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ECML - Selby (Pre-Diversion)


woodyfox
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Hi,

 

My new project (having moved from 7mm) is to make a concerted effort to model a small strip of the ECML from Barlby Road bridge, Selby to just past Selby swing bridge. I've built just the bridge before in N gauge but it had it's faults and the enterprise failed due to a house move and lack of space. I have the space now for an as near to scale model. It will consist of 4 scenic boards each a maximum of around 900mm long. The maximum width I have decided on (and the biggest compromise) is a maximum width of 450mm. This means no original station building beyond a very low relief and only about 3 sidings in the fairly extensive yard that existed where the bus depot is now.

I will use DCC as control and will try to get as many sound fitted traction units as possible. I'll be using code 55 in the scenic section (all Peco including turnouts) and 80 in the storage yard which will be 2440mm long and 450mm wide on 4x draw sliders. This should allow me to have storage roads that are capable of holding 15 vehicle trains (this is another compromise as Freight-liners ran in the period covered through Selby conveying upto 20 vehicles). 

The scenic boards will be open construction with a low datum point allowing the various changes in levels from the river Ouse surface up to Ousegate underpass and the highest point of Barlby Road bridge.

I have done the research as far as I can for now on the traffic pattern for the section in 1978/79 and this will be the focus for the services. I have WTT's for the period including the YJ section for conditional services and YA, YE and YC for mandatory services. I have also researched the carriage stock workings for the services and have guessed the few gaps I have. I've even made up the full WTT on a spreadsheet for all services. It will take a long time to collect the full compliment of ECML coaching stock and a surprising amount is available in RTR form. As a sample, 00:00 to 03:00 is re-produced below so you get an idea of what ran through Selby in 78/79. The research is a hobby in itself!

1337531369_First3hours.JPG.0a1d20ee21a683aab5bba0728fea22d6.JPG

 

That's a lot of Mk1 sleeper stock!!

 

The first phase will be to build up board 1 which will be the river Ouse, swing bridge, hydrostatic actuating tower and Ousegate underpass.

 

Cheers

 

Stu

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Hi Stu,

 

I shall watch your progress with great interest. I started my railway career at Selby in 1973, and returned there on the odd occasion to do a bit of relief cover in late 1977/early 1978. Just one question, when you refer to "Barlby Road Bridge", do you mean "Bawtry Road Bridge (aka Park Street bridge)"?

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13 minutes ago, iands said:

Hi Stu,

 

I shall watch your progress with great interest. I started my railway career at Selby in 1973, and returned there on the odd occasion to do a bit of relief cover in late 1977/early 1978. Just one question, when you refer to "Barlby Road Bridge", do you mean "Bawtry Road Bridge (aka Park Street bridge)"?

Yes of course Bawtry Road. I had Barlby on the brain with the WTT. Interesting you worked at the station. I have collected a reasonable amount of images and the 70s were a period of significant alterations to the track layout (particularly the coal yard side) and the addition of a walkway on the Goole side of the bridge. I've also picked up on the refurbishment of the Station Managers house at some point close to 78/79...

Any help would be much appreciated as we're talking over 40 years ago now... 

Cheers 

Stu 

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Here's the bare bones of the swing-bridge board with 40181 placed where the down line will pass across the fixed span having just crossed the two overbridges over Ousegate. The card roll is placed where the swing pivot will be. Gives a good idea of scale. In N gauge the swing-bridge is 520mm long. The white tubes will form the two central metal piers once the MEK sets. Theses are rolled 0.5mm styrene sheet. 

IMG_20211112_165259.jpg.08f893b70ec2fa21cc0a1ecaf4b466e4.jpg

Just to the left is the inner support wall of the Ousegate underpass. The road bed of the two lanes here are quite complex to get right and appear to now have different levels. I have an image from 40odd years ago that looks different to now. Twill be a challenge! 

 

IMG_20211112_165214.jpg.2b7828c68eeeaba1a420560341e8192e.jpg

 

I don't know whether to raise the river bed and varnish or use a resin to represent the Ouse yet. Luckily being tidal, the height is not critical. 

 

Cheers 

Stu 

 

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Tiny bit more progress on the swing-bridge board. Varnish is dry on the MDF supports and ply top. Next job is to lay the rails and wire up. I will use code 55 on the non-bridge section and code 80 on the bridge (actually 5 bridges in quick succession) across the longitudinal timbers. I'm also considering using real timber for the cross planking on the main span. Not sure if i can make it look in scale but only wood really looks like wood... 

For now, a mid-morning York - KX crosses the Ouse.. IMG_20211118_171506.jpg.101fca7a3a6cd2a3fe5ac1daa21829fc.jpg

 

Cheers

Stu 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi, 

Board two which incorporates the section from the station footbridge to just prior to Ousegate is built. The first bit of track has been laid too! 

IMG_20211128_171035.jpg.a00f1bd39fe9c369aa8a8b8c25326881.jpg

These are the short sections from the board 1 and 2 interface, where I've used copper clad soldered onto the rail, to the toe-end of the station loop country end turnouts. The track is laid on high density 2.5mm aero-modellers foam. 

Board two also has a slight gradient as per prototype. As trains come off the bridge there is a slight down gradient into the station. All images in the location show it so it can't really be ignored. The board top drops about 2mm over 300mm here so about 1 foot over about 150ft in 2mm scale. IMG_20211128_171112.jpg.8baaa759cfff9668bf5ac312b30e3844.jpg

Not sure you can even see it on the photo? 

IMG_20211128_171052.jpg.24705ede828b5732143d168e94c82791.jpg

Here's the wider view from where the down platform (country end) will be - a favoured photography location. The central piers are in for the bridge too! 

Cheers 

Stu 

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Hi, 

Bridge board tracks have been laid. These are the hardest to do as i had to remove sleepers and lay the bridge decking first. I have managed to use real wood which will weather nicely. 

IMG_20211201_172436.jpg.0d801b91fb37aff52527409b5dcad77e.jpg

 

I've also began to construct the central wooden framework that protects the central bridge piers. Again, real wood for nice weathering. 

IMG_20211201_172450.jpg.e4b4d426401fe0fd513e27184e0c704f.jpg

 

IMG_20211201_172501.jpg.9e99e9a83b7cd7381ef2016e64a7578a.jpg

 

The bridge decking consists of coffee stirrers that are scored to produce a simulation of 6 inch planks at 2mm scale. The reak danger here was a loss of gauge once the sleepers are removed but stock runs through fine. 

Cheers 

Stu 

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Hi, 

The pier protection timbers have been completed and a start has been made on the swing section sides of the bridge. All the various strengthening struts and beams have been marked up too. The arc is a pain, but i think i'm there with it:

 

IMG_20211204_171045.jpg.e49b22a6dfbfb995a56a17b5465220b4.jpg

IMG_20211204_171037.jpg.2f157bb3b9c4f1c301b22e3bf67d9f01.jpgIMG_20211204_171019.jpg.c0dabb2cb5f55933725f73a7e2002b82.jpg

 

Cheers 

Stu 

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5 hours ago, woodyfox said:

Hi, 

The pier protection timbers have been completed and a start has been made on the swing section sides of the bridge. All the various strengthening struts and beams have been marked up too. The arc is a pain, but i think i'm there with it:

 

IMG_20211204_171045.jpg.e49b22a6dfbfb995a56a17b5465220b4.jpg

IMG_20211204_171037.jpg.2f157bb3b9c4f1c301b22e3bf67d9f01.jpgIMG_20211204_171019.jpg.c0dabb2cb5f55933725f73a7e2002b82.jpg

 

Cheers 

Stu 


I will be driving over that a few times tomorow! Looking forward to seeing this layout develop!!

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2 hours ago, woodyfox said:

Thank you for those images, really appreciate it. 

The second image is a mechanism for detonator placement when the bridge is open i believe? 

Cheers 

Stu 

Yes indeed. When i was an S&T Trainee with the mechanical installation gang in the 1970s we were involved with the installation of several more "det placers" around Selby on the approaches to the swing bridge.

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12 minutes ago, LNERGE said:

I take this to be river signal B..

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49212920@N03/33122388501/

Yep, that's it. Originally it was planned to be electro-pneumatically operated. Not sure how often it was operated in the "off" position, maybe in the early days but don't think it was ever "off" when I was at Selby. All that maintenance did was change lamp/batteries periodically. 

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Were these distants backed up with a semaphore stop signal - or was that the red lights on the bridge? 

If the distants are more than 120 feet from the York side and 70 feet from the Goole side of the bridge, they'll be out of the scope of my depiction. 

Thanks for sharing, fascinating stuff! 

Cheers 

Stu 

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37 minutes ago, woodyfox said:

Were these distants backed up with a semaphore stop signal - or was that the red lights on the bridge? 

If the distants are more than 120 feet from the York side and 70 feet from the Goole side of the bridge, they'll be out of the scope of my depiction. 

Thanks for sharing, fascinating stuff! 

Cheers 

Stu 

There was only one distant signal, it was positioned round the bend in the river towards York (up stream of the bridge the one in the photo), so would be out of your scope. It was provided as an aid to the ship/barge "captains" coming down stream that wouldn't be able to see the bridge until round the bend. There was no need for a distant signal in the other direction as the river was straight and provided good sighting of the bridge.

 

The original intention would have been to clear the signals (the distant and the "home" signal on the bridge) once the bridge was opened to river traffic, to enable clear passage for shipping. What I'm not sure about is when (if) the signals were cleared, if this depended on the toll bridge being opened as well, this being positioned between the distant signal and the swing bridge. As far as I'm aware there were no "instructions" to cover this. 

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15 hours ago, LNERGE said:

My guess is they were perhaps a little unreliable. They were surrounded by many many spent detonator pieces.

The one on the Down Goods Loop (1941 signal at Selby South) suffered with this problem a bit until the control circuit was modified (effectively a short delay added to the "release" circuit) to hold the dets off the rail for a few seconds longer to give time for the last wheel of slow freights coming out of the loop to get passed the det machine so that the dets weren't being "cracked" every time a train used the loop.

 

Apologies to @woodyfox for hijacking his thread with info "out of his model scope".

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6 minutes ago, woodyfox said:

That's great information, thank you. I have a sectional appendix for the early 70s. I'll check any working regulations are covered. 

 

Cheers 

Stu 

Hi Stu,

Not found any instructions in the SA's. I suspect that such an instruction would found in the "Local 'Box Instructions" - which are like hens teeth to find.

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8 minutes ago, iands said:

 

Apologies to @woodyfox for hijacking his thread with info "out of his model scope".

No hijacking! The more info the better. I may eventually model the Barlby district with goods loops and the animal feed mill would be a spectacular model! 

Thanks for your assistance. 

Cheers 

Stu 

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Hi, 

Good progress continues! I've completed applying the ribs on both sides of all 4 bridge sides. The side land profiles have been added to board 1 (swing bridge) and a start has been made on the river bank foundations. I also needed to complete the swing bridge section counter-weight which hangs just above the river bank. This is a simple styrene box. To attempt to create a bit of realistic clatter over the bridge, some thin scrap copper sheet was laid inside with a few small ball bearings. I'm hoping these will vibrate a bit as trains run over a rail joint above. Nothing lost if it doesn't work as I'm thinking of using a metal jar lid with ball bearings inside to represent part of the pivot mechanism - this might work too! 

IMG_20211211_083106.jpg.9d3aeabe8956a9af3d9619a0460be602.jpg

Posed bridge side with counter-weight fixed underneath. 

IMG_20211211_083048.jpg.2d48f5c2233f55d7dd583b6b950f401b.jpg

Side view. There is a footway underpass to go in behind the counter-weight. 

IMG_20211211_075947.jpg.056c9d256897abf57fb9a20ffb2d19c7.jpg

Inside the counter-weight with copper and metal balls for a rattle effect. 

 

Cheers 

Stu 

 

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Hi, 

The bridge sides are painted, weathered and fixed in place. 

IMG_20211214_164339.jpg.b4a4ae9ffb8d4f2cc70fab16098e71ee.jpg

The above shows a Brush Type 4 leading some Mk1s into Selby - probably a SO Bridlington to Wakefield summer holidaymaker return. 

The decking has also been weathered. I'm pleased with the use of real wood here as it adds good texture. 

IMG_20211214_164318.jpg.07ee62eca787161082a5c6d78969c26c.jpg

These are the two bridges that span Ousegate which will pass under here on 4 different levels including the pavements. The section between the rails simulates the riveted metal bridge sections. A job still to do is detailing the other joining sections between bridges - hence the white bits. 

I've also built and fitted the footpath underpass at the other end of the section. 

IMG_20211214_164618.jpg.595caca4fd9055910f2e9ed3b8345ac5.jpg

Keen observers will see the puddles in the underpass... Just above and to the reader's left will stand the hydrostatic actuating tower. The foundations are in place. 

IMG_20211214_164252.jpg.6cf198b249940e29fc82c1b5e0b4169a.jpg

Here's a wider view of where i am at the moment. I've also made a start on the rotating pivot mechanism which sits under the high point of the swing section. 

Cheers 

Stu 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi, 

The surfaces of the 5 bridges spanning the Ouse are pretty much done:

IMG_20211224_182616.jpg.052b83bcfc10539f183650b25db5ce9d.jpg

IMG_20211224_182558.jpg.983ce47a515ad05eee0d02b1d4b8ae99.jpg

IMG_20211224_182545.jpg.67f558c3ba504272f635e20257a83428.jpg

 

The land forming of the river banks is also ready for some foilage etc.. 

IMG_20211224_182447.jpg.65ca6a56a652de6f12082dc56fc3e52e.jpg

IMG_20211224_182414.jpg.a8d9421d87b316c43627f11fd9990361.jpg

 

Next will be the control tower and HAT buildings. 

Merry Christmas everyone

Cheers 

Stu

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On 06/12/2021 at 02:15, LNERGE said:

My guess is they were perhaps a little unreliable. They were surrounded by many many spent detonator pieces.

No not unreliable but they could only be retracted when all the interlocking was achieved and as such every time a signal was passed at danger the detonators were still on the track!

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