Nobby (John) Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 George Woodcock and myself are commencing a new layout This will be a model of my home town station -Towcester . We are going to use some modellers license in the fact that the line from Blisworth to Banbury did not close and is being used as across country route between the West Coast main line and the Chiltern Line. So there will be some freight and some shuttling DMU's The time will be in the early 70's. I have many photos and diagrams of Towcester, its buildings, and infrastucture EXCEPT for the main bridge ( which was known as Lucas bridge ) that straddled the main A5 trunk road. I have found one very grainy picture which was taken from a distance but this is not good enough for us to contruct a model. I have tried the Towcester history Society, The SMJ society to no avail. Does anyone have any ideas as to where we may be able to get a photo of this bridge. By the way it was called locally as Lucas Bridge due to the large advert for Lucas automotive products that adorned it. Any help greatly appreciated, any photos would be great and obviously scanned and returned. Many thanks John & George Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Just realised i probably should have posted this in Modellers Questions, Tips and Advice. So if one of the Mods could move it for me i would appreciate it. Thanks John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 2, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) Hi I take it you have seen these? http://thesmjr.ning....ridge-towcester http://thesmjr.ning....towcester-lucas http://thesmjr.ning....towcester-lucas http://thesmjr.ning....-bridge-signals http://thesmjr.ning....ge-at-towcester Hope these help, the scalled plan seams very useful. Were you able to find architectural plans of the main building, signal box and goods shed? Duncan Edited August 2, 2012 by Blandford1969 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 2, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 2, 2012 Sorry I forgot for more general shots of Towcester have you seen these? http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/6952849777/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075063/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075317/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075063/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075063/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/6952850265/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4092644806/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091883179/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997074927/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075001/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091881987/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075243/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4092647212/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091882305/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091882641/ Then from Britain from above we have also got http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw023766?search=towcester&ref=8 which you can really zoom in on the detail Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Hi Duncan Thank you for the photos, there are some there i have not seen before and will be useful. I still need a crisp image of the bridge, i think we can do the actual span with the photos we have, we may just have to make up what the abutments were like. Anyway, thanks again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 2, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 2, 2012 They were brick abutments as in http://thesmjr.ning.com/photo/bridge-12-towcester-lucas this one and it was an H girder. I will have a look at home later to see if there is anything clearer, but sadly it is probably the least photographed part of this station Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Thanks Duncan, much appreciated. Just goes to show i must take more infrastructure photos when i am out and about-you never know when someone may need them!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 In last few issues of Railway Bylines Towcester was featured as part of an article on the SMJ might be worth looking if you can. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted August 3, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 3, 2012 The Bylines have some photos of the goods shed / Signal Box and main building, but sadly not the Lucas bridge. It seams that the standard books on the line by the OPC / Oakwood and the most recent (whose publisher I cant remember) do not have any photos which show a side on view of that bridge. I am sure I have seen another photo somewhere but at the moment cannot find it. None of my negs of the station show the bridge either i'm affraid. If I find the photo that is somewhere in my recollection I will let you know sorry not to have been able to help more Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share Posted August 3, 2012 Guys, and especially Duncan , Thank you for you help so far it is appreciated. Regards John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted November 19, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 19, 2012 John, Not sure if you have seen, but a couple of new views have appeared on the SMJ web site this one should be of particular interest http://api.ning.com/files/NG69mQSjAkOr-x3t-sJHNnsjN4hCxS8xxKBEtGQ1MDjejw-bXH4RBxwAjkNzugSX32zVcjPIQx4Ruhyijs26Wj*rp0yKMiNP/towcesterstationafterclosure038.JPG It shows the detail of the abutments of the bridge you have been trying to get information on. regards Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted December 1, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 1, 2012 Nobby / George Hope you both don't mind the minor thread hijack. My father in law is also building a model of Towcester station in his attic room. His just come to fitting out the signal box with levers and instruments and is wondering about the layout of the block instruments on the shelf. He's setting the line in LMS days when all four lines (Blakesley, Banbury, Blisworth and Onley) were open. It's beyond me as I don't know much about signalling practice but I wonder if you guys have already worked this out for your model? Any help appreciated. (Nobby, I think my FIL met you at the Northampton show about 2 years ago). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ELTEL Posted December 1, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 1, 2012 Hi John It's was Chris's father in law (2ManySpams) who's layout of Towcester I was referring to when we spoke at either Alsager or Warley She you soon Eltel 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Woodcock Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Hello I'm sure that there will not be too much rivalry on this layout. Our layout is set in 1977/78 so falls firmly into the 'what if' category of layout. We will be modelling the signal box but the signalling will be very much rationalized due to the closure of two of the tracks which led into and out of the station. like the track plan will be simplified as so much was in the 70s in an effort to keep the costs down. I'm sorry Chris but i have no idea what the layout of the box was in the earlier,( and real), era so we shall just have to mjake ours up though I suspect there will be a fair few white levers. We could have got rid of the box as well I suppose but it looks to good and unusual in design not to feature it. I think the plan is that I build the box and John will do the station building which will be in low relief to save space. Another new development is that the layout will be DCC which will be a first for us both and the signals will probably be from the nice Mr Dapol having seen them on a friends layout recently at Alsager and being impressed by them. Something less to build as well. No problem with your hijack, this is what modelling is all about, just sorry I couldn't be of more help. Best of luck to your father in law's layout. Just one more thing to add is that we have nearly finished the baseboards and hope to start track-laying over festive holiday period. Also thanks to the folks who sent us the photos; much appreciated. Cheers George . . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted December 2, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2012 Thanks for the reply George - worth a try. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 2, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2012 Re the bridge. County civil engineers often held photos of structures, have you tried at the main library to see if they hold any archive material ? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 2, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2012 We will be modelling the signal box but the signalling will be very much rationalized due to the closure of two of the tracks which led into and out of the station. like the track plan will be simplified as so much was in the 70s in an effort to keep the costs down. I'm sorry Chris but i have no idea what the layout of the box was in the earlier,( and real), era so we shall just have to mjake ours up though I suspect there will be a fair few white levers. We could have got rid of the box as well I suppose but it looks to good and unusual in design not to feature Replace it with ground frames but leave it in place, derelict perhaps ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted December 2, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2012 An unkempt version of Mike's perhaps... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Woodcock Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Hello Thanks for both those suggestions Dave, I will discuss them with my colleague ASAP. Very impressive Chris perhaps I should take up Dave's idea so that when I make a mess of my version I can at least say it was in a rough state. Cheers George 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 (edited) Hello I'm sure that there will not be too much rivalry on this layout. Our layout is set in 1977/78 so falls firmly into the 'what if' category of layout. We will be modelling the signal box but the signalling will be very much rationalized due to the closure of two of the tracks which led into and out of the station. like the track plan will be simplified as so much was in the 70s in an effort to keep the costs down. I'm sorry Chris but i have no idea what the layout of the box was in the earlier,( and real), era so we shall just have to mjake ours up though I suspect there will be a fair few white levers. We could have got rid of the box as well I suppose but it looks to good and unusual in design not to feature it. I think the plan is that I build the box and John will do the station building which will be in low relief to save space. Another new development is that the layout will be DCC which will be a first for us both and the signals will probably be from the nice Mr Dapol having seen them on a friends layout recently at Alsager and being impressed by them. Something less to build as well. No problem with your hijack, this is what modelling is all about, just sorry I couldn't be of more help. Best of luck to your father in law's layout. Just one more thing to add is that we have nearly finished the baseboards and hope to start track-laying over festive holiday period. Also thanks to the folks who sent us the photos; much appreciated. Cheers George . . Somewhere lurking in the depths of my collection is one of the last train registers from Towcester box. I've been looking for it half-heartedly for awhile. When it surfaces i'll post a few pages on here. Edited December 2, 2012 by LNERGE 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted December 3, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 3, 2012 I've a funny feeling there is a photo inside the box at Towcester in the most recent book on the line or in an article in Bylines - will have a look when i get home kind regards Duncan 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Re the bridge. County civil engineers often held photos of structures, have you tried at the main library to see if they hold any archive material ? Cheers Beast, i will give that a try. John (nobby) I've a funny feeling there is a photo inside the box at Towcester in the most recent book on the line or in an article in Bylines - will have a look when i get home kind regards Duncan Cheers Duncan, appreciate it. John (nobby) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby (John) Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Nobby / George Hope you both don't mind the minor thread hijack. My father in law is also building a model of Towcester station in his attic room. His just come to fitting out the signal box with levers and instruments and is wondering about the layout of the block instruments on the shelf. He's setting the line in LMS days when all four lines (Blakesley, Banbury, Blisworth and Onley) were open. It's beyond me as I don't know much about signalling practice but I wonder if you guys have already worked this out for your model? Any help appreciated. (Nobby, I think my FIL met you at the Northampton show about 2 years ago). Hi Chris, yses i did meet your FIL, i see George has already answered about the signalling, sorry i cannot help you on that either. The bridge must be the only bridge not to have been photographed on the whole BR network!!! Cheers John (nobby) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeHemmings Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Hi Chris, yses i did meet your FIL, i see George has already answered about the signalling, sorry i cannot help you on that either. The bridge must be the only bridge not to have been photographed on the whole BR network!!! Cheers John (nobby) I drove under the Lucas bridge most days going to work and never took any notice of it. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted December 4, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 4, 2012 There are no photos in the main published books, as yet i've not found the article on Towcester that i remember from either earlier this year or last year. Will keep looking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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