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Kicking back in Gloucester

Mikkel

Entry posted by Mikkel

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Here's an idea for a potential future layout in the Farthing series. The idea is to show a small section of the yard and sidings at Farthing. The trackplan is based on a real-world prototype, namely an interesting ladder of kick-back sidings in Gloucester Old Yard, which served a variety of purposes. By focussing on one end of the track ladder, the layout can feature a variety of stock movements in a limited space, while still following the prototype.

 

 

sidings001.jpg

Crown Copyright 1936

 

Above is an OS map showing Gloucester Old Yard (as of 1936, hence past the 50 year copyright date). Goods depot on the left, engine shed on the right, and lots of sidings in between. Lovely!

 

 

 

sidingsx4.jpg

 

Here is the map again, after I’ve been at it with my crayons! As you can see, the red headshunt in the middle served a variety of interesting facilities (is headhunt the right word in this case? Americans would call it the lead, I think). This included the coaling stage, and a yard where the loco department deposited ash and stored the occasional loco. The engineers also had some special vehicles in these sidings, including an inspection saloon with its own carriage shed. The sidings also served the Gloucester water works, and a private goods depot used by, among others, a biscuit company.

 

 

 

closeupkickback6.jpg

 

Here’s a close-up, showing how all sidings to the right of the headshunt were effectively kick-back sidings. Consequently, trains had to be propelled/drawn almost to the end of the headshunt to access the sidings. Two locos worked the sidings: The yard pilot and the shed pilot.

 

 

 

closeupkickbackx3.jpg

 

Looking at photos I also noticed that by the late 1940s an additional point had been provided linking the headshunt in question with the mileage sidings (not visible on this 1936 map, but drawn in here). This included the two sidings seen here in green, which led to an end-loading dock and seem to have featured a good variety of vans and mineral opens.

 

 

 

layoout56.jpg

 

So how does all that translate into a small layout? Well the idea is that the layout will feature just the extreme uppermost part of the yard, as indicated here with the green outline. The rest of the yard is represented by an off-scene fiddle yard.

 

 

 

00xxok.jpg

 

The plan above illustrates the variety of stock and moves that can be justified on the layout. For 1-5, trains are drawn back/propelled into the headhunt (and hence onto the layout) before being moved into the relevant siding (ie back off-scene). Movements of the Loco Coal wagons were especially interesting: They were exchanged between the yard pilot and the shed pilot. The two mileage sidings (6) provide for a bit of general shunting (edit: and coaching stock storage, see below). The small section of track (7) is a scenic indication of the rest of the mileage sidings.

 

 

 

Image2.jpg

 

Apart from the shunting, there could be a few interchangeable cameos/dioramas to indicate the passing of the day in a yard. See the “flexible layout” idea. I am playing with the idea of setting the layout in 1947, which would be a departure from my normal Edwardian timeframe. EDIT: On reflection I have decided to stick with the Edwardian period. An OS map from 1902 suggests that the trackplan displayed above was largely similar around the turn of the century, give or take one or two sidings.

 

Note: Much of the inspiration for the layout comes from an article in GWRJ No. 45, which describes operations in Gloucester Old Yard. If I have misunderstood something (including terminology) please don’t hesitate to correct me.

 

Edit 1: I have found the following 1932 photo on the excellent "Britain from Above" site. The layout will focus on the busy sidings upper right, where the road bends. Registered members of the site can zoom in on the photo - and this reveals that the two mileage sidings that I intend to include on the layout are crammed with coaching stock! More stuff to run and model then :-)

 

EPW037838.jpg

Original image here. "You may, print, display, and store for your personal use at home and you may copy to a blog or personal web page as long as the page is freely available with no login restrictions and no charges."

 

 

Edit 2: Since writing this post I have decided to stick with my Edwardian timeframe. The above post has therefore been lightly edited to avoid confusion.

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richbrummitt

That's a very good point Rich. It would be ridiculous to have a huge fiddle yard for a micro. I was thinking of having a separate cassette for each train (less the loco). I like hassle-free operation, but as the stock would not all be shunted at the same time of day, there would be different sessions, each with a couple of cassettes. Could that not work?

I don't know. this might be one of those what is acceptable to you kind of questions. Normally for a micro you would have various sidings and remove all the leads to a sector plate or cassette or whatever.

 

Most of the operational interest is probably in the mileage or carriage sidings with the head shunt to a world of sidings off scene a really good excuse to pull almost anything into the scene and push it away again (from where it came - but in the imagination a completely different siding - or out of the main (number 1 track) exit to the yard). It could work really well, especially with your imagination and masterful storytelling.

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Mikkel
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Thanks for these thoughts, Rich. What attracted me to this plan was - as you say - the variety of stock that can legitimately be moved on and off the layout (plus the scenic options, more on that later).

 

But in terms of interesting shunting moves it could become a little limited. My solution to this on The depot is to use the fiddle yard for a shunting puzzle. Maybe I could  do a sort of combination thing, where the fiddle yard has a couple of sidings for shunting, as well as a cassette siding. Plenty more to think about on the daily commute :-)  

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Mikkel
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Many thanks Rob!

 

It is good to know that Bachmann are studying our projects closely and announcing stock to fit them ;-)

 

I can just see one of these working the sidings with a shunter's truck. I might remove the auto-gear and turn it into a 74xx, but let's see how it all plays out.

 

PS: The option to convert it into a 2021 is also quite exciting for the Edwardian period layouts (maybe even rebuild the entire body structure including saddle tanks out of plastikard?!).

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Job's Modelling

Although I like  the large concept of Glouchester it may be to big for your purpose.

I found a 1914 map showing Hockley's extensive goods yard and shed facilities for the Soho Canal Branch on the internet.

 

http://warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrhd1664.htm

 

Think there are a lot of possibilities here. Also for creating a nice scene.

There are a lot of pictures to find on this one at http://warwickshirerailways.com (can't get the link working, sorry) 

 

Hope that I don't disturb your plans for The Farthing Sidings by sending this one.

 

Regards,

 

Job

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Mikkel
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Hi Job, many thanks for the map of the Hockley basin shed. I had not noticed that before. I agree that the canal/railway setting makes for a great layout setting. I also like Brentford dock. 

 

I have used a little bit of the main Hockley depot in my goods depot - the mezzanine floor and cranes is sort of the same idea.

 

For "the sidings", I sense that several people are trying to tell me it is a bit too large for Farthing :-)  However I would like to see what happens if I adapt it into something a bit more modest. It is worth taking a step further before deciding, I think, but these suggestions are very much appreciated.

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Job's Modelling

Hello Mikkel,

 

Maybe you can build several parts of the Gloucester Goods Yard plan.

I was thinking of:

- a coal siding: empty and full coal wagons for the local coal merchants

- cattle traffic wit a large cattle pence

- the biscuit factory

- exchange sidings (shunting puzzle)

 

There was also LLANTHONY RAILWAY YARD. 

You can find a lot of information about this one here www.gsia.org.uk/reprints/2005/gi200519.pdf  

 

I also like the Brenford Dock.

(my next diorama will be something with water. At this moment I think about a canalside diorama)

 

Regards,

Job

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Mikkel
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I look forward to seeing you do a diorama with water! I think it will fit your approach very well, they way you capture urban/built-up atmosphere would be great for a dock environment. I was not kidding about Edward Hopper!

 

For The Sidings my plan was to do the layout as shown in the fifth big image above. Ie the uppermost end of the head shunt, a single siding for the biscuit depot, and two mileage sidings. I think I can fit that in a small space. Or that is my hope.

 

Thanks for the link. I will check it out now.

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