barrowroad

Hi Martyn, The guillotine is on loan from a friend. I am not sure of its age but it is has been around for a while and has been used for a multitude of jobs. I doubt it is still available. I had looked at purchasing a 'Chopper' from North West Short Line. The 'stop' is really useful for cutting consistent lengths of ply. Regards, Robin

I managed to finish cutting and positioning the ply sleepers for the single slip and turnout this afternoon. The last sleeper is on the guillotine ready for cutting to length it's position shown by the pencil in the foreground. Part of my workbench also showing, in the top left, a variety of ply sleeper jigs for soldering up crossing vees.

Hi Dave, I would be happy to have any of your locos make an appearance on shed... it would be interesting to trial your 9F through the pointwork. I have a DJH Crosti and Bachmann 9F to build with a Bradwell chassis.... Has anyone built one of these yet? Regards, Robin

The four turntables are 20ft in diameter and were used to enable small Midland locos to gain access to the works. After the LMS reorganisation of the shed in the 30's the works they were no longer used for their original purpose. The procedure was to uncouple the engine from the tender and haul it into the works. During my regular visits to the shed in the early 60's the turntables I did not ever see them in operation. I haven't yet decided on the construction of these small turntables but would like them to be operational. I have a number of track plans for the shed. One is a copy of an early plan circa 1890 which shows shed pre LMS modernisation with an outside 42ft turntable and midland coaling stage and the other is a later plan, from the OPC stable { now presumably in the NRM }, which is super-imposed on the Templot plan to give the position of the structures.

Hi Downendian, Does the name suggest you reside in Downend? I am Bristol based so if you can find any photos of the shed I would appreciate a look. Thanks for your kind comments on the blog. Regards, Robin

Hi Peter, I'm enjoying building the trackwork. It is the first I have made since the 4 for Sheep Pasture 10+ years ago. I decided to start with the difficult piece first, the double slip, to give me confidence. The quality has improved as each has been completed such that I may need to revisit the double slip before track laying commences. Are you going to the Wigan Show... if so come over to have a chat as I am taking Sheep Pasture. I am scheduled to collect a kit of laser cut parts for the roundhouse at the show... come and have a look. Regards, Robin

Here is the Templot for the South Exit to the shed which consists of a B6 turnout and a Single Slip onto the mainline. The full size template attached to 6mm ply ready for fixing the ply sleepers. That's enough for now - back to the workbench.

Further progress today with all the rail now laid on the three point 'zig zag'. The new gauge really helped with the fine tuning - I will now revisit all the other completed turn-outs to fine tune using this jig. Just a single slip and turnout to make now and I can start some track laying on the boards.

??15 from Jeremy in the S4 Stores. Robin

Further progress tonight with the addition of 3 of the 4 pairs of stock rails. Each stock rail requires a joggle for the switch blade, a number of cosmetic rail joints - each with a Colin Waite fishplate - and a set of funtional chairs where there are no rivets, followed by soldering the stock rail to the rivets. My new brass Roger Sanders gauge is shown in the photos. This gauge makes fine tuning of the pointwork a pleasure.

Hi Phil, Are you the 82E who buys photos of the Shed on ebay - the one's I'm after? Robin

Hi Peter, good to hear from you. I have a set of A1 size Templot sheets - see earlier photos with your coaling tower - which will be fixed to the baseboard when I start the tracklaying. For making thepointwork I also have a set of Templot turnout templates copied from the main plan. These have been cut out and stuck down on offcuts of 6mm ply using thin - 3mm - double sided sellotape. Ply sleepers are temporarily fixed to this templot template using the same tape - the yellow/brown stuff in the photo - and away we go. Credit for the Templot plans must go to my good friend Morgan. Cheers, Robin I have just spent ??15 on a 'Roger Sanders' gauge 'for fine tuning pointwork - brilliant - why didn't I get one earlier!

Just a few close ups of the crossing Vee's which are all B6.

I have just started on the turnout complex in front of the shed. This George Heiron photo shows the three 'zig zag' turnouts which are the subject of this update. The next two photos show the relevant part of the Templot track plan of the shed, followed by the ply and rivit sleepers positioned on the template. This shows the reduced Templot plan of the relevant trackwork. More to follow in the next few days.

The two new GE Class 70s arrived at the Freightliner Yard at Bristol Parkway early this morning - 3am apparently - 02 was dropped off whilst 01 continued to Basford Hall for trials. O2 has been at Parkway all day and is due for trials on the Portbury/Avonmouth Dock to Rudgely coal trains. I understand the trials to Rudgely will start on Friday this week, initially running via the Severn Tunnel and the Welsh Marches to Rudgely. Trials will then switch to the Lickey Incline route.

Having successfully transferred my Bristol Barrow Road shed thread front the old site perhaps I should give an update on progress since my last entry. I have spent some time over the past week producing drawings for the various elevations of the shed, workshop, office/mess/stores block, boiler house and sand furnace. These have been sent to a new company, York Model Makers, to produce a kit of laser etched parts for all these buildings. For those of you who attended Scaleforum this company were present at he show where Chris Dening was demonstrating their products. Watch this space!

Bristol Barrow Road by Barrowroad original page on Old RMweb __________________________________________ ??? posted on Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:55 pm About 25 years ago I started collecting information and photographs of my local ex Midland Railway shed, Bristol Barrow Road, and vowed that one day I would create a layout of the site. Well over the past year, with the help of some fellow modellers I now have the baseboards for the layout. The track plan has been produced using templot and has been printed out full size utilising O/S map information to position the shed roundhouse, coaling tower, ash plant and the prominent road viaduct - Barrow Road - which bisects the shed yard. The coaling tower was built for me by Peter aka 'Gravytrain'. Just a taster for now. I shall post some information on the construction of the boards later. Why 25 years - well I have managed to convert and extend to the garage to house the layout and in the intervening period I built a layout based on my other railway interest the Cromford & High Peak Railway. http://www.glevums4.co.uk/Sheep_Pasture_frame.html __________________________________________ Comment posted by 70015APOLLO on Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:35 pm Only the other day I came accross some very good photos of Bristol Barrow Rd shed whilst looking at Mac Hawkins book "Ivo Peter's Classic Steam" (ISBN 0 86288 058 0) - Photo on page 81 is a good shot alongside the main line, MPD to the left, looking along the sweeping curves to the road bridge. A first class location to model -- oozing with atmosphere. Brit15 __________________________________________ Comment posted by Kenton on Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:57 pm I'm intrigued to know why the baseboard is shaped like a coffin Is this to be P4 ? what time period ? __________________________________________ Comment posted by corax67 on Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:46 pm I'm intrigued to know why the baseboard is shaped like a coffin Perhaps one of the "fellow modellers" is an undertaker and recyled a bit of spare timber ? ? ? __________________________________________ ??? posted on Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:47 pm 70015APOLLO wrote: Only the other day I came accross some very good photos of Bristol Barrow Rd shed whilst looking at Mac Hawkins book "Ivo Peter's Classic Steam" (ISBN 0 86288 058 0) - Photo on page 81 is a good shot alongside the main line, MPD to the left, looking along the sweeping curves to the road bridge. A first class location to model -- oozing with atmosphere. Brit15 Hi Apollo, I have that photo in front of me. Patriot 45504 Royal Signals was a Bristol loco from 1958 to 1962. I have a framed print of this wonderful Ivo Peters photograph on the wall which I obtained from Ivo Peter's son Julian. One of the Bachmann Patriot's, is waiting conversion to P4. The other two photos in the book aren't bad either!! Kenton wrote: I'm intrigued to know why the baseboard is shaped like a coffin Is this to be P4 ? what time period ? Hi Kenton, The boards look like a coffin because the track through the shed leads to a dead end!! The layout will be P4 and DCC set in the 1955 to 1962 period. corax67 wrote: I'm intrigued to know why the baseboard is shaped like a coffin Perhaps one of the "fellow modellers" is an undertaker and recyled a bit of spare timber ? ? ? Hi Corax, You need to look at it in perspective, nearly coffin shaped but not quite, as it doesn't taper at the 'head end'. Fortunately none of my fellow modellers is an undertaker but one could be classified a 'chip off the block' Cheers, Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by BlazeyBridge2 on Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:44 am I imagine this is going to be a pretty good one if Sheep Pasture is anything to go by.... I remember seeing SP exhibited at Cromford Wharf backalong....1995?... an excellent layout IMHO... __________________________________________ ??? posted on Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:48 am BlazeyBridge2 wrote: I imagine this is going to be a pretty good one if Sheep Pasture is anything to go by.... I remember seeing SP exhibited at Cromford Wharf backalong....1995?... an excellent layout IMHO... Hi Mike, Thank you for your kind words. Cromford Wharf April 1997, I remember it well, Sheep Pasture was in its embryonic state and was invited to attend an event to celebrate the 3oth anniversary of the closure of the Cromford & High Peak Railway. 'Middlepeak', the another CHPR layout, by my friend Geraint Hughes was also there and we even thought of joining the two together. Here is a photo of Sheep Pasture for you. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Vanders on Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:11 am There's a coincidence: I've been looking at quite a few photos of Barrow Road & the old Midland line after a discussion elsewhere on RMWeb about Kingswood Junction, and I was thinking to myself "I've never seen a model of Barrow Road before"! I'll be sure to watch yours as it develops. Will you have any room on your layout for the Barrow Road arches? __________________________________________ Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:21 pm barrowroad wrote: and we even thought of joining the two together For some reason, Robin, I thought that you had joined them together at one show, I have a particular memory of seeing them operating as one..... please tell me I'm not hallucinating!! Both are exquisite layouts and very nicely observed. __________________________________________ ??? posted on Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:51 pm Vanders wrote: There's a coincidence: I've been looking at quite a few photos of Barrow Road & the old Midland line after a discussion elsewhere on RMWeb about Kingswood Junction, and I was thinking to myself "I've never seen a model of Barrow Road before"! I'll be sure to watch yours as it develops. Will you have any room on your layout for the Barrow Road arches? Hi Vanders, How could you have a layout of Barrow Road without the arches? I have room for the main line bridge and 5 arches but not the other eight. You can see the position of Barrow Road between the shed and the coaling tower. Hi Captain, I'm afraid to tell you you have been hallucinating It would have been a nice idea but we never did get round to it. Thank you for your kind comments on behalf of myself and Geraint. Cheers, Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by adge-peanuts on Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:15 pm I like the idea of this layout. Used to work as a trainman and remember backing the Bristol Bin liner (Dusty Bin) train back into the siding that was is located there. Keep up the good work __________________________________________ Comment posted by Wheeltapper on Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:10 pm I am looking forward to seeing the completed layout from the Days Road Bridge angle , a look over the parapet was always my first view of the shed with the resultant tingle of expectation . There was usually one or both of the sentinels parked on one of the stub roads beneath the vantage point and closely packed rows of locos on the sidings alongside the shed. Happy Memories ! __________________________________________ Comment posted by Gravy Train on Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:03 am Hi Robin, Its great to see that you are now making progress on the layout, just looking at the Templot track diagram it looks facinating, is it your intention to exhibit it? Looking at the coaling tower, i used to think it was a large structure but it appears somewhat dwarfed by the huge track layout, it is certainly going to be a layout to watch out for on RMweb as it developes. If Sheep Pasture is anything to go by then this layout will look the buisiness. cheers Peter __________________________________________ ??? posted on Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:05 am Gravy Train wrote: Hi Robin, Its great to see that you are now making progress on the layout, just looking at the Templot track diagram it looks facinating, is it your intention to exhibit it? Looking at the coaling tower, i used to think it was a large structure but it appears somewhat dwarfed by the huge track layout, it is certainly going to be a layout to watch out for on RMweb as it developes. If Sheep Pasture is anything to go by then this layout will look the buisiness. cheers Peter Hi Peter, The coaling tower will certainly dominate the shed yard north of Barrow Road arches as did the prototype. I have designed the layout on seven boards to enable transportation to exhibitions. I have had some storage trolleys made, based on a design similar to one used by the guys from Liverpool Lime Street... I'll post some pictures in due course. Meanwhile here is a Bachmann Patriot positon under the tower... no track etc but I couldn't resist it. __________________________________________ Comment posted by timlewis on Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:22 pm Well, this looks like it will be very nice indeed: definitely one to watch. Kenton wrote: I'm intrigued to know why the baseboard is shaped like a coffin I'm glad to see that someone else has some weird shaped baseboards (see Coldstream link below), although mine are less obviously coffin shaped! Presumably, because you have the prototype track plan, you arrived, as I did, at an 'optimal' set of baseboard shapes taking into account the layout of the track, turnout positions etc. etc. rather than building a set of full-width rectangular boards and then finding joins in all the wrong places. __________________________________________ Comment posted by WD198 on Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:30 pm Looks like an ambitous project! Looks good so far, will be watching this with interest. About time we had some Steam MPDs, loads of modern TMDs but no so many Steam MPDs. Jack. __________________________________________ ??? posted on Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:57 pm timlewis wrote: I'm glad to see that someone else has some weird shaped baseboards (see Coldstream link below), although mine are less obviously coffin shaped! Presumably, because you have the prototype track plan, you arrived, as I did, at an 'optimal' set of baseboard shapes taking into account the layout of the track, turnout positions etc. etc. rather than building a set of full-width rectangular boards and then finding joins in all the wrong places. Hi Tim, Just looked at your Coldstream link ....looking good. What adhesive have you used on the Exactoscale Foam? Barrow Road boards The size and shape of the Barrow Road boards were dictated by the templot track plan and the position of the turnouts. At the shed end I wanted the shed on one board and as the roundhouse is approx 182ft square this fixed the board size at 2ft 2in for the front elevation. The optimum board length worked out at 4ft 1in so I have the shed board at 2ft 2in by 4ft 1in. To fit in the main line and sidings alongside the shed, to include the prominent housing as a back scene requires a further board 1ft 6in wide giving a total width at the shed end of 3ft 8in... quite deep! These two boards are aligned along their length used C&L machined alignment dowels and joined using 6mm bolts and T nuts. The ajoining pair of boards are reversed, again giving a combined depth of 3ft 8in, in order to accommodate the trackwork. The next pair of boards, where the coaling tower and Ash Plant are to be sited are basically 4ft 1in by 1ft 6in but are made trapezoid to align them with the previous pair. The final board, a single 4ft 1in by 1ft 6in unit will house the trackwork at the throat of the shed yard and will contain Lawrence Hill Signal Box and the Lawrence Hill road bridge as a scenic break. This board has detachable trianglar boards which will accommodate 'urban scenery'. So to sum up we have two large boards [2ft 2in by 4ft 1in] and five small boards [1ft 6in by 4ft 1in] which, when joined together, form a large rectangle tapered towards the Lawrence Hill end. This standard length board has enabled construction of a pair of transport trolleys to be made for exhibition purposes. These are designed to fit into a transit type van. __________________________________________ Comment posted by London Midland Guard on Midland Guard on Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:58 pm I love that paper overlay plan, amazing! Please forgive me but Barrow Road is were in relation to Barton Hill ? I cant wait to see progress, amazing!. Cheers. LMG. __________________________________________ ??? posted on Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:42 pm London Midland Guard wrote: Please forgive me but Barrow Road is were in relation to Barton Hill ? Hi LMG, You obviously know the Barton Hill area. The duel carriageway aka St Philips Causeway crosses the site and the Barrow Road arches were demolished to make way for this road. The stone wall behind the Formula One service garage - at the junction of the new Days Road - marks the route of the original Days Road around the back of the shed. On the other side of this wall is Barton Hill EWS depot. The EWS depot is adjacent to what was the midland main line which passed alongside the shed under Days Road bridge. In fact, I believe some of the main line track remains in the depot and is used to store visiting steam engines. One of the stone walls which borders the LEX facility forms the rear boundary of the shed site. The LEX site is situated on the site of the gas works at the rear of the shed. The main line continued on a curve to the side of the BIG YELLOW store and to the side of the BINGO hall. In fact this building is suitated where the coaler once stood. The embankment at the rear of the Bingo Hall is formed out of the rubble that once was Barrow Road Arches.The Bingo Hall car park continues up to the Lawrence Hill road bridge which is still there. The only original building remaining in Barrow Road is the Forgemans Arms pub. Hope this helps, Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by London Midland Guard on Midland Guard on Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:58 pm I know where i am now, thanks for that. I think Ive actually walked round there once (It was enough ). Many Thanks. LMG. __________________________________________ Comment posted by Tim V on Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:27 pm Does this help? Shows the Barton Hill flats. __________________________________________ Comment posted by timlewis on Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:40 pm barrowroad wrote: Hi Tim, Just looked at your Coldstream link ....looking good. What adhesive have you used on the Exactoscale Foam? Copydex for the first layer, which seems to work pretty well as long as you weight it well while it dries (although I think it would be relatively easy to remove, which may, or may not, be a good thing). The main running lines have two thicknesses, as they are slightly higher than the yard. I have attached this second layer using spray PhotoMount, which was easier and less messy than Copydex BUT, the boards have been lying around for a couple of months since I did this, and the second layer is beginning to peel off a bit along some edges. This may be because I didn't weight them properly, or because I didn't get enough adhesive at the edges (despite 'over-spraying' beyond the edge of the overlay). When I get back onto them (Christmas, work, decorating seem to have got in the way ), I think I'll re-do some with Copydex. London Midland Guard wrote: I love that paper overlay plan, amazing! Such is the power of Templot! __________________________________________ Comment posted by Portchullin Tatty on Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:32 pm Robin, You are going to be busy in the coming months, years................. Then you have to build/convert the engines to go on it! It does look like the beginnings of a fine model though; and as others have said, you do have some positive history in this regard! I look forward to it. Don't use copydex to secure the ballest/track in place. When you subsequently come to do anything with it, such as drill holes for point rodding, it strings on you and you suddenly have a bare patch of foam. Now how do you think I know that...........!! __________________________________________ Comment posted by 10800 on Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:59 pm Look forward to seeing this, especially the roundhouse And another vote for non-rectilinear baseboards (see Eridge rebuilding link below) __________________________________________ Comment posted by ullypug on Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:49 pm Also looking forward to seeing more of this. How did you make the baseboards? i.e. frames, double beams, top down? I'm asking because I have a potential scheme for a roundy roundy that will need some very odd shaped baseboards. Cheers Andrew __________________________________________ Bristol Barrow Road by Barrowroad original page on Old RMweb __________________________________________ Comment posted by ullypug on Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:49 pm Also looking forward to seeing more of this. How did you make the baseboards? i.e. frames, double beams, top down? I'm asking because I have a potential scheme for a roundy roundy that will need some very odd shaped baseboards. Cheers Andrew __________________________________________ ??? posted on Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:12 pm ullypug wrote: How did you make the baseboards? i.e. frames, double beams, top down? Hi Ullypug, Barrow Road boards are made from sheets of 6mm beech ply cut into strips 110mm wide and 104mm wide for the sides. The depth has been determined by the wish to use tortoise motors. The board sides are made by glueing one piece 110mm [outside] to one piece of 104mm [inside] to give a rebate on the top edge for the board surface, also 66mm sheet. A lightened cross brace of 6mm ply is positioned across the centre point of each side. The resulting box, including the top, was assembled and glued using clamps and the jig in the photograph. Please note one board from 'Brinkley' the S4 Glevum Group layout in the background. The alignment dowels are from C&L and were positioned, two per end and three per side using a jig to drill the holes using a fostner bit. Details of the number of boards and their dimensions can be seen in an earlier post. Cheers...Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by ullypug on Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:11 am Thanks for that Robin I like the idea of laminating two sheets of 6mm and rebating the top. I did something similar with Weston, but used a twin beam a la Barry Norman. Do you plan to add any diagonal bracing? I've never risked not, but I don't know whether it's over the top really. That assembly table looks very impressive. Is it home built? I was thinking about making a jig for the 8 No trapezoidal boards I needs using an old kitchen worktop and some cramps. There's something about a new baseboard... Best of luck! Cheers __________________________________________ ??? posted on Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:15 am Hi Andrew, ullypug wrote: Do you plan to add any diagonal bracing? I don't propose to use any diagonal bracing as the boards structure is very rigid. ullypug wrote: That assembly table looks very impressive. Is it home built? The assembly table is owned by my friend Chris in the Glevum S4 Group, without whose assistance and facilities, the boards would not have been built... at least not as accurately! I believe it was originally made to produce consistent 4 x 2 boards for a layout lost in the mists of time. It is certainly a useful piece of kit. Always liked your WCPR layout. Cheers, Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by ullypug on Sun Feb 15, 2009 7:04 pm Hi Robin Always liked your WCPR layout. That's very kind. And I like Sheep Pasture too. It fits the 'different' tag which I seem to be drawn to. I've always thought Newquay harbour with its inclined tunnel would make an interesting layout, but that's another story! Cheers __________________________________________ Comment posted by Spot on Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:22 am Nice work on the baseboards, as a Bristolian, now living in Gloucestershire, I am interested in how this is going now. Simon __________________________________________ Comment posted by 70015APOLLO on Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:04 pm Found some more very good colour pix of Barrow Rd shed in the book "British Steam in cameracolour 1962-68" by Robert Adley.Ian Allan book, published 1979 ISBN 0 7110 0987 2 (A4 format, double spreads are A3) P 28/9 Large double spread photo June 1964 - General view of Yard from overbridge, quite a few varied locos. P 60/1 Large double spread photo June 1964 - Unlined green, but clean Brit 70024 Vulcan at side of shed. P 68/9 Large double spread photo June 1964 - 1011 County of Chester in front of shed, gasholder to rear P 78 Single page, again June 1964 - 82004 on local train on main line passing shed. These are very atmospheric photos of workaday steam. In fact the whole book of large colour photos is first class, especially for the weathering effects. Long out of print, I got it for ?‚??1.00 yesterday in a s/h bookshop. Quick look shows 18 on Amazon from ?‚??0.73 - Bagain. Also, June 2009 "Steam Days" mag has an article re Bristol (MR/LMS lines), few photos, nice colour shot of Barrow Rd 1961, & photo of 2 L&Y pugs at rear of shed.. Hope this is of use, Brit15 __________________________________________ ??? posted on Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:49 pm Apollo, Many thanks for the information on the Adley book. I do not have a copy but I have seen the photos you have listed. Just purchased a copy of Steam Days. I particularly like the shot of the BR Class 5 showing the trackwork into the shed yard. I am on a track building session at the moment and will, hopefully, and a post on the subject in the near future. Regards, Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by michael delamar on Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:11 am this is going to be one fantastic layout, it has all the ingredients. I love sheep pasture, and Petes buildings are fantastic, your woodwork and standards seem very professional too. Im amased nowadays at people building large prototype locations, or what may seem large. maybe thats down to people realising that industrial areas dont actually take up as much space as a country branch say, theres a lot the real railway crammed in to Barrow road there. and of course using scratchbuilt track over rtr enables all the correct angles etc to be used. also having helped out with Lime st many times, the set up and take down with the trolleys will be so much more quicker and less tiring and stressfull than other less well designed or even smaller layouts. Mike __________________________________________ Comment posted by michael delamar on Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:47 pm will there be a way of seeing into the roundhouse? and Im sure youve collected many images of the area, are you looking for more and is there anything you need images of? a shot youve probably seen, a quick search of the net found it, but I thought it had so much atmosphere http://www.railphotoprints.co.uk/index. ... Ds&start=0 Mike __________________________________________ ??? posted on Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:41 pm Hi Michael, Thank you for your kind comments. I have a large collection of photos of the shed and surrounds but I am always interested in the more unusual shots. The RailPhotoprints shots are excellent, I only discovered them about 6 months ago and obtained a selection of prints. The latest Steam Days magazine has a good number of photos and as an example the unusal shot in this collection has been taken from Lawrence Hill Signal box and gives a wonderful view of the track approaches to the coaler and shed. This is the area where I have made some minor track modifications in order to shorten the layout. This involves the use of a double slip and repositioning of the mainline crossover in order to achieve it. The inside roundhouse will be viewable, achieved by making the west wall and first pitch of the roof out of perspex, at least that is my idea at present. Regards, Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by alcazar on Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:28 am Can't wait to see more of this: Barrow Road was one of those sheds whose name you stared at in your combine and wondered what it was like. Being from Humberside, I never did get to find out The first jubilee I ever saw was off barrow Road, circa 1962, seen at Wath North, (in the old West riding), hauling the southbound Devonian. I was 10. Barfleur was the Jube, I still remember the whoop of delight from the older lad who'd taken me, since it was a "cop" for him too. The next time I went, three months later, the Devonian was in the hands of the Peaks, D9, Snowdon, and the next time, D100, Sherwood Forester. Not jubes, but.,........... __________________________________________ ??? posted on Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:33 pm I am in the process of making the point work for the layout with 6 out of the 15 required turnouts completed - I must get round to posting a few photos. Alcazar you are of the same sort of vintage as myself.. fortunately I had relatives in Hull and paid two visits in the early 60's. I used the visits as an excuse to pay my respects to the Hull sheds, York and even a visit to Gateshead... interesting days. __________________________________________ Comment posted by mikemeg on Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:47 pm I've just come across this thread and what a joy. There's one picture of a Patriot, posed under the coaling tower, with the caption indicating that this loco - currently 45543 - will become 45519 - Lady Godiva. When I was a kid in Hull and made my first trip to York, train spotting (1958), I was fascinated by the locos on the Bristol - Newcastle services, often LMS Patriots or Jubilees and, quite often, from Bristol Barrow Road. I checked back through the notebook for that first trip to York (one of the few railway things which survived later parental clear outs) and there it is 45519 - Lady Godiva. I can still see it in my minds eye as it came into York, so different from the works of Worsdell, Raven, Gresley, Thompson and Peppercorn. There is a wonderful painting, by Philip Hawkins, of a Patriot (I think it's 45504) at Birmingham New Street - look on his web site. Also being another who is making a model of a railway (which this one is) as opposed to a model railway,then it's an added bonus. Many congratulations on a fascinating prototype and I look forward to seeing this evolve; it will be absolutely stunning. Regards Mike PS The Patriot picture is not featured on Philip Hawkins web site, currently, but if you Google LMS Patriot, you will find the site of the organisation, currently building a brand new Patriot and, under the link Appreciation, you will find this picture. It's actually 45506 so the memory really is failing, but oh what a picture. __________________________________________ ??? posted on Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:24 pm Excellent picture of 45506 Mike.. another Bristol engine. Thanks for your kind comments. Regards, Robin __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:29 pm I'm absolutely blown away by this layout. It is going to be fantastic. I only ever went to B Road once on a trip to Bristol (and why did I not go out to Bath Green Park - idiot), in 1963 or 64 (can't quite remember without climbing into loft to dig out spotters' books). I was thrown out (gently) after covering most of the yard but never got 'inside' and I always wondered what it was like. I just remember it being a great and atmospheric shed with those arches splitting the site and the long 'stairway to heaven' from the road (Day's Bridge?) down to the yard. I'm sure local lads used the secret entrances around the back by those gas-ometers? In another posting on here some time ago someone mentioned the coaler being blown up in the late 60's and scaring half Bristol to death! Incidentally, I bunked St Phillip's Marsh, (lovely double roundhouse), with ease but was too scared by the 'reputation' of the Bath Road staff to attempt a bunk! As soon as the trackwork is down and buildings erected I would love to see it exhibited. If you have limited loco stock just now you could invite P4 boys (& girls) to bring their appropriate stock to visit the shed! Even if you don't go public I for one would pay a good fee to visit and admire! Very good luck, Stan Eight Freight. __________________________________________ ??? posted on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:27 pm The rear entrance for spotters was over the wall at the rear of the shed. For a nostalgic view see this link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bento ... 155572977/ We used to cycle round the back, prop the bike against the wall, climb over and enter the back entrance to the roundhouse. This is a 1981 shot, taken long after the shed had been demolished and shows one of the attempts to prevent us getting in, namely the fence. Like the Maginot Line it stopped at the end of this abutting wall and did not continue over the bridge itself so we climbed around it's end. Prior to the fence some nasty black tar/paint was put on the wall. The coaling tower was demolished in mid/late 60's. I have a large number of loco kits to build or RTR conversions to do. However, I do have some locos for the layout and friends in the Glevum Scalefour group have others to fill the gap. The layout is intended to be exhibited - it may even male an show appearance in an unfinished state. Thanks for your kind comments. Robin __________________________________________ ??? posted on Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:30 pm Just noticed the Flickr link has not fully uploaded. fray_bentos/240857220/in/set-72157594155572977/ add this after photos/ Robin __________________________________________ ??? posted on Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:19 pm I thought it about time I did an update on my progress with the trackwork. So far I have built about half of the required pointwork. Starting from the north entrance/exit to the shed the following have been completed:- North Crossover Down Main C8Lc North Crossover Up Main C8Lc North Exit B8R North Exit Double Slip 1:6 Coaling Road Turnout B6Rc Wagon Siding Turnout B7Rc Coal Plant Wagon Road B6R In addition I have just finished the 3 Way Loco Sidings consisting of Loco sidings 3-Way B8Lc Loco sidings 3-Way C10Rc 3 Way Crossing 1:6 The position of this 3 Way is shown in the attached templot The finished 3 Way - all pointwork still requires the addition of cosmetic chairs which will be added following positioning and final adjustment - is shown along with the other piece of complicated pointwork, the part completed Tandem crossing, which will be positioned underneath the Arches of Barrow Road Bridge/Viaduct. Right, back to the workbench - Australia 128 for 5!!!! __________________________________________ Comment posted by michael delamar on Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:38 am really nice work on the track I like the shots of the coaling stage being demolished too Mike __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:05 pm barrowroad wrote: I thought it about time I did an update on my progress with the trackwork. So far I have built about half of the required pointwork. Starting from the north entrance/exit to the shed the following have been completed:- North Crossover Down Main C8Lc North Crossover Up Main C8Lc North Exit B8R North Exit Double Slip 1:6 Coaling Road Turnout B6Rc Wagon Siding Turnout B7Rc Coal Plant Wagon Road B6R Barrow Road North Exit trackwork 3.jpgBarrow Road North Exit trackwork.jpg In addition I have just finished the 3 Way Loco Sidings consisting of Loco sidings 3-Way B8Lc Loco sidings 3-Way C10Rc 3 Way Crossing 1:6 The position of this 3 Way is shown in the attached templot Templot of 3 Way Crossing.jpg The finished 3 Way - all pointwork still requires the addition of cosmetic chairs which will be added following positioning and final adjustment - is shown along with the other piece of complicated pointwork, the part completed Tandem crossing, which will be positioned underneath the Arches of Barrow Road Bridge/Viaduct. Tandem & 3 Way Crossing 006.jpg Right, back to the workbench - Australia 128 for 5!!!! England 1 Aussies 0!! Very interesting to see your trackwork up close. Stud and wood I presume? I've just spent some time experimenting with trackbuilding in the various mediums including C & L on wood; works quite well (using Butanone) but the 'point' has not been used on a layout so strength is unknown! Keep the pics coming please. England's next victory should spur you on! Sincerely 82E __________________________________________ Comment posted by Mallard60022 on Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:00 am Re. this layout and Black Gill! I believe we could have a competition to see if Barrow Hill can match Black Gill for beauty and atmosphere. Any progress on Barrow Hill? Please don't hide this one away until I'm too old to operate this computer! Sincerely, P.Fourboys __________________________________________ Comment posted by ikks on Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:38 am Brilliant, I love this apect of our hobby.......living in Derby for my first 24 years and being a very active "spotter" between 1958 and 1963, Barrow Road engines were a regular part of my diet. Great work...look forward to following this thread. Rgds....Mike __________________________________________