Hackney Graham Road

Having been born and bred in Wick Road Hackney, I look forward to following your progress - I have great memories of watching trains on the North London lines (mainly freight workings) at Digby Road in the late 1950s/60s - Happy days.

Fantastic - I wish I'd had the opportunity, but wasn't born until '62!   would very much like to hear any of your reminiscences around types of trains and locos used - both interesting and useful... Regards

Hi D9012.

 

I lived in Hackney until 1968 - The north London line never seemed to be that busy and what I saw was mainly Freight workings all with Brake Vans with the main traction being Class 15/16 & 20, but also remember seeing Class 24/31/37/47 and very often a Hymek (Green Livery) on a cross London Freight from the Western Region - Never seemed to see much Steam, but do remember seeing a  Black 5 on a Troop Train heading east, very rare to see a passenger train on that line from what I remember.

 

Hope this is of some use.

 

Cheers, Bob.

Excellent Bob, thanks.  Interesting about the Hymek,  as I know the Western steam locos were not allowed on the North London.  Especially like the Black 5 on the troop train - first I've heard of that, despite seeing records of Battle of Britain locos on such.

I'm sure it was a black 5, but I was only about 10 or 12 at the time - It may well have been another Loco type - The Hymek's were a regular sight, I had a good view of the line from my classroom window at Upton House School in the mid 60s.

 

Cheers, Bob.

Latest view of the shed in the gallery....

 

 

 

Good space that you have there to work with - Look forward to your progress with this project.

 

Cheers, Bob.

Hi D9012 - Any update on this Layout ?.

 

Cheers, Bob.

Crikey it has been a long time since I even signed into RMWeb!!!   Apols to anyone interested in seeing updates.     In the main I have been tidying the baseboards, joining, levelling, laying cork and painting the baseboard tops.   Some track is now being laid.    This is Peco in the off-scene parts, and C&L in the scenic - except the C&L track moulds are currently broken before I've purchased any!  I'm hoping they will be fixed before the Warley show.   I shall be aiming to upload an image shortly, showing the Dalston end of the fiddle yard

Hi D9012 - Looking forward to more updates and pics please.

 

Cheers, Bob.

Hi all, sorry for the delayed updates - I have been through redundancy & subsequent retirement and dealing with life, not the least now becoming Chairman of the East Beds MRS! I have also started 2 additional layouts as test-beds for Hackney, Begborough (BR Blue OO) and Madford (N Gauge LMS 1930s in principle).

 

Hackney has been progressing slowly - fiddle yard track (Peco code 75) is now laid but needs gapping at board ends, and wiring needs to start. I have started building C&L points for the scenic section and laying in some blockwork for the scenery. As for that, I stated this will blur the geography of the area and some will be pure invention to purely please my wants. So, I have arranged for the eastern end scenic break to be the Cambridge line bridge south of Hackney Downs station. Hackney (Central) is being moved westwards a few yards to have platforms poking out under the bridge. I shall include an element of Cottrill Road and Spurstowe Terrace which were adjacent on the north side of the line. Centrally I will include parts of Navarino Road and the 9 house backs for Navarino Grove. Between there and the Cambridge line I am including a nod to the real allotments, but inventing the rest of that space because of how I have changed the railway environment, principally reversing the coal yard (inspired by Kensington High Street and Walworth Road coal drops) and including some industrial buildings (eg from Stoke Newington) as a backdrop.

 

The other side of Navarino Road is pure invention, though I am retaining the actual road names of Greenwood Road and Fasset Road. This area will have a tube station building (Arnos Grove), a small bus station and a cinema (Letchworth), with other commercial buildings. One example will be based upon Shoe Rebuilders of Stratford.

 

Period of operation will be circa 1959. All sorts of steam, early diesels and a fabricated timetable that will include boat trains using St Pancras, and a triangular service between North Woolwich, Palace Gates and Ally Pally (via Canonbury/Finsbury). I hope to build some electric units - 501s and Oerlikons - for an erstwhile Poplar service. There is many years work to be done.........