Evening All,

Have been trawling through some of my old AMRMs the last few nights and it has got me curious. There are 3 layouts I would like to find out more about that were on the exhibition circuit back in the late 1980's and early 1990's I am seeking info on.

They are "Hurstville" and "Wells Street" - I have only ever seen 1 photo each of these layouts and would like to learn more - especially in terms of the size of the Hurstville Layout.

The other layout I think was called "Ardglen" - I remember seeing an exhibition layout based on this location when I was about 10 but I cannot remember at which exhibition this was at.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks
RD

"Hurstville" and "Wells Street"  were constructed by the late Geoff Richardson.

I remember "Hurstville" being on display at the 1984 St George Great Train Festival in the then new Westfields at Hurstville.

During that weekend, a 59 class and a 32 class were available for steam rides. I cant remember the exact numbers of the 59 class or the 32 class or the dates but I do remember it was warm and sunny, as I have photos to prove it.

Two years, I was to meet Mr Richardson at the AMRA Liverpool Exhibition, to discuss "Hurstville" but alas that meeting didnt occur, as he was rather ill. Not long after, he passed away. I still have a letter I wrote to him on 26/7/1986 with his contact details at the time.

When I found out he passed away, I rang his widow to ascertain what happened to "Hurstville" and the rollingstock but I was told that the layout had been dismantled and the r/stock sold.

I really loved that layout as it showed "Hurstville" before the current Supacentre.

My mistake.

The builder of "Hurstville" and "Wells Street" was the late Ken Richardson, not Geoff Richardson. Sorry about that.

If i'm thinking of the right layout Wells Street came into the ownership of a gentleman in Grafton and set about relaying a lot of the track and rewiring. He may well have had it for sometime before i got to know him and before he moved to Grafton some time in the 80's.

Not sure if it is the same layout, its a stretch of the memory to go back 15/20 years, i was just a kid, it was definetly pre loved and i think it used to be a point to point layout that ran several loops towards the middle before running trains back the other way to the outside tracks if i'm thinking of the right layout ?? Probably about 20' by 8' i reckon from memory.

Any photos of Wells Street layout would be appreciated

I have a photo of Wells St on my Facebook page, which Facebook users can view:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151391844686124&set=a.10151391799401124.574526.530526123&type=3&theater

Unfortunately, since Google stuffed up Picassa, I can't figure out how to post images on here any more.

The photo was taken in 1980. Btw, Wells St was a continuous run layout with about 10 tracks going through the scene, which meant it always had lots of activity! It was a pretty nice little layout for its time.

I have a photo of Wells St on my Facebook page, which Facebook users can view:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151391844686124&set=a.10151391799401124.574526.530526123&type=3&theater

Unfortunately, since Google stuffed up Picassa, I can't figure out how to post images on here any more.

The photo was taken in 1980. Btw, Wells St was a continuous run layout with about 10 tracks going through the scene, which meant it always had lots of activity! It was a pretty nice little layout for its time.

Excellent, thank you

The photo was taken in 1980. Btw, Wells St was a continuous run layout with about 10 tracks going through the scene, which meant it always had lots of activity! It was a pretty nice little layout for its time.

Agreed. "Wells St" was described in an AMRM at the time as the perfect layout to drive "terminus to fiddle yard" shunting plank types to distraction!