Of course, a number of Terriers were sold off and scrapped 1898-1905, and 2 mainline companies acquired 3 between them, so it would be quite in order for the GSR to acquire one.

 

The WNR will!

 

EDIT: Picking up on Wagonman's point about goods facilities, yes yours are currently somewhat meagre for a town of any size.

 

The minimum I reckoned on for Castle Aching was 3:

 

(1) Shorter siding with end loading dock (maybe also livestock pens along part of the length)

 

(2) Long siding with goods shed adjacent for general merchandise, including goods to be kept under cover.  Needs to be serviced by a crane (yours will have one in the goods Sged, but query whether you need a larger one outside adjacent to the siding).

 

(3) Long siding for coal, lime, feed etc, where the merchants unload from the wagon to carts and/or stores.

 

I can't claim that as particularly correct practice, but it makes sense on the ground!

But then I might need to end up with an LB&SCR Terrier, an LSWR Terrier, a SE&CR Terrier *and* a GSR Terrier! With that many, they might start having puppies...

The layout of the yard is intended to be as follows:

The goods shed can only be accessed by first moving any wagons ahead of it in the long siding out of the way first, making for some interesting shunting moves. I'm thinking that this yard would work along with a larger yard a little further out of town, in a less-cramped environment. Perhaps the GSR would charge a small "convenience" premium for using the central goods facilities? I'm not sure about an end-loading dock - anything being unloaded off the end of the wagon would be likely to be farm machinery (not necessary in town) or something on wheels which could be unloaded at the larger yard? Exceptions and corrections welcomed here, of course!

Definitely one to watch. I know the area fairly well, and once hand-dug a very large hole in Bagshot station yard (this is the sort of thing old lags get trainee engineers to do, while watching, supping tea, and offering helpful guidance regarding technique).

 

There was a proposal for a light railway across Chobham Common, at about your period, and I think some earthworks were started, but i’ll Have to delve into my book/ephemera cavern to confirm details.

 

Kevin

 

Visit to cavern unnecessary, the google knows everything http://wokinghistory.org/onewebmedia/151023.pdf

 

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27799/page/3874/data.pdf

Well, that certainly makes me feel that I've picked a plausible location!

Today's work has mostly been on the lining of my back-dated Bachmann E4. This model has had the smokebox shortened (as the loco in question would not have been superheated at the time of the model), the safety valves changed (to Salter valves on the dome) and is having a repaint into Stroudley Goods Green, with black lining (edged in red as the loco was Westinghouse fitted). I wasn't able to find any red-black-red lining, so have cheated and been using BR orange-black-orange lining transfers from Fox, coloured in with a red Sharpie permanent marker. This pen sticks to the printed orange lining, but rubs off the clear backing, giving lovely neat lining!

(Apologies for the lighting, I'll try to take a better photo when I have access to my photo-posing plank and lighting!)