Shillinghope - From Avalon to the Durham coalfield.

[Worsdell forever]

Well, I wasn't really wanting another little layout project but something came up that looked like it could be a bit of fun, Mike - 'Durham Light Infantry' - was selling a couple of small layouts at EM North/Summer back in August and he offered me what he had called Whitewater for a bit less than the price he was asking, I said if it didn't sell I would take it, so, I brought 2 layouts home instead of one...

Originally built by Neil Rushby as the 'Isle of Avalon Tramway' it featured in Railway Modeller in December 2015. What could I do with it? well, it had to be North Eastern but we're a bit lacking in quaint light railways so it has become part of the Shillinghope Waggonway (built by the Shillinghope Coal Co in the 1840s), upgraded over the years and now has a rather sparse passenger service, the occasional goods train and a few short coal trains. The train shed, carriage shed and hidden traverser have gone and a new waiting shelter has been built on the platform, buffer stops added to the siding where the carriage shed was, a small goods store in the corner of the yard. Signalling has been added to the layout with a solitary signal just beyond the end of the platform and what is probably as small a signal cabin as you'll find anywhere. 

 

 

 

[Worsdell forever]

A few more photos.  

 

East Shillinghope colliery, accessed through the old entrance to Shillinghope Hall, long since demolished, pit head gear and spoil heaps can be spotted along the backscene. 

 

A view of the platform across the goods siding.

 

The full layout, all 36 inches of it.

[MarkC]

I had that layout pointed out to me at EM North, and I was seriously tempted, but then decided that it might not go down terribly well with the Domestic Authorities (sometimes known as the Long Haired Admiral) and didn't take it further. (I know, I know. I'm a coward...). That's a super job you've done on it, Paul 👍

 

Mark

[thetalkinlens]

It's looking good Paul. What does the signal cabin look like from the other side?

[Northroader]

I was turning it over in my mind how to work it, and it struck me if the whole lot was on a falling gradient and you had gravity shunting?

[Worsdell forever]

2 hours ago, thetalkinlens said:

It's looking good Paul. What does the signal cabin look like from the other side?

 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Northroader said:

I was turning it over in my mind how to work it, and it struck me if the whole lot was on a falling gradient and you had gravity shunting?

 

It has been (will be) changed from terminus to through station but the yard is difficult, just one wagon at a time!

[Worsdell forever]

Six Accurascale Chaldrons regauged to EM and two re-liveried to represent the Shillinghope Coal Co.

 

 

[Worsdell forever]

A little improvement is to add the axle ends, some were square and some were round. Small piece of plastic strip glued over the glue filled hole left after regauging.