I have returned to railway modelling after a number of years away from the hobby, due to work and family commitments. With the aim of building something that I can actually finish and have space for, and starting out with a completely blank canvas, I have settled on a layout based on the Inglenook Sidings shunting puzzle, in 4mm scale. I have started this blog with the intention that it will keep me focussed as I have a habit of not sticking to one idea for very long. My prototype choice is Pen Green Workshops, part of the extensive Stewarts and Lloyds (later British Steel) steelworks and ironstone extraction industry based in and around Corby. I photographed the site about 15 years ago, and since then it has been completely flattened.

The site lies next to the former Midland Corby to Manton main line, between the exchange sidings of the steelworks and those of the minerals division, and was rail connected. When I photographed it the rails could still be seen in the ground infront of the main brick building. In fact there was a a long wheelbase wagon outside the large Vayland Engineering building (in the background of the above picture with the roof vents) for a number of years, though I never thought to identify it. I believe that the site may have been where extraction equipment and plant were maintained, though that is pure speculation - if anyone knows better and can give me more detail I would be most grateful. I have called the area Pen green Workshops as that is how it is labelled on one of Eric Tonks' maps, though I have also seen "ironworks" used. The site's location will allow me to feature stock from both the steelworks and the minerals divisions.

My current plan is to model the front two bays of the brick building above, with the tracks of the shunting puzzle running to the two main doors with the third between them. At the headshunt end the sidings will join a "main line" that will run along the rear and behind the building, the idea being that I can add a fiddle yard at either end should space allow, and run short minerals or works trains behind the shunting area. The exit at the headshunt end will be hidden under a pipe carrying a brook over the railway.

If space allows I would like to include the above office in the model, but I suspect it may clutter things up too much.

Well, that's the project committed to the world for posterity. I'd better get something moving now.