john flann

Andy, I've no wish to be critical but that stone wall at mid- point of the bridge span looks to my eyes a little odd, It's adding weight where none would appear to be required and adds an additional burden to the bridge girders. How is it supported ? What is it's purpose?

I'd passed this by previously. A neat idea Andy and coming along nicely. Demonstrates what can be done simply and without fuss..

Hintock

Andy, very nicely done and catches the "right" atmosphere of a country yard. Very visually appealing and well observed. A lot of thought gone into it.

This is all very interesting about "track". Long ago I experimented wit opening up the sleeper spacing and used both Firmway and Chairway (?) track. However I reverted to Peco and was satisfied with that. Today I'm happy with what I now have, code 100, Peco points and HO Atlas track. What I get it is what I want and that is trouble free and reliable running. As to appearance I don't see (says he looking through to some, no doubt, my rose coloured glasses) much wrong with my results.

This is the sharper image that had gone missing. Again, a right click improves the images clarity.

First, thanks gentlemen for your like of my previous Hintock post. That scene is no more as the water tank is in a new location and not so scenic. But it's more practical. Second, CME so far asyour comment is directed to me the reasons for using Atlas,HO code 100 track is that I am resident in the USA and a sight and appreciation of any qualities of SMP track or other type beyond Peco is not available to me. More to the point importing any form of track from the UK is, to my pocket, prohibitively costly. Whatever I let the results speak for themselves, as below and with which I am entirely satisfied. Judging by the lack of other comment on my Hintock thread I think most other viewers are too. Technical hitch: failure to post the required image. I'll get it sorted.

HIntock c1937

Andy, nice photo having some atmosphere of those times past. And no, Ludlow would not suit being somewhat far away from your locale. I don't think you could go far wrong in transferring the crane to Weymouth.

Thanks Andy, help yourself to any of my ideas. I think you can see all my larger (and smaller) buildings have additions in various forms and that serve all sorts of ancillary purposes. They break up the bulk and add interest to the shape. I get there by the trial and error method which, to my mind is the best way. They also have to live with their neighbours and fit in with the scene as a whole.. As ever my only rule is "does it look right"

A neat idea Andy, it's difficult to tell at this stage how well it will fit in to the scene. Only you can decide that. Look forward to the next few posts. With my buildings I start with the windows, as it seems to me if they aren't of the "right" character, neither is the finished appearance..

Martyn, there's no appropriate tick I can give to that post. All I can say is I wish you well with the project and if you are like me things change along the way. Whatever, I look forward to what happens next.

I was intrigued to see this thread and wish every success to the project. I knew the Longridge Branch when still operating and whilst I lived and worked in Preston in the 1960's early 70's and have happy memories of steam in those days, including seeing 0-8-0's banking loaded banana trains up from the Docks and across Fishergate Hill. But I digress, I also prepared for Norman Parker's book on the Branch (Oakwood Press, 1972) the maps, building plans and elevations along with track diagrams of Grimsargh and Longridge. I also have had published in Back Track, November 2011, an article on the Branch and the Whittngham Hospital Railway. If you are not aware of them they may be of assistance to you. And incidentally whilst in "me" mode I was a founding member and the first Chairman of the Preston Model Railway Club which, I understand is still functioning and in fact, flourishing. It's all far from from my present abode in the Rocky Mountains of the USA.

Les, little really to disagree with there. Double handling of the coal is required to get it into the different bins-they, of course, are for different grades. This is avoided if the pens are adjacent the siding and into which the coal can be shoveled directly. Coal is or was stockpiled and the separate pens served that purpose. This was usually done in slack times as summer, when demand was less. It kept the men employed too.

Andy, thanks for those kind words and trip down memory lane. That is quite an informative book by Chris Eliis and it made me go and look out my copy-and cudgel my memory.. It was the second layout called "Dunnock Edge", the first was featured in MRC 1/67, then came Poppy Hollow and Barley Dean , MRN 1/69, 2/69 and 2/70 and maybe Little Hintock in MR 6/72. Owlcombe, MT 6/80 and the one to which you refer and if I've got it right. would then have been my fifth. Incidentally Poppy Hollow I see was mentioned on the preceding page-although I note on Edit I didn't get the credit for it.-but it's my Poppy Hollow for sure. . All good little layouts with a lot to commend them for and for all manner of reasons. Interestingly too one particular building on Owlcombe now is on my current Hintock, and that is Giles Comben's emporium in Station Yard. It's long lived and far traveled.

The Up Milk departs for Hintock Junction-see http://www.hintockbranch.com/

Andy, always happy to help. I've been fortunate to be "retired" now for 25 years and as you are finding it needs as much "management" as work ever did. Enjoy it!

Andy, your dock is of a totally different style and character and probable use, so I agree such an elaborate drainage formation and heavy concrete construction would not be appropriate.

Andy, Stubby is quite right about this but I didn't mention it as they were not always present and generally with larger docks and where more stock were handled. Within the concrete slab was a channel and drain to lead the water/muck away from under the sleepers and rails and thus avoid subsidence. The PW gangs also took exception to clearing up the muck of the Goods Department and making their own work harder..

Andy, yes the over weathered look is not appropriate. They got hard wear but were built to withstand it. The small detail I leave to you, often I don't bother with it for it can appear too fussy. Regards,

Those mirrors can be tricky. Like the atmosphere though.

Looking good Andy and an ideal location: cattle docks were kept in good repair as hefty bullocks and the like are powerful unpredictable beasts who can readily cause damage to themselves and property particularly in confined and unfamiliar locations. The docks also had to be kept clean because of foot and mouth disease and similar. Whitewashing was applied in an attempt to prevent this but was not successful and this is the white colour seen in some photographs. They were kept clean generally with a hose, water and stiff broom. As were the cattle wagons themselves.

Martyn, in 1950 WWII had only been over for five years(1945) prior to it the railways were in financial straits and during the war little or nothing was done in painting and the like with only minimal repair and overhaul of older stock. So its run down appearance is not surprising. There wasn't the money and what little available had to be spent on more demanding matters. Secondary and branch line trains were well down the list of priorities.

Hintock

Andy, you know the ins and outs of your layout better than anyone. But providing there is easy access for stock working both customarily and the animal traffic, and ready access for the cattle/sheep it is best placed where those requirements are met. As the dock itself is not large only small numbers of cattle/sheep are likely to be involved but handling them will be difficult even so. Cattle tend to get a bit frisky when being driven and in unfamiliar surroundings as a railway goods yard.