ECML shared branch line stations of the 1930's

[greenglade]

Good day all

I tried posting this earlier but for some reason it didn't appear?

As the title states, I'm looking for details of mainline stations along the ECML that had a shared branch line. I'm planning ahead for a future model railway and want to include mainline loco's, even if it's just passing through. Can anyone help/advise with locations or know of any publications which may give details of what I'm looking for?

Cheers

Pete

[Hatfield Shed]

Something awry I think. Posted a reply and it disappeared.

Try again: by 'shared branchline station' do you mean the location where the branch makes a junction with the main line? If so, Finsbury Park, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Hitchin, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Essendine, Grantham. (Welwyn Garden City is a 'weird one' the station built just south of the existing divergences east and west of the Hertford Luton and Dunstable branches, whose main line terminus was Hatfield, which was also terminus for the St Albans branch.)

My personal choice of Hatfield for a model might give suspicion of bias, but if anyone knows a more interesting spot I would like to hear it. The ECML traffic, the inner sub terminus, terminus for three branch routes, multistage construction dating from the beginning of the line with a very assymetric platform layout some at old lower levels, loco shed, busy goods yards both sides, Prime Minister's personal waiting room, diverted traffic off the LMR Midland route in BR days, and relatively compact withall.

[greenglade]

Hi Hatfield

Yes, although I'm hoping for something smaller...more obscure so to speak...

[Hatfield Shed]

That will be Alne for the Easingwold LR then.

[drmditch]

Off the top of my head:-
Pilmoor
Northallerton
Darlington (might be a bit big!)
Ferryhill
Durham (although actual junctions were north and south)
Quite a lot more north of the Tyne as well.

Really nice would be Alnmouth.

[third-rail]

Chathill with the branch to seahouses

[drmditch]

Chathill with the branch to seahouses

And a nice overhead signal cabin as well !

[greenglade]

thanks, for the info guys....would I be able to find track plans, again, is there any published info to help?

Pete

[third-rail]

Chathill has a 2 storey stone built box which I believe is grade 2 listed.i think the amble branch had a overhead box like wylam and hexham ,cannot find apicture chathill with a overhead box but can be proved wrong

[swhite01]

For track layouts you could start with the National Library of Scotland Map pages ... you can view old OS maps for different periods and scales .. .. maps.nls.uk is the web address but for the full address put Nls in google.

I hope this helps,

Steve

Www.gnrsociety.com

[greenglade]

Thank you, Steve, that's very helpful sir...

Pete

[StevieG]

greenglade ,
To the earlier-posted London - Grantham list, add Holme, having the branch to Ramsey : Main line narrowing from three tracks to two just before (south of) the station.
I don't think the branch had a proper running junction with the main line though, so might do you if the branch train was a 'shuttle' but not if through passenger trains from/to the main line were wanted.

[Albert Hill]

Tweedmouth, has the Kelso branch, shed, plenty of data, track plans, timetable etc, on the disused stations site.

[greenglade]

thanks' Albert, Tweedmouth is also a little too big... I found Morpeth which looks interesting, thanks to the link from Steve I can measure distances accurately...If following true scale Morpeth is still big, I forgot to say that I'll be working in 'O' gauge...Morpeth comes out at 60' if I want to keep the branch line with its interesting turntable included. If I reduce it from the station bridge to just where the branch line begins that would make it around 30'.. Still very big, I'll keep looking though, with the link Steve gave me I can work my way along the ECML until I find something more suitable..

Thank you, everyone...I suspect that I'm just at the beginning of a long road... should be fun though...I am thinking ahead as to when I can no longer easily play with the bigger trains....

Pete

[Hatfield Shed]

You might also want to include the ex-GN route to Leeds in your survey. While not the ECML, all the mainline classes worked this route and the more difficult terrain may have resulted in more compact sites that suit. (There's also a maximum of junctions with what originated as other company lines on offer: GC, HB&WR, L &Y, LNWR, Midland, NER, which tends to make for interest, the LNER and LMS consequently well entangled along this route.)