I've put turnout building on hold whilst I await some more supplies so work at the weekend involved finishing the Jinty (screw link couplings and crew painted and added), weathering another ex-PO wagon and making a start on renumbering and weathering a Fairburn tank. Pics of all these to be posted at some point. In the meantime back to the final part of the pseudo-historical mumbo-jumbo with a look at traffic, stock and a track plan.

The supposed era for Heathley Kirkgate will be around 1957 with the line in decline but still seeing good use, especially of freight traffic and through passenger services.

Passenger Traffic

Typical West Riding expresses to London comprised a number of small portions drawn from various locations, coming together at Leeds Central or Wakefield Westgate. The size of the town would be such that it would have it’s own London portions and the position and alternative Leeds to Bradford routing would potentially mean some Leeds to London and Bradford to London portions would run via Heathley. In BR days these portions varied in size; most likely these would be a handful of coaches hauled by an ex-LMS 2-6-4 tank or a B1 but it would not be unusual to have a larger portion hauled by a Pacific.

Stopping trains and cross-country services could be handled by a variety of motive power including ex-LMS 2-6-4 tanks, B1s and larger ex-LMS types such as Black 5s or Jubilees.

Local services would be handled by Ivatt N1s, giving way to early DMUs up to closure.

Freight Traffic

Heathley Kirkgate’s goods yard includes coal drops for the local coal merchant and the goods shed handles a variety of traffic. A private siding opposite services a warehouse. I've not yet decided on what this will be but I'm leaning towards a wool warehouse. Through traffic includes coal and fireclay en-route to Adwalton Brickworks, parcel traffic and wool products. Motive power varied considerably including J50, J39, J6, B1, O4, 3F, Black 5s, Ivatt 4MTs, WDs, 8Fs and 9Fs.

Larger trains will sometimes require banking assistance between Heathley Kirkgate up the bank to Gildersome. This will be handled by a J50 or an Ivatt 4MT.

The plan is finalised now and was discussed here:

http://www.rmweb.co....__fromsearch__1

This sketch gives an idea of how things will look, albeit based on an earlier discarded plan.

That's all for now folks!