As alluded to in a previous post, the refocusing of the Pre Grouping Minories plan to an SE&CR/SER/LCDR Prototype has its benefits, not least the huge amount of research that went into my original attempt at this project.

A rarely photographed corner of Holborn Viaduct

Track Plan Amendments

The change of scope from LNWR to SECR demands very little change, for of course the layout was not prototypical but designed. For the track plan, the only potential amendment is to extend the dock track into a departures-only platform, which is both an homage to the original Holborn Viaduct and permits the fitting of a SE&CR overall roof:

Track Plan v2.1.1 'La Belle Savage' circa 1905

Though only two rather than three bays, it has a pleasing similarity to HV - the parallelogram platform arrangement, with the single carriage dock is afforded naturally by the geometry of the throat, as is the rear engine shed.

Scenic Treatment

The left of the layout is bracketed by an overall roof and substantial station building with a hotel above. At the rear, wall with false archways and a stern victorian warehouse behind the platforms. The middle-rear of the layout is marked by an engine shed with integral water tank, a 'Engine Man's Room', and a coal stage. On the rear-right a low wall protects a the drop down to ground level before the rise of the Belle Sauvage printing works behind. At the front-left of the layout, a spiral cab road descends to ground level and pops out in Bear Alley, with waste ground at the rear of other commercial properties before another alley.  Note that on the front right I have noted the route down to the Widened Lines tracks on their steep drop under HV, but I don't think I'm going to include them as a scenic element - it's all ending up a little too crowded! 

Prototype Inspiration

Anyway, whether by serendipity or chance, the Minories track layout functionally matches the real Holborn Viaduct very well. Note the lack of crossovers, the engine shed at the end of the platform and narrow and cramped area. Also note the arrival-only and departure-only platforms - the dock track being an homage to this:

Holborn Viaduct 1871 from English Engineering

Inside the station was magnificent, with huge globe lamps. The view below is from the wooden platform extenion of the plan to the opposite corner, and also details the wonderful 'mixed dog boxes' of the LCDR local trains. The big square grey object behind the train in the middle is (I believe) the ladies WC which was perched in a triangle behind the buffer stop.

It was originally three bays, I've narrowed to two - but I think the essential character remains:

Profile E-E from 1871 plan above

The very low clearance above the widened lines and girder trackbed over them is evident in the cross section above - A mere 20 feet from the bottom of the tracks to ground level means the spiral cab road from the concourse down to Bear Alley (still a cul-de-sac at the point I'm modelling!) is modelable, as is Seacoal/Fleet Lane. Though not a huge distance, it would significantly compromise the structural rigidity of the modules to cut the valance down to ground level, so I think these will probably end up seen from above and through peep-holes in the side of the valance.

On the original the overall roof only covers part of the tracks, much like Minories - the remainder being handled by individual platform canopies:

Note the wooden platform on the left side over the widened lines tunnel approach, and the ringed shunt signals. This picture dates from 1917 and the station has already had the platforms lengthened - the first of many - those water cranes were originally on plain ground in the 1871 drawing. On the far right is the pilot loco engine shed (the doorway void just visible, with 'PEARS' of Pears Soap written above, and above that the water tank.

Hopefully that gives some more context around the layout!