Wicken

When Trevor Nunn started in S scale, he built a simple portable layout called “Wicken”. This turned out to be an influential layout, because it demonstrated clearly just how much was achievable in S scale with just a few basic components. Influential? Many S scale modellers (indeed, many modellers working in S scale!) had their first exposure to 1:64 railway modelling by seeing this layout at an exhibition, including yours truly. The layout was documented in issue 10 of the Model Railway Journal, which included the memory able line “when it comes down to it, one doesn’t need many items to build a model railway”. That’s a very neat encapsulation of Trevor’s approach to railway modelling, and which continued as he built East Lynn, the Quayside Extension, Nunstanton and finally Trowland.

I have created a page on the layout. Enjoy if you visit!

6 thoughts on “Wicken”

  1. superblysong00d62cb1be's avatarsuperblysong00d62cb1be

    Thanks for Wicken article, Simon. I am looking forward to reading it in detail

  2. superblysong00d62cb1be's avatarsuperblysong00d62cb1be

    Hi Simon, that’s a great article on Wicken. I never got to see it as it was exhibited in my non-modelling period.

    All the best,

    Steve
    Sent from my iPhone

    1. Simon's avatarSimon Post author

      Hi Steve,

      You are excused for not having seen it, although what kind of person stops being interested in model railways for a spell? ;)

      At one exhibition with Wicken, I remember someone telling me he had never heard of or seen S before, despite visiting many exhibitions (including that one as it was his local show) consistently over many years. Wicken had actually been to that very same exhibition a few years before, and quite a few others he had visited regularly, too…

      Simon

  3. geoff52's avatargeoff52

    What kind of person stops being interested in model railways for a spell?

    Well, you’ve been exchanging emails with one for years. :-)

    Your article was full of interest and a really enjoyable read Simon. Model Railway magazine editors, please take note.

    Geoff

    1. Simon's avatarSimon Post author

      Thanks, Geoff.

      Writing, reviewing and editing the page took up a surprising amount of time – and there were still errors which needed to be corrected after publishing! “Autocorrect” can be very useful, but can also misinterpret typos and turn them into something unintelligible, in the context of a sentence. (As I have noticed when composing this response!)

      Not an easy job, editing – did it for a couple of years for the SSMRS Newsletter, some decades ago, so I speak with some experience.

  4. paul greene's avatarpaul greene

    Hi Simon,

    I’ve only just had the chance to see this and it’s marvellous.

    I suppose that a combination of Wicken and Piel Quay got me into S following frustration with 4mm and a then lack of space (and funds) with 7mm.

    I had long decided to model the Irish BG and well remember going to a finescale show in Falkirk where Wicken was opposite Richard Chown’s Castle Rackrent. At that point the dilemma’s solution was confirmed as I’d already decided to try S.

    I think Trevor was a model railway planning genius. All his layouts, save Nunstanton, were/are compact, highly transportable but not crowded, and all capable of interesting operation.

    All the best,

    Paul

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