Millig Bay - N Gauge

Millig Bay layout started almost by accident. The club had committed to building a large new OO layout using reclaimed material from previous layouts and found that three 3’x 2’ boards were surplus to requirements. At the time we only had one large n gauge layout and it was agreed that we should build a small n gauge layout that could be taken to any exhibition in the back of a car.

The background to the layout is competing railway companies attempting to serve the small settlement of Millig. Initially one company set up a single track line along the edge of the bay serving the village, distillery and farm. In time a second company wanted to add the Millig Bay area to its network, but as route sharing could not be agreed, it was forced to build a substantial bridge over the head of the bay and a signal box had to be built to manage traffic movements. Recently, the branch to the village has closed, however the track is still in place awaiting lifting. The layout comprises two separate oval tracks owned by the different railway companies. Trains can run in either direction on either line.

The distillery draws its water from the loch behind the hills in the backscene and drains through the centre of the layout to the bay. 

Other features on this small layout are :-

the bay and sandy beach popular with tourists

the caravan park with access to the beach

the distillery and adjacent cottages

the farm with highland cattle and sheep

The bridge over the bay was created by a club  member using a 3D printer.  The caravans and mobile homes on the camp site and the fishing boats in the bay were also created using a 3D printer and carefully painted by a very patient club member. The club was donated a farmyard scene to which was added a large flock of sheep. The distillery was built from a kit.

A layout that started as a simple project using surplus material has proved popular and been exhibited at several exhibitions.

The layout is 6' by 3' with dc control

It has been exhibited at :-

Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life (Model Railway Day) - May 2025

Scottish Festival of Railway Modelling / Braehead (Renfrewshire MRC) - June 2025

Kilmarnock and District Model Railway Show (Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine) - January 2026