Entry posted by Norton Wood
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So what does N&SBLR mean??
It means Norfolk & Suffolk Boarders light railway, the reason for this name was because we wanted to incorporate some of our favorites line from around the area in which we live. As part of the Whitwell & Reepham Model Railway Club, we have keen interests centered on the M&GN and Great Eastern railways, but with Norfolk and Suffolk sporting two amazing little lines with some amazing loco's we needed an excuse to make or purchase models for this layout.
Initially, the layout was in the form of Board 1 which was and still is called "Terriers Territory", this layout set the standard for the rest of the layout, a simple 3 ft by 1 ft board, this was meant for a competition (I forget which one) Based upon the middy & Wissington Branch, the layout was taken to the first Bawesdwell Model Railway show back in 2016, there was thought for building a second piece which came to nothing, a week before the newbuild J50 Group model show, a club member took away terriers territory and build the second board, this began the formation of N&SBLR, which we came up with the name while at the show.
This has developed into quite the interest for our modelers in the club. Each modeler has been given the task of creating a scene 3ft long by 1ft wide. Each board must be seamless and fit in with the previous board so the next member must create the next board, using the previous board which has been made as reference. It has grown so much that now, all 4 club members will build two boards which will mean the layouts full length could be 18 ft long by 1ft wide.
Currently, the third board has been planned and built, but we are yet to have seen these...but I have been given the task of building the fourth board.
So here we go...
Going back to my GE route and having an excuse to purchase something fate came in the form of the Model Rail Magazine LNER J70 0-6-0 Tram, which I was intending to get, but with N&SBLR being built, it gave the locomotive a purpose, something which I could use for display and for exhibitions.
This is the model I have ordered, which I think may well prove to be the most popular, this being MR-209 7137 in LNER Unlined Black with full skirts. (Photo by Model Rail Magazine) . Plus as the model gets closer to being finished the need for board 4 increases so it seems logical to start working on this now.
In addition to this, 3-period wagons have been bought for the layout to serve the coal merchant at different periods of time, two LNER and one departmental 1950's mineral wagon, which was typically hauled along the W&U when being operated by the last of the J70's and the early Diesel shunters of the day. This is also to reflect that the layout will be running; Industrial tanks, J15's, J70's, Diesel Shunters and the occasional locomotive bought by a modeler for testing. All to reflect the idea's which the club want to produce to gain a bigger love for light railways and smaller (backwater) railways of the day.
The Plan
As for the plan this has gone through four different plans and six drawings of this have been made up, from what we've discussed in the club, with a small scene it has to fit nicely by itself before it can successfully sit with other smaller scenes. So for board No.4 which is what this will be called, I've gone with a Wisbeach & Upwell (W&U) theme, following the drawing below. It will have a single road (track) progressing from one side to the other with a point which will lead to a simple siding which will serve a coal Merchant ( I. Jones - A story has been planned for him).
Opposite this will be either a field (Which I think is a tad boring) or a Pillbox which is appropriate, as by the 1930's and onward. These were being built because of the threat of invasion and afterward, they stuck around and can still be seen today. So it suits our area perfectly and being next to a railway line gives our Home Guard Volunteers or typical British Tommy on the lookout for the odd spy, it also gives latter day soldiers a perfect training building for defending a solid structure.
Modeling
To press on with some modeling I have begun working on a mineral wagon by Parkside, this was something I was given at Christmas last year, which I have finally got round to building. Of course, having worked on these kits before, it was more or less a ten-minute job to put together. I intend to undercoat and paint this while the weather is good enough to work with an airbrush. But the result has been rather good and I'm very pleased with that.
As for loads, as the wagon is going to serve the coal merchant, I intend to have the wagon set at two levels, so it is shunted in full and it will leave the yard almost empty.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this first part of the N&SBLR Modular layout, I intend to put another update after I have built the board and begin the physical planning.
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