Micro layout ideas - Rapid Transit

[sparks]

Hi all

 

I was about to start on an APA box layout last weekend, but work travel is taking me away for the next few months. So I'd thought I'd share some of my prototype inspiration in case anyone else is looking for ideas. My tastes generally run to the more esoteric lines, particularly electric ones. So the far flung twigs of urban rapid transit systems, where the oldest rolling stock lingers on, have always caught my attention.

 

First up the Chicago Elevated's Westchester branch, specifically it's minimalist terminus at 22nd & Mannheim.

 

Opened in 1930 in a then undeveloped area, the station consisted of a simple, short wooden platform and shelter. The nearby estate agents/developers office did little business and subsequently disappeared. Single car trains were the order of the day, and when the Chicago Transit Authority was formed after the war and began simplifying the system, the writing was on the wall. The Westchester branch closed in 1951, missing the post-war development boom in the area by mere months.

 

Photos and more info here:-http://www.chicago-l...d-mannheim.html

 

Model wise, in HO/OO this would easily fit into an APA box, and possibly even a box file! The Wills platform and shelter would be a good starting point. Scenery is minimal, although with such plain surroundings, creating a scenic break is a problem. Maybe a few trees?

 

I've recently discovered this great site of US aerial photos, which shows how bleak the surroundings were in 1938.:-

http://www.historica...48634&year=1938

 

I hope this is useful, I have lots more examples (both UK and International) if people are interested!

[Hippo]

That sounds interesting. I have a couple of APA boxes that I haven't worked out what I'm going to do with yet.

I look forward to seeing you progress.

 

Owen

[Guest Jim Read]

Lydham Heath, The Bishops Castle Railway

 

The railway intended to head for the Welsh border but the grandiose plans amounted to running in receivership for 70 years.

 

This was meant to be a through station on the line with a branch off to Bishops Castle;

 

 

Often a mixed train would arrive from Craven Arms, do some shunting, it was then uphill to Bishops Castle so the driver would to push the train uncoupled up the incline.

Hardly rapid alas they used mid 19th century locos and the transit along the line was hardly fleeting.

 

Interesting small layout though, lots of operating potential.

 

Jim

[Ian Holmes]

Hi all

 

I was about to start on an APA box layout last weekend, but work travel is taking me away for the next few months. So I'd thought I'd share some of my prototype inspiration in case anyone else is looking for ideas.

 

My tastes generally run to the more esoteric lines, particularly electric ones. So the far flung twigs of urban rapid transit systems, where the oldest rolling stock lingers on, have always caught my attention.

 

First up the Chicago Elevated's Westchester branch, specifically it's minimalist terminus at 22nd & Mannheim.

 

Opened in 1930 in a then undeveloped area, the station consisted of a simple, short wooden platform and shelter. The nearby estate agents/developers office did little business and subsequently disappeared. Single car trains were the order of the day, and when the Chicago Transit Authority was formed after the war and began simplifying the system, the writing was on the wall. The Westchester branch closed in 1951, missing the post-war development boom in the area by mere months.

 

Photos and more info here:-http://www.chicago-l...d-mannheim.html

 

Model wise, in HO/OO this would easily fit into an APA box, and possibly even a box file! The Wills platform and shelter would be a good starting point. Scenery is minimal, although with such plain surroundings, creating a scenic break is a problem. Maybe a few trees?

 

I've recently discovered this great site of US aerial photos, which shows how bleak the surroundings were in 1938.:-

http://www.historica...48634&year=1938

 

I hope this is useful, I have lots more examples (both UK and International) if people are interested!

 

Keep 'em coming!

A layout based on this would be the perfect model to show off one of those Bachmann Peter Witt or Birney car models. Or even the gas electric doodlebug if you so desired.

 

Ian

[k-59]

Ah the Westchester branch, one of my favorites. I was considering a small layout in N that would cover the branch from Roosevelt to Mannheim.

[HeavyDuty]

The Westchester Branch is one of my personal favorites. One of my modeling interests is the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin and other local Chicago operations.

The 22nd and Mannheim L station was the source of many laughs in my family. My grandparents built a new house in an area annexed by La Grange Park north of 31st Street between Kemman and Maple. My grandfather was delighted that he would be able to drive the short distance to 22nd and Mannheim to ride the CTA directly to his downtown Chicago office in the Insurance Exchange, and that he could even take a Chicago and West Towns bus from the corner to the station. This easy access to the L is the reason they bought the lot instead of another in Brookfield that was walking distance from the CB&Q.

They hadn't even lived there two months before the CTA abandoned the branch. He had to drive to the Des Plaines terminal for the rest of his working life.

For years we used to tease him about his wise choice in houses and easy commute!

 

(Edit - typo)

[glennofootscray]

For a scenic break, a massive billboard advertising house and land packages in the area.

 

(there is never enough traction, tramway modeling)

 

regards Glenn

[sparks]

 

They hadn't even lived there two months before the CTA abandoned the branch. He had to drive to the Des Plaines terminal for the rest of his working life.

 

For years we used to tease him about his wise choice in houses and easy commute!

 

Great story! How annoyed would you be if that happened...?

[sparks]

Thanks for the interest everyone - I'll keep posting but I'm travelling the next few weeks so they may be a bit erratic....

 

Next up is a famous one, but interesting nevertheless. The LT District Line South Acton branch became a shuttle working in from Acton Town after the extension of the Piccadilly line west from Hammersmith in the early 1930's.

 

The original wood and corrugated iron station at South Acton was retained until closure in 1959, although the original double track line was singled for shuttle working.

Here it is in 1907-1908:-

http://www.ltmcollec...qe/i0000oqe.jpg (LT Museum)

And a few shortly before closure in 1958/9:-

http://www.ltmcollec...ve/i00001ve.jpg (LT Museum)

http://www.ltmcollec...rf/i00005rf.jpg (LT Museum)

http://www.ltmcollec...kj/i00005kj.jpg (LT Museum)

http://www.flickr.co...ils/2989440214/ (allhails on Flickr )

 

The 'mainline' end of the shuttle was also very modellable. During the quadruplication of Acton Town to allow for the Piccadilly extension, a short two car platform was constructed for the shuttle, squeezed in between the site boundary and the existing large brick substation:-

http://www.ltmcollec...lz/i00002lz.jpg (LT Museum)

http://www.flickr.co...N03/4426442739/ (snapper31 on Flickr)

http://www.flickr.co...N03/4427205850/ (snapper31 on Flickr)

http://www.flickr.co...N00/2260894367/ (A30yoyo on Flickr)

 

Today nothing is left at South Acton, although the North London Line platforms (at a lower level) are still in use. The Art Deco station at Acton Town survives mostly unaltered, although the shuttle platform is hidden from view behind advertising hoardings:- http://www.abandoned...on_station.html

 

Rolling stock was two specially converted, one man operated, G stock cars from 1923; available in OO from Radley models (http://www.radleymod...n_surface_stock), although when neither of the shuttle cars was available, a two car (M+M) crewed Q stock train was used instead. (I have a photo showing a Q23+Q38 combination but I can't find a copy on t'internet to link to). Prior to the rebuilding and introduction of the shuttle cars, a single double-ended B stock car from 1905 had been used (the last B stock car in service, iirc). The B stock car is captured in this early view of the rebuilt station at Acton Town in 1933:- http://www.ltmcollec...y7/i00005y7.jpg (LT Museum)

 

In model form, South Acton would be a interesting plank, with the line carried wholly on an embankment. With a tiny bit of geographical shuffling, the shuttle car could emerge from behind the block of flats seen in the last view, rattle across the girder bridge and come to rest at the wooden station. Maybe a vintage London skyline for a backscene?

 

The shuttle platform at Acton Town could also be modelled as a 'corner' of the larger station, with the sand drag being an unusual feature. The brick substation is a commanding backscene, the concrete road bridge closes off one end of the layout and the second smaller concrete footbridge provides a scenic break for the train to leave the scene.

 

Edit: got me bridges mixed up....

[HeavyDuty]

Great story! How annoyed would you be if that happened...?

 

Probably much less if my family hadn't teased me about it for decades!

[sparks]

Here's another two ideas, both from the London Underground, but focusing on freight this time with passenger working in the background.

 

First is the Met's city goods depot at Vine Street, opened in 1909 and closed after the transfer of freight workings to the LNER on the formation of the London Transport in 1933. This was a very small facility, consisting of two short sidings holding seven wagons each next to the Ray St Gridiron at Faringdon. The warehouse was situated directly above at road level with lifts between. There's not much information available, but here's what we have:-

 

http://www.ltmcollec...8r/i000068r.jpg Track level c1910, with one of the Met's 1906 British Westinghouse locos (LT Museum)

http://www.ltmcollec...6j/i000026j.jpg Street level 1910-15, with the bridge over the Circle and Widened lines to the left (LT Museum)

 

Amazingly, even though it closed nearly 80 years ago the building survives and is in good order, evidently having been adapted by LT for some other purpose (anyone know?). When I went past on the Circle Line in June, I'm pretty sure the island platform still exists as well!

Google Maps aerial view:- http://goo.gl/maps/gouft

Google Maps street view:- http://goo.gl/maps/YAIG0

 

Some more background information here: http://basilicafield...-services-pt-1/ and here: http://www.londonrec...ringdon-part-2/

 

In model form, the restricted area of the site makes for a great micro layout. The goods station itself would probably fit into an APA box, with the mainline and a fiddle yard being used to complete an inglenook arrangement for those who like shunting. With the addition of an additional stub or cassette out the other end, an EMU of your choice can shuttle back and forth between shunting moves.

 

 

If your preference is for OHLE rather than 3rd/4th rail, it may pay to reverse the whole thing and have the mainline at the rear, so that the overhead doesn't get in the way of uncoupling etc. during shunting. Scenery would be lots of lovely brick arches, overbridges and general gloom. In model form I think a more open platform would be better for visibility and access, protected by either the Wills canopy linking to a scratchbuilt weatherboard elevator tower; or for a more modern interpretation the Peco goods platform could be adapted to make use of that lovely concrete canopy.

[HeavyDuty]

Sparks, can I suggest the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Batavia terminal?

[sparks]

Sparks, can I suggest the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Batavia terminal?

 

You can indeed, although it was already on the list! That said, if you (or anyone else out there) would like to chime in with some examples,please feel free!

[Pacific231G]

Here's another two ideas, both from the London Underground, but focusing on freight this time with passenger working in the background.

 

First is the Met's city goods depot at Vine Street, opened in 1909 and closed after the transfer of freight workings to the LNER on the formation of the London Transport in 1933. This was a very small facility, consisting of two short sidings holding seven wagons each next to the Ray St Gridiron at Faringdon. The warehouse was situated directly above at road level with lifts between. There's not much information available, but here's what we have:-

 

http://www.ltmcollec...8r/i000068r.jpg Track level c1910, with one of the Met's 1906 British Westinghouse locos (LT Museum)

http://www.ltmcollec...6j/i000026j.jpg Street level 1910-15, with the bridge over the Circle and Widened lines to the left (LT Museum)

 

Amazingly, even though it closed nearly 80 years ago the building survives and is in good order, evidently having been adapted by LT for some other purpose (anyone know?). When I went past on the Circle Line in June, I'm pretty sure the island platform still exists as well!

Google Maps aerial view:- http://goo.gl/maps/gouft

Google Maps street view:- http://goo.gl/maps/YAIG0

 

Some more background information here: http://basilicafield...-services-pt-1/ and here: http://www.londonrec...ringdon-part-2/

 

In model form, the restricted area of the site makes for a great micro layout. The goods station itself would probably fit into an APA box, with the mainline and a fiddle yard being used to complete an inglenook arrangement for those who like shunting. With the addition of an additional stub or cassette out the other end, an EMU of your choice can shuttle back and forth between shunting moves.

 

 

If your preference is for OHLE rather than 3rd/4th rail, it may pay to reverse the whole thing and have the mainline at the rear, so that the overhead doesn't get in the way of uncoupling etc. during shunting. Scenery would be lots of lovely brick arches, overbridges and general gloom. In model form I think a more open platform would be better for visibility and access, protected by either the Wills canopy linking to a scratchbuilt weatherboard elevator tower; or for a more modern interpretation the Peco goods platform could be adapted to make use of that lovely concrete canopy.

Interesting prototype- effectively a real Inglenook- and I must have passed it many times without realising what it was. Did the yard have just a simple connection to the main line or was there some kind of headshunt. If not what was the protection for the main line?

[sparks]

Interesting prototype- effectively a real Inglenook- and I must have passed it many times without realising what it was. Did the yard have just a simple connection to the main line or was there some kind of headshunt. If not what was the protection for the main line?

 

No headshunt, just a simple connection onto the eastbound Circle. Must have made shunting interesting! There is a 1926 signal diagram here http://www.harsig.org/PDF/CircleWidened.pdf but none of the plans and layouts I've seen agree on the track layout inside the depot.

[Penrice09]

Lydham Heath, The Bishops Castle Railway

 

The railway intended to head for the Welsh border but the grandiose plans amounted to running in receivership for 70 years.

 

This was meant to be a through station on the line with a branch off to Bishops Castle;

 

 

Often a mixed train would arrive from Craven Arms, do some shunting, it was then uphill to Bishops Castle so the driver would to push the train uncoupled up the incline.

Hardly rapid alas they used mid 19th century locos and the transit along the line was hardly fleeting.

 

Interesting small layout though, lots of operating potential.

 

Jim

 

Hi Jim,

 

Have often thought this would make a nice, interesting 7mm Narrow Gauge Layout.

 

Roy

[Hesperus]

It has made a great standard gauge model

[sparks]

Here's another two ideas, both from the London Underground, but focusing on freight this time with passenger working in the background.

 

 

Here's the other Underground example I promised last time (I cut it short because I'd waffled on enough). One of the last freight workings on the Underground were the Ciltern Court coal trains. When the Met built Chiltern Court over Baker Street station, they incorporated a loading dock served by a short siding adjacent to Platform 1. Coal was brought in and rubbish taken out weekly (iirc) by workings from Neasden hauled by one of the electric locos (e.g. Sarah Siddons). As there was always one of these locos sat in the loco spur to reverse the Dreadnought trains from Aylesbury and Chesham, the spare loco was used to shunt the train and return to Neasden after which the incoming loco took it's place in the loco spur (there were no run-around facilities).

 

The workings lasted until 1961 when the Chiltern Court boilers were converted/replaced and coal was no longer required, although as the locos were withdrawn and replaced by the A Stock around this time I'm not sure if that prompted the conversion. The last working on 3 August 1961 was recorded by LT in a series of photos:- http://www.ltmcollec...42/*&button=GO!

 

The siding can just be seen at the far left of this aerial shot: http://www.ltmcollec...lh/i0000slh.jpg (LT Museum). The space left by the siding after removal can still be seen today, shown here in 1978: http://www.ltmcollec...1x/i000091x.jpg (LT Museum) and more recently in 2007: http://www.flickr.co...nt-1/591285152/ (version3point1 on Flickr). The kink in the platform to make room for the siding is obvious.

 

In model form, this can be easily modelled as a corner of the larger station, with as much of platforms 1 & 2 as you have room for. Backdrops are the rear of all the neighbouring buildings with plenty of footbridges and tunnels for scenic breaks. The loco spur can be on or off scene as desired (depending on how many locos you have!). Freight trains are limited to a few 10-ton opens and a van, whilst EMUs can be as long as you wish if some of the train is 'off scene'.

 

Edit: Another shot from 2008 here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Baker_Street_stn_Metropolitan_bay_platform_1_look_south.JPG (Wikipedia) and a signalling diagram from 1933 (zoom in!) here: http://www.harsig.org/PDF/Met1933.pdf (Harsig).

[sparks]

No headshunt, just a simple connection onto the eastbound Circle. Must have made shunting interesting! There is a 1926 signal diagram here http://www.harsig.or...rcleWidened.pdf but none of the plans and layouts I've seen agree on the track layout inside the depot.

 

Actually, this diagram http://www.harsig.org/PDF/Met1933.pdf shows things better if you zoom into Farringdon.

[sparks]

Although I ended up going with a freelance 1500v DC overhead theme for my yet-to-be-started APA box layout (to use some Sydney surburban stock I already have), after seeing George Hudson's marvellous work around the corner at Aldersgate (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/9391-aldersgate/) I keep coming back to this photo I took at the old Shoreditch in 2004:-

 

Shoreditch by Stuart, on Flickr

 

So far I have resisted the urge to reach for the brickpaper.....