Southport Pier Diorama

[Dunalastair]

My interest in narrow gauge electric railways extended to pier railways / tramways, of which there were many. Southport Pier in Merseyside has had several generations of trains, but I chose to model the version running at the start of the 20th century, as seen in this photograph, albeit with reduced width.

 

https://piers.org.uk/piers/southport/#gallery

 

The static diorama based on this photograph provided an interesting exercise in 3D design and printing. Those people (cheap Chinese figures from ebay) are perhaps a little too modern, and might be better replaced by 'Victorian' figures.

 

 

There is an interesting BFI film from around 1900 which shows people on the pier taken from a tramway train (but not showing the rolling stock).

 

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-southport-pier-1899-1905-online 

Edited June 23, 2023 by Dunalastair

[ColinK]

Being Southport you will not need to model the sea.

[APOLLO]

Jasper Carrot, Southport Floral Hall Gig, mid 70's, first joke

 

"Southport, Just seen your Coat of Arms, a Wheelchair and an Incontinence bag"

 

Went down well - NOT !!!

 

Brit15

[009 micro modeller]

On 23/06/2023 at 07:03, Dunalastair said:

My interest in narrow gauge electric railways extended to pier railways / tramways, of which there were many. Southport Pier in Merseyside has had several generations of trains, but I chose to model the version running at the start of the 20th century, as seen in this photograph, albeit with reduced width.

 

https://piers.org.uk/piers/southport/#gallery

 

The static diorama based on this photograph provided an interesting exercise in 3D design and printing. Those people (cheap Chinese figures from ebay) are perhaps a little too modern, and might be better replaced by 'Victorian' figures.

 

 

There is an interesting BFI film from around 1900 which shows people on the pier taken from a tramway train (but not showing the rolling stock).

 

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-southport-pier-1899-1905-online 

Southport Pier railways had an interesting history. First there was a 3’ 6” line (which I think might have had some sort of cable system initially, before conversion to electric, although I’d need to check this). Then there was the 2’ 0” gauge miniature line (with diesel locos) and more recently a new battery powered 3’ 6” gauge tramway (which itself no longer runs after concerns over the weight of the vehicle damaging the pier, although I think the track is still there).

 

Your diorama has really captured the distinctive trackwork and the building is also nicely done. I’ve thought about doing a pier railway in the past but having a scenic break is a problem (otherwise it has to be very long).

Edited June 24, 2023 by 009 micro modeller