Little Point

[Neil]

 

Since sea levels rose and Britain broke away from mainland Europe Little Point has existed in one form or another. Being comprised mainly of sand its exact location has migrated with tide and storm. Since Roman times it has lain a few miles roughly to the east of the garrison town of Great Tedium (Tedium Magna, as it was known during the days of occupation). However the Romans didn’t have railways, so for our purposes we can fast forward through the centuries to the early eighteen hundreds, when Britain was having one of its regular spats with the French. At that time the admiralty thought it would be a jolly good idea to be able to send signals to the fleet as they stood off the North Sea coast and therefore sought to establish a flag signalling station, HMS Indecipherable, at the very end of the sand spit of Little Point. Though fishing vessels had landed their catches at Little Point for years, larger vessels couldn’t birth there so a rudimentary horse drawn tramway was laid to the very tip of Little Point from the harbour at Great Tedium for construction and supply. From this early and primitive start, the Little Point Tramway evolved.

 

[Ian Smeeton]

Sounds feasible,

 

What is the point.?

 

Are you planning on building this, or is it just up for discussion.

 

Little Tedium would result if this was up to your usual standards.

 

However Many Points may be raised in the construction, and should anyone take offence, Needle Point ,may occur'

 

Regards

 

Ian

[edcayton]

Wot, no sail trolleys?

 

Ed

[Coombe Barton]

This might really qualify for the direction "Left hand down a bit".

[Neil]

[Neil]

The pier, a grand title for little more than a timber jetty, at Little Point was built to tap the tourist trade, pleasure steamer trips being all the rage for the Victorian on holiday. Constructed at the same time as the tramway was converted to loco haulage, the pier was equipped with rails from the outset so that the Victorian holidaymaker had an easy transfer from rail to sea; fish and contraband continused to be landed on the beach All went well for several years, the structure surviving the annual onslaught of winter storms. However fate was to deal a fatal blow one foggy February day. The German tramp steamer Schadenfreude voyaging from the Belgian port of Ennui back to its home base in Bremerhaven became hopelessly disorientated in the murk. Steaming in what the crew thought was a straight line but which in fact was an ever-widening circle the vessel impaled itself on the pier. Though the boat managed to limp home for dry dock and repairs it was curtains for the pier; only a short section remains supporting the loco release end of the loop.

 

 

 

[Alex TM]

Hi Neil,

 

This modelling is great as ever but the back story just adds a whole new dimension for me.  Fantastic entertainment.

 

Looking forward to the next instalment.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

[sparks]

Will be watching with interest! There's something very Clough Williams-Ellis about that kiosk in the postcard....

[DavidLong]

What a delightful scene! The loco looks suitably sad to find itself in the reduced circumstances of its surroundings. As always, Neil, the textures that you produce in the scenic work are quite stunning. The timbers in the broken pier have just the look of old, sea-battered wood.

As has been commented, the back story is a lovely scene-setter. The concept of the 'Schadenfreude' setting out from the Belgian port of Ennui really made me giggle.

 

David

[Neil]

The Flounder, watering hole of choice for wooden leg salesmen, parrot vendors and the eye patch manufacturers of the east coast, has long been a Little Point landmark. Popular with the fishing community, the remoteness of the inn saw it become the centre for many a shady deal involving cargoes from the continent conveniently bypassing the revenue men. Often the line between fisherman and smuggler became very blurred. The naval interest in Little Point, cramped the style of these entrepreneurs of the high seas until it was realised that flag signalling couldn’t work during the hours of darkness and consequently no night watch was kept.

 

Edited April 13, 2014 by Neil

[EdwardB]

Great idea!  I can't wait to hear more of this delightful little place of Little Point, and (possibly) see some more archive photos of it.  Sounds idyllic!

Edited April 14, 2014 by EdwardB

[Neil]

The Little Point Tramway boasts one named train, an unofficial one you understand, but a non-stop service at that. The Flying Flotsam runs daily or at least on days when weather conditions allow the fishing fleet to cast off and cast around for shoals of herring. It’s thought that the service was christened in 1924 when another east coast railway company inaugurated it’s own non-stop service. Like the Kings Cross to Edinburgh express speed is of the essence to the Flying Flotsam; the bloater paste factory in Great Tedium require their ingredients to be as fresh as possible.

 

[Class 74]

A little piece of holiday for everyday, wonderfully created!

 

And very inspirational...

 

Regards

Simon

[Julian]

Could this have "Shell Island revisited " stamped on it somewhere (discretely of course...)? More, more, more please, Neil - it's lovely.

[EHertsGER]

The Little Point Tramway boasts one named train, an unofficial one you understand, but a non-stop service at that. The Flying Flotsam runs daily or at least on days when weather conditions allow the fishing fleet to cast off and cast around for shoals of herring. It’s thought that the service was christened in 1924 when another east coast railway company inaugurated it’s own non-stop service. Like the Kings Cross to Edinburgh express speed is of the essence to the Flying Flotsam; the bloater paste factory in Great Tedium require their ingredients to be as fresh as possible.

 

littlepoint 59.jpg

I really think you should write a book, putting all this wonderful fancy down for posterity. If the Rev. W. Awdry can get away with it - and deservedly so, so can you!

[Neil]

An unfamiliar face appeared at The Flounder this morning, and a young one at that. Searching for The Unicorn, he was directed to the hostelry of that name close by the far terminus of the tramway in Great Tedium by the Landlady. 'There's no trains running today, so just follow the tracks' was the suggestion, adding cheerily 'your little dog will enjoy the walk too'.

 

 

'Funny,' she said later to her husband, 'he looked a bit too young to be interested in ale, and I couldn't place his accent but he's certainly not from these parts'.

[Mikkel]

Blue blistering barnacles, now there's something I never thought I'd see on a model railway!

 

I'm big fan of what you have done with Little Point. Somehow you've managed to build a poem in model form. Or a hazy memory, or whatever it is that lives in the space between what is real and not so real. I also like the balance you strike between taking the modelling seriously but not too seriously 

[EHertsGER]

...following on from my last comment, one wonders whom the lad met whence got to the pub. Or whom had had hoped to meet, for the door was open but the normally attentive staff were missing, seemingly having abandoned a lunchtime as pots of ale sat unfinished on the bar and tables, a cloth left absent mindedly on a tap and cigarettes (for this is the real world) burned in anticipation of their owners' return. The small dog sniffed suspiciously at the cellar door but, called to heel, did so with an air of disgruntlement.

 

"I've been waiting for you" said a gravelly, yet mellifluous voice from the glare of the noonday sun filing the doorway. "He said you would be here." The boy turned, a little startled that anyone would have been waiting for him, but for her, any man would have waited a lifetime..."

[Neil]

Night, and the only light at Little Point comes from a low moon.

 

[Worsdell forever]

Brilliant layout (to be expected really) and brilliant stories...

[New Haven Neil]

Oh!  Only just stumbled across this - WOW!

 

Neil (also)

[Gook the Goblin]

Great descriptions adding lots of flavour to this wonderfully atmospheric micro layout.

 

Look forward to reading more.

 

Nigel

[Neil]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 25, 2014 by Neil

[Worsdell forever]

I love the phrase 'Invigorating sea air', roughly translated it means - 'force 10 gale blowing the sea up the high street' 

[Neil]

Daybreak greets the first train.

 

Edited July 9, 2014 by Neil