Lazerrail

Hi Stuart, I am based in York and am due a visit to NRM Archives soon, for a fix of research (the last one I did was for someone who wanted info re the LBSC K Class Mogul - the drawings were ink pen and tinted and signed by L B Billinton in 1913/14 - just before WW1) so I will check out if they have anything. I will also try to contact the person I passed the track-plan to, since I can't recall if it had Point details on it. I am also due to visit North Road Museum at Darlo for some loco details as well. During the hot summer of 76 and a very low tide, the ford at Whitby could quite easily be discerned. There was a line of marker stones on either side and I got my Welly's on and crossed it. I think from recent photos, storm/spate/dredging has damaged it. But again I had a Large-scale Ordnance map which clearly showed it. Finally, I have bought some plastic storage boxes from my local Range store and I am definitely getting stuff out of the loft, thus I will check thru the photos. Paul

Hi Derek, Many years ago I purchased from BR NE Region a Track-plan of Whitby Town Station, for a minimal cost. It arrived in the form of a long narrow Blue-print (rolled-up) and included the circular foundation layout of Larpool Viaduct as well as a separate plan of Prospect Hill Junction. One advantage of it was that the original (dating from so long ago) had been drawn on Linen paper and so all of the earlier tracks could be easily distinguished from later amendments. I passed this on to a colleague a couple of years ago - but I see no reason why you could not contact Rail-track to see if you can obtain a copy, especially with the recent developments at WT, it is most likely available in a digital format. I have lots of 35mm photos of the EVL taken in the 1980's refurbished 101's era including the twice-weekly P-u-Goods and also the Sunday morning the S & T Dept came along and disconnected all the Points and Signals prior to the annihilation of the remaining Goods and Passenger services that had existed post Beeching. They are all up in the loft - but I will dig them out and sort thru any that might be useful, to convert to digital. One interesting point about the model you are researching is that the Signal Cabin at Bog Hall controlled Gates that led down to a Ford over the R. Esk. This gains the East-side at Spital Bridge (Google it, for images) so it must have been a public right-of-way category and both Town & BH Cabins lasted until the end, before 'one engine' only held sway. In fact I have photo's of the interior of all the Cabins - certainly WT to Battersby Junction and Nunthorpe. Again if anyone can get hold of Railway Modeller June 1980 check 'A Branchline for Modern Traction' with Ink pen on drawing-board film and my own photos (There is also a good article about kitting-out your house loft for a layout in this edition too) So you are right to ask about disused parts of a line that is still in existence, because so much has changed since the last time it changed and the time before that and the time... I hope this is of interest, Paul

Hi Guys, The S & W is very much a fond memory for me and I can still recall the childhood thrill of seeing Robin Hoods Bay from the DMU windows as the North-bound train emerged from Ravenscar tunnel. I would have my red metal bucket and spade at the ready, that I had purchased on Scarborough station, prior to setting off for one weeks (our only) annual family holiday in RHB The trains fascinated me and when set-down at RHB, I would race thru the Goods Yard and stand to watch the Grand Depart of the DMU to Whitby - just like the small boy in Ken Hoole's / David Hey's photo of a 3-Car 108 (Hull, Springhead depot) If anyone can find an old copy of 'Railway Modeller' September 1981, check-out 'A Branch Line for Modern Traction', written with assistance from Ken Hoole and Robin Lidster. All the drawings and maps were produced using drawing-board ink pens on film-paper whilst at work (long before CAD) The plan was based on 'what-if the line had survived'. Back then, although the line was an official a footpath / cycle-track - it was still very derelict and overgrown with vegetation. Now it's a bit of shining example of 'just look what can be achieved'! I had hours of fun building and operating the model, even though it was a bit of a Train-set approach. But Model Railways themselves have moved-on so much these days, that I'm tempted to have a another go. Regards, Paul (thanks for a great Forum and I'm glad I've joined at last)