a chequered early history. The Leeds and Thirsk Railway applied to build a railway from Starbeck to Knaresborough in 1845. A year later, the East and West Yorkshire Railway was granted permission to build a line from York to Knaresborough, with the responsibility of building the viaduct, station, tunnel and goods yard to be shared by both companies.
In March 1848, just as the viaduct was nearing completion, it collapsed into the River Nidd causing serious flooding and property damage, resulting in litigation between the two railway companies and the contractors involved. The line from York opened in October 1848 and had to terminate about a mile short of what would be the eventual Knaresborough railway station site. Completion of the replacement viaduct allowed the line from Starbeck to open July 1851. Back in 1851, the viaduct was considered an eyesore. Today, it’s a Yorkshire icon and tourist attraction. How opinions have changed in 170 years! Knaresborough railway station was given Grade 2 listed building status in March 1986.
The Leeds-Harrogate-York line failed to escape the ravages of the Beeching cuts. Several stations along the line were closed and part of the route between Knaresborough and York was reduced to a single track, with station passing loops where necessary.
Trains from York emerge from Knaresborough tunnel, which runs under the high street, directly into Knaresborough station. They then cross over a pedestrian subway and the Kirkgate level crossing, passing a signal box before crossing the viaduct spanning the Nidd Gorge, continuing to Harrogate and beyond. The Nidd Gorge is, in itself, a tourist attraction, especially during summer months, with visitors enjoying boating on the River Nidd and the surrounding attractions that the area offers.
The Knaresborough Viaduct layout, modelled in ‘OO’ gauge, features the viaduct and station as it would have appeared in the 1950s and 1960s, and the group operates what would have been locally stabled motive power during that period.
The group received a donation of the layout baseboards and basic viaduct structure in 2019. Work on the layout was interrupted with the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. As restrictions were eased, members of the group took the opportunity to photograph and measure the real station and surrounding buildings, particularly the house in Hilton Lane which overlooks the station, before re-starting work on the layout.
All the buildings, including the station, have been scratch built and are constructed of card and plastic sheet, either painted or wrapped in brick or stone paper. The layout is currently DC controlled, with station and street lighting being powered either by batteries or suitably stepped-down mains power. The viaduct was constructed with a plywood core, covered with modelling clay with each stone individually scribed. The crenellations were 3D printed in order to obtain the required level of detail, as it was found to be impossible to replicate them effectively by any other means. The completed viaduct was lightly airbrushed using stone paints in order to obtain a realistic finish.
Trees and vegetation were also scratch built. A variety of materials were used, including some natural materials gathered from club members’ gardens! The Peco 75 track employed on the layout was laid using traditional methods, gluing down the track and ballasting with diluted PVA. The back scene is a photograph taken by a group member from below the viaduct.
All track and scenic work, along with electrical wiring, was completed in early 2023, ready for the layout's first public showing at the group’s own exhibition held in February of that year. 2023 culminated with the layout receiving the Best In Show award at the Paisley MRC exhibition.
During the 1950s and 1960s, in addition to local services, occasionally trains would have been diverted from the East Coast Main Line (ECML) via the ‘Harrogate Loop’. Primarily, the group operates D49, J25 and J39 class locomotives that would have been based locally during that period at the Starbeck locomotive sheds, with Derby Lightweight and Class 101 diesel multiple units also servicing stations along the line. The ECML diversions were hauled by K1s and A class locomotives, and later class 40 diesels.
Every attempt has been made to match locomotives and rolling stock to that which would have operated in the period being represented. A fleet of Gresley and Thompson coaches, along with various goods wagons, feature heavily when the layout is being operated. Being an end-to-end design, the layout is operated from the rear with fiddle yards at each end.
Public reaction to the layout at exhibitions has been very positive. The group was delighted to receive The President’s Award for the layout when exhibiting it at the Falkirk MRC exhibition in November 2024.
Although the layout is complete, it still receives necessary routine maintenance, with plans to convert it and the associated locomotives to DCC operation. Work is underway to refurbish the Viaduct’s sister layout, Knaresborough Goods Yard, with a view to connecting the two layouts together, creating a layout some 15 metres in length!
Readers wishing to read the original magazine article are directed to the Key Model World website, where it may be available to view.
Photography by Jonathan Newton Copyright 2024 Hornby Magazine/Key Model World