Walton on the hill 27E Liverpool, EM gauge.

[Michael Delamar]

This is a layout I have long since wanted to do since I was a child, so we could say its one of those layout of a lifetimes.

Its an area I live close to, my dad, uncle and several people I know used to visit this shed, including a long gone friend who was a fireman and driver at the shed so he used to tell me lots of tales about his time here. It will have a scenic area of approx 25 by 3ft.

 

Its going to take a while but I will record what I am up to here but it is also an appeal for any information whatsoever from members as it is hard to come by anything new for Walton, for example Ive never seen a shot of the turntable or a close one of the coaling stage.

 

Station http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/walton_on_the_hill/index.shtml

Shed http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/features/walton_on_hill_shed/index.shtml

 

 

It has always appealed to me a location to model, a small but busy shed, busy line passing it with freight no passenger I dont have much interest in passenger stock, urban grot, dissused station with tunnel and road junction above so period road vehicles and scenic break, coal yard at the front of layout, Park at the back of the shed so a bit of greenery on the backscene.

 

The period I will be modelling is 1958-1963 when it closed. studying photographs from 1957 the trackplan in the yard was changed, and prior to 1952 the shed was 6 roads, I will be modelling it in its 4 road condition and with its later coaling stage which was a primative shed with a crane that loaded tubs into locos.

 

Also around this period it was mainly ex Midland locos with just a few ex GCR and LNER locos which appeals to be more, more of an LMS man than LNER, however I want a B1, J10 and have an also have an N5 to build.

It only had one allocated diesel in its time which was a class 08, class 31s used to visit from Sheffield Darnall, but it can also be run as grand national day when Patriots and Jubilees would be serviced here.

 

Sometime in 1958 the turntable went out of use and so they would turn locos on the triangle, that makes things easier for me as I dont have to model a working turntable and can model it overgrown and dissused.

 

The station which was long enough to fit 4 57ft coaches closed in 1918 but was left pretty much intact, that is something else that appeals to model.

 

It is a hard place to find photographs of, however I feel I do have enough do model it from.

 

quick play about with some of my stock.

 

This is the pre 1957 trackplan, mine will different to this as it changed and was simplified, the tunnel with buildings and road above it will be a scenic break, there is nothing for a scenic break at the other end but it will be modelled up to the subway path which everyone who visited the shed seems to remember, there will be no compression in length or width as that i dont like having to do any of that but may lose one road in the coal yard at the front, just after the subway the lines split in a junction with sidings so the subway is a good point to model up to.

 

 

Ive learned a lot since Crown street, in particular designing the layout better for transit and quicker assembly and dismantling so I am spending a lot more time designing this, I also found with crown st that the layout was built first with then a rush to get stock for it, so for this ive been aquiring and building stock over the years in preparation for this and I will also build the buildings maybe even before trackwork is sorted.

 

some prototype shots from 1961

 

July 1961. Walton-on-the-Hill railway, Liverpool. (s326) by Dave Rogers, on Flickr

 

July 1961. Walton-on-the-Hill station platform, Liverpool. (s327) by Dave Rogers, on Flickr

 

July 1961, Walton-on-the-Hill railway, Liverpool. (s331) by Dave Rogers, on Flickr

 

July 1961, Walton-on-the-Hill Engine Shed, Liverpool. (s330) by Dave Rogers, on Flickr

 

July 1961. Walton railway sheds, liverpool. (s328) by Dave Rogers, on Flickr

Edited August 30, 2018 by Michael Delamar

[aac]

I don't know if you have seen "Shed Side on Merseyside" by Kenn Pearce (ISBN 0-7509-1369-X), but that's got 25 pages about Walton, plus details of loco holdings by class and quantity for 1950, '55, '59 and '61, plus loco transfers (e.g. "47681 from Walton to Aintree 14.12.63, to Agecroft 1.5.65, withdrawn 27.8.65"). There is also a map of the shed area with indicated buildings such as toilets, footplate staff messroom, etc,etc. There are photos too, but none fo the coaling stage

If I can help with info, please say. I'll look forward to seeing this develop.

[Michael Delamar]

Thanks AAC yes I have that one. That book is one of the ones that got me interested in Liverpool railways. I got it when it was released in 1997 and I still thumb through it its one of my favourites, I keep meaning to get in touch with Kenn to chat to him about this.

 

Im pretty sure Ive got every book that deals with Liverpool railways although I know there has been articles in several magazines maybe specialist society magazines that ive yet to see.

 

The coaling stage is a simple affair really, wont take long to build but id like to see if there is drawings out there somewhere as with the shed building. Im not sure if the shed building is a design that was used elsewhere.

[Michael Delamar]

can see the coaling stage in this shot..

 

Walton-on-the-Hill railway, Liverpool, 1960. (s276) by Dave Rogers, on Flickr

Edited August 30, 2018 by Michael Delamar

[Michael Delamar]

My thanks to Ian Fisher who has been doing the templot work with me.

 

started out with the large os map with earlier track plan to get the main areas, then changed the trackplan to match the later plan going by photographs of the pointwork.

 

looking forward to getting this printed out although he is still tweaking it.

 

 

this is the correct track plan although not quite drawn to scale comparing it to photographs.

 

this is where we are up to.

 

Edited December 24, 2013 by Michael Delamar

[Michael Delamar]

There isnt much to see nowadays

 

[Steve O.]

Hi Michael,

Good luck with the layout. Quite a compact layout for a prototype. Will follow your progress with interest.

Cheers, Steve.

[Michael Delamar]

This shot of a J39 in 1961 shows the shed building which was reduced from 6 roads to 4 in 1952.  I have a j39 but its not yet converted to EM gauge.

Railways - J39 64740 on Walton‑on‑the‑Hill Shed by Biffo1944, on Flickr

[Phil Bullock]

Nice one Michael

 

Interesting mix of power!

Look forwards to seeing progress

 

Happy Xmas and thanks for all your efforts in keeping other threads supplied with excellent photo links

 

Phil
 

[Ian Fisher]

Doesnt look too bad posted up does it?

 

I know the first background trial was a bit jitterry as there where a number of twists and distortion on the small OS map, which looked OK to the eye but blown up and trying to draw nice flowing track something had to give.

[Jason T]

Very interesting location and project Michael; one to add to the Watch list

[Michael Delamar]

some of the buildings that were demolished to make way for the Walton Flyover above the railway tunnel that will be modelled on the layout.

Rice Lane by streetsofliverpool, on Flickr

[Ian Fisher]

Bit of progress on getting it a roundy roundy...havent used my Templot for a while, funny how it comes back even if its a new verison too!

[MartinWales]

Look forward to seeing this one develop Mike! 

 

Also have a J39 here in process of construction from a SEF Kit for a future County Durham based project 

[Guest bri.s]

Looks like a interesting place to model.

Will be watching with interest

 

Brian

[Kenton]

Oh good a MPD without compression - pity about the turntable and period, nevertheless good luck with the construction.

[92220]

Hi Mike,

Already watching and will look forward to seeing this develop. Mainline passing MPD.......sounds familiar and very close to home!

Hope all is well.

Iain

[Michael Delamar]

Here is a shot of a Johnson 3f condensing Jinty on Shed at Walton on the hill of which they had a few here, id like to model one of these in the future. http://www.flickr.com/photos/64518788@N05/8571528482/

also in shot is the class 08 D3858 which is still in use today numbered 08691 .

 

I will run my Austin 7 on the layout as I have a shot of one on the shed,aswel as a l&y A class which I have to build, non where allocated but some were based here to replace the GCR 0-6-0s.

 

also have a shot of an Austerity 2-10-0 on shed but dont think that was regular.

 

Mike

[Enterprisingwestern]

When did the shed become famous as 9R ?

 

Mike.

[Michael Delamar]

8R? the lowest alphabetical coded on BR, 9th September 1963 although it didnt last long as 8R as it closed on 15th December 1963. just over 50 years ago.

 

Other locos that could be found on shed were 9fs from Rowsley shed, I have a shot of 92009 on the CLC near Broad Green with a train of hoppers for Clarence dock power station via Huskisson yard. I have a 9f with a BR1f tender so may renumber it as Rowsley's 92012 or 92076

9fs also visited on the Long Meg to Widnes trains as the incoming train was stabled overnight at Walton sidings.

 

And V2s from York, 22nd October 1961 60967 was on shed. on 7th January 1962 3 of them were on shed 60848,60911 and 60982, Doncaster's 60857 was the last recorded V2 to haul the 0105 York-Walton freight on 27th January 1962. It wasnt until one was derailed at Huddersfield that it was realised they were banned on this route.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Michael Delamar

[Enterprisingwestern]

8R? the lowest alphabetical coded on BR, 9th September 1963 although it didnt last long as 8R as it closed on 15th December 1963. just over 50 years ago.

 

Other locos that could be found on shed were 9fs from Rowsley shed, I have a shot of 92009 on the CLC near Broad Green with a train of hoppers for Clarence dock power station via Huskisson yard. I have a 9f with a BR1f tender so may renumber it as Rowsley's 92012 or 92076

9fs also visited on the Long Meg to Widnes trains as the incoming train was stabled overnight at Walton sidings.

 

And V2s from York, 22nd October 1961 60967 was on shed. on 7th January 1962 3 of them were on shed 60848,60911 and 60982, Doncaster's 60857 was the last recorded V2 to haul the 0105 York-Walton freight on 27th January 1962. It wasnt until one was derailed at Huddersfield that it was realised they were banned on this route.

 

Ooops, numerical inaccuracy, duly noted!

 

Mike.

[Michael Delamar]

Whilst this shot doesnt show the shed area it does show the subway under the far end of the shed area which will be the end of the layout,bottom left of shot, Ive never seen any shots from the ground of this tunnel.

also shows the triangle and sidings.

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw045231?search=walton&ref=30

[90164]

I too look forward to seeing this one develop. I hope you'll be modelling Rice lane baths as well? Maybe the Goodison floodlights on the backscene?

[sn]

Not the clc but local interest all the same!

 

2P on a one coach train?

 

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw050524

[APOLLO]

Interesting line the CLC around Liverpool. I remember when going to tech at Liverpool passing over the little used twin tracks at Broad Green, and later going from Wigan Wallgate to Liverpool Exchange (when I was at Birkenhead gas works for a spell) the seemingly huge goods depot at Kirkdale. Coming home around 5pm ish there usually was a Brush 4 (class 47) shunting vans down there as we passed. Just a distant memory now.

 

Now I'm sure Michael is aware of this site, but for any Liverpool modeller, or indeed anyone interested in 60's 70's Liverpool, this site is a must see.

 

http://www.inacityliving.piczo.com/?cr=7

 

A good book is "An Illustrated History of Liverpool's Railways" by Paul Anderson, by Irwell Press. Many good photos in / around the pool.

 

Brit15