Horncastle

[Simon stewart]

This is just a quick introduction to my current project, Horncastle. 

 

Horncastle was a branch terminus on the edge of the Lincolnshire wolds. Whilst the line was very successful until British Railways took over, the branch closed to passengers in 1954 and freight in 1970 when the Lincolnshire loop line closed.

As my internet is in the BR blue period, I decided to build it as if the loop line was still in use, which in turn kept the Horncastle branch open.

As this layout was designed to fit in a bedroom at our old house, the layout is limited to 12'x 2', with some modifications to the prototype track plan.

I have envisaged that a grain silo and UKF fertiliser depot where opened on the site in the late 60's, and I've used these buildings to hide the fiddle yard. The original goods shed was taken over by a tyre distribution company after the line closed, and so I have modelled this as if it were still the case. 

The station building has recently been constructed by Howard Leader, http://bespokemodelbuildings.co.uk/index.html and has done a magnificent job at creating a wonderful building, many thanks Howard!

Will leave it here for now, but will post more in the near future. 

 

Simon.

Edited March 31, 2020 by Simon stewart

[Simon stewart]

Here are a couple of shots, supplied by Howard, of the booking on point and mess room.

[Simon stewart]

And another 2 of the booking hall.

[Simon stewart]

Steady work is being made on the platform, with the edge wall being completed last night. Next job is to make the top, scribe in the coping stones and add drain covers for the down pipes from the building. 

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi Simon

 

The inside modelling is lovely, pity a roof had to be put on top of the building so you cannot see the wonderful detail.

[bigP]

--

Edited February 1, 2021 by bigP
Deleted

[Simon stewart]

1 hour ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Hi Simon

 

The inside modelling is lovely, pity a roof had to be put on top of the building so you cannot see the wonderful detail.

Fortunately Clive, all these rooms have lighting and the booking hall doors are open, so you should hopefully see Howard's work.

[tractionman]

Very nice, would be interested to see how you've adapted the track plan for 2' by 12', have been looking at Horncastle myself, but for 1930s LNER, as I've a family connection to the town and the area, my grandfather was born and brought up locally there.

 

All the best,

 

Keith

 

 

 

 

[Simon stewart]

19 minutes ago, tractionman said:

Very nice, would be interested to see how you've adapted the track plan for 2' by 12', have been looking at Horncastle myself, but for 1930s LNER, as I've a family connection to the town and the area, my grandfather was born and brought up locally there.

 

All the best,

 

Keith

 

 

 

 

Thanks Keith, so as I'm assuming that it survived into the 1980s, there would of course been some track rationalisation. So to that end I omitted the sidings that were at the back of the station, and also to the 2 warehouses that would have at the front of the layout.

Ironically, one of those warehouses is the only building that still survives on the site.

[Simon stewart]

An East Anglian interloper engaged on platform clearance runs.

[Simon stewart]

Quick update.

The platform top has now been finished, with the coping stones scribed on. Not sure how this will look when painted, so this may need a different approach if it doesn't look right. 

I've also fitted the steps at the end of the platform, leading to the front of the goods shed.

Next job is painting the platform sides and top, not something I'm looking forward to. 

[Simon stewart]

Just a quick photo for comparison to the above picture. 

[David Bell]

This is really starting to look the part. I lived in the Lincolnshire wolds in the eighties and remember the building very well. Even then a lot of Lincolshire railway infrastructure remained. I lived 400 yds from the station at Donington-on Bain, another lovely building, and of course Louth was very ornate. Well done

David 

[Brinkly]

Hello Simon,

 

I've just come across your thread; lovely modelling, particularly the building interiors. 

 

Kind regards,

 

Nick.

[Simon stewart]

13 hours ago, Brinkly said:

Hello Simon,

 

I've just come across your thread; lovely modelling, particularly the building interiors. 

 

Kind regards,

 

Nick.

Thanks for your kind words Nick, unfortunately I can't take credit for the main station building, as this was constructed by Howard Leader.

I'm currently working on the platform and trying to keep it to the same standard of Howard's work, not easy I tell yer!

[DOCJACOB]

Lovely lovely work.

 

Some extra passing interest as: 

 

a) the GNR autotrains, when rebuilt as twin coaches, one set was used on the line and I saw reference to them ending there days in Scottish Borders? 

 

b) Also not a million miles from me and a very good Triathlon in Woodhall Spa in pre Covid days 

 

Some very nice images of Horncastle just very recently uploaded to davesrailpics.co.uk 

[Simon stewart]

1 hour ago, DOCJACOB said:

Lovely lovely work.

 

Some extra passing interest 

 

Some very nice images of Horncastle just very recently uploaded to davesrailpics.co.uk 

Thanks for the headsup, will take a look, not been on his site for some time now.

[Enterprisingwestern]

You've got one end platform step too many!!

But seriously, it's looking good.

 

Mike.

[Clive Mortimore]

1 hour ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

You've got one end platform step too many!!

But seriously, it's looking good.

 

Mike.

Well spotted Mike,

 

Come on lance corporal get a grip.....and don't forget to put the slight curve in where the steps have been worn down.

 

  Now why do I feel this might happen when the club starts up again?

[Simon stewart]

12 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

You've got one end platform step too many!!

But seriously, it's looking good.

 

Mike.

Damm, I hoped no one would notice!

Just thought of a great excuse, H&S pointed out the old ones were worn out  so were replaced

[Simon stewart]

10 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Well spotted Mike,

 

Come on lance corporal get a grip.....and don't forget to put the slight curve in where the steps have been worn down.

 

  Now why do I feel this might happen when the club starts up again?

Looks like you're gonna be on show parade tonight CFN Mortimore 

[Clive Mortimore]

1 hour ago, Simon stewart said:

Looks like you're gonna be on show parade tonight CFN Mortimore 

It wouldn't be the first time.

[micknich2003]

There were several articles in the Model Railway Constructor late '50's early '60's on modelling Horncastle in GNRly days.

[Simon stewart]

Been making good progress over the last 2 months. Platform is finished and weathered, ballasting has been completed, with weathering now being carried out.

I've ordered some cobolt motors to replace the unreliable seeps, this will also stop the blades becoming soldered and make the frog switching more reliable.

[Simon stewart]

Another shot of the progress.