Hello all,
It has certainly been a while since I last posted much on here. Work commitments, personal matters and even losing quite a lot of interest in the hobby all played their part. With the current world events, I feel as though it is time to give it another go.
This isn't my first layout that carries the name, the first being a APA Box layout from 2013. The more recent venture was from this year with a 2 platform station with a siding much like Caterham station, alas space constraints and the operational headache that it ended up to be put an end to that. The solution to me now is simplicity. I no longer enjoy laying complex trackwork and the headaches that come with faults, as much as I want to have a big layout to showcase my ever growing EMU fleet it is not feasable. This incarnation of Bromley Common will simply be a 1 platform station with a siding, now on to the setting....
Bromley Common is set in its namesake in the sectorisation era, more specifically 1990-1994 when the elderly EPB's were slowly giving way to brand new Networkers as part of the heavy investment of the Kent Link routes. The fictitious line to Bromley Common was part of an ambitious project to extend the Hayes Line to Orpington by the Southern Railway but with many similar plans, they were put on hold indefinitely due to the onset of WW2 and only went as far as Bromley Common. The line had a healthy existence until the 1980's when passenger numbers declined and local bus services increased competition. Despite this, there is the following services:
2tph to/from London Charing Cross via Hayes, Elmers End and Lewisham calling at all stations. This is usually formed of 2 two 2EPB's coupled together.
1tph to/from Addiscombe. An extention of the 'Popper' service that reverses at Elmers End. A single 2EPB and later a 466 would run the service.
Peak time AM/PM to/from London Victoria via Elmers End, Lewisham, Nunhead and Denmark Hill. This is usually in the hands of a spare Kent Coast 4VEP unit.
A rather ambitious early cross-London trial service to/from Slough via Lewisham, Denmark Hill, Kensington Olympia, Acton Mainline and Ealing Broadway using a brand new Class 166 from the Thames area. This was very short-lived owing to lack of demand at the time. (It's a good excuse to run my 166 ).
On top of the passenger services, there is a healthy amount of mail traffic using the surplus MLV units and the sidings do play host to visiting locomotives.
Construction has already started, pics will follow shortly!