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Whatley Quarry in 4mm OO Finescale 1988-92


lyneux
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Thanks for the continued comments everyone!

 

Al, interesting photos there from your Dad. They do seem to show that the colour light signals next to the bridge were in use during the period that I'm modelling, presumably to control access into and out of the quarry. I'm guessing that both roads were bi-directional (they still are, right Jo?) since there are sets of signals on both. The most frequent path into and out of the quarry always seems to be a cross-over move to the hedge side (away from the river), under the bridge and then a cross back to the road closest to the river side. In fact, the road under the bridge closest to the river (and the sheds) usually seems to be occupied with stock (wagons).

 

One thing that I don't have is good pictures of the stop boards during the 88-92 (ish) period, although I'm guessing that they look pretty similar to how they do today (as seen in Jo's photos).

 

I've been getting on with a rake of KPAs the last week or so and I'll post some shots of progress shortly. I've been working on some 3D prints for the missing hopper actuators as well as replacement styrene hopper doors done on the Silouette Cameo cutter. The walkways at the end are a combination of Colin Craig's ladders and cheque plate (via Stenson Models) plus bits of brass section and wire. Big thanks to Ben for helping me out with some of the research for these!

 

Guy

 

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9 hours ago, lyneux said:

I'm guessing that both roads were bi-directional (they still are, right Jo?) since there are sets of signals on both. The most frequent path into and out of the quarry always seems to be a cross-over move to the hedge side (away from the river), under the bridge and then a cross back to the road closest to the river side. In fact, the road under the bridge closest to the river (and the sheds) usually seems to be occupied with stock (wagons).

 

Yup can go in or out either side Guy, as you say there's usually wagons on the left hand road (looking at the quarry). Beyond the bridge they use the left hand road as I think the weighbridge is only on this line.

At the end of the last video I posted the weighbridge is roughly where the loco is when the video ends. You can see the equipment connected to the track in this video.

Turn your sound down though! 

 

I would be surprised if the stop boards have changed since your era Guy, they looked grubby when I was there.

 

Jo

 

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Guy,  I have managed to scan my photos taken, according to my notes on the back of the prints, in 1987. There are around 60 in total taken during 5 or 6 visits when I was working in the area. I'll post a few at a time so as not to overload your thread. The first were taken on the 14th April 1987.

 

The first two are at Murder Coombe whilst the remaining four show the shed and track under construction from the road over bridge.

 

Robin

 

 

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Robin,

 

My oh my... those are FASCINATING! Thanks so much for taking the trouble to scan and post them.

 

It's interesting to see the evolution of the trackplan around the sheds. What's obviously notable is the truncated left facing turnout (that presumably went to the old shed on the left) that has been incorporated into the plan but is yet to be removed. That, plus the fact that both the middle road and the run around have yet to be laid at this point.

 

Can't wait to see more!

 

Guy

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Guy, I believe the deviation was put in place in 1974 when an expansion of the quarry required access for mainline locos.  see   https://www.northsomersetrailway.com/history.php

 

The next set of photos were taken on the 28.4.1987.  I remember parking my car at Murder Coombe an smelling the abundance of wild garlic when walking to the site where I took some of the photos.

 

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Taken at 2.25pm with #1 in view.

 

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Concrete pad - taken at 2.30pm

 

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56033 exiting Murder Coombe tunnel at 2.50pm with 36 empty PGAs.

 

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2.53pm looking toward Murder Coombe tunnel.

 

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3.00pm - 56033 departing with 13 loaded PGAs.

 

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3.03pm. After a quick dash back and across the road I managed this shot of 56033 exiting Murder Coombe tunnel.

 

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3.05pm  The tail end of the 56033's train of 13 loaded PGAs

 

As the tunnel was now clear and safe I took the opportunity to take the next two photos.

 

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Robin

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi Robin,

 

Some great pics again there... also of the crucial 'Stop' boards just before the tunnel as well as 'Stop and Telephone' which I rather like. I guess that's conclusive evidence that the current boards have been there since 1987 (you were right Jo!)!

 

I've been working on a rake of KPAs this week. I'll try and find some time to post up some photos of progress.

 

Guy

Edited by lyneux
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Hi Guy,  Glad you like them:-)

 

The next set were taken on thursday 7th May 1987.

 

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Taken at 12.50pm with a bit more track laid. #1 and another shunter on the 'hedge' road.

 

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56033 plus 37 empty PGAs crossing Mells River viaduct.  

 

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2.51pm Tail of train entering Great Elm tunnel.

 

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3.03pm 56033 departs light engine to Westbury?

 

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Robin

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Afternoon Guy.

I knew there was still a stop board in the bushes next to the hedge road! Found this on Flickr.

Whatley BR Stop Board

From memory it's slightly closer to the tunnel than the two for the middle and run round, but not by more than a loco length.

 

Jo

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It's gone a bit quiet on this thread so I'll add a few more photos taken on the 9th June 1987. Here are a few more taken at Murder Coombe - I love that name:-)

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taken at 2.15pm

 

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Buffer detail.

 

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Taken at 2.20pm

 

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Unidentified shunter arrives at 2.30pm - Oiling points?scan0161.jpg.901887eba354e303d5773106dae9b386.jpg

 

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Departs at 2.40pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nice shots there Robin. That looks like a sentinel. First time I've seen shots of one at Whatley (and different to the TH Vanguard photos that I've seen).

 

I was trying to read the words on the side of it to be able to identify it. It looks like 'Loco Hire'?

 

Guy

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1 hour ago, barrowroad said:

2.50pm followed by a train of loaded PGAs leaving at 3.13pm.

Blimey that's a quick turnaround! You'd struggle to do that these days. It looks weird seeing pictures of an empty Whatley! Even when I was last there a few years ago it was hectic and virtually always something on one of the roads, and it's only got busier since!

 

Jo

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

If you get bored after 6, you could always supplement them with some of the new Cavalex Bardon wagons! I don’t remember them in mixed rakes but Australia3393’s photo on Flickr is evidence. Would need some serious weathering to tone down those yellow bogies though!!

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Hi Steve, you read my mind!

 

Already ordered 6 Bardon's to pepper into the rake. The Cavalex ones are of a slightly different build code to the ones in the photo above that ran intermixed with the KPAs but I'm willing to bend the rules a bit for the nice colourful effect!

 

P.S. The bogies on the first batch were black, but yellow on the second batch (that Cavalex are doing).

 

Guy

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Here's a couple of shots of the rake in progress. Still only 5 on the layout but the last of the batch is close behind.

 

I think I'll probably have a pause after this and work on something else. Weathering the PTAs?

 

I had a notification this morning saying that 20 more ARC PTAs are on their way!

 

Guy

 

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