Expressions of interest - Philden Beach

Expressions of interest are now being accepted for the Australian HO scale model railway layout Philden Beach. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure a complete ready-to-run museum-quality layout that was built over the course of 4 years.

At 3.3 metres long, the 450 mm wide shelf layout consists of 2 modules. The 1730 mm long x 450 mm wide x 450 mm high scenic shadow box section comes complete with all structures (including some internal details and LED lighting), 6 turnouts (including a 3-way turnout), 1 x operating NSW CTC colour light signal, original photo backdrop and slide-in slide-out clear perspex front to keep the layout dust-free and safe from prying hands. It also has concealed LED multi-coloured strip lighting on the underside of the overhead valance, and a few detail items such as lit food trucks, pallets and freight in the yard plus some shipping containers that have been secured in place.

The 1570 mm long staging shelf section measures 450 mm wide and 80 mm tall and consists of 5 tracks with 5 turnouts. There are 2 tracks that lead from staging into the scenic portion, and 2 runaround loops incorporated into the design that enables shunting operations into a 2-track modern warehouse and 2-track diesel locomotive refueling platform. The entire edge of the staging yard frame is rimmed with a 30 mm high timber lip to prevent any accidents or tumbles off the layout. (This layout was built to be bulletproof). The edge fascia of the layout has then been decorated with stick-on custom vinyl lettering paying homage to former NSW North Coast passenger trains from days gone by.

Both modules sit atop a matching white painted demountable benchtop. The 1160 mm high layout frame consists of 3 leg sections and 2 interlocking frame benchtops that come apart with just 7 bolts/wingnuts, making this the quickest layout frame to pack down and fit into a standard size SUV, (for example our own Mitsubishi Outlander). The layout fascia is decorated with 10 exhibitor plaques to give you an instant sense of the layout's pride and history, and plenty of room for you to continue your own story.

The entire layout is wired for either DC or DCC operation, and the only component not included with the sale is the NCE DCC Power Cab throttle and control plug panel. You will need to buy a DC or DCC system of your choice and simply plug the positive and negative bus feeder wires from the layout into the control plugs. There are 4 isolating toggle switches built into the end of the scenic portion beneath the bookshop to enable multi-train control on a DC system.

Asking price for the layout only - offers over $1K.

It's time to reclaim our loungeroom and move on my Philden Beach layout.

Now for the good stuff. Also being offered for sale along with the layout are 4 x HO scale DCC sound equipped locomotives, 14 items of Australian rollingstock and 24 x shipping containers and steel coil carrying containers. The locomotives are all in pristine, mint condition with their original boxes. The rollingstock however has all been weathered to a particularly high standard, many of which have featured in my book Model Railway Weathered Wonders, making each one an exquisite mini work of art.

I will not be offering these for sale until after the purchase of the layout has been finalised. So please, hold off on any questions as someone may first and foremost want to acquire some or all of the collection along with the layout. Any remaining items will then be added to my eBay store and sold individually.

• Auscision Models Pacific National NR22 (DCC sound)
• Auscision Models Pacific National BL28 (DCC sound)
• Auscision Models Aurizon C44ACi 6025 (DCC sound)
• Auscision Models green SSR C510 (DCC sound)
• 4 x Auscision Models NQJX Railcorp orange container flat wagons
• 2 x Auscision Models NDMX/NDCH Railcorp orange spoil wagons
• 2 x Auscision Models NSW NLKY louvre vans
• 2 x Auscision Models NSW RCNF coil steel wagons with coils
• 1 x Auscision Models NSW RKQF slab steel flat wagon
• 1 x Auscision Models NSW RCOF wire coil wagon empty
• 1 x SDS Models ex-WAGR WOAX open wagon
• 1 x SDS Models ex-WAGR ROAX open wagon
• 4 x Auscision Models National Rail 20'-foot coil steel containers
• 4 x Auscision Models Pacific National 20'-foot coil steel containers
• 4 x Auscision Models NQJX Railcorp 20'-foot orange spoil bins
• 2 x Auscision Models 20'-foot side-door shipping containers
• 1 x Auscision Models 20'-foot domestic shipping container
• 3 x Auscision Models 40'-foot shipping containers
• 2 x On Track Models 40'-foot side curtain containers
• 2 x Walthers 20'-foot international shipping containers
• 2 x Walthers 20'-foot refrigerated shipping containers

Asking price for the layout and all the above is offers below $5K

Please look through my Philden Beach page on this blog for more detailed photos of the layout. This offer is being made available exclusively first through this blog. Feel free to share this post or pass on the news to any of your modeler friends you know who may be interested.

The warm skies of Philden Beach are awaiting a new buyer. Could it be you?

This is not a reluctant sale. I'm actually feeling quite proud to offer this miniature working piece of art for sale, as I am now well into my next model railway project and simply haven't the room to accommodate more than one layout in a small apartment. I've enjoyed building, blogging, exhibiting and operating this layout immensely for the past few years, and hope that someone may genuinely appreciate the level of detail and time that has been sunk into this working project layout.

The layout is located in Chermside on Brisbane's northside. If all enquiries could please be first directed through my email, a phone call and arranged time for viewing can then be accommodated for genuine buyers.

Prospective buyers please email;

thisisneophill@gmail.com

More details and updates to follow.