Curlew

The branch line would probably be a late addition, so would have to make best use of the space then available, unless the whole station site was completely redeveloped. Buxton LNWR was a good example where the existing station was retained and adapted. The former goods yard was completely abandoned in favour of the Midland Railway premises after the branch line from Ashbourne was built. The engine shed was also moved to a different site and considerably enlarged.

go here and press the button 'Create a Blog' https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=blog

Unfortunately I don't think there is a good book on Lincolnshire independents, unlike one or two other local counties. These people may be able to help you? http://www.lvvs.org.uk/

A further thought on buses - why not create a fictitious bus company with a route to a local destination, as a deliberate attempt not to be prototypical. E.G. - Wright Bangers route OO to a well known destination just south of Grantham - probably too silly, but I hope you get the drift...

https://www.granthammatters.co.uk/the-old-bus-station-3/ Lots of bus variety in the old days. Far more independents around before post-war consolidation. As Grantham was on the A1, there would be lots of long distance services too

The problem affects EMR Regional Routes, not EMR Connect or EMR Intercity, according to their web site. If so, the withdrawal of HSTs is surely not relevant?

One idea not so far considered is that the Caledonian may have imposed the restriction itself.

ST&A? Please pardon my ignorance

A perverse choice for many, as London had significantly more direct services to Liverpool - and from Sheffield there would probably be through Midland coaches if not through trains taking the direct route via Cheadle Heath once the Dore & Totley line was open?

The MS&L at one time considered a cross-Manchester line of its own before Manchester Central was built. Suggests there may have been operating or capacity problems with using the MSJ&A?

See the Old Maps site. They have a 1970 map at 1:2500 and earlier ones too https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/255393/371020/12/100954

There was a discussion on the LNER Forum some years ago about the Newark & Ollerton Railway, which later became an LD&ECR branch line proposal. It was disclosed that there was at one time a proposal to extend the N&O to Worksop, at Kilton. This is copied from the discussion, written by 'Chuffinel'..... Interestingly, in the Duke of Portland's papers (in Nottm Archives) there are significant ref's to the Ollerton-Worksop extension to the Newark-Ollerton line and goes into length as to how the route had been planned to avoid as much Ducal conflict as pos!. For anyone that knows that locality......, the route as planned would've left Ollerton in a NW direction and paralleled the present A616 (about 100 yards to the West), then around the back of Budby village, crossed the current B6034 at Carburton, then paralleling that road, to the east of it, then veering further east, just past Truman's Lodge, through Clumber, to east of the Worksop College, passing between what is now the eastern edge of Manton village and the former site of (at that time the "planned") Manton Colliery (the colliery spoil heap later (and still does) occupy that part of the planned route), then finally crossing on what would've been an interesting viaduct or span of bridges over the B6040, the Canal & River Ryton to form a South to West junction with the GCR (then MSL) Sheff-Lincoln line at Rayton Lane, Kilton.

This is a useful book re Silver Service buses https://www.mdsbooks.co.uk/vpl/super-prestige-38-derbyshire-independents.html It has several excellent colour images as well as other useful fleet information. Out of print but still available if you search for it, I think.

Has anyone mentioned the Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway or the Manchester and Milford? Both have massive potential for expansion without changing their names in any way. Even the Bishops Castle and the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire had grand plans. All would have needed lots more and very different motive power for a larer network though. The Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton did try and get its own independent route into London. I have a map somewhere, but typically can't find it.

Maybe could be converted to unpowered coaches on preserved lines. They have lots of windows, giving good visibility - superior to BR MK1s and other existing vehicles.

Some Longmoor military railway type locos are available in N gauge too.

There's a Baby Deltic/Deltic book just out already

Didn't the Midland export 100 or so outside framed 0-6-0s to Italy early in the C20, which lasted a long time thereafter? That could otherwise have left the Midland with another 100 locos, even if it passed the headache of where to find extra locos on to the Italians. With a new boiler every now and then, these rugged machines could probably have carried on a tough life forever and a day.

It's only freelance in this universe..............

One was scratchbuilt by S Harris in the 1990s. I think it was featured in MRJ http://www.2mm.org.uk/galleries/agm-1998/07.jpg

The 'new' class 220 retail price is £399.95 for a 4 coach unit, discounted to around £330 at retailers. Heaven knows what a really completely new 3 coach DMU would cost.

https://www.rtmodels.co.uk/rt_models_008.htm

A working ferry layout