Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted April 27, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted April 27, 2016 Since this months BRM magazine has given the ongoing construction of Heaton Lodge an airing I thought if there was any interest I'd update progress here every few weeks. For those who haven't read the mag Heaton Lodge Junction is situated just West of Mirfield in West Yorks and is where the L&Y's Calder Valley & LNWR's Leeds to Huddersfield lines converge. From 1900 it's also where the LNWR's 'New Line' - a completely new route to Leeds began. In 1970 BR completely remodelled the junction, getting rid of the L&Y's lovely box, replacing the existing semaphore and ex LMS unique 'speed' signals with colour lights controlled by Healey Mills power box some 8 miles away. BR also utilised the first mile or so of the now closed 'New Line' and where the track had originally veered North after burrowing under the CV line it was reconfigured to meet with it thereby creating a non conflicting junction which replaced the original flat crossing. My interest in this location is personal as I spent about 3 years of Christmas and Summer holidays here spotting from about 12. I'd always harboured a desire to model the location and originally planned to do it in EM or P4 but settled on 7mm for a few reasons especially since Heljan are manufacturing loco's and rolling stock that exactly fits in this era. The model is 1.3 scale miles in 7mm set in the winter sometime between 1982-5 and works out at 160ft (55m) viewing area or 180ft including the covered curves at each end. The gradient of 1:137 is also being worked into the model meaning over the 160ft the track rises about a foot or so. It's a continuous run with a fiddle yard around 150ft long and 14 odd storage siding. About 40 odd 4ft X 4'6'' frames incorporating the track modules have already been manufactured by White Rose model works up in Bedale. Norman Saunders is the track builder whose using Peco concrete sleepers and flat bottom rail and C&L ballast to get the correct effect. Allan Downes has built the many bridges and tunnel mouths although I've covered his stonework in DAS and carved it to achieve the look of the dirty sandstone common at the location. To be candid I knew unless I spent much time practicing, given I wanted to construct all the scenery myself I was never going to be near to the standard of the above master craftsman so have spent the last couple of years practising static grass techniques, road making and fence/wall construction on about 40 odd mock polystyrene embankments to get near the right 'look' of HL in the winter. I'm a bit of a detail freak so I'm hoping the level of detail on the model will be high but I'll let you be the judge of that from the following photos. From the 40 plus boards in total down the viewing side I've finished 9 as of now. I'm finishing around 3 a month currently so the model is on schedule to be finished end of next year.. Be happy to explain techniques I've used on to get the Winter look of course.. Apologies for rabbiting on..here's some pics.. 25 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted April 27, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 27, 2016 Wow! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted April 27, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 27, 2016 Few more including techniques I'm using to mimic the cables in the concrete trunking, me at the real location aged about 13 and more detail pics.. 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Wow what a project Brings back memories of being a youngen Got there a few times in the 80's spotting with my uncle ,I can't have been 10 years old but remember sitting on the hill looking down on here https://www.flickr.com/photos/neil_harvey_railway_photos/6125278146 Think there was a pub next to the bridge that who's car park we used but I could be wrong ,it was a while ago lol Very nice looking modelling and a great project Look forward to your progress Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 What do you mean, covering my bridges in modelling clay - how dare you Sir ! Classic in the making mate, don't weaken now ! Cheers. Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 I hope this is going onto the Exhibition circuit, it looks excellent already and it's only part built. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter220950 Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Stunning, hadn't seen the mag so this was a new one on me. I hope this is going onto the Exhibition circuit, it looks excellent already and it's only part built. I can't believe anything this big could go out on the road, but then why have individual boards? - We can only live in hope, though there probably aren't that many venues big enough to house 60m length, let alone afford the transport costs. It would certainly be worth travelling to see. Keep us up to date with progress, it's fascinating seeing something this big under construction, the statistics of track, wire, boards etc. must be stupendous. I'm assuming it's permanently set up in it's own space? If so we can perhaps view it from Google Earth! Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted April 27, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 27, 2016 I think that I will be returning to this thread a lot! The fifth photo on post #3 is one of those rare ones where there is almost nothing that betrays the fact that it is a model rather than the real thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Stunning, hadn't seen the mag so this was a new one on me. I can't believe anything this big could go out on the road, but then why have individual boards? - We can only live in hope, though there probably aren't that many venues big enough to house 60m length, let alone afford the transport costs. It would certainly be worth travelling to see. Warley or something similar I would hope and maybe it is modular so that some of the main straight could be omitted....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 What do you mean, covering my bridges in modelling clay - how dare you Sir ! Classic in the making mate, don't weaken now ! Cheers. Allan Sorry Allan I know covering your bridges with DAS and carving them is a bit like telling RA Riddles his 9F's were cr#p! To answer the questions, and thanks for the kind words, the layout will be going to exhibitions and is tailor made to fit inside a 40ft artic. Fortunately my business runs a few and I've an HGV Class 1 license so will be driving it! Exhibitions - 55m sounds big and is of course but it'll go into Doncaster, NEC will swallow it up and a few more surprisingly. I'm not doing this hoping for costs back I'll gladly take it where it'll fit. It will be housed in an industrial unit when not at exhibitions and I'm hoping to make it available there for as many that wish to see it at that location too. Simon 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HealeyMills Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Wow, what a fantastic project and you've picked a great location to model. Lots of potential for dirty blue locos from/ en-route HM I shall keep an eye on this thread and if you need any more reference photos, please feel free to drop me a PM as this location is virtually around the corner (Just wish I could go back to 1982 to get the exact ones for you) Cheers Lee Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin parks Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 55m of viewable boards?! I had to read that opening post twice just to make sure it was not a typo. The punters at shows will need binoculars. Good Luck! Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 And Telford by any chance? I do hope so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 Of course. It will go in size wise. If I was asked of course Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 What a fantastic project, I look forward to seeing this superb layout somewhere (Model Rail Scotland would be handy, geographically speaking). Thanks for the info and photos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andy Y Posted April 28, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted April 28, 2016 The mag article is well worth a read to understand the scope of the project and the trackplan in there makes the jaw drop when you realise each of the 29 scenic boards shown on there is 4' in length. Simon invited me over a few weeks ago and I have to say this is one of the most stunning projects underway in the hobby that I know of and I hope he doesn't mind me saying that he's a good laugh and just a passionate enthusiast like so many of us, just on a grander scale. He's talked about presentation intentions and such like and I think when this hits the road (I've begged him to bring it to Doncaster!) it will raise a few eyebrows and not just because of the scope of it. Utterly mad but brilliant; good luck with at all Simon. Here's a couple of shots from when I went over including another angle on the 40 which Simon posted above. 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted April 28, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 28, 2016 May BRM only in my local WH Smith since this morning. Bought a copy just for this article and Andy is right that the trackplan is clearer in there and shows quite a clever arrangement of the hidden sidings. Nice article also on the Aylesbury LNWR layout which I recall from many years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted April 28, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 28, 2016 That's a stunning model Simon. I spent many hours in that area when I was at Poly in Huddersfield in the early 70's and still live not too far away. I look forward to seeing more on this thread and the layout itself in due course. And I thought that I was mad doing a 12metre long layout sized for a 7.5 ton wagon. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 First picture a fake. Just CAN'T be real !!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bri.s Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 I'll definitely be off to buy the mag on Monday and look forward to seeing it at an exhibition Isn't Calcutta sidings in p4 around 55 feet long and I saw that at DEMU burton last year Brian First picture a fake. Just CAN'T be real !!!!! Who needs trains with scenery like that Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubber duck Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I'm suffering from acute layout envy! Epic in all respects, Please let us know when you intend to have an "open" weekend so we can come and join in the shenanigans. Regards Peter.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
43078shildoncountydurham Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Is this a layout or a work of art?, I would would vote for the latter. Regards Craig Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted May 1, 2016 Author Share Posted May 1, 2016 Once again thanks for the kind comments. To be honest I'd still build this model even if no trains were to ever run on it!! I'll use this thread to update when a new section is complete and the one under scenery structures and transport about methods..if anyone is interested. Just about completed another board which has taken about a week of evening. We are getting near the actual junction now and the North embankment starts to drop in height. I'm working to a drawing of the terrain after many site visits and photos taken in 1982-5. This board has another couple of relay boxes on the North side and some vandal has chucked a cooker down the embankment on the South. Few pics including another almost completed module, detail pics and a terrain drawing I'm working to.. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 ..... To be honest I'd still build this model even if no trains were to ever run on it!! Sounds like every layout I ever built ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Could you tell me more about the backscene please, from what I can see in the shots that looks very nice also. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now