Hemyock revisited…

In my teens my Grandpa gifted me a first series of books from his collection. In this were the Paul Karau OPC GWR branchline series and I found Hemyock. It wasn’t much later that Dapol re-released the 14xx with improved motor and thoughts turned building my first solo model railway…

It was Hemyock, my first love, that fuelled my first documented attempt at ‘proto-freelance’, Stapley. Paul’s book focused only upon termini and as such I didn’t have track plans of the branches stations - Stapley became a first exercise in micro model railways that I suppose has stayed with me ever since. It’s use of tight turnouts echoed the light railway standards used when the prototype was built - albeit mine were ridiculously tight Setrack. The layout had real character and flow, and had I paid more attention to Rice et-al in the MRJ of the time (that I used to flick through at Grandpa’s - they were gifted to me much later) I’d have added a backscene and cameo lighting frame. The 14xx was joined by an unlikely Collett goods (because I like them and was proud of the model), a Pannier (of course) and for the later period, my Dad’s 03. As with many of us, A-levels, girls, a band and then university meant it was never finished. 

The spark though, that never went out…

Excuse the third revisiting of the ten minute shelf concept in as many months - it was whilst browsing ‘The Beaten Track - Volume 4’ that that spark jumped and ignited some kindling within its pages. My heart first pondered on the feasibility of another N gauge shelf, and this would make more sense with enough space for a more ‘realistic’ setting and operation - but the lack of a quality and readily available Class 25 nudged me towards the bargain section of Rails and day dreaming of a Heljan 25/3 and a quart into a pint pot micro scheme!

Coalbridge Street is proving to be fun to operate and a scenic success but I made a mis-judgment on the required size of the fiddle yard area - it is too small. I wondered if it would work in OO using Irish or British prototypes?! Well if you ignore the fact that anything other than an industrial setting would be unrealistic in a 10 minute shelf operational sense, it fits! 

So Hemyock-ish is a game-ified take on the prototype. Perhaps you have one lovely sound fitted model, this scheme would really reward slow speed, high fidelity in structures and scenery, an immersive but compact scene presented in my usual cameo box. This ‘game’ has more applications and there is certainly more to come from me exploring its possibilities and limitations… what of Hemyock though?

Whilst the kindling was lit, the lack of available space, the current list of live projects and a sense check on eBay surfing for milk tankers has dampened down the flames before they took hold. A Heljan 25/3 has not been ordered. No track has been harmed in the day dreaming. Am I done? I don’t think so… an N gauge 25/3 would definitely light the touch paper on this and a number of other schemes! We shall see what 2025 brings, until next time though more soon…

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