Copenhagen Fields at 40: up really close.

[Tim Watson]

It can be really difficult to get close enough to see the details on Copenhagen Fields at an exhibition. To celebrate the layout’s 40th birthday, the MRC is therefore offering an opportunity for people to get a personal viewing of the layout fully up and running under exhibition conditions at its premises.

The event will take place on 2 & 3 November 2024, between 1000 and 1600, at Keen House, 4 Calshot St, London N1 9DA. There will be no front barriers and you will be able to get behind the scenes, even under them, to find out how the layout is built and see parts of it that are never visible under normal show conditions. The public also never see the best view from the operating panels at each end, looking along the length of the layout. There is a massive wow factor when this massive layout is viewed without all the exhibition paraphernalia.

Photo by Craig Tiley, courtesy, RM (I know this crossing of streamliners would not have happened at Belle Isle…)

The team has been busy with new features including the underground station platform at York Road, adding to recent work above ground at the station and around the goods yard. You can also hear about the history of this colourful part of London and learn about the modelling techniques that have been used, in an era that spans photo-etching to 3D printing. There will be a chance to ask questions of your guides, Tim Watson and other members of the layout team.

The event will also see a much-requested feature finally unveiled on the layout after 40 years – the home of Mrs Wilberforce, inspired by the 1955 film The Ladykillers.


Several other London layouts will be on show at Keen House including two new club projects, Orchard Wharf (London Docks) in EM, and Bow Junction (NLR) in S7. Visiting layouts will include Yuen Long Street in 2mm scale from David Eveleigh, Golden Mile from Oliver Cunnington and, Torhampton, 4mm scale trams  from John Prentice. The 2mm Scale Association, GNRS, GERS, and NLRS will be in attendance. All of Keen House will be accessible to ticket-holders for the full day with refreshments and bar available.

Admission to any of the 50-minute timed slots on Saturday and Sunday costs £12. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, but
booking in advance online is recommended. If you book online you will receive a copy of a richly-illustrated commemorative 20 page booklet, featuring layout photos from some of the best model railway photographers.

More details here:
https://www.themodelrailwayclub.org/eve ... -november/

Tim

[Phil Brighton]

I am working 5 mins from there on the morning of the 2nd. Ticket bought - what a treat! Thanks.

[Horsetan]

It can be really difficult to get close enough to see the details ...

You're not wrong there! I think I might be due a third pair of varifocals.....

[Tim Watson]

David Eveleigh’s 2mm scale  ‘Yuen Long St’  will be appearing at our CF mini exhibition: an evocative London Docks scene. 





There will also be society displays from the GNRS, NLRS, GERS and 2mm Scale Association. 

Purchasers of advanced tickets will also get a free copy of a new 20 page booklet about Copenhagen Fields, which is just going to press. Details to follow. 

Tim

[Tim Watson]

STOP PRESS! During preliminary groundworks for a new housing development in Frederica Street, not far from Battle Bridge Road at Kings Cross, remains of a chariot and the skeleton of a Romano-British female have been found. MOLA* have been brought in to investigate further…



*MOLA: Museum of London Archaeology.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Wonderful discovery, so she wasn't under Platform 8 after all.

manna

[jwealleans]

It was 9 when I heard the story. Guess that's inflation for you.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

I've heard of a few places, under the Concourse, Platform 10. At least now we know they were all wrong !

manna

[Atlantic 3279]

If only London were easier, quicker and cheaper to reach from here.

But then the distance has its benefits too.

[Mickey]

STOP PRESS! During preliminary groundworks for a new housing development in Frederica Street, not far from Battle Bridge Road at Kings Cross, remains of a chariot and the skeleton of a Romano-British female have been found. MOLA* have been brought in to investigate further…

That rekindles an old forgotten distant memory that I recall hearing back in the early 1970s that Queen Boadicea or nowadays Queen Boudicca was thought to have been buried under Kings Cross station and a quick look on the Wikipedia page for Queen Boadicea says she was thought to have been buried between platforms nos.9 & 10 at Kings Cross station?.

She probably wouldn't have got much peace over the last 170 odd years with all those trains rattling across her head

[Mercator II]

Maybe she was a early student of Hogwarts

[croesnewydd]

Given the date and the local language for the Iceni tribe (Celtic Britons) in Roman days, perhaps the name of the queen would have been Buddug (pronounced Bithig). This would have been well before the Brythonic was corrupted and split into several other languages for these isles.
John

[Tim Watson]

A few pictures of recent activity in Frederica St. The new additions are quite lost in the complete model, but that is typical of CF.  The MOLA* dig in the vicinity discovered a Romano British chariot burial, complete with two small horses and the earth stains from the main pole along with two 85cm diameter wheels. In the middle were the remains of a women, as judged by pelvis size and skull shape, of high warrior status


With Mrs W’s house in situ.



A view that will seldom be seen:

The film crew, made by Richard Wilson, have been re-instated, providing a live video feed to the front of the layout…



Of course, the little lopsided house at the end of Frederica St was only a film prop. The new building at the end of the street is subtly different from the rest of that row, which is how they often were/are. 

And just the bare boards. Interestingly, Mike Sloan, whose head is popping up, worked in the Ebonite building in the early 1980s - that will be  just above his head.


Just a few tickets still available for the weekend…

Tim

*MOLA: Museum of London Archaeology.

[jwealleans]

Mortimer Wheeler or Howard Carter on their way, Tim?

[Tim Watson]

I think Mortimer Wheeler, he’s well versed on the Roman period from his work in Verulamium (St Albans).

Tim