great northern

Beat me to it Jonathan. I didn't know the NuCast kit might still be around. Even if it is I reckon it isn't anywhere near as good as the Craftsman one.And the prices quoted are eye watering!

Hi Paul, Yes, that is an A5. It was built from the Craftsman kit many years ago. Try www.craftsmanmodels.co.uk. First thing you will see is an A5 in full GC livery. It was a very good kit in its day, went together well, though probably not now up to modern standards. I don't know of any alternative other than scratchbuilding though.

This week's progress mainly involved installing a fascia on the fiddle yard side. Fortunately there were a few boards left over after the floor had been completed, and I thought they might look quite nice as a fascia. And personally I think it does look good, as well as being practical. On the first photo you will see evidence of my botched attempt to put some numbers on the bridge across the yard. I made some up on the PC and just glued them on.Looked awful, so I tried to get them off. What a mess, which I shall now somehow have to remove or disguise. So I then did what I should have done in the first place and went and found and bought some stick on vinyl numbers. Look much better don't they? Some day I may learn not to just rush in to try and get results quickly. I decided that on this side a relatively deep fascia would be a good idea. Nothing is going to manage to fall off there, and just as important, neither am I going to knock anything on the front roads over when reaching to get at something at the back. I can still get my fingers down the side of rolling stock if I need to as well. Finally, a short piece dealt with the other side. I had intended to put something even more elaborate on the front of the station board. The idea was to form a channel of 3mm MDF with removable perspex sheets sandwiched in between. It was going to be expensive, and I've now decided it is totally unnecessary, as there is virtually no track within a foot of the baseboard edge, so no risk of catastrophic and expensive descents to the floor. As the operating well is of generous width, damage by flying elbows is also unlikely. There are just two tracks which are vulnerable, and on the real thing they were used only to store wagons awaiting repair. The locos sitting there at present will not be there when operation commences.All I intend to do therefore is to put some MDF along the length of this side just to tidy up the appearance of the baseboard edge, but it will not go above baseboard height. That leaves the far side of the station board. Something is needed there, but again I have in the end rejected some expensive and elaborate solutions. The running line nearest the edge is the Down slow, and it runs six inches from the edge. By definition trains on that line will not be going at speed, but accidents do happen. I think though that in the end just a slight raised lip will do the job, and won't interfere with photography from that side either.

Predictably, I rushed to cut some platform tops last night. I did it in poor light while a storm was going on, and didn't take enough care measuring up. You really would think I'd have learned by now. This morning reveals what a mess I made of it, but never mind, it is only temporary. Anyway, here are a few photos, which do at least show more of what it will eventually look like. So here are the arcade bays and the Down island platform. Between the shed, a poor attempt at scratchbuilding on my part, which will be replaced by a correct one later, and Peter Leyland's lovely Great Northern hotel,is where the main Up buidlings will be. Between there and the hotel is the station forecourt. In order to achieve a wide enough forecourt we shall be putting in a six to nine inch wide baseboard extension in this area. Ex works A3 arriving on an Up stopping train. And from a different angle. I wish I could remember to remove things like soldering irons before taking photos - it does spoil the realism a bit. I'm very pleased with this rake of coaches, which are all Gresley and Thompson stock built by Ian Willets and painted by Dave Studley. They deserve to be seen often, for which reason they will form a relief train, and will feature several times during a day's timetable. Behind this CCT will be a loading dock. It extended under Crescent Bridge and ran into South Yard. On the model it will be cosmetic only and just end the other side of the bridge, as there isn't enough room to put in the turnouts to allow it to join the main line. I built the CCT about 20 years ago from the Parkside kit, when unfortunately only giant size tension lock couplings were available. As usual it takes a photo to show it up, and I will now replace them with something less obtrusive. I think for this area I will just build a couple of vans with doors open, and leave it as a static display. Finally, here's an Ivatt 4 in Arcade platform 4, waiting to leave with an M&GN line train to Yarmouth. This was a 110 mile journey, and took over four hours.Is there any wonder that nearly the whole of the M&GN was shut well in advance of Beeching? My timescale is carefully planned to allow scenes like this still to take place. This photo also illustrates a dilemma. Locos should have lamps, but the only ones available are to me anyway far too big. Apart from weathering them so that they are less obtrusive I can't come up with a solution.

Hi David, The whole thing is 25ft long and nine ft wide. Both the station boards and the fiddle yard boards are 3ft wide. I don't have presentable track plans at present I'm afraid. I may be able to find something for the station, but the fiddle yard just sort of developed as it went along, and it will be a pig of a job to draw something up for that.

Hi, just seen this for the first time. Another ECML location - brilliant! Are you aware of Peter Coster's new books about the ECML? Part 1, Kings Cross to Welwyn might I think have some useful information and plans for your project. Irwell Press are the publishers. I did consider Hatfield myself, along with about half the stations South of Doncaster before I settled on Peterborough North, but I didn't get down that far South much in the 50's on a 14 year old's pocket money, so in the end I stuck with what I remembered best. Have you corresponded with "34 the letter bewteen A and D" on this forum. He has lived in and around Hatfield all his life, and is a rich source of information. He is also modelling Hatfield I believe. I have a large library relating to all things ECML, and I know how difficult it must be to get information when you live so far away from the prototype, so please feel free to PM me if there is anything you need to know, and I will happily look it up for you. In the meantime, the best of luck with the project, which I shall now follow with much interest. Gilbert

Be careful David. I assure you that there are disadvantages too, mainly concerned with advancing age and various parts deciding not to work as well as they used to.

That's what I did on the last layout. It did turn out to be very permanent indeed! I relied on expert advice this time. We were particularly concerned to ensure the right clearances, which was easier to do this way. It was only a few hours work in the end - it just seemed longer! Also, there are two platform mounted signals, so that was another factor in favour of something less solid.

So, after what seems like weeks of cutting 2mm card into 14mm wide strips, and then into lots of smaller bits, here is what I have achieved. That signal in photos 1 and 2 will eventually sit on the platform surface, as it's a bit unprototypical where it is at present.There will be a lot more of this to do when I get to the station forecourt, but that's quite enough for now. Next job is to cut and fit some tops. As usual, some locos caught my eye, so here's a shot of some of the less glamorous but equally essential stuff.

The next job to be tackled is constructing the platforms. The basic frame work has been glued in place using 2mm card. Peter Leyland will be making the facing in due course. We've calculated that the platforms were below standard height, if there was such a thing, so they are 14mm, and will receive a 1mm surface when I have finished gluing in all the necessary supports. I thought scraping roof ribs off Bachmann MK1's was mind numbingly boring, but this job easily beats it, apart from costing a fortune in knife blades. Anyway, here are a few photos of the basic edging. And here is a photo of my favourite B17, for no particular reason, save that it looked very nice standing by the coaliing stage! The correct, and, as was the norm with Peterborough, very eccentric coaling stage will replace the Townstreet one in due course, as will a properly completed water crane.

Thanks Richard, more fascinating information. I knew about bi directional working on the Up main, but not that vehicles had to be drawn. I had no idea about the Arcade though. As to the banking, I did know that too, but I'm still trying to work out how I could do it in practice, unless I have one pilot engine with no front coupling just for that purpose. Other than that, it's much easier to do with DCC of course. I'll take you up on your kind offer re the instructions please. You keep coming up with absolute gems of detail about the strange workings of this most peculiar station, where as far as I can see most of the "normal" rules didn't apply. Still, I suppose the overrriding need was to keep things running, despite all the problems caused by the layout, so common sense prevailed, provided safety wasn't really compromised. Never be allowed now of course.

Here are a few more photos, this time of the other end of the fiddle yard. These will head the first five Scottish services Northbound. There are only seven in the full day's timetable, so these two spurs cover nearly everything, which is surprisingly good. Next is the West Riding and Newcastle spurs. The gap is there because a Grantham loco on an early Up train will slot in for its return journey. As you can see, that still leaves plenty of free space. I am now working out how to fill it. I had to have this loco, as it was the only Scottish Pacific I ever saw on the daily running in turn from Doncaster Plant. She came through Retford one beautiful early August day in 1958, absolutely gleaming, and I've discovered that she actually stayed down South for some time. I even have a photo of her on New England shed, so I can justify this particular bit of nostalgia.

More progress has been made. Having finished laying all of the fiddle yard, I've been able to get a lot more locos down from the loft and out of their boxes for the first time in nearly two years. :D That has allowed me to start assessing whether my big ideas about the running of the layout will work in practice. If possible I want to run a sequence which follows the 1958 WTT, and to run correct loco diagrams as well. That means that a loco that goes North will return on a southbound train, but only after a suitable time has passed. It took a long time to get from Peterborough to Newcastle in those days, so some locos will only be seen once in a day. This is a very good excuse for having far more Pacifics than I would otherwise need. The idea is that before each operating session I will set up roads full of locos placed in order of use. So, there will I hope be designated roads for Up and Down Scottish expresses, and the same for Newcastle and West Riding trains. Locos can then just be driven onto the appropriate train. After use they will be transferred by a loco lift to under baseboard shelves, and the next loco will be moved up onto the layout. These are the Up spurs for West Riding at the front, then Newcastle, then Scotland. And as some people like looking at locos, here's a closer view. Tom has also been busy, and has created this masterpiece to sit above the fiddle yard. It's a straight steal from Stoke Summit, and will have large numerals on the sides identifying the storage roads when I can source some. It will allow more stock to be stored without constant bending to get at stuff from under the baseboards. I've not quite decided yet how to use this space. My idea is that there is a storage area for each loco depot that supplied engines. Kings Cross for example will have 23 diagrams, all of which I have worked out and are on a database. It would be nice to vary them each time I get through the whole sequence, so that the same loco does not for ever work the same train. So, my Powerpoint programme, which will be running on a laptop will tell me for example that the next down Leeds will be worked by "KX 15". It's logical to have a shelf with all KX locos sitting in numbered bays for easy identification, but it's also sensible to have locos sitting on the bridge above the fiddle yard above the road that they will be going to work. I'll think about it. More to show later, but now I have to go out and enjoy myself.

Hi Tom, I can take no credit for the ballasting which was done professionally by Norman Saunders in his workshop.I don't know how he does it, but it's excellent. I particularly like the way he uses several different shades depending on the use and condition of the track. That's what makes it stand out for me, and I guess any of us can observe from photos and then try to recreate what we have seen. Not many colour photos in 1958 though, but the few we did find are what Norman has managed to recreate.

Yes thanks Richard - that's the answer. Signal 6/7/8 will then be too close to the platform end if one wants to be pedantic, but it is an unavoidable consequence of the compression at this end of the layout. Sooner that than a signal in a totally wrong location. So, I will move Sig 17 back to where 6/7/8 is now, and move that one back about 9 inches.

Unfortunately the point you mention is one we had to leave out. In the end all we could do was take a single turnout off the Down main, then split it into the two bays. I've attached a couple of close up shots to show what I mean. As Signal 17 was behind Spital Bridge Signal 6/7/8, this effectively dictated that it went where it is. Unless I move the Spital Junction bracket a bit further back along the excursion line, in which case 17 could come a bit closer to the Arcade bays as well?

I confess you've got me beaten with that one Stuart. Please enlighten me. As to MK1, it looked good , but it didn't operate well. Yesterday was pretty warm here, and about midday I went up in the loft in search of something. It was absolutely stifling up there, and if I had been intending to do some operating I would have beaten a hasty retreat. The new room in contrast was pleasantly warm, and with a lovely view outside as well. No contest I assure you, and yet another confirmation as far as I'm concerned that it was the right decision. I spent most of the afternoon working on the layout, and really enjoyed it. Today there have been four of us in there. Plenty of room, everything within reach- heaven.

Hi Richard, According to the plan, it appears to be sited alongside the excursion line, though it relates to the Arcade bays.Looking at photos, it also seems to be behind the bracket signal with arms 6 7 and 8 on the Spital Junction diagram, so that is why Ken and I put it where it is. I would be grateful if you could indicate where you think it should be. Your knowledge in this area is much greater than mine, so your input is very valuable. And of course I want to get it right.

Today I have been working on more track laying. The first photo may not look very inspiring, but it is in fact..... the last spike. It has now been ceremonially driven home. I did ask a load of celebrities to attend, but they were all too busy. I've no idea how many track pins and fish plates have been used, but it's a lot. No more from now on though. Work started with filling in this corner. From there we go to another Peco three way point - they really are very useful and space saving- The two left hand tracks then go into that useful alcove I first mentioned months ago. Next were the two extra sidings Tom suggested could fit between the entrance to the Up and Down yards. First photo is the entrance to them, which is off the Down through road. Then the sidings themselves. Next are the South end kick back sidings, which I had already laid. These run off the Up through road, so don't tie up a road when I need to use them. Next is the question of what to do with all of these. I've had various ideas, but in the end I decided to use most of them as loco spurs. Those two middle roads though are ideal for a couple of short trains. These are my Kings Cross "Parliamentary" set, and a Leicester- Peterborough East set, which is awaiting one more BSK. And as fiddle yards aren't very inspiring, here are a few shots of some trains in the station. You'll have to take my word for it that they got there under their own steam. First is a 9F with coal empties waiting on the Down slow for a path across the Up main and into New England yard. It may be there for some time.... We shall make sure that all of the signals are perpendicular when they are finally put in place. Next, to the South end, and Silver Link arriving, having slowed the down Heart of Midlothian to the necessary crawl. She then passes A3 Diamond Jubilee, which has stopped with an Up York and Hull train. And finally for now, a close up of the A3.

No apology needed , I am very grateful for your input. I would very much like to operate as prototypically as possible, though working ground signals are a step too far. With that reservation, all information/training will be most eagerly and gratefully received.

Well folks, I'm delighted to say all went as planned today, so all running lines wired, plus all point motors, and all accessory decoders too. Which means......I've got a running layout. Trains have duly circulated on both Up and Down main, after which we went for a curry and a beer or two. So tomorrow I can start test running the whole thing. :D Just a few loco spurs to lay and wire now, then tracklaying is complete. There are good days.... and there are very good days. Well worth the waiting and the occasional frustration. Definitely the end of the beginning.

Hi Mike, No, we sorted that one thanks.-it's the starter for the two arcade bays. The reason I couldn't find 13 on the Spital Junction diagram is that it was situated the other side of Spital Bridge, and therefore "off scene" so far as I am concerned. It's one less signal to model.

Sorry, don't know why I put Bridge instead of Junction. Thanks very much for yet more valuable information. I'm learning all the time from this. However, I still can't find 13 on either plan. Could you put me out of my misery by pointing me in the right direction please? Other than that, I think I finally know what was where, and what it did. For example, I now know that I have to signal coal empties specifically, whereas before I thought they were just directed into the yard in general.

Thanks Richard, any thoughts of operating prototypically are now abandoned, particularly as Ken Gibbons' brow became very furrowed when I mentioned working ground signals. I confess that my knowledge of the dark arts of signalling is nowhere near as good as it should be, and that some of what has been discussed on this page has therefore gone way over my head, but I gather that some peculiar practices went on at my chosen location. I would however like to operate as prototypically as is reasonably possible, so all of the information, and particularly that relating to the signals controlled by Spital Junction has been most gratefully received. One thing puzzles me, which is that Spital Bridge no 13 is referred to as "Down main starter" but I can't find a number 13 on the diagram? In any event I understood that North box controlled the main lines? Finally, and I should know this, what does a "slot" mean? Is it that the same signal can be operated from two different boxes? Or have I got myself totally confused (again).

Best I can find at the moment is in British Railways Steaming through Peterborough. There is a photo ( numbered 18) on page 15, which clearly shows the signal, and the caption says it is 1958, with which for once I entirely agree. This photo was not taken as most were from the end of platform 3. In any photo taken from that angle this signal is almost entirely hidden behind the three arm bracket which is shown on the plans. Can't post the photo because of copyright issues.