The Fiction

Mandlebury central is a main line station located in the northern Pennines somewhere in the area of Manchester, Dewsbury, Leeds and Bury. The line has a link to the Settle & Carlisle route meaning that sometimes trains diverted from the West Coast Main Line make an appearance. When the West Coast line is closed for engineering works these often take the form of an electric hauled trains dragged through Mandlebury by diesel traction.

Mandlebury also serves as the terminus for a small preserved line which regularly holds various galas during which it is host to a variety of traction and rolling stock.

The Facts

Mandlebury Central was built by members of the Milton Keynes MRS in 1993 and was bought by Bentley MRG this year. In addition to the main line there is a small goods yard, a depot, a still worked branch line and the preserved railway. These features help maintain operator interest by making the layout something other than a simple tail chaser.

Trackwork is Peco code 80 track with insulfrog pointwork. The layout has now been rested from exhibiting whilst refurbishment takes place.