Railway station plans

[barney121e]

Hi

 

Can anyone point me in the right direction for plans of railway station buildings? Got plans for one, but want to look at a few more before deciding which to build.

 

Cheers.

[Bucoops]

To help I think people will need a bit more info 😉

 

Country? UK?

Era? could be early days all the way to today so a lot of scope for change.

Area? Different companies all had their own style etc.

 

If you can narrow it down then there are line societies that may hold plans, sometimes you can get info from Network Rail, or the NRM.

 

[KeithMacdonald]

1 hour ago, barney121e said:

Can anyone point me in the right direction for plans of railway station buildings?

 

Like @Bucoops said, which country/region/era?

 

If it's modern and you are ambitious, how about these?

https://www.archdaily.com/920173/train-station-examples-of-floor-plans-and-sections

 

[Kris]

The architects plans for Saltash station (refurbishment) were available on line at one point. They might still be on the Cornwall Council planning website.  

[Compound2632]

The Midland Railway Study Centre has a number of architects' drawings, search the catalogue for downloadable scans. 

[john new]

The nub of the question is what are you modelling and do you want to be authentic to a company or area? If yes you need to find books on that company that include plans of the appropriate buildings (they exist) ; if not then there are modelling books with general building plans in, there are also drawings in the many editions within the online back copies of Railway Modeller (but you need to be a subscriber to access). If you are not bothered by the attempt to follow a specific prototype’s style there are plenty of kits around for mix and match. 
 

edit: assuming you meant building plans, not track plans. If the latter pick an area and find the Middleton Press history or look for the relevant OS maps on the Nat Library of Scotland website.

 

Edited July 2, 2022 by john new
As note above

[barney121e]

1 hour ago, Bucoops said:

To help I think people will need a bit more info 😉

 

Country? UK?

Era? could be early days all the way to today so a lot of scope for change.

Area? Different companies all had their own style etc.

 

If you can narrow it down then there are line societies that may hold plans, sometimes you can get info from Network Rail, or the NRM.

 

Uk definitely. Era and Area am open to anything. I have plans for Angerton station, my layout is a run what i like layout so wont be area or era specific. 

[MyRule1]

Railway Modeller used to regularly have station plans in their issues. I have used a couple over the years. For East Anglia the Great Eastern Railway Society have some station plans in their files emporium. 

 

https://www.gersociety.org.uk/index.php/files-emporium-home/ds-scale-drawings

[Brassey]

13 hours ago, barney121e said:

...my layout is a run what i like layout so wont be area or era specific. 

 

Then buy a ready to plonk model or a kit...

[Wheatley]

For trackplans use the relevant OS 25" map, cross referenced with the signalling diagrams available on signalbox.org and other niche signalling sites. One gives you the exact position of everthing (at the time of survey), the other tells you what it was. 

 

For drawings of the actual buildings then old Railway Modellers (try Vintage Carriages Trust at Ingrow), the specialist line societies, National Archives at Kew etc (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk), local archives, there is no single repository. The NRM may have something, if you're really lucky they may know they have it and where it is. (That's not a dig at the NRM, they're underfunded and reliant on volunteers to catalogue their collections.) The GCR London Extension drawings are on line somewhere if you care to hunt around (Notts County Archive ?). Network Rail have some too on their website. 

 

 

 

[barney121e]

7 hours ago, Brassey said:

 

Then buy a ready to plonk model or a kit...

And what is the point in that if i am trying to learn new skills?

[barney121e]

20 hours ago, MyRule1 said:

Railway Modeller used to regularly have station plans in their issues. I have used a couple over the years. For East Anglia the Great Eastern Railway Society have some station plans in their files emporium. 

 

https://www.gersociety.org.uk/index.php/files-emporium-home/ds-scale-drawings

Thanks.

 

Just remember i have a whole box of old railway modellers in the loft. Will have a look through and see what appeals.

[Brassey]

1 hour ago, barney121e said:

And what is the point in that if i am trying to learn new skills?

Skills start with a mindset and you are not displaying the mindset of a typical scratch builder. You posted this in the kit and scratch building section. 
 

a scratch builder will have a specific prototype in mind that is not achievable through any other means.  

[Compound2632]

5 minutes ago, Brassey said:

a scratch builder will have a specific prototype in mind that is not achievable through any other means.  

 

Not necessarily. There are plenty of scratchbuilders who have built superb freelance models. @barney121e might be heading in that direction.

[Blandford1969]

40 minutes ago, Brassey said:

Skills start with a mindset and you are not displaying the mindset of a typical scratch builder. You posted this in the kit and scratch building section. 
 

a scratch builder will have a specific prototype in mind that is not achievable through any other means.  

Erm, not sure on that. I'm working on an LSWR B4 because I want to. 

[barney121e]

11 hours ago, Brassey said:

Skills start with a mindset and you are not displaying the mindset of a typical scratch builder. You posted this in the kit and scratch building section. 
 

a scratch builder will have a specific prototype in mind that is not achievable through any other means.  

Why should my mindset stop me scratch building something? Just because I am not modelling a specific place or era why should that stop me modelling a specific station where a ready made option is not available. 

All I want is to model a station that would fit the feel of my layout and was just after suggestions where I might find ideas.

 

[O-Gauge-Phil]

Enjoy

Edited July 4, 2022 by O-Gauge-Phil

[DGO]

Many stations if they still exist have had alterations applied to them over the years, many of which require planning permission, so if you like a particular station you have seen it's worth finding out which council planning office covers it and seeing if they have submitted any plans in the last 10 - 20 years, it varies by council but many will allow you to download all the planning doccuments which often include an accurate architects survey before any work takes place 

[Nick Holliday]

Perhaps instead of getting bristly because people have misinterpreted your extremely vague initial question, you could make an effort to answer @Bucoops questions, to allow a more measured response?  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of drawings available in print somewhere, not to mention those online, and even more hidden away in archives, both privately and in organisations such as Network Rail.  Some books have many useful drawings (I counted over 30 in “LMS Architecture”) but many books and magazines have only one or two, but they may be the ones you are looking for.  If you could be more precise about the criteria it would make things a lot easier.  Finding good drawings for St. Pancras station of the Midland Railway is much easier than locating those for Little Snoring-by-the-Sea of the Garstang & Knott End Railway!

You have mentioned having drawings for Angerton, a minor station on a relatively obscure (The NBR’s Wansbeck Railway) line.  Perhaps you can tell us the reasons for this choice and the extent of information you have, so that we might be able to narrow down the search and offer comparable sources.  Drawings come in a variety of forms, from basic outlines to fully detailed construction plans, not to mention varying degrees of accuracy, so an idea of what you have already, and whether you consider it satisfactory, would be useful in separating the wheat from the chaff.

If you were to carry out a Google search using terms such as “railway station plans drawings” this would open up a whole world of opportunities (literally – as you’ll find drawings for stations at Wagga-Wagga, Mumbai and many places between, as well as lots from the UK).  One good location is www.licensestorehouse.com, which lists hundreds of drawings from the Network Rail archive, which you can view, and even Network Rail’s own archive, where you can even download the images, although the choice there is somewhat restricted.  It is quite amazing what is available, often in unsuspected places, if you can be bothered to look.  The idea of going through planning applications only really works if you have a specific location in mind, as there is no easy way of finding out similar projects by just using Google (other search engines are available).

You haven’t said whether your intention is just to build a single station building, or whether you are considering a complete station.  If the latter, you will need to consider sourcing drawings for structures like signal boxes, goods sheds, station masters’ houses, railway workers’ cottages and all manner of other buildings.  If you can keep that thought in mind as you go through this stage, it may save having to repeat this process sometime in the future.

[barney121e]

9 hours ago, Nick Holliday said:

Perhaps instead of getting bristly because people have misinterpreted your extremely vague initial question, you could make an effort to answer @Bucoops questions, to allow a more measured response?  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of drawings available in print somewhere, not to mention those online, and even more hidden away in archives, both privately and in organisations such as Network Rail.  Some books have many useful drawings (I counted over 30 in “LMS Architecture”) but many books and magazines have only one or two, but they may be the ones you are looking for.  If you could be more precise about the criteria it would make things a lot easier.  Finding good drawings for St. Pancras station of the Midland Railway is much easier than locating those for Little Snoring-by-the-Sea of the Garstang & Knott End Railway!

You have mentioned having drawings for Angerton, a minor station on a relatively obscure (The NBR’s Wansbeck Railway) line.  Perhaps you can tell us the reasons for this choice and the extent of information you have, so that we might be able to narrow down the search and offer comparable sources.  Drawings come in a variety of forms, from basic outlines to fully detailed construction plans, not to mention varying degrees of accuracy, so an idea of what you have already, and whether you consider it satisfactory, would be useful in separating the wheat from the chaff.

If you were to carry out a Google search using terms such as “railway station plans drawings” this would open up a whole world of opportunities (literally – as you’ll find drawings for stations at Wagga-Wagga, Mumbai and many places between, as well as lots from the UK).  One good location is www.licensestorehouse.com, which lists hundreds of drawings from the Network Rail archive, which you can view, and even Network Rail’s own archive, where you can even download the images, although the choice there is somewhat restricted.  It is quite amazing what is available, often in unsuspected places, if you can be bothered to look.  The idea of going through planning applications only really works if you have a specific location in mind, as there is no easy way of finding out similar projects by just using Google (other search engines are available).

You haven’t said whether your intention is just to build a single station building, or whether you are considering a complete station.  If the latter, you will need to consider sourcing drawings for structures like signal boxes, goods sheds, station masters’ houses, railway workers’ cottages and all manner of other buildings.  If you can keep that thought in mind as you go through this stage, it may save having to repeat this process sometime in the future.

I did actually answer @Burcoops questions but just to confirm. My layout is entirely ficticious. Based in UK, era and area not really in the thinking as it will be a run what i like layout. I know some don't like this type of layout but it is what i want and as always rule1 is do it how you want it.

There will be a station, goods and engine shed and a signal box. Have found building plans in a book i have for The Port Road from south west scotland so seems to make sense to put some of those designs together on my layout, giving me a similar type building from a specific area. 

The reason i asked the question was there is so much out there and thought someone might have found a little goldmine of plans, but seems that might not exist.

[john new]

2 hours ago, barney121e said:

I did actually answer @Burcoops questions but just to confirm. My layout is entirely ficticious. Based in UK, era and area not really in the thinking as it will be a run what i like layout. .... snipped ....

The reason I asked the question was there is so much out there and thought someone might have found a little goldmine of plans, but seems that might not exist.

Re goldmines of plans for railway buildings there are, but they tend to be specifically company based, examples I have in specific books include the three local branches, NER Architecture, the Didcot Newbury & Southampton & the Derwent Valley Light Railway - plus umpteen more drawings in other books and magazines. I also know there are books of plans of ex-GWR stations but I have not copies, I don't model GWR although do have a historians interest in their three branches built close to where I live (The Portland, the Bridport & the Abbotsbury branches). It was because there are so many such books available containing building plans was why I asked what you were modelling area wise. 

 

I found your reply was a bit sharp as a response to those of us trying to help by asking you to refine your question so we could target our replies; despite that I hope this reply does help guide your thinking.

 

Whilst your laissez-faire modelling approach does not particularly suit me you are taking all your buildings from one source therefore they will have a cohesive style which is the key point for making them look authentic when seen together. The drawback, unless you are careful with the scenic treatment you add to surround them, is that anyone who does recognise the style as ex-NBR* will be a little surprised if the rest of the scenery you place them within suggests a rustic hamlet in southern England with thatched cottages. (Example drawing and how to build it in the Cottages for Pendon book I have)

 

"*You have mentioned having drawings for Angerton, a minor station on a relatively obscure (The NBR’s Wansbeck Railway) line."

Edited July 5, 2022 by john new

[barney121e]

11 hours ago, john new said:

Re goldmines of plans for railway buildings there are, but they tend to be specifically company based, examples I have in specific books include the three local branches, NER Architecture, the Didcot Newbury & Southampton & the Derwent Valley Light Railway - plus umpteen more drawings in other books and magazines. I also know there are books of plans of ex-GWR stations but I have not copies, I don't model GWR although do have a historians interest in their three branches built close to where I live (The Portland, the Bridport & the Abbotsbury branches). It was because there are so many such books available containing building plans was why I asked what you were modelling area wise. 

 

I found your reply was a bit sharp as a response to those of us trying to help by asking you to refine your question so we could target our replies; despite that I hope this reply does help guide your thinking.

 

Whilst your laissez-faire modelling approach does not particularly suit me you are taking all your buildings from one source therefore they will have a cohesive style which is the key point for making them look authentic when seen together. The drawback, unless you are careful with the scenic treatment you add to surround them, is that anyone who does recognise the style as ex-NBR* will be a little surprised if the rest of the scenery you place them within suggests a rustic hamlet in southern England with thatched cottages. (Example drawing and how to build it in the Cottages for Pendon book I have)

 

"*You have mentioned having drawings for Angerton, a minor station on a relatively obscure (The NBR’s Wansbeck Railway) line."

Thanks for your reply John.

 

Apologies if my replies came across as sharp, felt some replies were that to. I thought the question was self explanatory it lesson learned.

The reason I am doing a fictitious is due to space constraints as no track plan I had wanted to do would fit. 

[Asterix2012]

16 hours ago, john new said:

Re goldmines of plans for railway buildings there are, but they tend to be specifically company based, examples I have in specific books include the three local branches, NER Architecture, the Didcot Newbury & Southampton & the Derwent Valley Light Railway - plus umpteen more drawings in other books and magazines. I also know there are books of plans of ex-GWR stations but I have not copies, I don't model GWR although do have a historians interest in their three branches built close to where I live (The Portland, the Bridport & the Abbotsbury branches). It was because there are so many such books available containing building plans was why I asked what you were modelling area wise. 

 

I found your reply was a bit sharp as a response to those of us trying to help by asking you to refine your question so we could target our replies; despite that I hope this reply does help guide your thinking.

 

Whilst your laissez-faire modelling approach does not particularly suit me you are taking all your buildings from one source therefore they will have a cohesive style which is the key point for making them look authentic when seen together. The drawback, unless you are careful with the scenic treatment you add to surround them, is that anyone who does recognise the style as ex-NBR* will be a little surprised if the rest of the scenery you place them within suggests a rustic hamlet in southern England with thatched cottages. (Example drawing and how to build it in the Cottages for Pendon book I have)

 

"*You have mentioned having drawings for Angerton, a minor station on a relatively obscure (The NBR’s Wansbeck Railway) line."

Regarding the thatched cottages these are not unknown historically in parts of Scotland 

[john new]

1 hour ago, Asterix2012 said:

Regarding the thatched cottages these are not unknown historically in parts of Scotland 

I don't disagree, the main point though is architectural styles typically have a regional/international feel. If you recognise those when looking at a model made by someone that does not, then a wrong mix really screams at you, hence the advice to try to pick buildings that would go together. 

[KeithMacdonald]

On 03/07/2022 at 19:12, barney121e said:

Just remember i have a whole box of old railway modellers in the loft.

 

Do you take them food and drink? Are they allowed out for exercise?