Almost Arley

[drduncan]

That’s impressive! I’ve always had a soft spot for the Victoria Bridge ever since l watched Gods Wonderful Railway as I small child in the early ‘80s.

 

How have you done it? And where did you get the drawings?

And your signal box is excellent too. 

Duncan

Edited May 17 by drduncan

[didcot]

Thanks Duncan.

 

I think God's Wonderful Railway is where I got my love of Arley from as well. I've got it on DVD.

 

I did the drawings myself. I found the length online somewhere and scaled it down. I then found a picture that was almost face on and used that as a template. From then on I used pictures for the details. It worked out over a metre wide with the abutments. 

I had to scale it down to fit my room. So the bridge side is 700mm and 1 metre with abutments. In scaling the length I had to adjust the depth.

I then had to turn each side into 3 parts. 2 outer overlays on a middle. York Modelmaking did a cracking job in laser cutting the bits. I had to thicken the ribs up to 2mm to prevent distortion. The front faces are flat where in reality the ribs are a bit lower. I may attempt to do that.

The abutments will be made from Wills sheets. They are drawn too.

It will be double track to suit my need, but the other bridge of that style is also double track. I think it's the Albert Bridge.

 

Edited May 17 by didcot

[drduncan]

I seem to recall that the line’s groundworks and bridges were constructed to take double track, but for reason of economy only a single line was laid. So your double track Victoria bridge is entirely possible - if the line has been as successful as the promoters had hoped the bridge would have been repaid with double track.

 

Any more progress to show us?

 

Duncan

[5BarVT]

On 16/03/2024 at 11:28, didcot said:

The link below shows the 1960 track plan. I believe the numbers next to signal and points relate to the levers. But which is the point and which is the lock?

Easiest way to work out on this plan is to look at 7/8 - 7 appears against both ends of the crossover so is the point therefore 8 is the lock.

Then applied to the single end points, 5 & 10 are the points, 4 & 11 the locks.

Paul.

[Blandford1969]

12 hours ago, drduncan said:

I seem to recall that the line’s groundworks and bridges were constructed to take double track, but for reason of economy only a single line was laid. So your double track Victoria bridge is entirely possible - if the line has been as successful as the promoters had hoped the bridge would have been repaid with double track.

 

Any more progress to show us?

 

Duncan

Only in a few places is that the case, these being the Oldbury viaduct at Daniels Mill, Knowlesands tunnel and the two bridges either side of crossing cottage at the top of Eardington bank these being for the proposed branch towards Wolves. At Victoria bridge the abutments are built to double track width, at Bewdley both viaducts are double track, more to accomodate the branches to Tenbury and Kidderminster and at Falling Sands it is built to double track as is the Hoo road bridge. Cuttings and embrnakments are single track though. There is a short strech between Fishermans crossing and bridge 20. This was wider as there was a loop and sidings for Billingsley colliery (usless fact only one bobby ever worked the box in its life, apart from holiday relief and no photos are known to exist of the box. 

Duncan

Edited May 31 by Blandford1969

[didcot]

Thanks for the information chaps.

 

 

All the sides are made up. I'm working on the deck. Using two sides as guides I'm gluing the I beams to the deck. It's slightly oversize on the width so I can trim it back on the little Mill all in one go.

[didcot]

Half the deck has the I beams in place. There are 51 in total across the span. I still need to trim it to size, but placed it on 2 of the sides to get a feel for what it will look like. I've just over 100 handrail stantions to install as well!

[Methuselah]

On 01/06/2024 at 14:24, didcot said:

Half the deck has the I beams in place. There are 51 in total across the span. I still need to trim it to size, but placed it on 2 of the sides to get a feel for what it will look like. I've just over 100 handrail stantions to install as well!

That's looking super - what colour(s) was it painted in GWR days...?

[Methuselah]

On 17/05/2024 at 09:25, didcot said:

Finished at last. The light shows up better in real life.

Very pretty. It'll be interesting to watch all this come together. 👌

[didcot]

Thank you @Methuselah

I've only b&w photos from GWR days. But I've seen it in green, GWR dark stone and a mix of GWR light and dark stone. I'm inclined towards dark and light stone. It will give a bit more contrast. But if anyone has any information I'm open to suggestions. 

[Methuselah]

14 hours ago, didcot said:

Thank you @Methuselah

I've only b&w photos from GWR days. But I've seen it in green, GWR dark stone and a mix of GWR light and dark stone. I'm inclined towards dark and light stone. It will give a bit more contrast. But if anyone has any information I'm open to suggestions. 

I have a really excellent book - I think it's called GWR Structure Colours, but it's on loan to a pal at the moment. There's a copy on eBay here ;- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355398852316?itmmeta=01HZKTV6XTZVSHYM82EY9E8NCY&hash=item52bf6c1edc:g:RFUAAOSw4xJlrL-O&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8D%2FfUMEmn6RMqDHfb7hXMMIOjgQ4MWog0ZTiLjL57jgBtQ4UdYbU0eK33qPfG7jJMNDT401L8RqpbZ4iICIRzqKv7NCnvbO3UBS2Q801hKltLw%2FxTDdCaUIuLqR45u83kI7nqy7nbsUg8m9g%2BQmYfQtDabR%2FDpqymtE4QHeDw5B1Hm0jXNAucZB4LJjceVHlEZQOsgZYBMTMbAh1vWbwSNcHpdKz7bhFgq6j5uUEKEhU1HETE5t9P53BWF4a790aDjnMWC7X1OQe43x8ZUE5gfv4MKPYCvofZVkyBH2PsoMnx0f%2F4lSVnXCpLVNs%2Bzp6Bw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_7u7Pr8Yw

[didcot]

Some progress to report. The outer sides have been glued to the bridge deck.

 

 

I also glued some strip in the web of the I beams. This is where the handrails are mounted. 

 

 

Holes drilled for mounting the handrails. 

 

 

Two locos to give some idea of scale. 

 

I've some 2mm letters and some 1mm on order to make the makers plates that sit on the front of the arches. Once done I will start to paint. The inner arches will go in once everything else is painted. There isn't enough room to paint them in situ.