Manchester Central Station in Spain

[Ron Heggs]

Yes, I am a new member, and wish everyone a successful New Year in 2011

After 61 years as a non-modeller, I started research into modelling CLC Manchester Central Station, GN Deansgate Goods Warehouse and the Castlefield Viaducts in 4mm scale. You may guess that I am a Mancunian by birth, but I don't follow football !!

 

After further 6 years I have managed to build 50% of the station, goods warehouses, bridges, some of the viaducts, and 25% of the trackwork. A year ago, I moved to Spain, and now in the process of converting the villa underbuild into a railway room approx. 8 metres x 6 metres, which will just accommodate the model

 

The trackwork beyond the viaducts will run through the garden in a loop returning to the railway room on two levels. The first will return as the down lines A & B, and the second will return as the middle line M, which will hold the carriage sidings (Cornbrook) and locomotive depot (Trafford Park). The second level will be modelled effectively as the fiddle yard, beneath the main baseboard

 

The buildings were stored in boxes, as they were built, pending the move from the UK, and luckily, have been transported with no damage whatsoever

 

Modelling railways in Spain is not a common pursuit. Model shops, etc. are all but non-existent. So all specialist materials and items are bought in bulk on-line, seeking the best prices to offset the delivery charges

 

I am now starting research into the signalling of the station and goods yards, which has been fruitless so far

[richard_t]

Hello

 

I'm starting to build a "version" of Manchester Central in 7mm, my ramblings are here.

 

For signalling plans you can try "The John Swift Collection, British Railways Layout Plans of the 1950s Volume 13: Cheshire Lines Committee and associated Great Central Lines; 2009; Signalling Record Society; ISBN 978 1 873 22817 3". Also, both the Public Record Office and the Manchester County Record Office have signalling plans - although they always suggest a visiting before getting copies of plans. Not so great from Spain I guess. All of these plans look like they are from the 1930's signalling scheme, and not the later re-signalling.

 

I've tried looking for plans for either the original signal boxes or the 1935 replacements, but I've not discovered any as yet. (Along with a track diagram after the 60s remodelling)

 

Good luck with your searches, and I'd love to see some photographs of your models.

[MarkC]

Welcome to RMWeb, Ron, & good luck from me too - that's some project you're undertaking

 

I look forward to seeing photos in due course too

 

Mark

[beast66606]

For signalling plans you can try "The John Swift Collection, British Railways Layout Plans of the 1950s Volume 13: Cheshire Lines Committee and associated Great Central Lines; 2009; Signalling Record Society; ISBN 978 1 873 22817 3".

 

A note of caution, the Swift books contain many errors.

[APOLLO]

An excellent book with many photos and plans etc is Foxlines Scenes from the past No 48 "Manchester's Central Station & the Great Northern Railways Goods Warehouse" by E M Johnson

 

ISBN No 1-870119-79-7 Published by Foxline Publications Ltd PO box 84 Bredbury SK6 3YD I think now out of print but try Amazon etc.

 

An interesting station to model. Love to see a couple of photos Good luck

 

Brit15

[Ron Heggs]

Hello

 

I'm starting to build a "version" of Manchester Central in 7mm, my ramblings are here.

 

For signalling plans you can try "The John Swift Collection, British Railways Layout Plans of the 1950s Volume 13: Cheshire Lines Committee and associated Great Central Lines; 2009; Signalling Record Society; ISBN 978 1 873 22817 3". Also, both the Public Record Office and the Manchester County Record Office have signalling plans - although they always suggest a visiting before getting copies of plans. Not so great from Spain I guess. All of these plans look like they are from the 1930's signalling scheme, and not the later re-signalling.

 

I've tried looking for plans for either the original signal boxes or the 1935 replacements, but I've not discovered any as yet. (Along with a track diagram after the 60s remodelling)

 

Good luck with your searches, and I'd love to see some photographs of your models.

 

I wish you all the best with your Scale 7 modelling. As you say, space is always a prime problem when planning a model

 

Thanks for your info. on signalling at Manchester Central

 

I have uploaded some early pictures of various items modelled to the Gallery. More will be added later, as photographs have not been part of my outstanding tasks

[Ron Heggs]

A note of caution, the Swift books contain many errors.

 

Thanks for your advice

 

I have found during my research that captions on many pictures can contain location and date errors. Luckily I knew the area during the period being modelled

[Ron Heggs]

An excellent book with many photos and plans etc is Foxlines Scenes from the past No 48 "Manchester's Central Station & the Great Northern Railways Goods Warehouse" by E M Johnson

 

ISBN No 1-870119-79-7 Published by Foxline Publications Ltd PO box 84 Bredbury SK6 3YD I think now out of print but try Amazon etc.

 

An interesting station to model. Love to see a couple of photos Good luck

 

Brit15

 

This book is one of many I acquired during my collection of Information

 

A good historical photographic source I found at Manchester Central Library online archives

[Mucky Duck]

Welcome to the fold, from a fellow Mancunian. Your photos in the Gallery show some seriously impressive modelling.

Naturally I'm looking forward to following your progress!

[Guest jim s-w]

Hi Ron

 

Welcome to the forum, some superb pictures from yourself in the gallery. What gauge are you working to?

 

Cheers

 

Jim

[RANGERS]

Undoubtedly some fantastic work going on here.

 

Over the last ten years or so, I've done numerous trade shows at GMEx and you never fail to marvel at the building, always puts me in mind of a mini St Pancras. During the quieter spells, you do tend to be drawn towards the clock which dominates the whole arena and time passes slowly when you've little to do!

 

'Always thought it would be a good venue for an exhibition, although parking is always a bit of a pain and the cost of hire I guess is prohibitive.

[richard_t]

A note of caution, the Swift books contain many errors.

 

But in this case it does tally with the signalling diagrams I have from the NA and GMCRO - not that I'm saying they're right either!

 

I have uploaded some early pictures of various items modelled to the Gallery. More will be added later, as photographs have not been part of my outstanding tasks

 

Excellent stuff!

 

edit: The National Archive reference for the signalling plan is RAIL 110/359. It's labelled: "Cheshire Lines Railway, Manchester Central, Signalling Arrangements" and is dated May 1935. They will provide an digital copy of this plan, but you'll need to go through the NA Image Library as the original is to big for the record copying service.

[George Hudson]

Hello,

I looked at your gallery pictures and am highly impressed not to say envious of the amount of space that you will have for the project.

Best of luck and keep the updates coming!

(From one non football fan to another.)

Andrew

 

 

[Stevelewis]

Briliant project!!

 

I too am a MANCUNIAN! Living in Wales!

 

I remember Manchester Central as a Boy!!

 

My friend and I often used to catch a London (St Pancras?) train on a sunday afternoon, which travelled through the Derbyshire hills to Millers Dale where we changed to a DMU down to BUXTON

The London train was usually Jubilee or Black five hauled, and the down hill run to Millers Dales was quite impressive speed wise!

We would then retunr to Manchester London Road ( Picaddilly) by DMU

 

We often went on Holiday to Bournemouth, leaving Central around 11-00PM on a Friday night travelling via the S&D & Bath arriving in B Mouth around 6-00AM Happy days

 

Used to spend a lot of time at Central & London Road train spotting!!

 

Now where's me Anorak!!

[Ron Heggs]

But in this case it does tally with the signalling diagrams I have from the NA and GMCRO - not that I'm saying they're right either!

 

 

 

Excellent stuff!

 

edit: The National Archive reference for the signalling plan is RAIL 110/359. It's labelled: "Cheshire Lines Railway, Manchester Central, Signalling Arrangements" and is dated May 1935. They will provide an digital copy of this plan, but you'll need to go through the NA Image Library as the original is to big for the record copying service.

 

Thanks Richard. I will follow this up

 

They will probably be the original electrical signalling arrangements completed in 1935, which I believe remained in place until the 1958 re-signalling and track re-arrangements

[Ron Heggs]

Briliant project!!

 

I too am a MANCUNIAN! Living in Wales!

 

I remember Manchester Central as a Boy!!

 

My friend and I often used to catch a London (St Pancras?) train on a sunday afternoon, which travelled through the Derbyshire hills to Millers Dale where we changed to a DMU down to BUXTON

The London train was usually Jubilee or Black five hauled, and the down hill run to Millers Dales was quite impressive speed wise!

We would then retunr to Manchester London Road ( Picaddilly) by DMU

 

We often went on Holiday to Bournemouth, leaving Central around 11-00PM on a Friday night travelling via the S&D & Bath arriving in B Mouth around 6-00AM Happy days

 

Used to spend a lot of time at Central & London Road train spotting!!

 

Now where's me Anorak!!

 

I lived in Chorlton-######-Hardy until 1964, and used to travel to Central Station with my older brother on a 62 bus from Ryebank Road, and return via train to Chorlton

 

As a complete aside, my great grandfather who lived in Burnage, Manchester, travelled many times to Mold and the surrounding area on painting trips during the period 1905 to 1915. I have one of his oil paintings over our lounge fireplace, picturing the pine woods in Rhydymwyn in 1906

[Ron Heggs]

Hi Ron

 

Welcome to the forum, some superb pictures from yourself in the gallery. What gauge are you working to?

 

Cheers

 

Jim

 

4mm scale, but 00 gauge. Only because I would not have the time to kitbuild or convert RTR to P4, as well as all my main modelling activities

 

This does cause problems with building the trackwork as per the prototype, as flange clearances cause a problem when not working to an absolute scale. But so far the curved single and double slips, embedded crossings within multiple turnouts have only caused two rebuilds. At least scratchbuilding the track leaves no compromises on the track layout

[Stevelewis]

I lived in Chorlton-######-Hardy until 1964, and used to travel to Central Station with my older brother on a 62 bus from Ryebank Road, and return via train to Chorlton

 

As a complete aside, my great grandfather who lived in Burnage, Manchester, travelled many times to Mold and the surrounding area on painting trips during the period 1905 to 1915. I have one of his oil paintings over our lounge fireplace, picturing the pine woods in Rhydymwyn in 1906

 

Small world eh!!

 

We lived in Levenshulme, First School Alma Park next to the Man / Lon line used to see many LMR top link locos on running in turns!

 

The Central to Gorton / Reddish etc Via Chorlton ran by the school at low level 90' to the Man/ lon line ............ saw a 30+ loose fitted freight derailed there one morning!!

 

The Midland Pullman used that line en route from Reddish Sheds to Central, we used stand on a footbridge, as the Pullman passed beneath us the heat was staggering!!

 

Rhydymwyn, not far from us on the Mold Denbigh road, well know these days for the 'Secret government installations built during WW2 something to dp with Atomic weapons and Germ warfare it was rumoured, only very recently the site has been opened as a nature reserve, For official accompanied visits only Spooky!! More info on the Rhydymwyn website

 

PS also went to Burnage Grammar school!

 

Good luck with the project

,

[coachmann]

Used to unload me BR parcels van at Manchester Central in 1959 and one teatime had my first sighting of Harold MacMillan and a 'Peak' diesel (D1). Lots of happy memories of the old station.

[Stevelewis]

Used to unload me BR parcels van at Manchester Central in 1959 and one teatime had my first sighting of Harold MacMillan and a 'Peak' diesel (D1). Lots of happy memories of the old station.

 

 

That would be around the time we used to go spotting there!! Small world or what??

 

Remeber he 93 bus service which had its terminus in the station forecourt, very handy for us as its other terminus was a couple of hundred yards from home!!

 

If I remember correctly the turntable used to overhang the road which ran by the station?

[Ron Heggs]

That would be around the time we used to go spotting there!! Small world or what??

 

Remeber he 93 bus service which had its terminus in the station forecourt, very handy for us as its other terminus was a couple of hundred yards from home!!

 

If I remember correctly the turntable used to overhang the road which ran by the station?

 

The replacement turntable did indeed overhang the viaduct wall along side the canal and Whitworth Street West

 

If I remember correctly the 93 bus terminated near McVitie & Price biscuit works. My aunt worked there and lived just across the road off Stockport Road. My grandparents lived on Albert Road, Levenshulme

 

As you say it is a small world

[Stubby47]

Just to add a completely irrelevant point - my parents are both from Manchester (Dad models LMS in North Wales), they now live in Spain, and are currently on holiday with my sister in Mold...

 

Edit : Forgot to say - those are stunning buildings in your gallery !

[Guest jim s-w]

4mm scale, but 00 gauge. Only because I would not have the time to kitbuild or convert RTR to P4, as well as all my main modelling activities

 

This does cause problems with building the trackwork as per the prototype, as flange clearances cause a problem when not working to an absolute scale. But so far the curved single and double slips, embedded crossings within multiple turnouts have only caused two rebuilds. At least scratchbuilding the track leaves no compromises on the track layout

 

Indeed so, I have long maintained that if you are going to hand build track, p4 can be the easy option

 

Cheers

 

Jim

[Stevelewis]

The replacement turntable did indeed overhang the viaduct wall along side the canal and Whitworth Street West

 

If I remember correctly the 93 bus terminated near McVitie & Price biscuit works. My aunt worked there and lived just across the road off Stockport Road. My grandparents lived on Albert Road, Levenshulme

 

As you say it is a small world

 

Very Small world,!! My first wife worked in the offices at Macvits' We lived in Milford Drive which was just at the top of Lloyd Rd where the bus terminus was, ( remember the 22 service to ECCLES??)

 

I actually went to school for my first day there on a TRAM!! from LLoyd road!!

 

I knew Albert road well. Levenshulme North Station!!

[Stevelewis]

Just to add a completely irrelevant point - my parents are both from Manchester (Dad models LMS in North Wales), they now live in Spain, and are currently on holiday with my sister in Mold...

 

!

 

 

My first wife mentioned above lives in Spain!! I am still stuck in the COLD!! of Mold