A start on Balcombe station

Entry posted by 10800 January 4, 2013

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This is the first actual part of Balcombe station. One of its features from the period we are modelling is a cast iron footbridge - not the one there now, which is an Exmouth Junction concrete product. It is shown here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Balcombe_railway_station_1745357_cc3c259a.jpg . Of note is that at one end there is a conventional landing and staircase, but at the other the bridge connects with a covered staircase coming from the road above. The main bridge deck is also quite long as a result.

This type of bridge is very common across the country and was bought as a 12in:ft kit from suppliers by many companies. Many years ago I had bought a Kemilway brass footbridge kit at an exhibition, and this was basically ideal as a starting point (there are many detailed variations). But one was not long enough, so I acquired two more to give the right length for the main horizontal bridge section. So here is what you get in three Kemilway footbridge kits (most of two on the mat, the rest in the box:

These are superbly designed etches that make up solid looking lattice sections. The basis is the laminating of two lattice sections with opposite diagonals to make the x-pattern lattices. To make the length required I used the curved and horizontal sections from one kit and the horizontals from the other two:

Half-etched channel provides the upper and lower stengtheners, and eventually you end up with this:

At this stage I don't know how long exactly it needs to be, so for the time being I can't add the remaining detail and join the two sides. So I made a start on the landing and staircase which can be completed. The sides of the landing illustrate the same construction process as the main bridge section.