C. J. Freezer
Encyclopedia
Cyril John Freezer was an English railway modeller
, writer, and magazine editor. He edited Railway Modeller
from 1950 to 1978, and Model Railways from 1978 until 1983. He also wrote many articles for Model Railroader
. Freezer popularised the terminus to fiddle yard
layout
, is credited with inventing the "rabbit warren layout", and published many books on model railway, many of which are considered classics in the field.
, Freezer was educated at Barking Abbey School. Training as an engineer
in a dockyard on the Isle of Dogs
and working for Associated Press
, he started as editor of the Railway Modeller magazine. The first edition he was responsible for was August - September 1950.
He was a prolific designer of model railway layouts and published numerous books of track plans. Perhaps his most famous design was "Minories", a plan for a compact suburban terminus built on a folding baseboard. The layout was based loosely on the Metropolitan station at Liverpool Street and packed a great deal of operating potential into a modest layout that could easily be built by a relatively inexperienced modeler. Originally published in 1957, innumerable layouts have been built following its simple but elegant design.
In 2007 the Diesel and Electric Modelers United (DEMU) ran a small layout competition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the plan's publication. The competition was to build and exhibit a layout based on the Minories trackplan and was judged by Cyril's son Nick. A number of exceptionally high quality layouts were entered including "Ripper Street", "Minories GN" and "Westonmouth Central". The winner was eventually chosen as "Birmingham Moor Street" by the Scalefour Society WMAG.
Rail transport modelling
Railway modelling or model railroading is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale...
, writer, and magazine editor. He edited Railway Modeller
Railway Modeller
Railway Modeller is a monthly British magazine about Model Railways published by Peco. It has been in publication since 1949 and is still Britain's most popular model railway title.-Features:The leading feature is the "Railway of the Month"...
from 1950 to 1978, and Model Railways from 1978 until 1983. He also wrote many articles for Model Railroader
Model Railroader
Model Railroader is an American magazine specializing in the hobby of model railroading. It was founded in 1934 by Al C. Kalmbach and is based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It is published monthly by Kalmbach Publishing...
. Freezer popularised the terminus to fiddle yard
Fiddle Yard
A Fiddle yard or Staging yard is a collection of model railway tracks that are invisible to a viewer and allow trains to be stored and manipulated. These tracks are required to allow most model railways to be operated in a realistic manner. Whilst it is possible to have a realistic shunting yard in...
layout
Model railroad layout
In model railroading, a layout is a diorama containing scale track for operating trains. The size of a layout varies, from small shelf-top designs to ones that fill entire rooms, basements, or whole buildings....
, is credited with inventing the "rabbit warren layout", and published many books on model railway, many of which are considered classics in the field.
Early life
Born in east LondonEast End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, Freezer was educated at Barking Abbey School. Training as an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in a dockyard on the Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:...
and working for Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, he started as editor of the Railway Modeller magazine. The first edition he was responsible for was August - September 1950.
He was a prolific designer of model railway layouts and published numerous books of track plans. Perhaps his most famous design was "Minories", a plan for a compact suburban terminus built on a folding baseboard. The layout was based loosely on the Metropolitan station at Liverpool Street and packed a great deal of operating potential into a modest layout that could easily be built by a relatively inexperienced modeler. Originally published in 1957, innumerable layouts have been built following its simple but elegant design.
In 2007 the Diesel and Electric Modelers United (DEMU) ran a small layout competition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the plan's publication. The competition was to build and exhibit a layout based on the Minories trackplan and was judged by Cyril's son Nick. A number of exceptionally high quality layouts were entered including "Ripper Street", "Minories GN" and "Westonmouth Central". The winner was eventually chosen as "Birmingham Moor Street" by the Scalefour Society WMAG.
External sources
- Obituary, Daily Telegraph.
- http://www.ft.com/cms/s/07304ef6-5201-11de-b986-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F07304ef6-5201-11de-b986-00144feabdc0.html%3Fnclick_check%3D1&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2F209.85.229.132%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcache%3AxN6i8vWr1G0J%3Awww.rmweb.co.uk%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%253Ff%253D4%2526t%253D44962%2526start%253D75%2Bcyril%2Bfreezer%2Bfinancial%2Btimes%26cd%3D1%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Duk%26client%3Dfirefox-a&nclick_check=1Obituary], Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
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