Lower Dudgeon

[HonestTom]

My other hobby is theatre, and having just finished working on a show I've been getting a bit of the post-show blues. The best way to combat this, in my experience, is with something creative. And what better than a bit of railway modelling?

 

I was in Poundland the other day and saw a bunch of rather mawkish wall plaques for 50p each, which seemed like a pretty fair price for baseboard material. With a bit of work with a glue gun, I had my baseboard. Playing with spare track gave me the basis of a shunting plank. The whole thing measures 2' 1" by 8".

 

For a while now, I've wanted to do something based on a light railway - the Wantage Tramway and the Colonel Stephens empire are favourites of mine. With the tiny space I had available, I figured now was the time. Only the smallest engines are capable of shunting the yard - a pug and a Peckett will be the main motive power, and small wooden wagons will be most of the rolling stock.

 

It's a silly little thing really, but it should keep me busy for a bit.

Edited April 18, 2018 by HonestTom

[Jerry1975]

I like the sound of this, I to like the Wantage tramway and have considered modelling it, looking forward to more.

 

Jerry.

[HonestTom]

Well, I’ve not got a whole lot done on the layout proper, but here’s some of the rolling stock that will be making appearances in Lower Dudgeon.

We are in Shropshire, and the two railways in the area are the Irit Valley Railway, which runs from Coulton to High Dudgeon, and its larger neighbour, the Coulton and Shrewsbury. The main sources of traffic for the IVR are the mills along the River Irit, agricultural produce and the limestone quarry at Lower Dudgeon.

The wagons of the Salop Lime Company, the IVR and the CSR ate hand-painted, and from normal viewing distance and with a bit of weathering, I don’t think they look too bad. As long as I don’t make any really stupid mistakes...

[Guest Bishoptrains]

This looks like a good layout and I do like the weathering on most of your wagons looking forward to seeing some more..

[HonestTom]

This looks like a good layout and I do like the weathering on most of your wagons looking forward to seeing some more..

Many thanks. The weathering is pretty simple - I just used cheapo watercolours and eyeshadow. I've almost finished weathering the lime wagon and will post photos when that's done.

[Jerry1975]

I have to echo the above, the weathering is great and I do like that lime wagon too, who makes it please?

 

Jerry.

[HonestTom]

I have to echo the above, the weathering is great and I do like that lime wagon too, who makes it please?

Jerry.

Thanks! The lime wagon is actually Hornby. They briefly produced it as part of the Thomas range, with the modern, more detailed chassis. With the ironwork picked out in black, the detailing is pretty good. I’ve gone to town on the weathering, and it now looks like this:

Edited April 26, 2018 by HonestTom

[Jerry1975]

Thanks.

I will look out for one as I quite like it and think it's unusual, nice job with the weathering.

 

Jerry.

[andyram]

This looks an interesting little project. I will follow with interest.

[HonestTom]

Well, here are the latest additions. The Irit Valley sees a lot of agriculture, so a cattle van was a must. And here is IVR No. 4, an ex-L&Y pug. The weathering isn’t finished and it needs a crew, but otherwise I’m fairly happy with it.

[Guest ShildonShunter]

Really nice job on the weathering and I like the layout plan.