Brickworks 'De Blauwe Polder'

Rob Reinders (2002)

Three narrow gauges on one layout

In an area of 150 x 50cms an h0e brickworks layout is taking shape, inspired by the area around the Dutch town of Wageningen, where up to a few decades ago several brickworks could be found. The furnace will be based on one at the works site ‘de Bovenste Polder’ in Wageningen. The engine house of this brickworks will also be modelled. The furnace building is still in existence and being used as an artists' workshop. A clay skip at the entrance reminds you of its former purpose.

On the layout, memories of another brickworks called 'De Blauwe Kamer' will be recalled in the motor barge 'Voorwaarts', the track plan around the jetty, the cattle creep and the loco shed. An interesting feature of this site was that there was a siding belonging to the Ooster Stoomtram Maatschappij (OSM), a steam tramway operating in the area. The real site has now been transformed into a nature reserve still incorporating the abandoned remains of the former narrow gauge railway, including some track and the engine shed.

In the municipal archives of Wageningen I found useful information for building construction, the track plan in the floodplain of the river, and the motor barge.

Apart from 9mm track, the layout will feature 6.5mm and 12mm track (see photo of home built dual gauge crossing). Most of this will be laid by hand, but Peco 009 points will be used where possible, using wire in tube operation. The rolling stock will be by Roco, Egger, Jouef and Chivers Finelines. A steam loco model based on the O&K 0-4-0WT Yvonne which is preserved at the Valkenburg museum, will be revived as soon as I have a suitable chassis. Adding the tramway stock will have to wait a little…

Click on photos to enlarge.

The layout under construction. Note the barge at its berth. To the right an overview of the layout shows the handlaid track. Three gauges will make an interesting layout. Photos by Rob Reinders (r.reinders5@chello.nl)

Left: the remains of the loco shed mentioned in the text. To the right, the narrow gauge right-of-way passes under the old tramway formation. Photos by Rob Reinders.

Left: scenic progress around the harbour, showing the rail-mounted loading ramp still to be fitted with track. The stone harbour wall is a prominent feature. Right: an overview of the layout. Photos by Jan van Mourik.

Left: brick-built model of the engine house at the 'Bovenste Polder' site. Right: Rob's Diema pushes a few skips towards the unfinished barge. Photos by Jan van Mourik.

Left: Rob's repainted Egger tank. Right: the Diema at the office shack which was modelled after one at the Katwijk waterworks site formerly housing what is now the Valkenburg museum collection.

The loco shed and its interior were modelled after the prototype one shown in the picture above. Video stills by Ted Polet.