Following on from this thread, I have now started work on the research

Background:

This project is still in the very early stages of research, having decided that I really like both the track plan, the architecture and most importantly the stock seen through the station I have decided that I will base my new project on this line. While at the moment I am planning to model Cheddar, if research on the line turns up a more suitable/interesting station or I find that Cheddar is too large to do justice in the available space I will adjust my plans to another station on the branch (or a work of fiction also based on the branch using elements of other locations.)

This a very new experience for me, my last attempts at layout planning have consisted of the following for research

Google Earth - to get outlines of buildings, general arrangement etc/

Planning Portal, for trackplan and more accurate building footprints

Fotopic, for hundreds of photos taken in the area.

All three of these methods are of minimal use here.

First off I have identified 3 books to purchase, I have ordered Steaming through the Cheddar Valley, and Branchline to Cheddar. The East Somerset and Cheddar Valley Railways will be ordered once Amazon get it back into stock (unless I find a cheap copy in the mean time)

I have seen mention that these include building drawings, and would assume a decent track plan as well.

Next up was www.old-maps.co.uk, from which I sourced copies of the 1930 and 1960 OS maps, their copyright rules appear to allow use for non profit publication so I have included a copy from the 1930 map below.

I am now debating purchasing the full map, however ideally I would like something a little more detailed so will keep looking for now.

Next up is photo research, Google Images somewhat let me down so far, however Ebay has come up with some great photos. For the time being unless something particularly interesting comes up, I have been making do with saving copies (I want to be able to share any photos I buy, so not really interested in buying images with no copyright.) So far I have found a couple of good photos showing the back wall of the station, and one showing the inside of the shed. Going to keep looking out for more, particularly of the goods shed and of stock.

Finally I get onto stock, all will be P4 and DCC. I am planning on fitting a DCC operated Dingham couplings to the locos where possible intending to have hands free DCC coupling. The rest will be prototypical. This is going to be an area for further development later on once I have a clearer idea as to what shunting etc will be required (as well as stock levels)

At the moment my initial plans are for the following:

14xx - this will be a detailed Airfix/Hornby body utlizing the mainly trains kit, on a High Level chassis

57xx - Bachmann body on High Level chassis, still need to research what body detailing will be required

Collett Goods - Mainline/Bachmann on High Level, again still need to research what detailing

45xx (angled tanks) - Bachmann, depending on running performance I will rechassis with the comet parts.

AEC railcar, probably will do a single and a twin, on the look out for cheap lima models and a Westward conversion kit.

As for coaches and wagons I haven't a clue yet......

The next step:

Hopefully the books will arrive on Monday, at which point I can get a track plan scanned with a better scale and start working on the Templot file

That should give the final proving as to whether or not the plan as is can work.

After that I still have some P4tc bits left over from Blackcombe that should be useful, but the biggest task is the stock sale to fund the new locos and track prior to RailWells...