Midland country stations

[Colin]

Being a mainly BR/SR fan, I don't have much about the MR/LMS in my library and a Google search has proved largely fruitless.

Basically I'm looking for a small single storey MR building which I can use as the basis for a model (see my layout thread "A Change Is As Good As A Rest"). Currently I'm looking at Byfield on the SMJR - is this typically Midland?

I would definitely prefer a brick building (a lot easier to replicate in 4mm scale than stone) and my MR interest centres around the southern part of that company's empire; if a suitable structure exists, can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

Thanks in advance for any info supplied!

[Edwin_m]

The Midland Railway Centre has two single-storey Midland station buildings (though both stone built), several signal boxes and other structures.

 

Beeston is a fairly early single storey Midland station and Harpenden is fairly similar but from the south end of the network.

[Gordon A]

Have you looked at Bitton station on the Midland line to Bath Green Park, albeit of stone construction.

Currently the headquarters of the Avon valley Railway.

 

Gordon A

Bristol

[Orion]

Byfield and the S&MJ have nothing whatever to do with the Midland Railway - it was an independent line until absorbed into the LMS.

 

The best source of reference is " A Pictorial record of LMS Architecture" by Anderson and Fox, which has several useful drawings and explains the evolution of MR station buildings over time. Higham Ferrers is one, which still stood last time I went past (a few years ago!)

[martin_wynne]

Try Evesham Midland, brick built, which still stands (now "Signal House") and is easily accessible alongside the GWR station car park:

 

http://goo.gl/maps/rHX13

 

http://www.photobydj...ns/Evesham.html

 

http://www.disused-s...mid/index.shtml

 

http://www.disused-s...d/index11.shtml

 

http://www.disused-s...id/index7.shtml

 

 

For something smaller, try Alvechurch on the same line:

 

http://www.geograph....k/photo/1640896

 

 

regards,

 

Martin.

[TheSignalEngineer]

The LMS section of the Warwickshire Railways site http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/index.htm has a lot of pictures of old stations of all sizes. They are categorised by route using links on the left of the page.

 

There used to be a nice small brick one at Kingsbury, which I think may have even predated the formation of the Midland.

[Joseph_Pestell]

Harpenden is not that typical of Midland architecture being on the Bedford - St Pancras extension which had buildings quite different from elsewhere on the railway (although OP does refer to "south end of the network"). Very attractive though.

[Joseph_Pestell]

Looking at the layout thread, there is reference to Gloucestershire. And the track layout looks quite suitable for the MR lines around Stroud. But most (all) buildings around there in stone. Evesham bldgs would be too big but could serve as a basis for architectural details.

[Colin]

Looking at the layout thread, there is reference to Gloucestershire. And the track layout looks quite suitable for the MR lines around Stroud. But most (all) buildings around there in stone. Evesham bldgs would be too big but could serve as a basis for architectural details.

 

I rather think that this could be the way forward - very attractive as it is, Evesham is definitely way too big for what I have in mind! I was looking for a building about the same size as the GWR one I've already built (see pics in layout thread) as all station buildings, being interchangeable, will have to occupy the same "footprint" (I have several identical pieces of ply, 11"x4" which will each take a building plus paved surround/outbuildings etc).

As the platform on the layout is to have a brick face, I was just wondering if a stone building might look a bit odd - any thoughts?

Alvechurch looks quite promising too - simple but nicely proportioned.

 

As regards the SMJR, I guess I was misled by the company name - shame, as the building at Byfield is a very attractive little structure.

 

 

Many thanks for all your help so far!

[John_Miles]

There is a really good book "A Pictorial Record Midland Railway Architecture" - probably out of print but the second hand booksellers would be able to locate one. The authors are Anderson and Fox. There is also a book on the" Stations and Structures of the Settle and Carlisle" - the stations were typical Derby gothic and there are some good drawings.

[Nick Holliday]

Part of the problem is that there is no generic Midland style of station building. Like most railways there may be consistency in architect for a particular line, such as the Settle and Carlisle, or for a particular period, as per the Myers buildings on the LBSCR, but beyond that anything might go. You may find that the best route is to find a station that ticks your boxes, and then asking again if anyone has a drawing for it. Whilst the Anderson and Fox books are very useful, the number of actual drawings of station buildings is rather limited, so they may not come up with the goods, but other drawings are out there somewhere.

For your specific requirements, I would suggest looking at the Dursley branch - brick built buildings and platforms, Midland branch in Gloucestershire, and quite pretty to boot! (and at least one excellent website covering it)

[Cornish Triang Paul]

Hornby's Skaledale Dent station is the near typical MR building - its also similar to Bitton on the AVR.

[Captain Kernow]

Gloucestershire is rich in Midland Railway history. One lovely little place to model would be Frocester, with a small single storey station building, 3-window Midland signal box and goods shed accessed via a wagon turntable (not unlike Yate, in fact). Most of the other stations on the Bristol - Gloucester line north of Yate also had single storey brick station buildings, although some had station houses close by.

 

If you can get hold of a second hand copy of 'An Historical Survey of the Midland Railway in Gloucestershire' by Oxford Publishing Company, there are ample photos, line diagrams and even some drawings of buildings.

[Cornish Triang Paul]

An excelent book indeed.