KeithMacdonald

Sit.Rep. chaps!

 

Just responding to Major @The Johnster 's comment

 

Quote

 regarding length and bi-directional signalling of passing loops on the Calne & Hungerford

 

I just phoned the Chief Surveyor. Our telephone exchange operator put me through to Avebury Trusloe 6896. Apparently the surveyors have requisitioned rooms in the Red Lion public house. Who can we send to inspect that? I must say, the poor old chap sounded rather agitated. He said "Station plans? What station plans?". It seems the message didn’t get through - these station plans are a priority!

 

Clearly he's not heard of Mr.Churchill's "Action This Day" instruction. He'll probably have a complete meltdown when Mr.Churchill's Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare  starts making demands. Like that hush-hush railway extension from Highworth to the "Last Ditch" HQ at Coleshill.  @CME and Bottlewasher  - are you on the committee for that one? But like I said, hush-hush.

 

We've taken on board what the Major said about building this as a Red route for heavy freight. Which reminds me - doesn't the GWR still have 30 of the ROD 2-8-0 locos, left over from the last bash? We need to send a Requisition Order to GWR Swindon PDQ. Do we want some of the ROD 2-8-0 locos?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_3000_Class

 

 

On 09/09/2023 at 14:31, Northroader said:

For my money, I would take it west of Amesbury, keeping clear of the LSWR, also bringing tourists much closer to Stonehenge.

 

I do like the idea of that.  Re the link you mentioned - you've hit the nail on the head.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amesbury_and_Military_Camp_Light_Railway

 

Quote

Bristol and London & South Western Junction Railway ~ This was a proposal by the London and South Western Railway which was designed, essentially, to poach traffic from the Great Western Railway. A Bill was deposited in Parliament in November 1882, for a line to branch away from the LSWR between Salisbury and Basingstoke at a point around two miles west of Grateley railway station. It would cross the plain via Amesbury and Shrewton to Westbury and then on to Bristol via either the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway or the North Somerset Railway. The Great Western Railway was bitterly opposed to this plan and succeeded in defeating it in 1883.

 

That was the very scheme I had in mind when I mentioned that Amesbury was not meant to be a terminus.

 

Re Stonehenge - did you notice the military camp railway also went to a Stonehenge airfield?

 

Quote

Further extensions were constructed during World War I, consisting of lines from Amesbury to Larkhill Military Camp, and then westward to Rollestone Camp where there was a balloon school. A further extension was added south-east from Rollestone to Fargo, where there was a military hospital; this line then dividing with one branch going south to Druid's Lodge and one to Stonehenge. Aircraft hangars existed at both these locations. These extensions were operated by the R.O.D. (Railway Operating Division) of the Royal Engineers and they remained in use until about 1923.

 

One map of that is here:

https://www.sarsen.org/2013/03/the-stonehenge-railway.html

 

 

32 minutes ago, Flying Pig said:

ease the gradient out of Wroughton by moving the route north a little and crossing onto the plateau above Bincknoll.

 

Good suggestion!

 

Here's a new version, zoomed-in on the Bincknoll area. Perhaps with a cutting through the corner of Quidhampton Wood, and the spoil from that used to backfill the top-end of the Bincknoll Dip?

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.9&lat=51.51515&lon=-1.83085&layers=10&b=1

 

Section 3 : Avebury to Swindon

 

Avebury to Berwick Bassett

 

Departing from Avebury Junction, the route goes almost due north, a little over a mile to Winterbourne Monkton and about two miles to Berwick Bassett. That’s close enough to Avebury to excuse them from needing stations.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.44646&lon=-1.87363&layers=10&b=1

 

Berwick Bassett to Broad Hinton

 

There are no major challenges in this segment, but the direction of the line starts to be dictated by the chosen path down the escarpment on the northern edge of the Downs, and the descent towards Wroughton (next item). Perhaps just a Halt here, not a full station?

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.48186&lon=-1.86158&layers=10&b=1

 

Broad Hinton to Wroughton

 

What goes up, must come down. Having climbed up from the Vale of Pewsey, we now have to go down into the Vale of White Horse, heading for Wroughton town. The gradient here is similar to the M&SWJR's descent from Chiseldon down through Burderop Wood to Broome Manor.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.2&lat=51.51081&lon=-1.83051&layers=10&b=1

 

Wroughton to Swindon

 

Any suggestions for a station at Wroughton?

 

The N&SWR merges with the M&SWJR at Rushey Platt and the junction with the GWR main line.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.1&lat=51.53784&lon=-1.81038&layers=10&b=1

 

End of Section Three.

I just phoned the Chief Surveyor. Our telephone exchange operator put me through to Avebury Trusloe 6896. Apparently the surveyors have requisitioned rooms in the Red Lion public house. Who can we send to inspect that?

 

I must say, the poor old chap sounded rather agitated. He said "Station plans? What station plans?". It seems the message didn’t get through - these station plans are a priority! They'd been working night and day just to finish the plans for Section Three (Avebury to Swindon). He says the Section Three plans were send by Signals Motorcycle Despatch Rider last night, and they've made a start on the station plans.

 

Clearly he's not heard of Mr.Churchill's "Action This Day" instruction. He'll probably have a complete meltdown when Mr.Churchill's Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare  starts making demands. Like that hush-hush railway extension from Highworth to the "Last Ditch" HQ at Coleshill. Is @CME and Bottlewasher on the committee for that one? But like I said, hush-hush.

 

But what's happened to the Section Three plans? The Chief Surveyor said "Haven't you received them yet?"  Oh well, I better go to Reception and see what's in the In Tray ... ah, what's this? ....

 

9 hours ago, The Johnster said:

my comments regarding length and bi-directional signalling of passing loops on the Calne & Hungerford

 

Thanks for the reminder. I must give the C&H surveying teams a nudge. They promised to send us the plans for each station, but those plans haven't arrived yet. I'll give them a phone call now.

We return now to the CCF Hut at Marlborough College, just after the remains of Mrs. Miggins' slap-up luncheon have been cleared from the table.

 

Section 5 : Marlborough to Axford

 

The surveyors, spurred on by the suggestions of Major Johnster, have prepared an excellent route for us, down the Kennet valley from Marlborough to Hungerford, via Axford and Ramsbury. They have provided two plans for the section from Marlborough to Axford. This, as Major Johnster, wisely suggested, depends a great deal on the volume of traffic we may anticipate, and we should allow provisions for expansion, in due course, in the fullness of time, and as the need arises. The minimal option is to join the existing line just west of the existing station, on the approach from Avebury, and then diverge from it again, just east of the station.

 

 

Yes, gentlemen, I hear your murmurs, and clearly you can anticipate the operational limitations such an option would render. We would indeed, be limited by the capacity of the existing station, and any traffic through there. Especially when these were local passenger or goods train, static or stationary in the, err, station. Vital war efforts could be impeded!

 

For that very reason, here is the preferred option.

 

 

(Murmurs of approval)

 

By adopting a lower route, between the river and the existing station, we will avoid those potential bottlenecks. But still have sufficient space to access the M&SWJR when necessary. For example, when we need to route traffic to the new munitions dumps in the Savernake Forest, just south of Marlborough. Oh don't forget, those are Top Secret locations, gentlemen! The surveyors report that the M&SWJR's elevated section and bridge across the river near Barnfield means that we can go under that section, beside the river, with no trouble at all. We may have to demolish a few Council Houses just here (pointing at St.Margarets on the map) but alternative accomodation will, of course, be provided.

 

(Assistant tugs at presenter's sleeve)

 

Ah, gentlemen, I've just been handed a note, I'm told it's a prepared statement from the War Cabinet, and I've been instructed to release it to the local newspapers.

 

Quote

31st February, 1940
Under the powers invested in the relevant Authorities by the current State Of Emergency, a Compulsory Purchase Order will be made on specific land and locations within the Parishes of Manton, Preshute, and Marlborough. Further works by the Ministry of Labour (with the Schedule of Reserved Occupations) will involve Compulsory Purchase Orders of land within the Parishes of Axford, Ramsbury, Chilton Foliat and Hungerford. A schedule of works follows...

 

Well, there we have it - I suppose we have to deal with this kind of red tape; much simpler if we just evict the locals and run a bulldozer through, what? But a State Of Emergency is a jolly useful thing for getting things done pretty damn jildy without all the usual enquiries, planning permission and petty delays. Don't they know there's a war on?

 

There now followed a “Coffee Break” – but because of rationing it was Mrs Miggins Walnut Coffee recipe.

 

Quote

Roast walnuts in the oven or a pan to a nice brown. Grind the roasted walnuts in a mortar to a coarse powder. Cook 1 – 1 1/2 tbsp of the roasted walnut powder with 2 cups of water for one hour. Then strain the walnut coffee through a fine mesh sieve.

 

Righteo chaps, gather round. Can someone just check the students have all left? And make sure the blinds on the windows are closed? Excellent.

 

Now, pay attention chaps. Before we carry on with the basic route – and so we don’t forget - I just wanted to repeat some important remarks from Major Johnster.

 

Point 1

The passing loops will need to be capable of handling 'full length' 60-wagon trains for war traffic, and the route, though single line, will need to be contructed for the GWR's 'red' route availability. 

 

Point 2

Such a route will have useful diversionary capabilities for both the GWML and the WoEML, further reason to make it capable of handling the heaviest locomotives, such as KIngs and 47xx.  I would suggest arranging for the passing loops to be signalled for use bi-directionally, and one loop laid out in each case for fast through running with automatic token exchange equipment.  I would strongly reccomend building the formation to be capable of carrying double track throughout should this be required in future.

 

Now, these are vitally important points, of top importance. I don't want to hear any poo-poo'ing about the importance of these points! We must never forget what General Melchett told us about poo-poo-ers! As soon as we've finished covering the survey of the basic route, it's time for you infrastructure chappies to pipe up and tell us what we need at each and every station. So get prepared. The next slide will be a good example.

 

Now, I'm sure we all find the constant nagging about "Top Secret" rather tiresome, so bear with me chaps, because here comes another one. This one is courtesy of the Brylcream Boys, a new airfield near Ramsbury. They've given us a special aerial photograph of the airfield under construction, overlaid on the OS map.

 

Section 6 : Axford to Ramsbury

 

 

What's that? Ah excellent, Mrs Miggins has arrived with afternoon tea and cake. Perfect timing. A short break gentlemen?

 

While we’re enjoying the cake, have a look at the next slide. This is the section from Ramsbury to Chilton Foliat. I’m sure the eagle-eyed historians amongst us will already have spotted the Roman Villa at Littlecote. Which is, I am assured, an especially fine example, with an esoteric temple that may be Mithraic. We might not be Romans, but we’re not Philistines either, so the route is carefully angled to give that good clearance. Shall we just pencil Chilton Foliat in for a small Halt station?

 

Section 7 : Ramsbury to Chilton Foliat

 

 

Comments from Major Johnster

 

Us old duffers are only too grateful to be given a chance to assist with the war effort, sir, and it saves us being called upon to do anything risky!  Not quite got the reactions or cool nerves one had when one was a subaltern at Mafeking, don't y'know.  Stiff upper lips and all that; after all we're British, dammit Carruthers.  Soon have that bounder Shickelgruber on the run, what?  However, and not wishing to inject a defeatist tone into the discussion, it's still only 1940, so that bounder Shickelgruber is not out of the reckoning yet and could still invade.  Why can't he just s*d orff and bother the Ruskies or something?  Anyway, given that an invasion may well still be on the cards, it might be worth considering that the east-west alignment of this new railway makes it ideal for use as a line of defence, should one be needed, and it might be worth considering this in the course of the construction.  I suggest gentle slopes for the embankments and cuttings on the north side of the line, and steep slopes or vertical walls on the southern side.  Offa's Dyke on the Welsh border illustrates the principle.

Bridges crossing the railway should be wider on the northern side, to allow defending forces easier access to the enemy, and narrower on the southern, to deny this facility to the enemy.

Mrs Miggins has asked me to convey her thanks to those who returned the empty cups to the tray by the door as instructed; I am too much of a gentleman to repeat her comments about those who neglected to do so.  She has also reminded me that raffle tickets for her WI group's annual prize draw are available, first prize a pot of home made jam without the jam, there's a war on you know, second prize the sheet music for 'Jerusalem'.  Third prize is a powdered egg.

 

A strirring comment Major! We remain grateful for your gallant resilience and much-valued experience. It gives me great pleasure to say you will be the Guest of Honour at dinner in the mess hall this evening (quiet aside to assistant: Have we got enough gin and single malt?).

 

Before we break for the day, here is the last slide, of the final section from Chilton Foliat to Hungerford. As you can see, it joins just east of Hungerford station.

 

Section 8 : Chilton Foliat to Hungerford

 

 

Comment from Flying Fox 34F

 

Sir,

In light of the RAF’s activities, they’ll be a requirement for a Fuel Depot in the vicinity. 
Paul

 

Diary Entry. : 07:00 32nd February, 1940

 

Still in Marlborough with the working party on the design of the new Calne to Hungerford railway line. Excellent progress yesterday, with agreement on the route.

The mess hall is unusually deserted this morning. That might be related to the number of empty bottles visible outside by the tradesmen’s entrance. No sign of Mrs Miggins yet either. Which is rather disappointing, I was looking forward to a good healthy Full Wiltshire Breakfast. The menu says “Pork sausages, back bacon, fried eggs, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms cooked in butter, with fried bread” (Fried in lard I hope).

 

While serving dinner last night, Mrs Miggins had clearly had a good few “chef’s tonics” of gin. In a rather giggly manner she mentioned she mustn’t forget to go and fetch the bacon for breakfast. She said it comes from a Mr Terence Todd, a specialist butcher in Marlborough High Street. She then said something else about “Young Mr Terence carrying on the family tradition from his father Mr Sweeney who was a barber in London”. I have to say that didn’t make much sense to me, I’m not sure I heard her correctly, I expect I misheard. But her bacon is quite delicious and unusually well-cured.

 

Expecting to start work on the Station Plans today, after the gentlemen do make an appearance! We might need to clear their heads a bit (before breakfast). A little light PT will do the trick, I will organise a short five mile run over the Marlborough Downs, probably up to the Charles Sorley memorial. The chaps like to stop there for a moment, to salute and pay our respects.  We can combine that with a look at a few sources of Sarsen Stones for bridge and station foundations. Looking forward to Major Johnster’s suggestions for the station layout and designs. Will need to follow-up FF-34F’s ideas about an aviation fuel depot in Ramsbury.

 

There is one glaring loose end still to attend to. That is, how a "North & South Railway" line heading from south-west to north-east through Avebury will comfortably coexist with the Calne & Hungerford line heading from north-west to south-east through Avebury, If each follows the "best" and easiest route for their own individual cases, they would cross at right-angles. At the moment, X marks the spot. Both routes will need some kind of dog-leg, so they can share the same station in Avebury Trusloe without conflicting paths.

I will mull this over, while I'm mulling some special-brew Wiltshire Special Reserver Single-Malt Cider, and get the Station Planners to report back ASAP with the full portfolio of station track plans.

 

Press Release for the Calne & Hungerford Railway

 

It’s been suggested that we should keep the civilians as informed as possible (under the circumstances). Just to get the right story across and dispel any silly idle rumours. It’s not like we’re going to built a six-lane highway from London to Bristol!

 

Any suggestions of who the presenter could be? He’d have to be the “right sort” of chap, wouldn’t he? What’s that, Miles Cholmondley-Warner? Wasn’t he your junior fag? Jolly good, let’s get in touch and see what can be arranged.

 

Footnotes:

 

In 1940, Miles Cholmondley-Warner has just started his career as a documentary presenter.

 

RAF Yatesbury Association

https://rafyatesbury.webs.com/

 

Filmed at RAF Yatesbury, featuring the Cherhill White Horse and Lansdowne Monument

The Timelords - Doctorin' The Tardis

 

On the Salisbury to Berk & Hants route (and the Farthings line)

inspired by Mikkel

 

More can be read here

 

 

Invitation to the First Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the N&SWR

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

The Directors of the N&SWR have graciously instructed me to forward your nomination to join the Board of Trustees of the N&SWR. You have been nominated as a trustworthy and reliable person with knowledge of Wiltshire (and other) rural branch line railways. 

 

Your duties would simply be to suggest whatever improvements and/or alterations to the N&SWR that you may see fit to mention.

 

Your earliest advice is sought on which locomotives, coaches, horse boxes, cattle wagons and general rolling stock will be appropriate for the N&SWR.

 

Yours sincerely

Wilkins Micawber

Assistant Secretary of the N&SWR

RSVP

 

Copy to  @CME and Bottlewasher, @Northmoor, @The Johnster, @Ramblin Rich, @Miss Prism, @Mikkel, @Oldddudders, @Compound2632, @Northroader,

 

14 hours ago, Mikkel said:

The Station Master at Farthing is particularly grateful. For years now he's been sending trains in all directions without being quite sure how they actually reached their destinations 🙂

He does worry a bit about the light railway designation, but that's not for him to decide and he is not one to rock the boat.

 

Please can you pass on my thanks to the Station Master at Farthing?

 

Re the light railway designation - I've just checked the classification on the authorisation from the Board Of Trade, and it seems they've put us in a new and little-known "Middleweight" category. Who knew such a thing exists? It was news to me! That's good news, as it means everything at Farthing can travel anywhere on the N&SWR. I'm told the proposed Calne & Hungerford Railway will be built to the same standard.

 

Can you ask the Station Master if the N&SWR construction crew can borrow Farthing's three-plank GWR wagons? That's just what we need for the wood from Honey Street Saw Mill, for the wooden platforms at All Cannings and Bishop Cannings.

4 hours ago, Northroader said:

I can visualise an 850 class 0-6-0ST with some clapped out four wheelers at Amesbury (for Stonehenge) GWR station now.

 

Yes indeed. Exactly as with the M&SWJR, built through sparsely-populated rural areas, the N&SWR always struggled to reach worthwhile volumes of passengers. Those passengers that did use the N&SWR were quick to notice that in typical GWR fashion, all the oldest locos and coaches had been relegated to the struggling N&SWR, clanking loudly and rattling horribly as they chugged along. It quickly became known as the "Noisy and Slow".

 

 

Section Two : Upavon to Avebury - the other stations.

 

With the route emerging from the Avon valley into the Vale of Pewsey.

 

 

Perhaps a station at Manningford Bohune? It would need a name to distinguish it from Manningford Halt on the main line.

 

Manningford to Woodborough Junction

 

A gently curving segment, merging with the existing track at Woodborough, which now becomes a junction station.

 

 

Woodborough Junction

 

Here’s the original layout of the GWR line from Pewsey, before the N&SWR arrived.

 

 

Now with an additional siding and a crossing so that the N&SWR (in green) could run through from the north or south. Along with a signal box, a bay platform and a passing loop. Could Woodborough now have been an important enough station to have a full station with canopies?

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=12.9&lat=50.73011&lon=-1.54339&layers=156&b=1

 

Breaking news!

When we excavated land on the south of the old Woodborough station to make room for the N&SWR, we were digging through some unusually soft and crumbly chalk layers. I've just been told by the GWR surveyors that we will need to build a long retaining arch wall, the whole length of the bay platform, to stop the soft chalk cliff falling onto the track and platform. The architects at Ratio have already given us a drawing; it will look something like this:

 

 

Can we change that grey for a red brick?

 

Woodborough Junction to All Cannings Station

 

With a gradual climb from Woodborough Junction (bottom right) to All Cannings (top left) – with a small Halt platform perhaps? To reduce costs, it could be a simple timber-frame construction, using wood from the nearby Honey Street saw mill.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.35479&lon=-1.87822&layers=10&b=1

 

All Cannings to Bishop Cannings

 

Bishop Cannings to also have a wooden Halt station?

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.37560&lon=-1.93950&layers=10&b=1

 

Bishop Cannings to Avebury

 

Here's the last leg of this section. Bishop Cannings is bottom-left, Avebury is top-right, with a junction station, showing a small part of the Calne-to-Hungerford railway, which is expected to start construction very soon.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.6&lat=51.40349&lon=-1.91489&layers=10&b=1

 

We have been given an advance copy of the track layout of the expected Avebury Junction station.

 

 

After amicable negotiations with the trustees of the Calne & Hungerford scheme, a mutually-acceptable solution has been found to avoid the two lines crossing at 90 degrees to each other, with all the complications and potential conflicts that implied. The Calne & Hungerford line is shown in green. When built, the C&H will include an extra loop around the north of Windmill Hill. This will only add a few hundred yards to the length of their line. The cost of which is more than offset by the benefits (and savings) of sharing an existing N&SWR station in Avebury Trusloe. Space will be reserved on the Avebury Trusloe station site for bay platforms and exchange sidings.

 

End of Section Two.

All pilgrims travelling through Paddington are encourage to pay homage at the shrine to the world-famous and much-loved bear, after which the station was named. Please bring your own marmalade sandwiches.

 

 

Section Two : Upavon to Avebury - Choosing the route options (A B C and D)

 

More regarding the possible location of Farthing on the "North & South Railway" line from Swindon to Salisbury. The southern part of the route (Salisbury to Upavon) is the easiest to decide, as it would be in the Avon valley, and fairly flat. When I first looked, I was unsure how they would have dealt with the northern part (Upavon to Swindon). The floor of Pewsey Vale is on or about the 400 feet contour. To climb out of the Vale directly, within one mile, it ascends to nearly 800 feet, to skirt past the highest points in Wiltshire (Tan Hill, Milk Hill, Knap Hill, c.900 feet).

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.8&lat=51.36035&lon=-1.84374&layers=10&b=1

 

By way of contrast, west of Devizes at Caen Hill, the line climbed about 200 feet in 1.5 miles. The alternatives, to avoid a steep climb, means going further east or west.

 

I have two ways to respond.

 

1) apply "careful ignoral" and artfully claim their northern section (Woodborough to Swindon) "must" have gone from near Pewsey and joined the M&SWJR near Savernake. Based on no evidence at all and wishful thinking.

or

2) acknowledge the possibility of another route out of the Pewsey Vale to Swindon, probably via Avebury.

 

Which option would you go for? 🤔

Option 2 sounds more interesting to me. 🙂

 

After emerging from the Avon Valley, into the Manningford Bruce area, how many route options were there? Manningford Bruce is at the bottom of this map. The existing GWR east-west line (Pewsey-Devizes) is in yellow. Four potential routes are in green.

 

 

 

From left to right:

A: connect to the existing line at Woodborough, use the existing line to Devizes, then head north-east to Avebury

B: connect to the existing line at Woodborough, north-west to cut the corner through the Cannings, then head north-east

C: full-frontal assault, directly up the ridge towards Alton Priors

D: connect to the existing line near Pewsey, then go east to a new junction with the M&SWJR

 

Option A - West to Devizes

 

This has some appeal, because Devizes already has a station doesn't it? Which could become a Devizes Junction station for both the existing line, and the new line to Avebury. Here’s the existing Devizes with the addition of a new line curving away to the north, crossing the Kennett and Avon canal, plus a bay platform (in green).

 

 

Suddenly, with the addition of the bay platform to a substantial station building, I’m wondering (roll of drums please) - could Devizes be the hidden location of Farthing?

 

From Flickr, here’s one grainy picture of Devizes Station with 5542 Collett 2-6-2T (allocated to Westbury shed 1957-61) and a pair of coaches - perhaps a Suburban B-Set?

 

 

Zooming out a bit, we can see the potential route up through Roundway and past Devizes Barracks.

 

 

A halt station and sidings at the barracks could be useful. It would have been useful in 1945, when Devizes Barracks was a host for an example of a strange phenomena – there were more German troops in Britain than British troops. Granted the Germans were all POW, but still a strange situation.

 

Option B - North-West to All Cannings

 

Here in red is Option B as the Upavon-to-Avebury part of the "North & South Railway" line. It emerges from the Avon river valley in the south. Then it forms a new junction with the GWR line at Woodborough. That would surely demand an enlarged station there, could that be Farthing?

 

After that, going north west the climb diagonally up the escarpment on the north side of Pewsey Vale, to loop around Bishops Cannings. Then north-east to run parallel to the Devizes road into Beckhampton and then into Avebury Trusloe.

 

 

With acknowledgements to RailMapOnline.

 

Option C - directly up the ridge towards Alton Priors

 

What can we say? A 400 feet climb in just one mile would put off even the hardiest of railway engineers, so probably the least likely option, unless we fancy a rack-and-pinion track?

 

Alton Priors main claim to fame nowadays is being the Centre Of The Universe for crop circles. Many people would make a pilgrimage every year to the Crop Circle Conference in Marlborough.

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.8&lat=51.36770&lon=-1.91254&layers=10&b=1

 

Option D - East to Wootten Rivers

 

The eastward option, to somewhere like Wootton Rivers, almost as far as Savernake. At which point, it can hardly avoid joining the M&WJR? Does it "ring true" to you?

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.8&lat=51.37442&lon=-1.72883&layers=10&b=1

Which route would you choose?

 

If we decide options C and D are not appropriate, that leaves us with options A and B, both of which need a junction at Woodborough.

 

So the route now goes:

• Upavon
• Manningford
• Woodborough Junction
• Devizes and/or All Cannings & Bishop Cannings
• Avebury

 

See above for Devizes. Details on the other individual stations to follow.

 

Section 1 of the N&SWR (Salisbury to Upavon)

 

Extension from Salisbury Terminus station

 

As this was a GWR scheme, the very first job is altering the existing GWR Terminus and starting to extend the line.

 

Here’s a much-simplified version of the tracks. GWR in yellow, and for contrast, their arch-rivals the L&SWR / SR in green. I have assumed GWR would avoid a huge change to the terminus building by using what was the goods yards to add-on a through-station with a passing loop.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.6&lat=51.07193&lon=-1.80436&layers=178&b=1

 

A new GWR line would first need to cross Fisherton Street. Then run roughly parallel to the existing L&WSR lines, for about a mile on a new raised embankment, across the low lying valley (liable to floods). Before turning left and heading north towards Old Sarum. How far east that would go might depend on how tight a curve they wanted in and out of the station before heading north up the Avon valley, past Old Sarum. Plus a decision: which side of the river should they try and stay on?

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.6&lat=51.08200&lon=-1.80972&layers=10&b=1

 

I’ve assumed they would not want a tight curve, and would go up the middle. As Old Sarum is a good tourist atraction, perhaps a small station at Straford sub Castle?

 

The Woodford Slalom

 

The preferred side of the river could change several times, depending on which side had the steepest ground i.e. that would usually be the side to avoid. A “Heavy Railway” could go right up the middle, in a fairly straight line, with bridges all over the place. But we’re building it as a Light Railway, to minimise the engineering of bridges and tunnels.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.12934&lon=-1.82862&layers=10&b=1

 

Sometimes the steep sides are hard to avoid. The area around the Woodford villages is a good example, with several sharp turns in the river. Great Durnsford – great in name, but not in size.

 

You might (I hope) have noticed by now that this route has lots of small villages to pass by, but not many big towns. How many villages would have demanded or needed a station? Sounds much like a M&SWJR route.

 

The approach to Amesbury

 

Amesbury already has two railway operators, it’s about to get a third.

 

The existing ones are

• L&SWR on the branch that terminates at Amesbury.
• Bulford Military Railway, from Amesbury to Bulford barracks.

Would the GWR have negotiated access to Amesbury station, to avoid building a new one? Let’s assume so … top right is the existing Amesbury station and the L&SWR line in green.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.16402&lon=-1.80624&layers=10&b=1

 

Amesbury Station (and another scheme)

 

You might be wondering (I hope you are) – Why did the L&SWR have a branch that terminates at Amesbury?

 

The answer – It wasn’t meant to be a terminus, the original scheme (a few years earlier) had been for a line across Salisbury Plain (via Shrewton and Imber) and then all the way to Bristol – right across prime GWR territory!

 

The scheme must have sounded definite enough for Bartholomew to put it on their Half-Inch map (c.1902) – with a line from Amesbury (bottom right) – then running across Durrington Down, north of The Cursus, then west to “Shrewton Station” (top-left).

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.5&lat=51.18881&lon=-1.82395&layers=156&b=1

 

Then again – Bartholomew’s 1902 map also showed a railway tunnel to the Isle of Wight, near Hurst Castle. But that, as they say, is another story.

 

 

 

Woodhenge and Durrington

 

I’m assuming not even the almighty GWR would mess with a couple of the biggest Ancient Monuments in Britain. Or would they? For now, I’m “playing nice” and assuming a route on the east of the river. That continues the theme of a Light Railway avoiding river crossings which would need bridges. Is Durrington big enough for a station? Or at least some sidings for supplies.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.19969&lon=-1.77863&layers=10&b=1

 

Netheravon

 

With a siding for the Netheravon camp and supplies for the airfield.

 

 

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=13.9&lat=51.23767&lon=-1.78311&layers=10&b=1

 

Upavon is a hub for a lot of agricultural activity. Beside growing a lot of wheat and barley, it has flour mills. So a station with some sidings and cattle docks required here?

 

 

End of Section One.

Introduction

 

The title implies a journey from the north of Wiltshire (in Swindon) to the south (in Salisbury),

 

Sections

• Swindon to Avebury
• Avebury to Upavon (via Woodborough)
• Upavon to Salisbury

However:

When I came to study the proposed scheme, and potential routes, I realised it would need to climb steeply out of the Pewsey Vale and then northwards over the highest land in Wiltshire. That limits where and how it climbs out of the Pewsey Vale. Which limits how it gets into the Pewsey Vale. But, as there’s only one way, up the Avon valley, I decided to tackle the route “upside-down”, starting in Salisbury and heading north. That is:

 

• Section 1 - Salisbury to Upavon (via Amesbury)
• Section 2 - Upavon to Avebury (via Woodborough)
• Section 3 - Avebury to Swindon

 

How I chose Woodborough will be explained.

 

Section 1 (Salisbury to Upavon) will include

• Salisbury terminus
• The Old Sarum bypass
• The Woodford slalom
• The approach to Amesbury
• Amesbury Junction
• Woodhenge and Durrington
• Figeldean and Netheravon
• Upavon

 

Section 2 (Upavon to Avebury) will include

• Route options (A B C and D)
• Upavon
• Manningford
• Woodborough Junction
• All Cannings
• Bishop Cannings

 

Section 3 (Avebury to Swindon) will include

• Avebury Junction
• Berwick Bassett
• Broad Hinton
• Wroughton
• Swindon

More soon...

Here's some images of the final evolution of Ocean Quay.

 

First, showing the Mount Wise Dock and Ocean Quay. With the quarry tunnel (in brown) emerging from under Mount Wise, then connected to a siding of the Ocean Quay station. Which gives any quarry trains a "merry-go-round" instead of needing shunting.

 

 

Please note: For (cough) security reasons, I cannot yet reveal a plan of the tunnels inside Mount Wise. I can neither confirm nor deny that's because i don't know where they are yet.

 

Heading north, we can now see the line through the station has been doubled as far north as the junction with the quarry sidings, and a strange little halt platform, on the north side of the tunnel. This is rumoured to be the entrance to hell HMS Hades. Military service personnel have been observed with "special trains" there - but that's another story. More to follow on that.

 

 

Further north, before reaching Stonehouse Bridge, we can see the sidings for the quarry, and another quarry tunnel entrance. Along with more of the doubled line for Ocean Quay. This part is used for passenger coach sidings, to handle the many Heritage Special trains that now visit Ocean Quay, with (Rule One) many locomotives from many different eras and operating companies.

 

 

The doubled line reduces back down to a single track just before it disappears under Stonehouse Bridge (the scenic break).

 

 

That's all folks.

In all the excitment of editing the text for the main blog entry, I didn't notice I'd hit the image size limit for a single blog posting. So here's perhaps the most important image of all, and the one that got lost! 😀

 

It shows where the two main suggested routes from the north would have converged in Dawlish itself, near Stonelands Bridge. Back then it was open fields; Stonelands Farm is now Stonelands Park (residential housing), along with lots of infill housing all around in all directions, as Dawlish Town has kept expanding. The only direction it hasn't expanded is to the east, for obvious reasons. 🤭

 

I've colour-coded some of the sections.

• Brown = tunnels
• Cyan = cuttings
• Dark blue = embankments
• Violet = viaducts

 

Is that the same kind of ambulance as appeared in Ice Cold In Alex?

Here's hoping @MinerChris can find and reload the images that the RMWeb's (un)helpful ISP have lost.

 

I too fancy Lydford as a location, just for being able to run GWR and Southern alongside each other.

 

Very nicely done!

 

How did you do the weathering? Would like to know for a Mosquito.

 

I'm glad to see the Seafang is on the list of aircraft flown by the legendary Eric Winkle Brown.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_flown_by_Eric_"Winkle"_Brown#S

Mind you, it would be more remarkable if it wasn't!

 

Looks good!

 

Would St Catherine's Bay be a good place for a small port, with a connecting ferry to the "mainland"? Perhaps to Hull (or Lowestoft) and Friesland?

 

Perhaps the ferry is run by Parisi Maritime?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parisi_(Yorkshire)

 

 

Quote

It was not completely successful and will need redoing...

 

Why? Some might say that's already got the weathered look that many modellers crave.

Also to be fair, almost every town in Britain has its share of "carp" reviews.

There's even a website that specialises in the worst of them.

https://www.ilivehere.co.uk/

 

It's the antithesis of Trip Advisor. It seems like every town takes its turn in being the worst or most dismal.

Here's Aberdeen's turn:

https://www.ilivehere.co.uk/aberdeen-voted-the-dismal-town-scotland.html