Wyre Forest 1960 (ish), a GWR branch line with a twist... (New N gauge)
Entry posted by Will J
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Sorry... I accidentally turned this entry ( a couple of months old ) into a draft, and by un 'drafting' it, it appears today as if it is new. Sorry, didnt mean to clog up the list of today's new blogs!!
Hi all,
Since exhibiting Victoria Bridge in a moderately complete state for the first time, my mind has been pondering a sequel.
I really enjoyed sharing the diorama with the crowds at Frank's excellent Cradley Heath show:
For evidence, see among the pictures in: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/66554-cradley-heath-mrc-ist-model-railway-exhibition/page-2
A real selling point to visitors was the local nature of the scene. Pretty much everybody I spoke to had either trundled over or walked under the full size bridge in recent memory. So, for my next layout, I'm keeping it local, despite the ever present yearning to 'go Cornish' but lets face it, the ratio of Cornish branch lines on RMWeb compared to bits of miniature Worcestershire is a bit embarrasing and I need to fly the flag for my neck of the woods.*
*That said, I still want to create a home for my Dapol 153's of various Cornish flavours....
I want to do something consciously different, but sort of the same. The answer, these pictures paint the scene nicely:
http://www.archive-images.co.uk/index.gallery.php?gid=35&img=18
http://www.archive-images.co.uk/index.gallery.php?gid=35&img=17
Which show Wyre Forest station in the early sixties. A quintisential branch line backwater with all the ingredients for a nice achievable model for someone without the spare time or space for something more expansive. I am still working out the exact plan of attack, but I am hoping to go for something 'a little more fine' than my current Code 80 track over Victoria Bridge, which could yet be anything up to and including 2mm FS.
The general arrangment would be something along the lines of:
Though I'm not sure which way around it would be presented and the exact arrangement of backscenes and the like. I am toying with the idea of a free standing diorama which could be viewed from either side. Victoria Bridge is dominated by the backscene and despite my fears, it works pretty well. I'm keen to shake this up a bit and do something different. An 'either side' viewable scene would save worrying about which side to favour as both appeal to me equally.
As with the 'bridge' the real place is close to home and within cycling or walking distance. The railway itself is closed but as a consolation it has left a handy tarmaced track off the main roads along the trackbed which means you can get there in the same peace and relative isolation as my Gran would have enjoyed on board her railcar!
For those vaguely familiar with the area from trips on the SVR, Wyre Forest station is the next stop on the Tenbury and Bewdley line not far after the long lost route leaves the SVR and crosses the Severn just North of Bewdley, which was once a junction with lines going off in four directions.
I will keep Victoria Bridge as a perfect 'run what ya brung' layout which can suit just about anything that comes out of a Farish or Dapol box with minimal modellers licence. Wyre Forest will feature a more specialist, more minimal set of bespoke stock (especially if done in a finescale fashion) with the grubby patina of the era, and clever couplings of some sort for light shunting. I want to capture a historical moment in time as I have been inspired by the work of other folks here who despite often being too young to remember the era, have gone to extraordinary lengths to recreate it.
So Wyre Forest will be the typical GWR Branch Line layout, the curving road snaking around the scene is straight from the big book of modelling cliches and it is all the better for it! Rather than a roundy-roundy with screeching hairpin bends at each ends, I reckon an end to end arrangement with short trains and cassettes will be more appropriate. I am going to deliberately ignore all I have read about ten-carriage excursions passing though on the way to Barry Island ( as a resort, rather than a scrapheap!) and limit myself to short branch line trains.
I have picked up the excellent Wild Swan publications 'THE TENBURY AND BEWDLEY RAILWAY' which has a wealth of info, especially on trains which for the late 50s or early 60s might include:
Lots of GWR Railcars, of the usual 'straight out of the box Farish variety' (often alternating between green and crimson and cream examples) and an occasional appearance by earlier streamlined types.
An assortment of Panniers on freight, and occasional passenger trains. Tank engines working beyond to Ditton Priors would also have had distinctive spark arrestors.. a 3D printing opportunity?
One example of a small BR Standard 2-6-2 tank with an Autocoach deputising for a failed railcar.
Praries of varying types.
Right at the end of the life of the line, some parts were used to store condemned wagons (in their thousands!).. which if nothing else allows for some heavy weathering!
And also, in the later stages, occasional forays by brand new DMUs on test.
And much more. There are suggestions of larger locos appearing in the 60s on ballast trains and picking up redundant wagons, such as 8Fs and Manors.
All in all, lots of opportunity for interesting, short trains without getting too long, drawn out and expensive!
As with the previous project, watch this space!
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