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  • RMweb Gold

The completed viaduct looks as magnificent as we might have expected. With the imminent arrival of the Bachmann H2 and then H1 Atlantics, there is scope for a phenomenal photo opportunity. There will have been a time in 1932 when the juice rail was in place, but not energised. Thus a Southern-liveried Atlantic, on Set 469 or 470 - both fairly well represented among Hornby's olive Maunsells - could be seen on the viaduct to advantage. See P48 of Gould's Maunsell book for an H C Casserley 1930 photo of such a train arriving at Haywards Heath with set 469.

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Crikey, that's looking seriously good Rod.

 

Thanks Tim, I'm pleased that the efforts of a growing team are bearing fruit, and it makes us more confident for its future development. I'm sure Coldstream will be equally impressive!

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  • 1 month later...
  • RMweb Gold

We have just returned from a two day trip to Sussex and then on to Kent. This was to familiarise our new team members (Taz & Brinkly) with the delights of the viaduct and the Balcombe station environs.

 

In all its majesty.

post-6728-0-12568000-1540642696_thumb.jpg

 

For those who enjoy an outside bathe!

post-6728-0-77275200-1540642314_thumb.jpg

 

A few snaps of a 'would have been but wasn't railway'...the earthworks of the planned 'Ouse Valley Railway' Somebody has modelled this 'never was' and very nice it is too. 'Hermoncieux' I think it was called.

Looking southwest

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Looking northwest

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Bridge abutments

post-6728-0-24704500-1540644767_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Re6/6
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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks Ian.

 

Indeed! They are proving invaluable with Brian Taz building coaching stock and EMU coaches with Nick Brinkly building our wagons.

 

A map of the 'didn't get built' railway. I've seen a superb '00' model of the line, 'Hurstmoncieux' I think it was called.

post-6728-0-61799800-1540645551_thumb.jpg

 

Later we made our way to Kent at the invitation of the S4 Soc Kent Area Group to see their layout 'Eridge' which was very enjoyable 

 

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Two Roxey coaches built by Rocar. one with working sliding door!

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On the way home yesterday we went on to visit the real Eridge.

post-6728-0-72890900-1540646165_thumb.jpg

 

The surviving set of stops on the up side just visible through the undergrowth.

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And of course there was the obligatory visit to the Bluebell Rly and we enjoyed a very comfortable ride in the compartment of of a Maunsell with its lovely soft seating. IEP seats they weren't!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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One of the objectives of the trip was to get more information on the bridge north of Balcombe station which will be one of our scenic end-points (just to confirm there was no trespassing involved in any of these photos)

 

 

post-6669-0-88308000-1540650518.jpg

 

Back at Eridge, the (up) platform had been extended since the last time I was there in order to accommodate 12-coach trains. As part of this, the remains of the signal box had finally been demolished, but it provided views previously unavailable without a track pass - a closer view of the original down inner home bracket and a view back to the station from the signal box location, which was used in many historical photos.

 

post-6669-0-23842600-1540650521.jpg

 

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Following John's post concerning the route and remains of the Ouse Valley line (some civil engineering enabling works were done but it was then abandoned), I can point you at Dumpman films http://www.dumpman.co.uk - they cover many closed lines on the Southern (and more besides) - never going to win any prizes for cinematography or editing, but they are very informative and entertaining and are like walking the lines yourself.

 

Edited by 10800
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  • 11 months later...
1 hour ago, Oldddudders said:

This has been a long journey through an ambitious project. Magnificent result! And a daughter (?) who can take decent videos is to be thanked, too! 

 

Haha, it is my daughter but her Google account seems to have infiltrated my YouTube channel. Something must be done ...

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  • 5 months later...

As you may or may not realise, we are a bit leftfield on this project. We have already bent reality a bit by retaining the tramway overhead in Balcombe yard, assuming it survived into operational use; and added a headshunt to increase operational flexibility.

 

IMG_3507.JPG.0e293549cb38688e2e38e3bb677bec0d.jpg.e4b5885073c861f2787634bdec1faff0.jpg

 

In a further development in our part of the multiverse, partly to keep us enthused in the current period, we are looking at a revision of reality where the LBSCR overhead electric system was not abandoned in the 1920s in favour of the third rail, but was retained and expanded, including the Brighton main line. Details are still to be worked out, mainly a means of avoiding the cat’s cradle of catenary, but we will be retaining and modifying existing stock. Some reconfiguring of motor coaches may be required to allow for the different equipment, but essentially the trains will be the same.

 

As a flavour, this is a very preliminary conceptual mockup, using a Sommerfeldt pan, part-built Midi (French) mast and a length of phosphor-bronze wire:

 

IMG_3963.JPG.c772430c848ad08c794444b43fc62daf.JPG

 

IMG_3964.JPG.82f3832e51113cf773be56fa6e58de88.JPG

 

IMG_3966.JPG.878831c2973ab0a9a9cfc7348eee2d0f.JPG

 

 

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  • RMweb Premium

Stunning project.


Personally for me, it feels a real shame to have lovingly recreated a real location only to add ficticious OHLE to it, but it's your layout!

 

Oh I've just realised the date. God I hate April Fool's, but I'll do the honourable thing and leave my daft musings above!

Edited by njee20
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  • RMweb Gold

Hamilton Ellis did think of the possibilities, of course.

 

"Still one wistfully imagines the stimulating swish of bow or pantograph through the Sussex Weald, with, it might have been, imposing electric locomotives working superior Brighton fasts and Belles pull-and-push a la Suisse."

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  • RMweb Gold
3 hours ago, 10800 said:

As you may or may not realise, we are a bit leftfield on this project. We have already bent reality a bit by retaining the tramway overhead in Balcombe yard, assuming it survived into operational use; and added a headshunt to increase operational flexibility.

 

IMG_3507.JPG.0e293549cb38688e2e38e3bb677bec0d.jpg.e4b5885073c861f2787634bdec1faff0.jpg

 

In a further development in our part of the multiverse, partly to keep us enthused in the current period, we are looking at a revision of reality where the LBSCR overhead electric system was not abandoned in the 1920s in favour of the third rail, but was retained and expanded, including the Brighton main line. Details are still to be worked out, mainly a means of avoiding the cat’s cradle of catenary, but we will be retaining and modifying existing stock. Some reconfiguring of motor coaches may be required to allow for the different equipment, but essentially the trains will be the same.

 

As a flavour, this is a very preliminary conceptual mockup, using a Sommerfeldt pan, part-built Midi (French) mast and a length of phosphor-bronze wire:

 

IMG_3963.JPG.c772430c848ad08c794444b43fc62daf.JPG

 

IMG_3964.JPG.82f3832e51113cf773be56fa6e58de88.JPG

 

IMG_3966.JPG.878831c2973ab0a9a9cfc7348eee2d0f.JPG

 

 

 

Wise.jpg.2d375d7b22b08ac4d36c8263d3c9ea48.jpg

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  • 5 months later...

Hi Phil

 

Not a lot really has changed since Scaleforum a year ago, as documented above. Last autumn the team a) had a rest, and b) developed a plan to continue development and make improvements based on our experience at Scaleforum. Some activities were started, such as improving how the curved boards at the ends were supported so as to give better height adjustment and reduce set-up and break-down times. But then other global events happened, and with lockdown and the layout being stored in different places not much has happened since.

 

On the other hand I did make a solo start on Lewes, which eventually is intended to join on to a modified viaduct layout.

 

 

Edited by 10800
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