Zumo2567

When for a good old bike ride today and wasn't sure where to goso just cycled around the local area. Before i knew it i had ended up by one of the old railway bridges so decided to take some photos.

You'll have to excuse the quailty of them as they were taken on my phone but I thought they might be of interest.

The first set of photoes are taken around the Bridge just before the North portal of the tunnel in Downton. Here the railway ran over a small road.

The east side of the bridge a short distance from North Portal of Downton tunnel

The same east side looking up the enbankment. If you carried on following the line left you would reach the tunnel.

Same east side looking to the right of the bridge

Bridge marker

Looking up you can see some work has been done to the bridge and it looks quite recent.

Underneath the bridge. The brickwork seems to be in fairly good condition.

Now on the west side of the bridge.

I will continue adding photos tonight but in the meantime they can all be found here on my flickr page. They're all geotagged so you can see where they were taken.

It's looking good!

What did the people who viewed the house say when they saw the layout?

I'd be asking if the layout came with it and if not how much to include it!

Yeah ive found a couple of the bridges whiloe driving out that way is a shame really although there might of been a ventialtion shaft?

I'm not to sure. The tunnel was only 107yds long (97.8m) and from what i've read of it, it was unpleasant for crew due to it being a small bore tunnel (and perhaps no ventilation?).

I may go and have a wander over the fields that way and see if i can spot anything. The problem is I'm not sure where the cutting ended and the tunnel began.

Does anyone know if Downton Tunnel is still about or has it been filled in?

The filled it in along with the cutting as well. Shame really.

A couple of years ago before I really knew about the line i found the old railway bridge that was just before the north cutting. It didn't dawn on me at first that there was a tunnel they filled so much in.

Does anybody know how the filled it in. Surely if we were to get a digger out (not saying we do) you'd be able to find the tunnel brickwork.

Somewhere there must be some information about it.

Not a big one but a small photo (and i mean small) of the railway arch over the road in Downton.

http://www.southwilt...s/LODE-HILL.htm

I think it's looking towards Downton Highstreet.

Edit: Also a photo of Downton Station in 1964 after closure.

http://www.railwayramblers.org.uk/walks/walks.htm

This is looking excellent. I know have an urge to go and do one myself.

Any chance of a video once your finished?

Hope there's no major damage to the layout.

I remember I had my layout on the table with a fair amount overhanging the edge. The cat jumped up onto it and the whole layout started to tip. Luckily i was there to stop it sliding off the table.

Mine took around 2 days to dry so don't worry (although it wasn't in a basement).

I wouldn't worry about putting to much on though as first time round I don't think I put enough on (or I was impatient with the drying) as i seemed to be able to pick up bits of it quite easily. Now it's rock solid.

The ballast already make it look so much better.

As to ballasting in the tunnel I think you should so it isn't a sudden stop. Quite how your going to get inside though could be interesting.

It looks like it coming along nicely i have to say.

Hi Handscombmp,

 

Are you aware of the 'other' station on the thread is a model of Daggons Road?

 

I have my late father's collection of photos of the S&DJR gathered during the 40-50's featuring Downton together with other stations along the line. During 2009, I provided Nigel Bray with some information about the line, featured in his book, you should have a copy.

 

DesA

Yes i did see it. It looks very nice and accurate.

I do have the Nigel Bray's book on the S&DJR.

If you have any other photos that you know didn't make it to press a copy of them would be much appreciated if that is possible thanks.

Looks very nice!

Am interested in it as my planned Downton Railway Station was also in the south.

May be stealing some of your ideas