The journey of Trerice from its inception to its current form is a fascinating tale of transformation and refinement in railway modelling. What began as a traditional multi-section layout evolved into a masterful example of the Cameo style, blending meticulous detail with a compact, integrated design. Here’s how Trerice has evolved over the years, capturing the essence of its metamorphosis.
From Concept to Creation: The Original Trerice
In 1988, the original Trerice was conceived to replicate a real clayworks near St. Dennis, Cornwall. The layout aimed to reflect the Cornwall Minerals Railway system, featuring the distinctive pannier-tank motive power and clay wagons typical of the area. However, despite the initial enthusiasm, the project faced numerous challenges. The conventional multi-section approach struggled with design and execution issues, leading to a reassessment of the layout’s future.
Embracing the Cameo Concept
By the early 1990s, the concept of the “Cameo” layout began to gain traction within the modelling community. Inspired by minimalist layouts such as Martin Goodall’s Crichel Down, this approach emphasised creating a highly detailed, self-contained scene within a compact space. The Cameo style focused on integrating the layout’s structure with its presentation, creating a visually appealing and immersive experience.
Revamping the Layout: The New Trerice
In 1994, the original Trerice was dismantled, and its salvageable components were repurposed to create a new, lightweight version that embraced the Cameo principles. This redesign resulted in “New Trerice,” a layout that showcased several key innovations:
Compact Dimensions: New Trerice was built on a ply-skinned block beam structure, measuring 56.5 inches in length and 22 inches in width at its deepest point, with an additional 27 inches for the fiddleyard. This compact footprint allowed for easy transportation and setup, perfect for home use and exhibition.
Integrated Baseboard: The baseboard, constructed from high-quality 4mm ply and 6mm ply for the trackbed, featured an integral upper fascia and lighting beam. This design created a ‘proscenium arch’ effect, framing the scene and providing a cohesive presentation.
Refined Scenic Details: The scenic elements of New Trerice were meticulously redesigned to fit the compact space. The main clayworks structure was inspired by the Crugwallins site but scaled down to about 85% of its true dimensions. This reduction ensured that the structure complemented the layout without overwhelming it.
Lighting and Support System: Instead of high-tech halogen lights, New Trerice used ordinary bayonet-fit low-energy lamps. The layout was supported by simple wooden trestles, raising the display to a comfortable viewing height of 51 inches. A unique fiddleyard setup, supported by a fine chain, facilitated easy transportation and setup.
Operational Innovations
Track and Turnout Mechanisms: New Trerice employed manual linkages for turnout operation, using below-baseboard push-pull rods and surface-mounted point stretcher bars. Polarities were controlled by microswitches mounted on the same stretchers, simplifying maintenance and ensuring reliable operation.
Power and Control: The layout featured a low-voltage transformer built into the structure, with mains power carefully routed for safety. A handheld Gaugemaster HH controller was used, along with basic section switches for fault isolation. The layout adhered to traditional operational principles, avoiding digital control systems in favour of simplicity.
Artistic Reinterpretation and Relocation
One of the most notable changes was the relocation of Trerice from its historical setting near St. Dennis to the fictional “Cuckoo Valley” of North Cornwall. This creative shift allowed for the inclusion of Beattie well-tank locomotives, which, while not historically accurate for the original setting, aligned with Rice’s interests and provided a unique character to the layout.
Motive Power and Rolling Stock
Motive Power: New Trerice featured a diverse mix of locomotives, including the Beattie well-tanks 30586 and 30585, and the ex-GW 1366 0-6-0PT dock tank. A Ruston DS88 diesel was also included for the brickworks branch, with a BR-built lightweight pannier serving as a standby engine.
Rolling Stock: The rolling stock predominantly consisted of clay wagons, with additional vehicles for other types of freight. The wagons were carefully weighted and equipped with three-point compensation for reliable operation. Notable additions included a short rake of GW diagram O13 clay wagons and a BR all-steel ‘Palbrick.’
Conclusion
The evolution of Trerice from its original design to the Cameo version exemplifies the refinement and creativity possible within railway modelling. By embracing the Cameo concept, Trerice not only showcases intricate detail and presentation but also reflects the modeller’s journey of adaptation and innovation. This transformation highlights the dynamic nature of railway modelling, where a project’s evolution can lead to unexpected and delightful outcomes.
More Information
- Rice, Iain. “Whatever Happened to ‘Trerice’: A Tragedy of Errors in Three Acts… Mise en Scène.” Scalefour News, no.134, September 2003, pp. 12-13.
- Rice, Iain. “What Happened to Trerice in the End: The Second Act in a Tragedy of Errors in Three Acts.” Scalefour News, no.135, December 2003, pp. 10-11.
- Rice, Iain. “What Happened to Trerice in the End: The Final Act in a Tragedy of Errors in Three Acts.” Scalefour News, no.136, February 2004, p. 11.
- Rice, Iain. “A Tryst with Trerice.” Scalefour News, no. 137, May 2004, pp. 24-26.
- Rice, Iain. “Trerice the Cameo.” Model Railway Journal, no. 213, 2012, pp. 43-50.