Commission: Operation Avalanche…
It has in more recent times become a ritual to post a layout plan on a Saturday - and so today, although this is also a commission, which should be a Monday, I’m using it today!
This scheme is driven by memories of trains in north Kent and of snow, a blending of first and second hand experience, married to a limited space, a shelf in my customers study. Modelling trains of the South and East in OO gauge isn’t straight forward, the majority of services really need a minimum of a 4 car EMU which is a space eater… so we looked at N, but the lack of anything suitable for the period sadly made this a non-starter…
Back in OO I suggested we loose one of the fiddle sticks and make a terminus - but if an intermediate station - as if the snow has blocked the line beyond so the service is operating using the cross over, to return from whence it came. Operation may be limited but we do gain a useful 40-50cm to the scenic area and a better balance in on and off stage…
Snow covers a station, inspired by childhood and teenage memories but not a slave to prototype. A level crossing to watch trains crossing is featured. Snow means some interesting scenic challenges too - but the train service is a Bachmann 2 car EMU - and perhaps a 33 with a pair of snow ploughs could also shuttle through the scene.
This project, despite looking like a traditional ‘Hilton’ cameo shelf was not straight forward. Evolving the design brief was only possible because of the conversation shaped by my layout design process. If you’re stuck on a project, perhaps I can help you work through options and get to a meaningful and exciting layout scheme. The process starts from £210, get in touch via the commissions page. Until next time though, for now, more soon…
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This reminds me of a number of times working at Bexhill when trains were terminating there, either due to weather related disruption, engineering work, or whatever else.
ReplyDeleteOne operating feature was that trains carrying passengers weren't permitted to go over the crossover unless the points were clipped in position; as this was time consuming (several trains per hour) , what usually happened was train arrives, passengers alight, empty train crosses to the other line, then sets back into the platform, passengers embark, train departs, etc.
From what I can remember, since resignalling a few years ago, the crossover has been uprated and a "wrong road" starter signal added so trains just come in, passengers off, new passengers on, and train departs via the crossover.
Another possibility for a passenger train might be a BR(S) DEMU, 3H or whatever, as after the electrification of several SR lines and closure of the Tunbridge Wells West-Eridge route in the late 1980s there were several surplus to requirements. Likewise, the SR don't seem to have been averse to borrowing the odd DMU from the Western.
Looking forward to seeing this progress, James...it brings back a lot of memories!
Cheers, Simon.
Thanks Simon - I love how these projects can evoke feelings, memories and stories from other people. Designing them is about putting just enough in to allow my customer to find themselves in the scene, but equally, they include enough prototypical references to perhaps do the same for others - and what a gift.
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