The Moriarty and Lumberton…

My good friend Simon has long held plans to create a HO scale model. The 44t switcher seen here was bought new many years ago and reworked for such a scheme which until recently lay dormant…

My own Coalbridge Street layout was a catalyst when he saw it last year at the Small Layout Design book launch event - and one of Chris’s wonderful concepts, the overlap, fuelled a small scheme sketched by Simon, below…

This is a compact scheme, the Moriarty and Lumberton is a common carrier shortline but heavily reliant on the timber industry, Moriarty featuring a large mill complex. The line to Lumberton climbs into the hills and crosses large ravines - hence the bridge scene in the overlap. I’m really excited by seeing a concept and prototype that is being adapted and used by a different creative - interpreted through his hand. This post is an encouraging support and marker, but with no expectation of progress or completion.  I thought the idea deserved sharing, the models too…

Simon has been a a great support to me - helping me bring several books to the world. It was with a thank you last year that I created a pair of Moriarty and Lumberton pulpwood wagons - and I was honoured that the M&L 44t was given a test run on Coalbridge Street at Larkrail. She looked very much at home…

The idea of using an obscure fictional or altered prototype short-line to create a small compact cameo style layout is nothing new, but the energy I have found through the freedom to explore unknown prototypes and find inspiration across the Atlantic has been wonderful and I do believe that Coalbridge Street is the most successful of the Pont-y-dulais trilogy. I hope Simon finds the same release. Until next time, more soon…

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