Callow Lane - ex-Midland freight-only line in South Gloucestershire

[Captain Kernow]

Callow Lane

 

‘Callow Lane’ is my first P4 layout, but it isn’t a new layout.

 

I started building the layout in late 2004 after joining the newly-formed local area group of the Scalefour Society shortly prior to that.

 

As I was still planning to keep both my OO layouts ‘Engine Wood’ and ‘Bleakhouse Road’ and to continue to exhibit them, everything for ‘Callow Lane’ had to start from scratch, including the locos and stock.

 

Initial progress was not particularly rapid and a lot of time was taken in laying the track and doing the electrics. A few structures were completed in time for the layout’s first (and so far only) exhibition at CamRail in Bradford-on-Avon in 2008.

 

I spent quite a lot of modelling time on building locos and stock or converting RTR stock, acquired specifically for the layout. Only two of my existing OO locos were converted to P4.

 

A lot of my RMWeb blog entries at the time concerned various aspects of the layout, it’s buildings and stock, such as this one here - https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blogs/entry/5066-callow-lane-lineside-factory-building/ but I never started a dedicated layout thread for it.

 

In 2014 the layout was packed away for domestic and family-type reasons and apart from a brief emergence in the summer of 2016 for me to build and fit robust layout covers to the two scenic boards, nothing further has happened until now.

 

For much of the time that ‘Callow Lane’ was packed away, I actually did very little modelling. Later, I started and completed my new OO cameo layout ‘Bethesda Sidings’.

 

Having helped John F (Re6/6) on his new ‘Parkend Marsh Sidings’ layout for the last year (lockdown restrictions permitting), I have become progressively more interested in re-starting work on ‘Callow Lane’ and finishing the layout. In fact, it had a definite invitation to Scaleforum for 2020, but we all know what put paid to all that.

 

Having recently taken the covers off to check that the steel rail used on ‘Callow Lane’ was still OK (it was), I finally made some space in the house and put the layout back up yesterday. All the electrical connections were put together and a Hymek placed on the track. To my immense relief, everything seemed to work as it should do!

 

 

Background guff

 

‘Callow Lane’ is set in the Coalpit Heath area in south Gloucestershire, to the north of Bristol. It was the intermediate station on the former line linking the Midland Railway marshalling yard at Westerleigh with the GW main line at Coalpit Heath West Junction.

 

A double track goods-only line was originally built by the Midland Railway from its marshalling yards at Westerleigh to a location known at the time as New Engine Yard. This was in order to provide a railway link between the collieries at Frog Lane and Mayshill and the Midland main line.

 

The line was later extended to link with the GW, in order to allow easier transfer of traffic. The extension beyond New Engine Yard was single track and was steeply graded, in order to make the junction with the GW at Coalpit Heath West Jct. An infrequent passenger service was introduced in the early 1900s between Bristol TM and Severn Tunnel Jct, running via Mangotsfield and Coalpit Heath West Jct. The area around New Engine Yard was being developed during the late Victorian period, with new housing and industry. A small passenger station, named ‘Callow Lane’ after the nearby Callow Hill, was opened in 1895 and the signalling improved to permit the operation of passenger and goods services.

 

The development of local bus services in the early 1920s saw a significant decline in passenger numbers using Callow Lane and passenger services were eventually withdrawn in 1929, although the remains of the old station could still be seen right up until final closure to goods.

 

Freight services remain buoyant, however, right up until the 1970s, with the main traffic sources being coal from the modernized pit at Frog Lane and Cuthbertsons Chocolate Factory at Callow Lane itself.

 

Due to the poor condition of the track in Frog Lane Colliery, NCB locos were authorised to work transfer trips between the pit and Callow Lane, where a main line loco would take over. Cuthbertsons had their own industrial locos, which could occasionally be seen working transfer trips between the chocolate factory and the BR goods yard.

 

The difficult single line to Coalpit Heath West Jct had closed in 1969, but the level of coal traffic from Frog Lane ensured that the line between Westerleigh and Callow Lane remained operational until the 1970s, although the once large fan of marshalling sidings at Westerleigh had, by then, long gone and a tamper depot established on the site, which remains there to this day.

 

Frog Lane colliery finally closed in 1973, at the same time as the nearby Radstock area pits. Cuthbertsons’ traffic was not sufficient to keep the line open and the line between Callow Lane and Westerleigh was closed at the same time, together with the former Midland main line between Westerleigh Yard and Bristol East.

 

The remaining section between Westerleigh Yard and Yate South Jct remained in operation for the tamper training facility and would eventually see further freight use, when a containerised waste loading facility and also an oil terminal were opened on the site of the former Upside marshalling sidings.

 

 

The layout spans the time period between the early 1960s and early 1970s, just prior to the introduction of the TOPS computer system on BR. As such, we operate two distinct operating sequences at shows, either BR steam/green diesels or BR pre-TOPS blue diesels.

 

The layout is built to 4mm scale, P4 gauge, and features a mixture of scratchbuilt and modified kit-built structures.

 

I am now hoping to re-start actual work on the layout, glue the various buildings in position and finish the scenic work over the next few months.

 

Some photos taken a few years ago, prior to the temporary suspension of work on the layout:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by Captain Kernow
Amendment to thread title

[Captain Kernow]

Here is some footage of some test running from yesterday:

 

 

 

 

 

[Re6/6]

Just excellent! Good to see that all is well after such a long time in storage.

[woodenhead]

Very nice young Mr C Kernow.

 

I think you'll go far with this modelling malarkey.

[MPR]

Good to see that work has restarted on Callow Lane!

[marc smith]

Looking good Captain K

I especially like the retaining wall and backs of terraced houses - there's something so atmospheric and natural about that view.

 

I must admit, I had completely forgotten about this project. I think I must have been distracted by just how good Bethesda is! 

 

I must also admit that it can be a distraction, when you model in several scales, and / or gauges. Keep up the fab modelling good sir

[Brinkly]

Nice to see you cracking on with Callow Lane again, Tim. 

All the best,

Nick.

[Halvarras]

Always a relief when a long-stored layout emerges from hibernation and it all still works - my own (just Peco Code 100 with Peco point motors) has such spells and so far has always still worked when I get it out. I like to think the care taken in its construction has paid off, must be the same with Callow Lane.

This looks very promising.......with a model of the shortest-lived NBL Type 2 hydraulic of them all too - 5 years, 10 months and 3 days, and standing on some very nice-looking pointwork. One to watch I think.....!

[Captain Kernow]

Here is a map, showing the position of Callow Lane, with regard to the other railways in the South Gloucestershire area:

 

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by Captain Kernow

[Captain Kernow]

A bit more footage, this time showing some Sentinel action:

 

 

I should add that the Sentinel is an RT Models kit, which I was very lucky to secure on EBay, already (most expertly) built but not painted.

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by Captain Kernow

[Jules]

14 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

Here is a map, showing the position of Callow Lane, with regard to the other railways in the South Gloucestershire area:

 

 

Nice to see this re-starting.

 

If you could extend the line past New Engine yard a bit it should run right past my house!

[Captain Kernow]

Shunting some Herring:

 

 

 

 

[Tim V]

Good work Captain, glad to see this re-emerge!

[queensquare]

I don't emerge from the 2mm area very often but I've clicked the follow button for this, lovely stuff.

 

Jerry

[wenlock]

1 hour ago, queensquare said:

I don't emerge from the 2mm area very often but I've clicked the follow button for this, lovely stuff.

 

Jerry

Me too!  Though I do emerge from the 2mm area more often

[Captain Kernow]

Here is an NCB loco, which is 'plated' to run on BR metals at Callow Lane, indulging in a bit of shunting:

 

 

[Captain Kernow]

The driver is crouching down in the cab, as he's briefly retrieving a small pie from his bag in the corner.

 

[Tim V]

On 04/06/2021 at 19:30, Captain Kernow said:

Shunting some Herring:

 

 

 

 

Is that Himalayan herrings?

[KeithHC]

19 minutes ago, Tim V said:

Is that Himalayan herrings?

Quick dominos………..

 

Keith

[Captain Kernow]

41 minutes ago, KeithHC said:

Quick dominos………..

 

Keith

Is that a rapid game of dominos or is it an exhortation to get to the pizza place with all speed?

 

[Mick Bonwick]

33 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said:

Is that a rapid game of dominos or is it an exhortation to get to the pizza place with all speed?

 

 

I think, my Captain, that the answer has to be, "Yes".

[Gilbert]

1 hour ago, Tim V said:

Is that Himalayan herrings?

I'll just leave this here...0:58....bit of scenery advice as well...

 

Edited June 6, 2021 by Gilbert

[woodenhead]

A class 20 on the Western CK?

 

[5BarVT]

1 hour ago, woodenhead said:

A class 20 on the Western CK?

It left its friend at Didcot.

Paul.

[woodenhead]

1 minute ago, 5BarVT said:

It left its friend at Didcot.

Paul.

And it's hopes and dreams in Newton-le-Willows or Darlington