The layout depicts a small North Yorkshire coastal terminus in the late 1950's - early 1960's during the steam to diesel transition period. Although freelance in design, hence the name 'Quayside', it does aim to capture some of the atmosphere of Whitby Town by incorporating several features to be found in the area, e.g. the signal box and level crossing at Bog Hall, just outside the station, the engine shed (half size) which still exists though now, no longer used, the steam crane and the station, which is based on the buildings at Scalby and Staintondale on the old Scarborough to Whitby line.

Operation involves local passenger services to Middlesbrough (via both the Esk Valley and the coastal route), Scarborough, Pickering/Malton, a shuttle service to Whitby West Cliff (to connect with the Middlesbrough - Scarborough line) and the occasional through train to York, with pick-up goods workings from both Teesside and Malton.

Track is SMP with points constructed using the ply and rivet method to EM Gauge Society plans, and operated by a variety of now ageing H&M and Maygib point motors, the former using micro switches to change polarity.

Buildings are all scratchbuilt from plasticard, where necessary using plywood for the shell or in the case of the signal box, off cuts of secondary double glazing, and faced with Slaters embossed brick or stone sheets. The slates are either individually cut in strips from 0.25mm plasticard or are from the Wills range, which also provides the cobbled street effect.

Stock is a mixture of modified proprietary and kit-built items, using Spratt and Winkle automatic couplings with magnets strategically placed under the track.

Future developments include the provision of working signals, a project currently in progress, and the insertion of an additional baseboard incorporating a model of the goods shed and station signal box.

All photographs courtesy of Steve Flint and Railway Modeller