Following the sad loss of Martin Finney in January, his seminal layout of Semley was in need of a new and loving home. The Finney family and the Semley Group is happy to announce that ‘Semley for Shaftesbury’ will be moving permanently to AIMREC near Ashford in Kent at some point over the next few months. The Semley Group, and more importantly the Finney family, have met with key players at AIMREC and have been impressed with their proposals for displaying, operating, and just as importantly conserving this magnificent model. While some individuals have expressed interest in re-housing Semley – for which we’re grateful – the move to AIMREC will mean the layout will be open to public viewing.

Semley for Shaftesbury, as it should properly be called, was located on the London & South Western Railway West of England main line. Built over a period of more than twenty-five years by Martin and a team of some of the best finescale railway modellers, this magnum opus is probably the finest P4 layout in the country and uncompromisingly portrays a scale half-mile of the station environs on Tuesday 2^nd July 1912.

It has been featured in the modelling press, including issue 254 of Model Railway Journal, February 2022 issue of Railway Modeller, December 2023 issue of British Railway Modelling and January 2021 issue of Model Rail, as well as on television (ITV Shedheads) and local radio. There are several videos of the layout on YouTube, plus many visitors have been welcomed for operating sessions over the years so it will be widely known.

The scenic section is some 35ft long, the entire layout requiring a space of 40ft x 15ft including viewing and operating space. Although it has been erected permanently in a purpose-built room, it is built in 4ft sections to allow for dismantling and transportation. It is fully interlocked with a mechanical lever frame replicating Semley’s original signalbox and section controls for Tisbury and Gillingham. All three sections are interconnected, communicating and setting routes via the correct bell codes in strict accordance with LSWR practices of the period. All signals and points, including crossover ground signals, are remotely operated from the lever frame or separate ‘ground frames’ for the yard. A six-road fiddle yard with traverser, together with loco and train cassettes, allows for the marshalling and running of an impressive array of beautifully modelled trains.

The comprehensive fleet of stock comprises some fifteen locomotives, thirty passenger coaches, thirty non-passenger vehicles and over one hundred goods vehicles, all superbly modelled to the same exacting standards.

The buildings, structures and scenery are equally impressive paying attention to every last detail of the station and surrounding land, including the dairy, hotel and outlying farmland.

The layout is supported by a dedicated team of like-minded modellers, most of whom have been involved with the building and operating of the layout for many years. Obviously, the team would like to remain closely involved with the layout but, more than anything, just wish to see it survive – as did Martin.

Pictures here: https://thisisalfred.com/history/the-incredible-model-railway-that-provides-a-snapshot-of-1912-semley/