The latest kit to join the Key Model World Shop collection from PJM Models captures the ‘Birdcage’ design of Roade Cutting on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) using laser-cut timber components.

The first route through Roade Cutting was built between 1834 and 1838 by the London & Birmingham Railway and bypassed Northampton to maintain a 1-in-330 ruling gradient on the WCML. The 1.5-mile-long cutting was joined by a second alignment in 1881-1882 which took the new railway down a gradient alongside the original tracks to follow a new route through Northampton.

Owing to landslides, iron girders were installed ten years later creating a ‘Birdcage’ frame over the top of the railway with supports driven in against each retaining wall.

The new laser-cut kit from PJM Models features a full set of laser-cut MDF and plywood parts to assemble a detailed model of the cutting. They are based on the design created for Pete Waterman’s Making Tracks 4, but feature space for a double track main line.

Each kit contains two retaining walls – one for each side – with supports, an MDF base with track positions marked for a double track main line and a set of plywood components to assemble the ‘Birdcage’ frame. The top section of the ‘Birdcage’ can be left removable for access while the baseplates have a dovetail joint at each end to allow sections to be joined together to create longer cutting scenes.

The total size of each section is 440mm long, 301mm wide and 144mm high. The height can be reduced as required to suit individual layouts by cutting down the retaining wall panels.