Coleshill (Forge Mills ) layout and stock

[46256]

On the subject of Whitacre, I couldn’t understand, how in the short period it hosted two main lines how the then express from Derby   ( to the left ) negotiated the junction to take the Hampton line to the right, there being no obvious connection  as per the photo previously. On reading more about the line, the answer is obvious. The station pictured, was the second station at Whitacre, the first was a little way up the Derby line towards Kingsbury. It then beggars the question why the Midland decided to build such a station in the middle of an island platform, the Hampton line then reduced to a single line branch. It’s train a solitary Midland 060 and one coach. It took fifteen minutes to traverse the branch.  Here it is in all its glory. The other picture of the wooden bridge over the river Blythe. The failure of which caused the cessation of services on the branch

[46256]

And here is the train fifteen minutes later at the end of its journey, the Midland station at Hampton in Arden . The line continued for a few more yards to a junction with the London and Birmingham LNWR main line. This railway had its own station at Hampton in Arden, the modern incarnation of which is on the main line today. I had a connection to the Midland building, it became a builders  / DIY warehouse. I had a Saturday job there. I had to cycle to it , from my then home in Water Orton. I was a little fitter/ thinner in those days,! 

[Compound2632]

The carriage is a diagram D534 32 ft composite, of which there were thirty, built 1882-1891, originally as slip carriages. With two first class compartments and two third class, they were probably over-provided with first class accommodation for the service (and third class too) but they were the smallest type of carriage the Midland could muster to fulfill its obligations. 

 

There is an "across the fields" photo, dated 1902, which shows the next size of brake composite up, a 40 ft bogie vehicle providing an extra third class compartment, or possibly just a larger guard's compartment, depending on which variety it is and how it has been modified since it was built around 1880:

 

 

[Embedded link to catalogue image of MRS 99-0878.]

 

The clerestory carriage is one of the twelve-wheel 54 ft composites of 1875 - among the first main-line bogie carriages to run in this country. 

 

This photo is captioned "staff on the Hampton to Whitacre line" and must be c. 1905-1908 by the loco livery; presumably not the whole staff but a good proportion of them!

 

 

[Embedded link to catalogue thumbnail of MRSC 62232.]

 

All a bit early for you, @46256, but the Midland Railway Study Centre catalogue does have a number of Nigel Hadlow photos of Whitacre station in the BR period.

Edited August 20, 2023 by Compound2632
sp.

[46256]

Thank you Stephen for the information, I will look up those photographs. I have just been working on Coleshill waiting room mk 2. If it appears a little tall it will in time be embedded in a platform and embankment.

[46256]

Stephen sincere thanks. I have just been on the site you recommended. I’ve found these Nigel Hadlow photographs of Coleshill. Of particular importance one showing a partial view of the Norton Arms/ garden side of the main building.

[Rugd1022]

21 hours ago, 46256 said:

On the subject of Whitacre, I couldn’t understand, how in the short period it hosted two main lines how the then express from Derby   ( to the left ) negotiated the junction to take the Hampton line to the right, there being no obvious connection  as per the photo previously. On reading more about the line, the answer is obvious. The station pictured, was the second station at Whitacre, the first was a little way up the Derby line towards Kingsbury. It then beggars the question why the Midland decided to build such a station in the middle of an island platform, the Hampton line then reduced to a single line branch. It’s train a solitary Midland 060 and one coach. It took fifteen minutes to traverse the branch.  Here it is in all its glory. The other picture of the wooden bridge over the river Blythe. The failure of which caused the cessation of services on the branch

 

My other half and I went to a classic car show at Blythe Hall Farm just outside Coleshill this morning, on the way there she remarked how nice an area it is. I drive around the area quite regularly through work, but she'd never been there before.

[46256]

More work on the Leicester line waiting and store room.It must have been quite dismal using this waiting area, although I’m not sure by the fifties and sixties, many people caught the train, here to go the opposite way from Birmingham. I have received some marvellous station signs from Trackside signs which will be affixed in due course. I have also taken a short cut in relation to the signal box. The Metcalfe models LMS is of the same type with minor alterations. A kit awaits to be done. I will then tackle the main station building. I will be painting  the waiting room soon, which I’m sure ,will bring it to life,  with all the different brick colours.

Edited August 23, 2023 by 46256

[46256]

Trying to make out the arrangement of tracks connecting Hams Hall power station and Coleshill Forge Mills. The first OS map, shows how a number of tracks entered the power station complex,from Whitacre, some looping, and connecting again with the Leicester line at Coleshill, a short distance, before the station. The storage sidings situated on the land behind the Leicester line waiting room and the Stationmasters house. I now realise what Eric  ( signal engineer ) was referring too in correspondence with me, how an inspection train he was travelling on, was able to cut through Hams Hall. I have also read elsewhere how goods trains, were diverted onto the power station loop to ease congestion on the route.

Edited August 27, 2023 by 46256

[46256]

The upper map has Whitacre station to the right ( not included in this scan) The lower photo shows Coleshill station, bottom right hand of this 1950 OS map. 

[46256]

A great photo by Mike Mensing showing a Trent Valley diversion on the Leicester line , Coleshill in the distance, but included to show the commencement of the Hams Hall lines behind the train

[46256]

Painting the waiting room, platform will need more work…sign really lifts the model

[46256]

Working on the main Coleshill station building. Here it is warts and all. The missing bricks,  in the front of the waiting room, a result of having to relocate the inner floor. They will be covered up by the prototypical brick courses when located in the platform. The dimensions are obtained, from counting brick courses. As ever the angle you want isn’t shown in the photographs to hand. Sash windows predominate. A magnificent building,  which I hope I will do justice too, when finished. It is proving ideal therapy to the stress of moving house. I will, for the first time, try to attempt something not tried before…..make an accurate model….no fit lighting within the building. Lights on the platforms as well. I know at the very least,  it will entrance, my ten year old granddaughter . She is of the age that all that glitters is of interest, and not yet of an age, unlike her Nan, to go just on the cost of the item!

Edited September 25, 2023 by 46256

[46256]

Even more of Coleshill station taking shape. In addition one of the beautiful wall lights received today. 

Edited September 27, 2023 by 46256

[farren]

Going great guns, the little shelter looks lovely. It must have been very dark inside though. Just wondering did it have windows in the Back. 

[46256]

Hello Farren, no it was plain brick at the rear. It must have been pretty dismal waiting for a train from there. My most vivid memory , a cold December Saturday afternoon in 1970. The small goods siding had closed in 1964, the station itself in March 1968.  The station was deserted apart from my friend Eddie Ravenhall and I. The station itself as you can see , by then, was surrounded by what was at that time, a modern industrial estate, and the Lurgi gasworks. We locals thought  Lurgi was a made up word… a sort of crude slang for an industrial eyesore. The station, effectively a Victorian country building, out of place in this barren industrial landscape. We were on our pedal cycles and about to use the crossing to gain access to the Hams Hall site opposite. We did so by going past the grey station masters house, the sidings behind it. Their rails were black,  empty of wagons, showing little if any signs of use. We continued on site visiting the first of two sheds on the power station complex. It was an elderly building which hosted one or two of the steam locomotives. We carried onto the main sidings as shown on the map. There was situated the modern loco shed for the diesels. As recounted elsewhere, on this thread we were allowed onto the footplate of one of the RSH 060 tanks. We then travelled up and down the yards. My only steam footplate experience until many years later on the SVR. 
 

Whilst making this building I have tried to correlate the inner rooms as shown by that hand drawn  sketch. It was a family home as well as a working station for many years. The new house for the family built near the small waiting room looks 1920 s in construction. This would correspond with the building of the Hams Hall complex. In addition to counting brick courses to get dimensions, I have tried to work out what rooms were serviced by fires and hearths. The positioning of the chimneys assisting with this. In the event and in the absence of evidence to the contrary a lot of this will be guesswork. 
 

best wishes Brian

[46256]

I was working on modelling the rear of the building yesterday. I will show in due course. I was using this recently  discovered photo. The only one I’ve seen of this garden view. The end building housing the two toilets and shed, one toilet the public gents, with doors from the platform and as shown here the roadway. The other toilet and shed, for use by the stationmasters family, when they resided there. An outside privy…talk about luxury. My first home in Coleshill Road, Water Orton, likewise only had an outdoor loo. It was an experience, that is engrained in my memory !
To the point of this post, you may note that the rear of this part of the building, has graduated capping  stones leading,  to the yard entrance and rear door of the station. The door just visible is from the kitchen. The Midland Railway, in addition to spoiling its employees with their toilet, makes modern day modellers life more complicated…why not just a straight wall like on the platform?

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2023 by 46256

[46256]

This conversion kit for a 79xx DMU has just arrived from Silver Fox models. I had ordered it prior to embarking on the house move. They have to be produced to order hence the delay. I have the donor coaches and mechanism currently sitting in storage boxes. The house move has been fraught, I have recounted the details to my long suffering friend John R. I am pleased to say progress is now being made, which leads me to hope that in the not too distant future I can work on this kit as well as finding a home for the fledgling Coleshill layout. It will,provide a welcome distraction from building work in both 1/1  and 4 mm scale.

[46256]

Whilst browsing the latest online railway magazine I saw that my local (currently ) model railway club, Cradley Heath, are having their annual exhibition this weekend. It will allow me to catch up with my former colleague, who is exhibiting there. 
 

Looking at the layouts being displayed….Brettal Road. I have seen this in MRJ. The modeller also produced Birmingham New Street in P4. 
 

Brettal Road is a stunning depiction of the local Black Country railway scene in the 1950s. I am really looking forward to seeing it. 

[46256]

Just returned from the local exhibition. Brettal Road did not disappoint. I spoke with the modeller concerning his New Street model. He informed me no work had taken place recently, was becoming a home for spiders! 
 

An N Gauge layout was on display utilising the current track layout of Water Orton. It is modelled without the junctions….I fully understand why…the layout from the Minworth Road bridge eastwards, also curtailed…no garage, Dog Inn, wall or footbridge. The station was present, all boarded up..as per real life….very sad

[46256]

I’ve been working on the toilet / shed portion of the station, castellated bricks and all . Second picture what the stationmasters family confronted on their way to the privy….Manna…dunny …is that correct?

Edited October 14, 2023 by 46256

[46256]

Platforms made from MDF…buildings now located within them. They will still need a bit of work to  embed them properly. The buildings now have most of the windows in place. The front parcels office and verandah style rooftop be added, together with the other roofing and those chimneys. The toilet shed block hasn’t got subsidence . It is still to be properly seated. I’ve also realised I have made the platform section it’s in too long. It should start tapering down from a point roughly in line with the roadway end of the block. It should taper toward the yet to be added crossing. The land at the rear of the same block, should taper down towards the rear garden. The signs though are wonderful in my opinion. The locos are static GBL models. All my motorised retained ones are currently in storage. The level of finish on the compound is astonishing for a ten pound magazine model!

Edited October 14, 2023 by 46256

[46256]

Parcels office starting to take shape. The basis will be clear plastic front and side, onto which the details will be added. The front section of roof temporarily in place.

[46256]

A pair of lamps added to the outside of the building Three leds to be inserted inside. One already in the ladies waiting room. Two more to go in the main waiting room and ticket office. A series of platform lamps to be added on both platforms in due course.  I won’t be adding any to the upstairs rooms or those behind the parcels office. By the sixties these had ceased to be used by the station master and his family . They seem to have been rarely if ever used by the staff. 

Edited October 23, 2023 by 46256

[46256]

More work on the parcels office and front of station, meanwhile the debris field increases around the model

[46256]

Whilst working on the parcels office frontage, I realised that British Railways had replaced the windows. This had occurred between the photo in 1964…the one with the class 104 going past the lurgi gasworks. ( on this site on a previous page won’t repeat…nor the latter photo proving the change) and the photos taken in March 1968 on the station closure. The changes to the windows consisted, of smaller panes of glass creating the cross section look. In addition some of the supporting beams both from the windows and stanchions were removed. I have modelled it in 1964 condition. Photo of latest work..starting to get the character of the building, a portrait as it were in 3d

Edited October 29, 2023 by 46256