Fingers

Hi Paul

 

I passed through Ellesmere a couple of weeks ago.  The site is owned by Fulwoods and it appears to be surrounded by new security fencing so access at a weekend may not be possible (Maybe a Saturday if Fulwoods are open). I assume the gates will be open during the week and you might be able to get in (I never got chased off!). Otherwise the Elson Road bridge provides a vantage point.

 

The Vic Rogers and Keith Mitchell book - Oswestry to Whitchurch is also useful. Have you tried the Disused Stations website on t'interweb? And Google images will throw up so pics as well.

 

 

Phil

Phil,

Yes indeed, have been trawling any information I can come across, it's surprising how much is out there. But, I think I'll have problems finding details for other railway buildings.

Looking at the working timetable, it was interesting to see a couple of freight trains to "Elson Sidings" but I've had difficulty working out exactly where they were. Looking at the 25 inch map my money is on what seems to be an industrial building on the Welshpool line just around what looks like an abandoned triangle. As a local, is this right and do you know what was produced there? Looking at current Google maps the buildings seem to be in process of reclamation by nature. It'll give me some idea of the sort of freight traffic one would have expected to see.

Paul

Hi

The track plan I have used is from the late 1950s after the turntable was taken out. Earlier plans do show different access to the goods yard but photos from the late 50s/60s clearly show just the one point accessing the yard from the down line and protected by the trap point with a ground signal.  On the up side the two sidings come off a headshunt/refuge siding which continues under Grange Road bridge. It isn't double track although it appears that way. One thing that has bothered me is that I can't see any ground signals controlling movements from the headhunt back onto the up running line although arlier photos show a 2 arm shunt signal. I have put a double ground signal in on my layout!

 

Ellesmere model railway club had an old 2mm model of Ellesmere but I am not sure where they are up to with it after it suffered some damage a while ago.

 

Derek Lowe's book on the Cambrian Main lIne has some useful views of Ellesmere.

 

Hope that helps and I am glad to answer any questions you may have

 

Cheers

 

Phil

Phil,

Many thanks for the reply, it just goes to show how one shouldn't presume! I thought layout was double track from the Wrexham/Welshpool junction toward Whitchurch, it never occurred that it was in fact single. Nicely explains lack of traps to the sidings behind the box 

Have spent an enjoyable evening with Templot doing the required changes - oh the joy! Now just have to build baseboards and lay some track!

Will also try to get hold of a copy of the book for additional pictures. Have also mentioned a possible weekend away to the management to look at the old station building, fingers firmly crossed!

Thanks for the offer of help, hopefully you won't regret the offer!

Cheers,

Paul

Having decided to rekindle the thought of a model railway (in 2mm as you can get more in less space!) I was trying to find a "real" location and came across Ellesmere, which fits the bill quite well. Having found a 1920's 25 inch map showing the track layout, it was surprising the differences in pictures in the 1950/60's. After much practice with Templot have managed to come up with a reasonable incarnation of the layout but am stuck on one thing. THere re three exits from sidings onto the main line and from the maps and photographs there do not appear to be any trap points at all. Your layout has no traps from the two sidings behind the signal box but has a single blade trap at the exit from the main yard. Can anyone confirm whether there was a trap here or not. As an old P.Way engineer I'd have expected to see one but for whatever reason there mightn't have been one.

Look forward to the views of the audience!