OO Gauge Layout – Grove Ferry Station (SER)
This OO gauge layout is a near-exact replica of the long-forgotten mainline station at Grove Ferry, on the Canterbury to Thanet branch of the South Eastern Railway (SER).
The layout has previously been exhibited extensively across the South East and nationally, including Chatham, York and Warley, and has also been shown twice in Germany.
A Little History
The Act for the line was passed in 1844, with Grove Ferry Station opening in 1847. At first, the station had only temporary platform structures, but by the early 1900s significant improvements had been made to the platforms, signalling and sidings.
By 1958, many of the once-busy goods areas had been removed, with goods traffic ceasing entirely by 1960. The station closed in early January 1966, when automatic barriers replaced the original crossing gates. Today, nothing remains of the station itself, other than some building foundations and the neighbouring Grove Ferry Hotel public house.
One of the most distinctive features of both the station and the layout is the chain ferry across the nearby River Stour. Despite several attempts to replace it with a bridge, the ferry remained in use until the 1960s. It was owned and operated by the adjacent Grove Ferry Hotel, which also grew 17 acres of lavender around the station.
The Layout
The layout represents Grove Ferry Station as it appeared in the 1930s, although it can be operated in any period up to the end of Southern Railway days, or simply reimagined as a modern station that could have been.
Research for the layout took almost four years, with period photographs and plans used to create a near-replica of the station and its surroundings. To incorporate the railway, driver and landscape, the scenic boards are 4ft deep and 3ft wide, with 6ft fiddle yards at each end. The layout also features working semaphore signals.
- Total length: 30ft
- Scenic section: 18ft
- Fiddle yards: 2 x 6ft
What’s Included
The layout is available as seen and includes:
- All scenic boards (boxed for transport)
- Backscenes
- Trestles and electronics
- Everything required to set the layout up and get it running
Please note: No rolling stock is included.
Transport & Location
Due to its size (30ft total length), a Transit-sized vehicle is required for transport. Unfortunately, the seller does not have the space or facilities to put the layout on display for viewings.
Location: Ashford, Kent
Important Information
This layout is being advertised on behalf of the owner. GRES is not involved in the sale, does not offer assistance, warranties, valuations, or transport, and cannot be linked to any issues relating to the layout.
If you are interested and would like to be put in touch with the seller, please contact:
Email:
enquiries@gres.org.uk
Seller contact details will be passed on directly to genuinely interested parties.
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