The official line is that we ‘don’t do layouts’. We can’t send them through the post, and we don’t generally have anywhere to store them. But once in a blue moon, we make an exception.

And ‘Hadleigh’ is truly exceptional. Well known from both the exhibition circuit and model railway press, it transports us to the bucolic depths of Pre-Grouping Suffolk, where (at least in this reality) M&GN met GER.

We acquired Hadleigh last year, with a view to possibly using it for photography or to display our products. But our plans have since evolved, and we’ll shortly be offering the layout for sale, so that it can live on in the hands of a new owner, doing what it does best.

Hadleigh’s a five-section, U-shaped layout, with an extensive fiddle yard. It’s fully wired and includes a control panel, although this hasn’t been tested and may need some work to make it fully operational. The layout’s standout feature is its buildings; these have been beautifully constructed and represent many months of work. When fully erected, the whole lot requires a space of approximately 20ft x 16ft.

Hadleigh’s a great opportunity to get a head start in Finescale O Gauge modelling and could save you years of work. You're no less of a modeller if you get something ready-made and bring it to life in your own way – just as you would with a home. We all have different skills and interests, and you may wish to ring the changes with a new era, location or scenic accents – or just to populate it with your own fleet and get down to the all-imprtant business of running trains.

If you’re interested in Hadleigh (or know someone who might be), we'd love to hear from you, so give us a ring or drop us a line. You’ll need to able to get to Skipton to collect the layout (or if you live witihn 50 miles, we can deliver to you), and bear in mind that the longest section measures around 8ft, so appropriate transportation (ie a truck or very large van) will be required!