Sun VI

Afternoon Michael, I couldn't begin to count the number of times that I've been to, or through, Waterloo / Waterloo East, but I've never been on the Waterloo & City Line, and knew nothing about it. So reading-up about it on Wikipedia was both interesting and surprising (seems like I don't get out much). I did find this comment regarding the track formation at the City end, as installed when the line opened in 1898: 'At the new City station there were two platforms and either could be used by an arriving train, reversing in the platform. The track connections at the approach were a double slip, not a scissors, so a train could not leave while another was arriving.' Can you provide any further information? I agree with your comment: 'Scissors tend to be used where space is at a premium whereas branch lines tend to be in the middle of nowhere with lots of room.' This is why I'm so fascinated to find examples of scissors crossovers being used in unexpected places. At Great Shefford, which started this all off for me, there wasn't even a signal box. Thanks for your interest.

That lower photograph is a revelation - it must be one of the shortest scissor crossovers constructed. What a fantastic piece of track work - any volunteers to model it? It's on the 1922 25" OS map, Derbyshire XV.13, thank you very much.

An excellent photo there, thanks Steven.

Afternoon Howard, There certainly was a conventional scissors crossover controlled by Paignton North box as shown here: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwe/S911.htm However, I took a look at Paignton South Box ( https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwe/S912.htm ) and found that there was, in effect, another feeding the sidings and goods shed on the west of the line. This was more sprawling and rather more complex as, for one diagonal, it was laid out as trailing right hand turnout off up line to crossover to right hand turnout to siding. The other diagonal was a double slip on the up through line to crossover to double slip in the goods yard. The trailing track from the through line double slip went back to the through down line. The diagram makes it clear, but wouldn't that all make a fascinating model? Hope to see you soon at ExGOG.

Afternoon Stephen B, I've had a quick look but can't find any track diagrams. Very interesting that there is a scissors crossover on a modern facility - can you point us to any photo's or diagrams?

Hello RusP, Oh, that Wells branch, not the Wells in Somerset. Found it here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/120849152 and also here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_School_railway_station which includes a clear track diagram. Thanks.

Hello IanN, I think that I've found Elbowend junction here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/82882194 just to the south of Dunfermline. However, on the map it's labeled as 'Charlestown Junction' - is this the right place?

Hello HH, I've found the one at Corwen, it came under Corwen East for signalling: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gww/S3263.htm I also had a look at Corwen West. There's no scissors crossover, but there is a single slip off the branch line leading straight into a double slip, looks interesting to me.

That's crystal clear, thanks. The OS sheet I referred to was revised in 1920 and published in 1922, so I assume that the crossing was installed after 1920.

Thank you again Miss P, Upper Lydbrook is quite clear here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/109725316#zoom=8&lat=8175&lon=10155&layers=BT A fascinating bit of trackwork that looks a little more like a single slip than a scissors, but well worth viewing. I've found a photo that, I think, shows it in the distance here: https://forest-of-dean.net/gallery/lydbrook/pages/page_53.html

Thank you Miss P, Speech House Road station is on the Gloucestershire XXXI.13 25" to the mile OS sheet published in 1922 ( https://maps.nls.uk/view/109725376 ), however I can't make out a scissors crossover. Could it have been a later addition?

Thanks Tim, I found that one on the 1938 OS 25 inch sheet, Somerset X12 ( https://maps.nls.uk/view/106018922 ). Looks like an interesting subject for modelling.

Yes, thanks for that, I've just found it here: https://maps.nls.uk/view/120895129 It's on the OS 25 inches England and Wales 1928, sheet Herefordshire XVII.3, down at the bottom.

Good morning All, can any of you erudite folk enlighten me? Do you know of any places where scissors crossovers were placed on branch lines or in other unusual locations? My own knowledge is very limited (in this respect and many others), the only one of which I am aware was at Great Shefford on the Lambourn Valley line. Any others?

Hello Man of Kent, Some further books that you may find of interest: Lost Railways of Kent, by Leslie Oppitz, published Countryside Books of Newbury, Berkshire, 2003 and six reprints to 2019. ISBN 1 85306 803 9 The Cement Railways of Kent, by B.D. Stoyel and R.W. Kidner, published The Oakwood Press of Headington, Oxford, 1973 with a second enlarged edition in 1990. ISBN 0 85361 370 2 Military Railways in Kent, by R.M. Lyne, published by North Kent Books, 1983. ISBN 0 9505733 9 6 No doubt there are more. I haven’t heard of Gordon Edgar’s books before, so thanks to all for the recommendation. Regarding the following: ‘EDIT: I meant to add that 2 wagon length sidings do tend to look short - but again, depending on the setting and overall design, they can be made to look perfectly plausible. Edited April 8 by marc smith’ It should be possible to achieve this by running the siding(s) to the side panel of the layout. Then, instead of a buffer stop, cut an old wagon crossways in two and position one piece at the end of the siding to suggest the siding continues off scene. Cut off the coupling from this dummy end so there’s no chance for a shunted wagon to hook up, then you have a siding that appears feasible (I hope) while still only having a two wagon capacity. Low relief buildings are used all the time – so why not low relief wagons? I haven’t tried this but would be very interested to see the result. Good luck!

Hello Andrew, I'm very impressed with your enthusiasm, fortitude and skill. I'm also learning from you - the filler used for cement courses looks a cracking idea, thanks very much.

Hello Andrew, It looks as though your layout will be a lot of fun and present you with some interesting challenges on the way. I did have some queries regarding your traverser, but I've just seen that you have seen Jim Read's latest layout, so you'll be aware of his traverser video - enough said! Good luck with your project, I shall follow this with interest.

Many thanks CloggyDog, for the very clear, useful photo's. I've been working on one of these for ages, with an hour snatched here or or there at a time. You've given me some encouragement to get on with it.

Excellent work there, Mudmagnet. Would you post a photo of the whole diorama please - I appreciate that it may still be a work in progress, but it would be nice to see an overall picture of the area you are working with. Also, I do like the interior of the office. How did you make the filing cabinets? They do look very convincing. Please check your incoming messages re the hoist. Cheers

You've just sparked a memory - many years ago I worked with a lad whose brother worked for Segas, the South Eastern Gas Board as it was before privatisation. He was provided with a Bedford Beagle van which he was able to take home, while for his own transport he owned an HA Viva saloon. Every time the van went in for a service, the next weekend it would be stripped of the new plugs, points, filters and oil which were then swopped on to the Viva saloon ... A very atmospheric layout, excellent work.

Despite omitting any progress update since September 2017, work on Crossways has continued sporadically. In addition to some local shows, it went to the Bristol 0 Gauge show in 2019 and to the Wessex Association of Model Railway Clubs (WAMRC) show at Frome on the 4th and 5th January this year, which prompted me to further activity at the end of November and during December. Here’s the layout as presented at Frome with its newly purchased black table cloth and clip-on LED lamp: So, what’s been done since you last saw it? The traverser has been planked with coffee stirrers and stained with brown ink. A false wall was inserted at the back of the traverser pit and the pit was lined with brick paper. Up to this point the traverser had been running quite smoothly, however, just the thickness of the paper was sufficient to cause it to bind at the front, right hand corner and gave me some problems, especially if the temperature in a hall became very high. I think that I’ve overcome this by careful sanding and, immediately prior to the Frome show, by applying a good dose of talcum powder; all worked well over two days in a warm and stuffy room. Where track and sleepers are exposed, card sleepers were inserted between the double spaced copper clad and once painted with ‘sleeper grime’ are indistinguishable. The ‘concrete’ hard standings and workshop floor have been laid using pale grey card. All were sprayed with artists’ matt varnish as a sealant. The narrow gauge loco shed, visitors’ centre, stores and manager’s office have been painted and given appropriate colour washes. I’ve started to apply some signage. Doors to the stores and narrow gauge shed were made from … coffee stirrers, of course, and stained with brown ink. The hinges were bought at a dolls’ house show; they look good but haven’t taken adhesive well, even Superglue, despite being cleaned back to bare metal. Ballast has been laid. I’ve used three distinct grades and shades in an effort to prevent the whole area becoming overwhelmed by dark grey stone. I’ve made the north light roof of the wagon works. This was a bit fiddly as I wanted the roof to be detachable. Also, the north lights would reveal any obtrusive reinforcement that a conventional roof would hide. I achieved it, in part, by making triangular reinforcing joists out of clear perspex, photo to follow. There is still capping and a channel along the roof valley to add – I bought some thin, dark grey card that would be just right but now can’t find it – damn and damn again. At the Frome show I did find some plastic U channel suitable for rain water gutters, and rain water hoppers by Modelu at the Bristol O Gauge Show, so I should be able to get on with these now. I’ve made good progress on ‘hands free’ operation by using DG couplings, with the loop only at one end of a wagon and none on the loco’s. I mentioned in a previous post that I had started buying electro magnets to insert into the layout. Well, I wondered if a static magnet would work as well, so placed one at the end of the entry track, adjacent to the traverser. It worked perfectly. I then had a eureka moment and realised that I actually only needed two magnets on the whole layout, one at each end of the dual gauge track on the traverser, about an inch in from the edge (the right hand one may be easily seen in the first photo above). That worked too! So to my great delight, in one fell swoop, I saved myself a load of work and wiring, though I do have six spare electro magnets now. Suggestions for alternate uses would be welcome. Finally for now, the narrow gauge Diesel shunter and service trolley have been painted, though the driver and other figures need to be. Until setting out this post, I didn't realise how much further the layout has developed. If you've just read all of my current ramblings, thank you, I appreciate it.

I've just been looking at the weather forecast. Looks like Bridport will be in the low 20s tomorrow - just right for the show. Shouldn't be too hot for those setting up this afternoon either. I'm told that catering will be available from 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, time for a bacon buttie before the show opens, yum.

Great photo's there Geoff. I like trestle wagon too. The move out of Bridport town centre to Sir John Colfox Academy last year really went well. It's a much better venue with oodles of free parking (should we look forward to imperial oodles in the future, or is it too convenient to stick with a decimal oodle?). See you there, and hope the show exceeds expectations again.

Free parking is only in the short stay area, first bay on left. The rest is long stay and must be paid for - £1.10 for 3 hours doesn't seem too bad though.