So after the last two plans I've been continuing to play around, and re-reading the excellent 'An Approach to Model Railway Layout Design - Finescale in Small Spaces' book which has given me so much inspiration for this project.

With that in mind, and a nagging 'is it the best use of space' thought in the back of my head regarding 'V2', see Version 3 below.

This borrows shamelessly from Iain Rice's 'Witheridge' plan in the aforementioned tome (Page 44, and sadly I can say that without even having to look it up!), in that the station becomes a 'Bitsa', with the runaround loop moved into the yard to make things a little more interesting and operationally engaging. It fits all of my 'wants' in, at the expense of losing the 'river' frontage (which was, in any case, causing me a few headaches, especially with the proposed Jigsaw construction).

Scenic Thoughts

As I mentioned, this plan does borrow somewhat from 'Witheridge' - in particular, the arrangement of Station Building acting as a view block for the hole in the sky, a tiny hint of fence, then a loco shed. Small sheds like this - more of a 'shed to cover a loco' than a true Engine Shed of the 'depot' variety weren't uncommon (As far as I know! - there was one until the 1880s at Hailsham, for a start, which was similarly placed to this one). In the previous paragraph I mentioned that this one loses the river frontage - however what it will allow me to do is fit in the start of the sloping downland at the back, which along with the river, is a key feature of the area - though unfortunately I think that without adding another 2-3 foot (and that's being optimistic!) in depth, the 'White Horse' would just look silly.

Operation

Passenger services would pull in to the platform from the left, with the loco running Bunker-first. This would then be hauled into the upper part of the loop, loco detaches, runs around and pulls the train back into the platform before heading off to Alfriston again. Goods workings to the Shingle loading sidings at the Haven would obviously run straight through, whilst local goods traffic would be split in the loop (or platform road) before being taken off to the 'general' siding, the coal siding or the brewery. I did think about a slip, rather than the 'ladder' of points, but thought it a little 'expensive' for such a small station. Again, everything from Alfriston (With the possible exception of the shingle trains, as there would be a loop at the loading area) would arrive bunker-first.

Your thoughts are, as ever, both welcomed and appreciated!