wigancg Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Hello there everyone and welcome to this new thread for a new proposed layout. Following on from the success and enjoyment of 'Berry Pomeroy', I decided that I would like to rid myself of an older, novice style layout from a few years ago (not Berry Pomeroy) and construct something else in its place. The new layout had to meet certain criteria: Western Region of BR 1950s/60s No specific location but somewhere true to GWR territory - inspiration from Cornwall was the plan Small layout similar in size to Berry Pomeroy Use of small locos Branch line services and setting Some shunting to take place Use of a halt rather than a full on station terminus For some time now I have dabbled with thoughts of using a halt on a small GWR setting layout. I didn't want to have a halt in the middle of some beautiful countryside on a single track branch. As beautiful as this may be, I knew boredom would soon set in, even if some limited shunting opportunities could be made. So, I remembered by interest in Coombe Junction on the Liskeard to Looe branch in Cornwall and how unique and interesting this must have been to operate in the good old days. Coombe is still a very unique place today (we should be thankful that this branch survived against all the odds at all really) as it requires a reversal of direction to gain either access towards Liskeard or Looe and, therefore, it is debatable whether or not it is a terminus from either line or just another halt/stopping place en route to either destination. Personally, Coombe is just a unique halt/stopping place rather than a terminus and that's what I'd like to dabble with. In the end, 'Noss Penan Halt' was born. Very Cornish in name and Cornish I suppose in operation and design. One engine in steam, small halt, limited freight handling opportunities and unique like Coombe in that the loco must run round in order to continue its journey. The design also allows for a shunting puzzle to sort of be created. Unlike Coombe in real life or back in the day, departures to Ippleton St. Mary (see plan) can only be accessed from the platform road, requiring some thoughtful shunting. So, here is a plan which is open to revisions as construction is on the cards but not for a little while yet. Thank you for looking everyone and please feel free to chip in with suggestions/comments or just to be a critical friend Cheers, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Sounds like a good plan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 Hi Andy, Thank you! I find these type of unique locations on our railway network highly interesting, especially the ones found on the far flung corners of the GW where "breaking the mould" was the order of the day Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Just a thought would it be called a Halt if its a terminus (which it looks like if I read your plan correctly). To me a Halt was a through "station" often with no other facilities, ie no sidings etc except a low platform and often a pagoda style waiting room. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mega_mort Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 This seems like a good idea, will watch how this develops. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snofi Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 It's true - there is a prototype for everything including the wholly imagined line I'm modelling which operates in pretty much the same way. Looking good and will follow progress avidly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 Hello everyone and thank you for your feedback so far. Westerner - Yes I agree with you on the general concept of a 'halt' as defined by the GWR. I have a pagoda shelter here to be used and the platform would only be around 30cm long or so but not wooden or ground platform/standing area like Nappers Halt on the Ashburton branch. The idea is to have a variation to Coombe Jct Halt and have some limited freight handling facilities for branch pick up goods. As mentioned in my first post, a traditional halt on a single track branch with no freight shunting etc is just too boring for me. mega_mort - Thank you for your kind, supportive words. I appreciate your following. Snofi - I agree with you completely. The GWR were not afraid to break the mould and layouts that are different in look and operation always attract my interest at shows compared to these big roundy roundy Speedy Gonzales main line ones. Cheers all, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Don't forget to include protection for the Berry Pomeroy branch from any unauthorised moves from the sidings. Gordon A Bristol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 Thanks Gordon A! A good suggestion. Catch or trap points along with the loop signal? Cheers, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I suggest a trap point, and a ground disc in place of the post signal. Gordon A Bristol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianusa Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 The only definition of a Platform and a Halt was that a Platform could take a steam railmotor and trailer and a Halt a four carriage Pannier sandwich. Or was it the other way around?! Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 Thanks guys, Brian - I'm not entirely sure. However, this station/halt will be smaller and much more rural than Berry Pomeroy's terminus. In terms of Coombe Junction on the Looe branch, I'm not entirely sure what the GW expected it to be called or whether the name was altered over time. From photographic research, I've seen the name board on the shelter with 'halt' on and some photos with just Coombe Junction. I believe currently the station has the term 'halt' within the name, although only a couple of services or so a day actually make it far enough to stop in the platform. A decision will be made at some point here at Noss Penan whether to drop or not to drop the halt term. Gordon A - Thank you. I shall bear this in mind. I have some lovely ground signals as it happens all ready for use. I was hoping to have the home signals present for each of the branches entering the halt/station environs but space may not allow it unfortunately. Still we must compromise on some things. One initial idea for the layout was to have the loop line as a former through route like Moorswater but which has been abandoned and lifted beyond the tiny over bridge. The signal post for the abandoned route would still be in situ but have the arm crossed out of use. This may be interesting to model and different? Thanks, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Perhaps Noss Penan Junction would be a good name? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 Thanks westerner. I think the name developments may lean towards this. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 The thing that doesn't sit that well with me is if there's demand round there for cattle, coal and general goods traffic, why are there not enough people to justify a proper station? I'd have a specialised industry for the freight traffic, with the platform primarily serving the workers. Maybe a mine? Less scope for various freight wagons (except on through trains), but a bit more of a likely scenario. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Is this any help? I was thinking about plans for somewhere to run my OO stock, and this topic gave me an idea. It's a Timesaver shunting puzzle, with a junction added. Some of the tracks are stretched, but can be operated strictly as a Timesaver by careful placing of uncouplers, and having a fixed (but removeable) wagon to shorten one siding, or operated as a conventional layout. I've got a Heljan Railbus for the passenger service, so the front branch just has a fiddle yard long enough to take it, and all goods traffic goes to the rear fiddle yard. The big building is probably a dairy, as I've got milk tankers, and the front sidings probably for coal and general goods. The idea is that it was formerly a through station, but the line to the left is closed, and the platform shortened to take a railbus, but there are still goods facilities, partly due to the dairy being there. I think that's a reasonable explanation for around 1958-60 when mine would be set. It's 6ft x 1ft, and points are Peco Code 75 medium radius, with a large radius Y and a curved one. I'm still working on it, and don't know if I'll build it, but I'm getting tempted to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 Thank you for your comments, particularly those people who offer help and support and/or those of you who act as a critical friend but also offer some positives and encouragement too. Thanks for your interesting plan and concept, BG John, this certainly looks a lovely plan and will be interesting to operate. Those Heljan railbuses look lovely in the shops when I've viewed them! I'm afraid I'm not a railbus fan but do you have the Western versions (Kemble-Tetbury) or the Scottish versions? I think the station on Noss Penan would be able to accommodate at least one coach length and part of another whilst the loco runs around. In terms of freight operations, whilst I can see the justifications in having a specific industry, I am looking to have something just a bit different here. Perhaps the cattle dock could be very dilapidated and seen better days, likewise the goods lock up/store? Open to different ideas here at this stage. Or perhaps the abandoned line mentioned in my last post could be a former coal/tin mine link? In terms of station, I often prefer the smaller, wayside locations such as Neen Sollars or Wyre Forest on the Woofferton to Bewdley branch which often had small goods facilities for tiny villages or hamlets. Some often unloading goods onto the platform. However, I'd like some freight shunting and activity. Thanks again, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 I've got a Western Region railbus, and a Bachmann Pannier for goods. I may have another 6 inches length available if things go according to plan, and I've got a Lima GWR railcar that I might convert back from EM, if it still works after years of inactivity, so might be able to make room for that too. That's all I want to run though, as my main 4mm scale interests are early 1900s GWR in EM, and broad gauge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Hope you don't think I was just being critical in a rude way, that wasn't what I had in mind... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 I've got a Western Region railbus, and a Bachmann Pannier for goods. I may have another 6 inches length available if things go according to plan, and I've got a Lima GWR railcar that I might convert back from EM, if it still works after years of inactivity, so might be able to make room for that too. That's all I want to run though, as my main 4mm scale interests are early 1900s GWR in EM, and broad gauge. Hi BG John, That sounds super! I have a GWR railcar too that runs divine and gets occasional use on my other layout, Berry Pomeroy. It will also be used on Noss Penan as well. I'm thinking that Panniers and Prairies will handle the main passenger and small goods pickups. I hope you enjoy developing your layout and I hope to see your thread so that I can follow with interest. Cheers, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Hope you don't think I was just being critical in a rude way, that wasn't what I had in mind... Hi Zomboid, Of course not. Every tip or suggestion is warmly welcomed here. I really enjoy critical analysis as that's what I do as part of my job and I enjoy the practise of being a critical friend I am not as experienced as some of the other modellers on here but I enjoy learning from experts and experience. Cheers, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Hi BG John, That sounds super! I have a GWR railcar too that runs divine and gets occasional use on my other layout, Berry Pomeroy. It will also be used on Noss Penan as well. I'm thinking that Panniers and Prairies will handle the main passenger and small goods pickups. I hope you enjoy developing your layout and I hope to see your thread so that I can follow with interest. Cheers, Chris It was just an idea that I thought may not happen, but a few minutes with a circular saw before the rain restarted, and I almost have a baseboard! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigancg Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 It was just an idea that I thought may not happen, but a few minutes with a circular saw before the rain restarted, and I almost have a baseboard! Hi BG John, Super! Well it looks like you'll be able to develop a fantastic looking layout! Anything GWR needs more broadcasting as you don't seem to see many layouts at shows at the moment. Cheers, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Happy Hippo Posted November 13, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 13, 2015 Just a thought would it be called a Halt if its a terminus (which it looks like if I read your plan correctly). To me a Halt was a through "station" often with no other facilities, ie no sidings etc except a low platform and often a pagoda style waiting room. Agreed, but just to throw a spanner into the works, when I lived in Cardiff, there used to be a Coryton Halt, which was our closest station. It was a terminus, but in reality, just the end of a rather long siding Now it's just called Coryton: It's still a terminus. Although to be fair, it was originally a pair of platforms with rudimentary waiting facilities on the old Cardiff Railway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 It was just an idea that I thought may not happen, but a few minutes with a circular saw before the rain restarted, and I almost have a baseboard!I'd click "like", but it's not available on the phone version of this site.The world needs more timesavers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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