Abandoned backdrop…
In my twenties I used to travel on the train a fair bit between Chester and Durham. One of he best bits was looking out the window and spotting old wagons and locomotives parked up around the network in those early years of privatisation…
In the time that has passed many of these have been cut up and sidings removed (or left to be enveloped by nature) so the excitement of seeing an old pair of HAA merry go wagons at Newport last week was a very welcome surprise!
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| Steve Clements photo (embedded from Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/2kXrjZh) |
They appear to have been there for 15-20 years, with loads, presumably removed as cripples from a loaded train and left… to rot. Forgotten and financially written off, today they still stand with quite large saplings growing out of the hoppers.
Two things struck me about this sighting. First of all, these wagons would make a great modelling project, more on that another time. Secondly, this curved part of line with short sidings might work well for the modeller as a realistic corner filler…
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| Illustration James Hilton 2024. |
Stretching plausibility further I wondered if the setting could be used as a discrete small cameo? The hoppers forming a view block at the front, their weed and tree infested sidings sitting across the foreground with a branch line behind? The railways today are much tidier (perhaps more boring) than they were but there is still plenty to see, plenty to find encouraging, sources of inspiration and prototypes to enthuse. Spotting these and working them into modellable chunks is a deeply enjoyable pastime. More soon…
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A lovely idea, and very evocative, which would add character to any layout!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and of course, other wagon prototypes would be equally useful, I’ve seen some lovely modelling of older wooden vehicles all burnt out. Metal hopper wagons though are perhaps easier for the majority to take incpriarjoj from.
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ReplyDeleteHi James
The abandoned wagons as a view block is an interesting concept and one which is a alternative to a bridge or a building. It might be even better maybe if the siding was at a higher level or the branch dropped down so as to hide a train . Another idea might be a line of abandoned or maybe spare locos. I saw that in a number of places- more common in the 1970's but I saw one at the old Stanton Ironworks in 2006 where some spare/hire Sentinels and English Electric diesels were disappearing into the grass and shrubbery.
Also about an hour ago the postman delivered my copy of the Model Railway Companion and as suggested I have been looking through it over coffee. You have done a great job in pulling these various models together and using the words of the builders really brings there passion to life. while there is a mix of layouts and styles the design and presentation prevents any jarring- well done on that. For me, in addition to your layouts, a highlight was the Murray Bay layout with its paper mill short-line theme. It is similar to what I am building but the quality is what I can only strive for. I do hope the book gets the recognition it deserves and is the basis for more.
Best regards
Alan
Thank you Alan. If you ever want to find out more about the contributions in ‘Companion’ each has a link to their website in the title.
DeleteExcellent idea. We tend to think that once track is laid down it needs to be there for trains to run on. Having it as lifted and old wagons as a view block is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephen, it was the trees growing out of them that made me rethink their use as scenic items!
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