Edge Lane Junction EM gauge

[PjKing1]

Hi

 

As some of you may know I've had a thread going for a while on my current layout Garston Bridge, but due to space issues I'm afraid it's going to be put on hold for a while. So rather than sit and sulk I had to think of something less extravagant to set my sights on, so after many days an hours thinking of new ideas I was getting to the point of giving up, until that was after some last ditch attempts looking through my favourites in Flickr I realised it had been staring me in the face all along.

 

My current layout was based on a junction in the Merseyside area on the main line into Liverpool so I wanted to keep that kind of feel but I couldn't think how to down size it and that's when the pictures on Flickr lit a lightbulb!!

 

Some of my favourite photos and inspiration are from shots taken around Edgehill, The Grid Iron, and Exhibition Junction in the early to late 60's and one of the lines coming off that area was at Edge Lane Junction. A simple junction with two lines going off to the left and two to the right. I'm no expert on the area but it handled most if not all bootle branch traffic, including aintree specials an blue Pullmans, north docks traffic and local dmu services from southport to Liverpool as well as light engine movements from sheds such as bankhall an aintree, so lots of potential for operation. There are also lots of bridges for scenic breaks to.

 

Please find a link to some great pictures on Flickr

 

Edge Lane Jcn and Bootle Branch https://flickr.com/photos/36844369@N07/sets/72157627339905422

 

So my idea is to model the junction in the late 60's and will be DCC with DCC sound fitted locos, with the idea it can be extended to make a bigger layout in the future, when space will no longer be an issue and this is were modellers licence comes in. I'm thinking of having the line coming from the Edgehill area wired to allow ac electrics to run to a fictional stabling point/tmd I further down the line, this will allow more varied stock and interest.

 

For the first board I will have around 5'x20" to play with which should be ample, my only other dilemma is whether to add a head shunt and a passing loop on the down line from the edge hill branch to add more interest.

 

Please excuse the dodgy drawing below but wanted to show a diagram of what I meant, the drawing to the left is how it was in real life, the one to the right is the one with the added loop.

 

Nothing much will be done in the next couple off weeks as I'm off to get married, but once back I hope to jump into this. All thoughts, comments and info would be great fully received.

 

Many thanks, Paul

Edited June 9, 2023 by PjKing1

[bobster]

Looks good Paul, I like Junction layouts, lots of Interest and operating potential - I would go with the Loop/Head-shunt plan.

 

Cheers, Bob.

[PjKing1]

Looks good Paul, I like Junction layouts, lots of Interest and operating potential - I would go with the Loop/Head-shunt plan.

 

Cheers, Bob.

Thanks Bob

 

I like that idea to, just don't want to get carried away otherwise I'll end up back to square one like the other layout I do think it would make it more interesting though. The good thing is with a real location I don't have to tax my brain to much thinking as it's all there for me, although a lot has changed since the 1960's.

 

I'm looking forward to this though as I think I might actually have a chance of pulling it off!!

 

Thanks again for the comments Bob

 

Cheers, Paul

[Mike T]

Hi Paul

 

Edge Lane Jcn is nice but Pighue Lane Jcn is nicer and just around the corner :-) Ok you would loose the southport passenger service although you could still bluff one coming in from Olive Mount but you would retain the aintree specials. The big plus for Pighue Lane is that trains from Exhibition Jcn to the docks reversed here through a single slip in the double junction.

 

If you look at this picture:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/happyraildays/6851764900/in/set-72157627339905422

 

The 40 is waiting to draw it's train forward through the tunnel to Olive Mount - the brake van is next to the loco. It will uncouple at the far side of Olive Mount tunnel then run back to Pighue Lane via a crossover there. It then drops on to the back (now front) of its train via the crossover you can see in this picture then heads for the docks via the slip also just visible.

 

Regards

 

Mike

[PjKing1]

Hi Mike

 

Thanks for the comments and what are you doing to me ha ha, just when I think I've got it all planned out I start thinking again!!

 

I've looked at Pighue Lane and it does look interesting, don't know if you've seen this link before but some interesting shots and info

http://rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/index.htm?location=Liverpool&srch=&page=0

 

Sorry if you've seen it before, only thing with modelling Pighue Lane was that I was worried about space and the fact Edge Lane had plenty of bridges for scenic breaks, but it's defo worth looking at for its operational potential like you said.

 

Thanks for the input, don't think I'll sleep to night with my little brain thinking away!!!!

 

Cheers, Paul

Edited July 29, 2014 by PjKing1

[Mike T]

Hi Paul

 

You had already thought about adding a loop and wires at Edge Lane so I don't see the problem in adding an overbridge between Pighue Lane and Exhibition as a scenic break, it's the only one your short of!! And if you still want wires then assume the original plans to electrify between Liverpool and Earlestown had been completed and that the section between Exhibition and Olive Mount was done too, more plausible than a stabling point on the Bootle branch. There were actually electric holding sidings at Exhibition anyway.

 

Regards

 

Mike

[class"66"]

Some very interesting information on here..

[AngryMeerkat]

Glad you're not giving up and instead moving to something that fits your lifestyle better, and nice to see it's still a Liverpool based layout.

 

Best of luck with the wedding also, at least the stress is nearly over! We're just planning my stag do at the moment, sounds like a right laugh!!

 

Mark

[PjKing1]

Morning Mike

 

It really does sound interesting and a possibility, I can see the roll of paper and spare track coming out later to size it all up!! Thanks for all the information and encouragement to, I can see me spending plenty of hours on the honeymoon searching the net for pics!!

 

Cheers, Paul

[PjKing1]

Glad you're not giving up and instead moving to something that fits your lifestyle better, and nice to see it's still a Liverpool based layout.

Best of luck with the wedding also, at least the stress is nearly over! We're just planning my stag do at the moment, sounds like a right laugh!!

Mark

Morning Mark

 

I defo can't give up in a Liverpool based layout it'll just have to be a bit smaller for now, just got to decide which one to do now!! Ha ha

 

Thanks for the good wishes for the wedding to mate and good luck with your stag do, if you haven't chosen anywhere yet I can highly recommend Cardiff, it was an amazing weekend!!

 

Thanks again, Paul

[AngryMeerkat]

We've booked a zombie survival experience in an abandoned shopping centre in Reading, sounds like a right laugh! You get airsoft guns and have to rescue survivors while actors dressed as zombies try to bite and infect you!

 

Mark

[PjKing1]

We've booked a zombie survival experience in an abandoned shopping centre in Reading, sounds like a right laugh! You get airsoft guns and have to rescue survivors while actors dressed as zombies try to bite and infect you!

Mark

That sounds great, I'm sure Brian on here has done something like that'll be a right laugh, although it sounds like a normal day up here in our shopping centres ha ha

 

Paul

[Guest bri.s]

Just found your new thread mate and your plans look good , I like the one with ,the loop the best itll add that bit more without having a lot more work .

ill be interested in how you do the bridge with the 3 tracks coming though .

I ended up not  doing  the zombie survival experience unfortunately ,although my friend did it for his stag do,and im pretty gutted about not doing it he said it was great ,he also went river rafting aswel .

itll be great once you get something running though mate it really does give you a modelling boost .

im looking forward to seeing your locos running round pulling trains .

just one question .are you going to reuse the Garston bridge boards and infrastructure .or storing that layout and starting from scratch

 

Brian 

[PjKing1]

Thanks Brian

 

Must admit I think I'm still in favour of the Edge Lane layout to but I'll just have to see if the loop looks ok on the board before I add that. As for the boards Bri I think I'm gona build new ones, Garston Bridge's two current boards are 4'x2' I have about 5'6" to play with so I think I'll go with 5' boards with anything between 18" and 2' width, but think I'll go for around 20" width though. The other reason is due to the frame work under the current only being 2" the tortoise and cobalt point motors hang down further so I'd have to alter the frame work to be larger to give more depth so motors are more protected. Know I didn't get very far on Garston but it will be quite disheartening taking it apart. As for the signal Box I'm going to use it, it's about five times bigger than the original box for Edge Lane but I've really enjoyed building it and can't wait to finish it. I'll some how have to work it into the story of why the junction has such a large box, presumably the off scene phase 2 junction to the shed/stabling point?

 

Hopefully I get further with this one!!

 

Thanks again, Paul

[Mike T]

Hi Paul

 

Your call of course but to me Edge Lane with a loop isn't Edge Lane. You would have to ask what the loop was provided for given the trains only come off the main line or out of the sidings around the corner.

 

Pighue Lane with it's reversing moves is just as interesting and even with wires more prototypical. Anyway here's the signalling plan at closure.

 

 

Regards

 

Mike

[PjKing1]

Thanks Mike

 

Everything's still at the pen and paper stage at the moment so there's still lots for me to think about, your a great source of information though so I'll probably be picking your brains which ever plan I go for in the future.

 

Good thing is there's no points on my modelling licence at the moment so I might get away with a few

 

Thanks as always

 

Paul

[Phil Bullock]

Hi Paul

 

Like the concept - as you know I do like junction layouts too, and as you say the bridges at Edge Lane give you scenic breaks.

 

I extended the up loop at Abbotswood past the signal box and gave it a direct connection to the Worcester line. The prototypical layout did evolve over the years any way and space wise there is some massive compression. There is no mileage in building a layout that wont give you pleasure and enjoyment to operate even if that means it deviates from prototype and the sight of a freight waiting in a loop to be overtaken by a higher status working is evocative and prototypical.

 

Does altering the layout mean it isn't prototypical? Ask the folks who recognise the oak tree, the parking space on the side of the road and the passing trains on Abbotswood, including numerous railwaymen. That's always the biggest complement for me.

 

So its your layout - and if the additional loop gives you better scope for operations then don't feel inhibited. You can recreate the atmosphere of any location by running the correct trains and installing infrastructure of the correct type.

 

Hope your wedding goes well and that the inevitable modelling hiatus isn't too prolonged!

 

Look forwards to seeing more thought and progress

 

Kind regards

 

Phil

[PjKing1]

Thanks Phil

 

That's what I was thinking, the loop would just add that little bit extra. I know it's based in a busy location so there's prob no need for the loop but having said that locos waiting to enter the fictional depot/stabling point which is just set off scene for now, can be held there whilst other more important traffic passes.

 

As long as I give the location that 'Liverpool' feel then I'm happy and like you said Phil if someone recognises just one piece of the layout and likes it then I've done a good job in my eyes.

 

Thanks for the best wishes for the wedding, thoughts and kind comments Phil, as soon as we're back off honeymoon I'll be cracking on with this project.

 

Cheers, Paul

[AngryMeerkat]

Thanks Phil

That's what I was thinking, the loop would just add that little bit extra. I know it's based in a busy location so there's prob no need for the loop but having said that locos waiting to enter the fictional depot/stabling point which is just set off scene for now, can be held there whilst other more important traffic passes.

As long as I give the location that 'Liverpool' feel then I'm happy and like you said Phil if someone recognises just one piece of the layout and likes it then I've done a good job in my eyes.

Thanks for the best wishes for the wedding, thoughts and kind comments Phil, as soon as we're back off honeymoon I'll be cracking on with this project.

Cheers, Paul

The depot isn't so fictional - although my depot building is based on Allerton, the area around the depot is actually based on pictures of Edge Hill depot in the 70s/80s as provided by Beast66606 on here.

 

Mark

[PjKing1]

Morning Mark

 

I suppose that's the best side of our hobby, we can get all our favourite places an memory's and put them together to make something that's special and unique to ourselves, which other people will enjoy to.

 

Cheers, Paul

[Mike T]

Morning Mark

I suppose that's the best side of our hobby, we can get all our favourite places an memory's and put them together to make something that's special and unique to ourselves, which other people will enjoy to.

Cheers, Paul

Hi Paul

 

Such changes are not my cup of tea but as the saying goes it's your train set so good luck! Don't forget that there was a station at Edge Lane which closed in 1948 see http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/e/edge_lane/index.shtml and plans for a new one although that will be on the far side of Edge Lane rather the junction side as it's predecessor.

 

Regards

 

Mike

[PjKing1]

Evening Mike

 

Thanks for the info, hopefully I'll get something started once I'm back off my hols.

 

Cheers, Paul

[PjKing1]

Well after a fantastic wedding and week away it's back to reality, so hopefully time to crack on with things and put some of the taking and ideas into action!!

 

Upto now I've more or less got a free weekend and in a couple of weeks the Mrs goes away for ten days working, so the plan is to get the size I want planned out Friday night, then make a start on the baseboards this weekend, I'm staying in the sister inlaws 'cat sitting' for the next week so plenty of room to build things. If I can get the boards done then it shouldn't take that long to get the track down as it's a pretty simple plan. I'm pretty sure I'm going for the 'passing loop' plan though, not prototypical but it'll add that little bit extra and the layout is only based on that location.

 

With a bit of luck I'll have some photos of the track plan to size etc on paper Friday night.

 

Thanks, Paul

[bobster]

Glad it all went off ok Paul, good to have you back on the project - Look forward to further updates.

 

Cheers, Bob.

[PjKing1]

Thanks guys, fingers crossed this one gets further than a video of a working point motor but at least that won't hold me up this time!

 

Thanks again, Paul