SteveyDee68

This may have been a while ago (2014) but the design reminds me of Rev Alan Shone's Wardleworth Lines Committee terminus St John's, which featured a train ferry. If the above "goods shed" became a train ferry as per the Rev's own idea, that would allow both passenger and freight to use Platform 3, as cross-Channel traffic. Of course, if the "goods shed" became a ferry, it would need to be considerably longer to look realistic (say three or four carriages per road) which would make the station longer too, and the scenic treatment would need to change. Off topic from the original discussion of an intensive city terminus, but perhaps makes the "goods" aspect more palettable/appealing? Below is Rev Shone's St John's station - although mirrored, hopefully the similarity I see might be seen by others, too? Not the best editing, but here's the plan "ferry-fied!"

This was the video I found, too. Thanks for all the information -- have been busy reading the Minories layout design thread, particularly regarding the curved approach to a terminus negating reverse curves into platforms, and noticed the pointwoek into St John's in the plan in the RM ... the Rev appears to have used the same idea, so even more impressed with his work. Having decided to model a train ferry in 4mm scale, I may end up with something similar to his plan for St John's, especially as his design for a "generic" train ferry is damned good looking! Hopefully not infringing copyright by pasting a photo of the relevant bit of the plan here...

Thanks folks So, the first bit of information gleaned is that his name was actually Rev Robert Alan Shone whereas I thought it was simply Rev Alan Shone! I have two RM articles - the Wardleworth Lines Committee article itself and the feature article on his train ferry. I remember reading a further article (I am sure) about the locomotives, again in RM. Although I am sure the magazine was still black and white, I seem to remember there being colour photos of his locos, to demonstrate the liveries applied. I do know that the parish was in Wardleworth in Rochdale - not only does the article mention it, but I also did some cover teaching at Wardleworth High School (of youth brass band fame) which is in the parish. In fact, "jus down't rowd from mi, lad" (I live in Bury). His supposition was for a cross-Pennine railway route that got "missed" by BR... bringing it up to date it would be a cross-Pennine rail franchise, and more modern locos could easily appear in WLC liveries! Maybe an opportunity for a limited production run of class 66s in WLC colours?! Steve S

Possibly the wrong place for this as it is a query, but try as I might with the search function I keep returning to the same half dozen entries... The Wardleworth Lines Committee (layout) written about back in 1973/74 (?) in The Railway Modeller magazine has been cited as inspiration by a couple of folks on here. I recently came into possession of said articles but wonder if anyone knows what became of the layout and its builder, Rev Alan Shone? Searching his name here pulls up plenty of references to "the sun shine" but not the Rev Alan. Somebody else mentioned his son, but no luck with that either! A Google search on the wider www points me to the same RMWeb entries, my own reference and a YouTube video of one of the locos running elsewhere! I'm intrigued as to what became of the layout, and especially the amazing LARGE ship models seen in the photos - the train ferry and the cross channel packet steamer. If this is the wrong place to ask, AndyY or Moderators please feel free to move appropriately! Steve S

Just noticed... The title is incorrect -- the shop is somewhere called Besses o'th Barn. This is the name of the nearest tram stop on the Metrolink tram system, and also the name of one of the oldest and most famous Brass Bands in the UK - Besses o'th Barn Brass Band! Local history lesson over -- the shop is well worth a visit too!

Hi Ianmacc I am certain I will get bombed for saying this when so many modellers do not have a local model shop, but sometimes I think The LocoShed is a little too near for the health of my wallet! Steve S

Joseph - would you be willing too share, please? PM if not public? Regards Steve S

This is the model that has set me onto my own quest for a night ferry model, linked to my interest in ships, docks and dock shunters, and now the crazy idea to do what The Wardleworth Lines did (in N gauge) and build a train ferry! Having spent a long time searching for 1:76 kits for larger ships, I've reached the conclusion that I can either pay a fortune to have one made or attempt to build it myself! If only I had John Wiffen's skills at creating hulks in card! (See Scalescenes for his range of ships!)

Asking the combined wisdom of RMWeb... Have just acquired a Lima “HO” Wagonlits blue livery sleeper coach... Is this model, to the best of the Forum’s knowledge, true HO, or over-scale? Wanting to create a “representative” Night Ferry train without paying £100+ per etched coach kit! Many thanks Steve

Have just stumbled upon this layout, and have to say that the like button has been liberally pressed despite this thread being a few years old and the layout now being in new ownership! Thank you for providing so much inspirational modelling! Steve S

Excellent modelling - really got atmosphere. Hoping to see more soon. Steve

Thanks - wasn't aware of this one! Steve

Hi Jon Thanks - I also saved lots of photos of all of those bridges in my search for a "generic not POLA" design to work from. The Birkenhead version may inspire a double track version yet! Steve

I like your idea ... I would have an overbridge carry the road over the tracks to act as an end stop, perhaps with a mirror ... that would create the "loop"

Updating to 2019... Jim and The Locoshed are still going strong, aided and abetted by a team of knowledgeable assistants - Chris, Paul, Rob being the usual suspects! Jim also takes a stall out to exhibitions and toy fairs. A brew and a biscuit is usually on offer, and there is often a clubhouse feeling in the shop - fellow customers are always happy to chat, share their knowledge or even wield a soldering iron on your behalf! Staff and some customers are also gold mines of prototype information, too! Great service, and Jim will often be open to negotiation! Second hand items galore (and for someone like me always an opportunity to sort stock out into something resembling a logical order!). Loco chipping, repairs etc. Stock mainly OO, but a selection of HO, O gauge and even some G gauge in the shop. Plastic kits including ships and vehicles as well as railway related items and buildings. Well stocked for resin buildings and as mentioned earlier carries most of the necessaries for a railway modeller. All in all a "traditional" model railway shop. No connections, simply a satisfied customer. Recommended! NB closed Sundays and Mondays

Looking back on your thread you mention discrepancies in size of HO stock - I just won a bunch of stuff off the Bay of Fleas including a STEF van which all looked big, but on your layout look true HO. Did Lima produce outsize wagons generally, or just the "ferry vans"?

Okay, this post is three years old but it is responsible for me now searching out ferry vans! Any chance of any more details as to how you altered the wagon, so I can do the same?! Steve

Well, a great day for bridge research! After someone mentioning Pegasus Bridge, I did a Google search and lots of photos later I tried the Google lens search thing... lo and behold, a bridge from New Jersey that looks almost exactly like the Pola kit, down to the circular pylons holding the bridge deck at the ends! So, I can now claim that I am working from prototypes and not copying the Pola kit! LOL Very satisfying to discover there is a cross beam where I thought one should be, on the Pegasus Bridge. [smug face]

Exactly why I ended up trying to replicate the bridge, JiLo, as I have been doing likewise! Couple of days away from modelling (including watching the hilarious Book of Mormon as a birthday gift from a friend) and returning to the project have immediately thought to move the side struts so they intersect higher, to allow a strengthening girder beam to be slung between them and clear stock. That may not be prototypical or even needed, but it is another step away from the Pola original! Also, measuring along the arc of the curved section will tell me how long the sections upon which the bascule rolls need to be! As a regular contributor to the Gnatterbox forum says in his signature, "hours of fun!" Steve

So, I couldn't stop! Having quickly measured the cross pieces on the tank, I determined this was the bridge deck too. Cut out card as necessary, replicated the side and used Deluxe Materials Rocket Card Glue to quickly assemble the mock up. There appears to be a cross girder in photos, so that was quickly added too. Couple of items of stock posed to get a feel of the general proportions... Feels like a step forward!

So, here's a mock up of the bridge side made by a combination of drawing around the original part and a bit of measuring together with counting the panels on pictures. Hopefully this looks about the right length. Looking at the cross section, the centre panel (marked X on a couple on the mock up) is the centre of the beam, with a second overlay (shown shaded) to make the "flanges" and then a third overlay to create the vertical edges of each panel plus the top rail. This is repeated on the opposite side, except that the vertical dividers do not go all the way to the bottom - I assume they line up with the base of the bridge, allowing depth for the bridge deck. I apologise for any incorrect terminology of the different parts - if anyone wants to correct me, I'm here to learn! Anyway, that's enough for now. From this, I can quickly create a second cut out side, and use the existing weight container to calculate the width of the bridge. After that, it is back to studying the dozen photographs and packaging artwork images I have saved to put together the rest!

Hi Keith Paul passed me the remains of the bridge in one piece. In order to start measuring the side pieces, I cut the top off the counterbalance box to discover the weight inside. It was - I think - part of the original kit, as there's is a moulding on the inside of the counterweight box that it sits inside, to hold it on place. I won't need suchlike for my model, as I do not plan on making it work. I appreciate your suggestion of the Wills girder kit; Paul had cut away the end of the lift bridge section to make a girder bridge for himself (if he had only known the eBay value, eh?). From what he's said, I don't think he ever had the rest of the bridge, and had picked up the lifting section at a swap meet in a bag of bits! Given that I have the panels up to the centre point, and photos to be able to gauge what size and how many panels are missing, building the girder from scratch from card or styrene might be easier than modifying other items. Certainly when I have completed the drawing, I will make it available here for anyone who might want to make use of it. I may even post pictures of my own build, if I think my efforts are up to scrutiny! Cheers Steve

Hmmm - good to know! Wonder if I can persuade ModelRailwayScenery to produce a laser cut kit then?! In the meantime, the "bit of bridge" that Paul let me have has been split apart so I can make a drawing of the bridge. The rest will be created 'by eye' using those dimensions as a guide plus the photos I have access to. It may well end up as a double track bridge ... that would make it different from the Pola kit, at least! What I won't replicate is the baseplate connecting the two sides of the bridge.

As a long discontinued kit, I wonder if there would be a market for a similar, non-working version cast in, say, resin? Or perhaps in card? Or laser-cut card, even? Seems to me that there are lots of folks who like to build harbours - plus look at all the suitable motive power now available for dockside layouts! Or would there be issues of copyright and/or intellectual property rights? Steve S

Well, I just found one from Trainz , an eBay seller on www.ebay.com However, at a cool $100 + $32.42 shipping + $31.82 import charges, I think I will pass and continue with my plans to replicate it! Shocked? You betcha! LOL Steve S