Bob Hordern

Great. Do say hello! Here's my rational......... KIRTLEY BRIDGE “In the Yorkshire Dales, in the closing years of the nineteenth century, a group of local businessmen in upper Wharfedale raised funds to build a light railway to serve their estates, farms, mills and quarries. Trains would run up the valley through the village of Hebden to Kirtley Bridge. Local people too hoped to use the line to reach the nearby cities of the North and West Ridings of Yorkshire for work and travel. As with many such enterprises the optimism of the early owners did not match the realities of running a railway profitably, and so it was with some relief locally that the Midland Railway Company took over the line even before it was completed. This was soon reflected in the trackwork, station buildings and railway practices that followed, until the LMS took control in 1923. Around this time too, the company negotiated to run a through service to the small hamlet at Dalehead, no doubt encouraged by the increased traffic and Bradford Corporation’s plans to build a new reservoir at the upper end of the valley”. The branchline and growing village of Kirtley Bridge are modelled as they might have been in the late 1930s, when passenger and goods services were both operating fully.

Hi guys Yes Kirtley Bridge is maybe a bit too halcyon but the various cameos are preferable to the satanic mills approach of many ‘northern’ layouts. As for the buildings they are almost all Slaters stonework glued to ply or cardboard structures. I enjoy this part of the hobby and always try to use real prototypes. Kirtley Bridge is next on the road at Pendle MRC exhibition in Colne on November 19/20. cheers for now, Bob

Here’s some more ‘unseen’ scenery. This time it’s the pub with the old/front door on Bridge Street and the normal/back door down on High Street. These days the former is only used for weddings and funerals whilst the latter handles locals and deliveries.

Another “unseen scene “ this time a rear view of the mill. I always try to model buildings from all sides wherever possible. Fowler mechanical diesel prepares to propel wagons into Kirtley bridge loop.

This shot of the quarry is only viewable at exhibitions, unless I ‘take down’ one of the other boards.

Early train leaves the quarry. Ixion Hudswell Clarke and three kit-built wagons - each with removable loads so they can return empty later.

Bit of post exhibition repairs/development around the fiddle yard area, all designed to make life easier for the operators. Firstly some tidying up at the traverser exit - certainly looks better. The wall mirror allows me to judge train stopping distance when on my own at the main panel. Finally a smaller mirror makes it easier to see what’s happening in the quarry sidings.

Thanks for posting Ade. Really good shots by any standards. I am always too busy to take photos at exhibition. Most visitors were very complimentary but we should have run more trains and talked less. Best wishes, Bob

View over the goods yard as the Leeds train departs

Here’s the first train movement in my schedule. The Hudswell Clarke has brought the workmen’s coach to Hebden Beck quarry and is now departing having collected limestone wagons from the transshipment shed.

Running more trains............... moving on to other end of the layout. The Leeds passenger train is seen crossing the viaduct, pulled by LMS Fowler 2P 4-4-0 #323. The signal is set for the main platform at Kirtley Bridge. The train has two Clayton Arc coaches. In the foreground is another Fowler loco, this time mechanical diesel LMS 0-4-0 #2, bringing the gunpowder train over the trestle bridge from the quarry. Various items are being shipped up to the reservoir construction site at Dalehead. This manoeuvre is easier to facilitate now I have two controllers.

LMS autotrain passes Kirtley Crossing. Loco #1275 is soon to be withdrawn for a major overhaul.

Playing trains again.... Pickup goods arriving

Have now put back all of the 'lost' photos, enjoy

Have now put back all of the 'lost' photos, enjoy

FIRST POST of 2022 With Kirtley Bridge running fine on DCC ... The traverser is seen here transferred to Lofthouse . Here's where I start to get to work on Lofthouse again now the two layouts are finally joined up. The first task is to up-end the headshunt board and get to work on the points with the second-hand tortoise motors I put by earlier.

Swapping around the traverser from Lofthouse to Kirtley Bridge for Easter holidays.

I am trying to put back most of the lost photos when I have time, Bob

The two ends of the table almost ready

and the finished traverser and scenery

Given the loss of most photos here’s a catch up…….

Moving over to the Lofthouse base boards, here is a mock-up of the traverser's new position. Lots to do here.

Pick-up goods arriving: will run round, leave ballast wagons and collect cattle trucks

Playing trains while the rough weather keeps me indoors... Mineral train in the loop gives way as the Leeds passenger service arrives.

Installed