Rospeath Lane - BR(WR) Engine Shed

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About this blog

This blog about a fictitious BR(WR) Engine shed in Cornwall based on what might have been if the proposed lines to St. Just and Lands End were built.

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Planning

Thoughts on Scenics

I'm nearly ready for the Workington Show. I've built the trestles, finished both baseboard tops, and the carry case ends. Although the Tredethy Wharf front curtain is about three inches too short, it's long enough for now. I can alter it later. I'll complete the second support beam this weekend. Display wise, the only items that will be missing will be the back of the right-hand Cassette board and the back screen. Oh, and probably the LED lighting. On Tuesday, one or two Scalefour guys plan to v

Yan in Planning

November 9

Planning

Deciding on period for the model

As previously stated, my aim is to run the engine shed to a timetable. This should make operating the layout at home and at exhibitions a little more interesting than just randomly moving locomotives around the shed. At exhibitions, it might entice a few people to linger longer to view the model and have an interest in its operation. This does mean I need to create a timetable of trains arriving and departing from Penzance along with creating fictious workings for the lines west of P

Yan in Planning

October 28

Planning

Fitting Rospeath Lane v.2 in my car

At the outset, the primary concern of mine was fitting Rospeath Lane v.2 in my car. Rule 1d of the Scalefour Jubilee Challenge stipulates "The layout has to be portable and capable of being transported by a single car or similar size vehicle and exhibited by two people". I'm surprised it dosen't state that both operators have to be transported in the same car as the layout. As a cost saving exercise for exhibition managers, I feel it would be prudent for both operators to travel with the layout.

Yan in Planning

April 15

Planning

1/8th Scale model of the revised layout

Well.. it's a little rough, but it's helped with a few construction ideas. Stage left Stage right Complete frontal view There still needs a few of the ancillary buildings to add (sand house, lamp store, etc.) and I might add a bit more detail on the buildings (like the openings to the running shed). I can also continue to play around with the sighting of trees in the background as well as the front. The single tree in the front is

Yan in Planning

October 25, 2023

Planning

Can Rospeath Lane be resurrected?

I've not posted on RMWeb about Rospeath Lane for sometime now, in the meantime I have added a few posts on my independent blog about this project. If anyone is interested to see how far I got until I lost my mojo, the blog can be found here at https://rospeathlane.blogspot.com/ During the six months since I posted on the above blog my problem has been the damage to Rospeath Lane's baseboards, along with its size. The damage must have occurred during our move to Cumbria and/or during

Yan in Planning

October 4, 2023

Planning

A revised Track Plan (v.18)

Baseboard construction was put on hold this week due to the creation of a credible Signal Box Diagram. While I’d been waiting for the glue to dry on each section I’d put some thought into the signal diagram and how engine movements would be controlled. Even though I’ve read a few books on the subject I eventually realised that I needed some guidance and posted a request on the Scalefour Society’s Forum for advice. The information I received was superb and highlighted a number of issues with my o

Yan in Planning

February 22, 2021

Planning

Rospeath Lane - More planning

Another updated plan, I’ve now reached v15! Too much pondering and not enough physical modelling you may think. "The Devil is in the detail” and I may be overthinking some aspects of this plan. In the end I hope I will have thought of most of the gremlins that might creep into this project. In looking at the previous plan, I started to contemplate the proposed signal box diagram and the comments made. This brought me around to asking what happens beyond the bridge (scenic break) on the

Yan in Planning

January 10, 2021

Planning

Rospeath Lane - The planning stage

I hope you are you sitting comfortably? I suggest with a coffee and couple of biscuits to hand, or whatever tipple and nibbles this hour of day dictates. This is a long entry and you may need sustenance to keep you awake. I’ve been planning an Engine Shed project for some time now. Unfortunately I’ve had to revise it due to the reduced space in my ‘Man Cave’. Initially I had 16 feet in length to play with but a decision earlier in the year meant I now only 11ft. My idea is to create

Yan in Planning

December 14, 2020

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Blog Information

Rospeath Lane is being built as an entry into Scalefour Society's Jubilee Challenge

JubileeChallengeRules (1).pdf

Layout Back Story

This is a fictional project based on "what if" some proposed railways in the Penzance area were constructed. My thoughts are as follows.

In April and May 1898 two applications were made under the Light Railways Act 1896: one for a route of 21 miles between Penzance and St. Just via Newlyn and Sancreed; the second, a proposal made by the Lands End and Great Western Joint for a 20.5 mile route from Marazion to Sennen also via Sancreed .

The route between Penzance and Newlyn was to be operated by an electric railway running along the quayside and promenade. Steam power along this section was deemed to be too disruptive for the hotels and tourist attractions on route. The line would then be operated by steam between Newlyn and St. Just. The route between Marazion and Sennen would Serve Heamoor (Hea), Sancreed and St.Buryan. Both proposals were rejected with a couple of reasons given being: there was no connection between the two routes at Sancreed; and the mileage of the two routes did not justify two separate administrations.

In November 1898 both proposals were resubmitted with amendments. This time at a local inquiry held in Penzance on the 30th/31st January 1899. The inquiry found in favour of the Penzance, Newlyn and West Cornwall which was duly approved. The record states: “The two schemes were competitive schemes to serve the same district, and were heard together at the local inquiry, The attitude of local authorities and landowners was generally against the Lands End, St Just and Great Western Junction scheme, and in favour of the Penzance, Newlyn and West Cornwall scheme which was accordingly approved. An Order was submitted to the Board of Trade on the 17th May 1899.” (1)

At first I thought, what a pity, but then the approved scheme was not built. What if the decision went the other way especially as the Penzance hoteliers seemed to be against the Penzance to Newlyn section being operated by steam. I would have thought that the electric railway section may have struggled with heavy fish traffic from Newlyn, let alone the complication of changing from steam to electric power for such a short distance. So my thoughts are that the Lands End, St. Just and Great Western junction scheme was approved with a junction at Sancreed for Newlyn. This scheme would require a junction east of Marazion for these lines running west of Penzance.

So looking along the mainline east of Marazion for terrain that might fit my initial plan I came across the area south of Crowlas where Rospeath lane crosses the mainline. Perfect … so I’m proposing the junction would have been east of Marazion level crossing about where the current A394 crosses the mainline

A station with sidings similar to Marazion or Gwinear Road would have been constructed between the junction and Rospeath Lane Bridge. An Engine Shed would have been constructed near Crowlas to serve Penzance, St. Just, Sennen and Newlyn. Then the original engine shed would have been rebuilt and extended in the 1930s by the GWR using loans provided by the Government to relieve unemployment.

This, to me anyway, would make sense that a locomotive shed and storage yards would have been created here rather than Long Rock and Marazion. Traffic generated from the St. Just and Sennen would have included China Clay, fish traffic from Newlyn, along with the seasonal broccoli and potatoes crops. With Marazion having generous sidings to cope with the latter two crops, my thoughts are these sidings would have been located at the new junction in this area rather than Marazion.

*(1) Information taken from the Light Railways Act 1896, 31st December 1899 report.

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Rospeath Lane - BR(WR) Engine Shed

About this blog

Entries in this blog

Thoughts on Scenics

Deciding on period for the model

Fitting Rospeath Lane v.2 in my car

1/8th Scale model of the revised layout

Can Rospeath Lane be resurrected?

A revised Track Plan (v.18)

Rospeath Lane - More planning

Rospeath Lane - The planning stage

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