The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi all,

Im a newbie at creating layouts from scratch but giving it a go with modelling Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, LNER era. Progress after Day 1 is on my blog http://mablethorpe00.blogspot.com/

Would welcome any comments or recommendations.

As it was the end of the line for excursion traffic I am presuming Mablethorpe will have recieved a mixed batch of locos and rolling stock passing through in his lifetime.

El

Its looking good to me so far. I think you are probably right about the 31 reversing its train in your photo.

I can't tell you anything about the traffic to Mablethorpe in LNER days, as it is before my time, and Ludlam's "Railways To Skegness" only mentions Mablethorpe in passing a few times.

Sorry about that, but I am looking forward to see how your project progresses.

Alf Ludlam did a book about the Louth, Mablethorpe and Willoughby loop published in 1987 by The Oakwood press.

I see that you've already found the Mablethorpe topic on the Signal Box forum?

40C wrote:Alf Ludlam did a book about the Louth, Mablethorpe and Willoughby loop published in 1987 by The Oakwood press.

I see that you've already found the Mablethorpe topic on the Signal Box forum?

Great thanks, will have a look to see if I can get a copy.

Yes, the Track layout comes from those on Signal Box Forum.. very interesting. Seems Mablethorpe got complicated after it became a terminus.

Yes, thanks from me as well.

I might buy one just for my own personal interest. It does seem as though in the early years of the LNER quite a few excursions divided at Firsby with one portion going to Skegness and the other to Mablethorpe.

Alf Ludlam's book will be well worth getting if you can. I bought all of his titles on the lines in Lincs, as my interests include Bardney and Donnington on Bain, so past goings on at places such as Louth, Boston and Lincoln are all of relevance. The pictures and notes in all of his books also provide useful clues about the locos and rolling stock of the area, and architectural details. The station buildings between Louth and Mablethorpe for instance were virtrually identical to those at places on the Louth Bardney branch, so that if one particular station building wasn't photographed from the desired side you may find that another one was, thus filling in gaps in knowledge of the appearance. Alf also wrote a number of useful, linked articles in Steam Days magazine.

Perhaps you already know that Mablethorpe's strange layout results from it having been originally planned as a terminus for trains only from the Louth direction, then adapted to be a through station on the coastal loop, and then for its final years (after financial losses and the need for major renewals forced closure of the line to/from Louth) serving as an awkward terminus for trains from Willoughby Junction via Sutton.

As you mention Cleethorpes Classic I take it that you are local to that area? Do you have any dealings with any of the local model railway clubs or know any of the other local railway modellers? There may be a part-finished layout to interest you at Cleethrpes exhibition in May........

It seems it had a chequered history, later pictures before closure show a litter of signals crossed out and some fierce debate about how the station was operated in its last years. It is interesting how the building change either side of Mablethorpe, all the gatehouses south of Mablethorpe a different design to those North.

Im hoping it was an awkward terminus from the South as planning out my layout Im struggling at how they got eight coach sets turned round in the station in the way they had it laid out, becomes clear why they left a section of track going North beyond Mablethorpe as what looks like a carriage siding / headshunt.

There is lots to see around East Lincs, on the way home yesterday..





I am from Mablethorpe so Classic Loco is the best for me that I know of. Intrigued by the unfinished layout at Cleethorpes Show, I normally attend. Are there any local groups to Cleethorpes / Lincs?

G'Day Gents

You could also try the Disused stations site they have quite a few pics of Mablethorpe.

manna

40C wrote:http://www.cleethorpesmodelrailway.co.uk/events.htm

I see they have a model of Sleaford under construction. That sounds right up my street.

hey up!!! havent I seen this thread somewhere else!!!

some good advise here too

Brian

Mercator II wrote:hey up!!! havent I seen this thread somewhere else!!!

Have you? Where? Please tell.

Surely just Deja Vu!

www.modelrailforum.com

Seems there are a few local layouts which is great.

strang steel wrote:

Mercator II wrote:hey up!!! havent I seen this thread somewhere else!!!

Have you? Where? Please tell.

over on the friendliest forum for model rail enthusiasts, a few members here I know are over there too, like me using the same i.d. and maybe a few under different ones

Brian

Oh yes, never been there, until now.

A bit too pedantic for a newbie though, pointing out deficiencies in track spacing after the first photos. Do people not realise that most modellers know what is wrong with proprietary track, or are newcomers supposed to list all their known shortcomings first?

What is it about model railway forums (please dont tell me it should be fora) that seems to make everyone have a race as to who can point out the most errors in anything modelled?