52D wrote:Try taking a look at Rothbury a NBR terminus in Northumberland which later in life was worked by ex NER locos.
It has always seemed like it shouldnt be built this way to me, with a turntable at the end of the branch to put the loco to bed or allow it to run around.
Now that I like. I particularly like the way that the platform and run round loop are brought together at the turntable, with a common crossing but the table replacing the point blades. That would make a nice model! Go for it!
One of the pictures on that site shows an Ivatt class 4. I assume it would be a fairly tight fit on that turntable?
The only snag (and you might not view it that way) is that there doesn't appear to be any signalling. So the line was probably worked "one engine in steam". Shame, I love signals. In fact were I to build it I would put some in. As it's NBR you could include some of the nice lattice post LQ jobs. Probably a home and a starter (anything more would be pushing it!) and one or two of those "falling flap" style Stevens ground signals. Quite possible in 7mm.
The Ivatts were rare on the Rothbury branch. I have a DVD with some special and last rites on it featuring the Ivatts. Normally in later LNER/BR days G5s and J21s were staple motive power. Prior to that NBR tanks and J36s ruled the roost. I also have Rothburys shed allocation from 1923 to closure if you are interested.
Hi interested in the area served by 52D. also researching colliery wagonways from same area.
Hi Willy.
The turntable arrangement at Rothbury was not unique. There were similar arrangements at Alston, and others (Guisborough?, Wearhead? can remeber the rest).
The NER tended to put its engine sheds at the terminus rather than the junction - again Rothbury (NBR), Alston, Middleton-in -Teesdale, Guisborough, though no doubt there were exceptions.....
Cattle pens were not that common, instead the NER had moveable gates that could be positioned on loading ramps when the need arose. Rothbury station building plans appeared in a recent Railway Modeller article by Ian Futers. The Oakwood book on the Rothbury branch shows lattice post signals, so they were there at one time.
