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Sutton.
The prototype
In 1891 the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast railway proposed an East West main line from Warrington on the Manchester ship canal to Sutton on Sea in Lincolnshire. As with many ambitious schemes of the time, the line was never completed due to a lack of funds and it never actually reached either of its proposed termini, the only part to see service was the section between Chesterfield and Pyewipe Junction, Lincoln. The model assumes that the original proposals had been successful and is our impression of what the Eastern terminus may have looked like.
Motive power
The period set for the model is the late 1950’s to early 1960’s, so motive power is predominantly steam, but with a few early diesels appearing from time to time. Stock is all provided by club members and must conform to strict standards of reliability. Locomotives are largely kit built and include examples from LNER classes A3, A5, B1, B17, C12, D11, F5, J11, J15, J39, J50, J52, K1, K3, N2, 04, V2 and V3 as well as BR standard types and the odd WD, Crab or 4F
Buildings and structures
The main buildings on the layout are all based upon actual structures that existed along the LD&ECR: the goods shed is a copy of that at Ollerton; the signal cabin comes from Chesterfield, as do the main platform awnings; the loco shed is based on Langwith, and the water tank comes from Ollerton but with steel supports instead of a brick tower. The notable exception to this is the station building itself which is based upon Felixstowe Town on the GER, there being no suitable building on the LD&ECR. All the buildings are constructed from embossed plasticard, the main ones containing full interior detail and being illuminated by grain of wheat bulbs
Trackwork
Trackwork is in OO finescale using SMP plain track with turnouts hand built from code 75 bullhead rail and copper clad sleepers. Turnout control is by Fulgurex motors and train control is by hand held Pentrollers. Automatic uncoupling is effected using Sprat and Winkle couplings and magnets
Operation
Operation is time-accelerated and quite intense, with trains entering and leaving the station to a background of shunting and loco movements in the goods yard and motive power depot. Incoming and outgoing trains negotiate the complex track work at the entrance to the platforms, often passing each other. Locos follow up the stock they have just brought in which forms outgoing passenger trains, then go on shed for turning an storage prior to their next turn.
Besides the main 2 track main line, a branch provides push-pull and DMU turns with occasional local freight, working level-crossing gates and turntable provide added interest.
Click the link to see a gallery of Sutton Photos
Click the download for exhibition information for Sutton
Cheriton Bishop
The prototype
The village of Cheriton Bishop is situated 9 miles west of Exeter and, although it never had a railway, with a delightful name like that it jolly well should have done.
It seemed to us that the Great Western, probably more than any other railway could find traffic potential in any town within its reach that had more than six inhabitants. Grasping on this unlikely premise, we imagined that it constructed a branch from Longdown on its Exeter to Newton Abbot via Heathfield line, to Tedburn St Mary and Cheriton Bishop.
Construction and operation
The layout was originally built as a pure Great Western branch terminus and was named Ambleddwyn. One of our members, Peter Relf, provided the rolling stock for the layout but, unfortunately, a change of job required him to move from the area. With no other access to GWR rolling stock we had to have a rethink, so the decision was made to move the period for the model forward 25 years and turn it into a BR(WR) layout. At this point it was renamed Cherition Bishop.
Buildings
The buildings on the layout have been chosen to fit with its chosen location; the train shed is based on that at Moreton Hampstead, whilst all the other principal structures whilst not being based upon any specific prototypes, are characteristically Great Western. In order to introduce a bit of operational and visual interest, we have assumed that, at some point in the past, the LSWR were granted running powers over the branch. This gives us an excuse to run BR(SR) locos and stock as well as BR(WR) and this provides greater variety than many ex GWR branch line layouts. The model is set in the late 1950’s to early 1960’s.
Trackwork
Trackwork is built to finescale OO standards. All pointwork is hand built using code 75 bullhead rail soldered to copper clad sleepers and operated by some really old H&M motors that have been surprisingly reliable over the years. All the signals are controlled by relays; the level crossing gates also work, train control is by the excellent Pentroller hand held units and, in order to try to run a ‘hands off’ railway, uncoupling is by Sprat and Winkle line couplings and magnets.
Click for images of Cheriton Bishop
Click the download for exhibition information for Cheriton Bishop
EBMRS 