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STONEHOUSE MODEL RAILWAY SHOW 21 MARCH 2009

  
     
  INTRODUCTION  
     
  On 21 March 2009 I had the pleasure of exhibiting my Capital Works layout at Stonehouse Town Hall at the invitation of Alan Postlethwaite. Although by no means the largest model railway show in Gloucestershire it had a friendly informal atmosphere and raised large amounts of money for the restoration of the Stonehouse War Memorial. Indeed, it was the only Town Hall in which I had exhibited that also featured a scale model of both the object of the funds being raised and the show venue itself - as pictured below and above respectively. Stonehouse Town Hall - which also incorporates Stonehouse Post Office and is accessed from two directions by a pedestrian ramp - is to the left of the blue clad cyclist in the picture above while the War Memorial is located to the North along the same road and thus only slightly further away from Stonehouse railway station with trains running directly to Gloucester, Stroud and Swindon. The 2008 Stonehouse Model Railway Show attracted over 200 visitors and raised several hundred pounds - each being matched by a pound from a central fund.  
     
  On 21 March 2009 I had the pleasure of exhibiting my Capital Works layout and Flightline diorama at Stonehouse Town Hall at the invitation of Alan Postlethwaite. Although by no means the largest model railway show in Gloucestershire it had a friendly informal atmosphere and raised large amounts of money for the restoration of the Stonehouse War Memorial. Indeed, it was the only Town Hall in which I had exhibited that also featured a scale model of both the object of the funds being raised and the show venue itself - as pictured below and above respectively. Stonehouse Town Hall - which also incorporates Stonehouse Post Office and is accessed from two directions by a pedestrian ramp - is to the left of the blue clad cyclist in the picture above while the War Memorial is located to the North along the same road and thus only slightly further away from Stonehouse railway station with trains running directly to Gloucester, Stroud and Swindon. The 2008 Stonehouse Model Railway Show attracted over 200 visitors and raised several hundred pounds - each being matched by a pound from a central fund.  
     
  On 21 March 2009 I had the pleasure of exhibiting my Capital Works layout and Flightline diorama at Stonehouse Town Hall at the invitation of Alan Postlethwaite. Although by no means the largest model railway show in Gloucestershire it had a friendly informal atmosphere and raised large amounts of money for the restoration of the Stonehouse War Memorial. Indeed, it was the only Town Hall in which I had exhibited that also featured a scale model of both the object of the funds being raised and the show venue itself - as pictured below and above respectively. Stonehouse Town Hall - which also incorporates Stonehouse Post Office and is accessed from two directions by a pedestrian ramp - is to the left of the blue clad cyclist in the picture above while the War Memorial is located to the North along the same road and thus only slightly further away from Stonehouse railway station with trains running directly to Gloucester, Stroud and Swindon. The 2008 Stonehouse Model Railway Show attracted over 200 visitors and raised several hundred pounds - each being matched by a pound from a central fund.  
     
  TROUBLESOME TRUCKS  
     
  Troublesome Trucks was a new development from the Thomas layout seen at the 2008 Stonehouse Model Railway Show, allowing children to operate Thomas trains on a simple circuit of a double loop with passing sidings and a station. With three short tunnels, the conundrum was to work out which tunel mouth the trains will emerge from next. The scenery on three levels incorporated farmland, a castle and a dinosaur theme park. The layout was built over six summer weeks using 4mm MDF braced with timber. Card was used to support the elevated tracks and the hill had ply splines filled with crumpled newspaper and covered with Modroc - a thin gauze impregnated with plaster. The locomotives and track were mainly Hornby controlled by an analogue Gaugemaster Combi unit. The rolling stock was mixture of makes - some repainted for added surrealism, including the grey Gloucester RCW designed "Cemflo" at the rear of the speeding train pictured above which puported to be carrying lemonade powder!  
     
  Troublesome Trucks was a new development from the Thomas layout seen at the 2008 Stonehouse Model Railway Show, allowing children to operate Thomas trains on a simple circuit of a double loop with passing sidings and a station. With three short tunnels, the conundrum was to work out which tunel mouth the trains will emerge from next. The scenery on three levels incorporated farmland, a castle and a dinosaur theme park. The layout was built over six summer weeks using 4mm MDF braced with timber. Card was used to support the elevated tracks and the hill had ply splines filled with crumpled newspaper and covered with Modroc - a thin gauze impregnated with plaster. The locomotives and track were mainly Hornby controlled by an analogue Gaugemaster Combi unit. The rolling stock was mixture of makes - some repainted for added surrealism, including the grey Gloucester RCW designed "Cemflo" at the rear of the speeding train pictured above which purported to be carrying lemonade powder! Motive power was provided by an LNER J72 0-6-0T, similar to one being used on Capital Works to represent the 1930s.  
     
  Troublesome Trucks was a new development from the Thomas layout seen at the 2008 Stonehouse Model Railway Show, allowing children to operate Thomas trains on a simple circuit of a double loop with passing sidings and a station. With three short tunnels, the conundrum was to work out which tunel mouth the trains will emerge from next. The scenery on three levels incorporated farmland, a castle and a dinosaur theme park. The layout was built over six summer weeks using 4mm MDF braced with timber. Card was used to support the elevated tracks and the hill had ply splines filled with crumpled newspaper and covered with Modroc - a thin gauze impregnated with plaster. The locomotives and track were mainly Hornby controlled by an analogue Gaugemaster Combi unit. The rolling stock was mixture of makes - some repainted for added surrealism, including the grey Gloucester RCW designed "Cemflo" at the rear of the speeding train pictured above which puported to be carrying lemonade powder!  
     
  CASTLE WHARF KENDAL  
     
  Plans for standard gauge light railway running south east from Canal Head in Kendal, Westmorland, to Arkholme, serving various quarries and gunpowder works as well as local farming interests failed due to lack of interest but this 009 layout supposed that the cheaper option of a narrow gauge railway was built instead. Castle Wharf Kendal represents the northern terminus of the line in the 1930s with LMS transfer sidings just south of the area modelled making the canal redundant. Trains to and from the transfer sidings are shunted at the wharf on a track plan very similar to that of the similar narrow gauge tramway at Wantage  
     
  Plans for standard gauge light railway running south east from Canal Head in Kendal, Westmorland, to Arkholme, serving various quarries and gunpowder works as well as local farming interests failed due to lack of interest but this 009 layout supposed that the cheaper option of a narrow gauge railway was built instead. Castle Wharf Kendal represents the northern terminus of the line in the 1930s with LMS transfer sidings just south of the area modelled making the canal redundant. Trains to and from the transfer sidings are shunted at the wharf on a track plan very similar to that of the similar narrow gauge tramway at Wantage.  
     
  The buildings on Castle Wharf Kendal – based on such real structures as the grey stone K Shoe factory - were hand built from card while the rolling stock was kit built. The locomotives were from the Backwoods range and featured both Barclays ( pictured top ) and Manning Wardle tank engines and an early six coupled Leeds built Hudswell Clarke diesel, complete with signature curved cover over the front-of-bonnet jackshaft. The 4'x 1'8" layout neatly solves the problem of "90 degree sky" with a curved cyclorama and also boasts a sector plate benath the cottages for easy handling of trains to and from storage.  
     
  The buildings on Castle Wharf Kendal – based on such real structures as the grey stone K Shoe factory - were hand built from card while the rolling stock was kit built. The locomotives were from the Backwoods range and featured both Barclays ( pictured top ) and Manning Wardle ( below ) tank engines and an early six coupled Leeds built Hudswell Clarke diesel, complete with signature curved cover over the front-of-bonnet jackshaft. The 4'x 1'8" layout neatly solves the problem of "90 degree sky" with a curved cyclorama and also boasts a sector plate benath the cottages for easy handling of trains to and from storage.  
     
   
     
  Every bit as impressive as the rolling stock was the attention to scenic detail on Castle Wharf Kendal, as witnessed by the chickens, wharf and gunpowder store depicted here.  
     
  Every bit as impressive as the rolling stock was the attention to scenic detail on Castle Wharf Kendal, as witnessed by the chickens, wharf and gunpowder store depicted here.  
     
  Every bit as impressive as the rolling stock was the attention to scenic detail on Castle Wharf Kendal, as witnessed by the chickens, wharf and gunpowder store depicted here.  
     

 		    
  Every bit as impressive as the rolling stock was the attention to scenic detail on Castle Wharf Kendal, as witnessed by the chickens, wharf and gunpowder store depicted here.  
     
One further aspect of Castle Wharf Kendal's scenery that particularly catches the eye of the road steam vehicle enthusiast is this Wallace and Steevens Advance road roller constructed from the 4mm Springside kit. Introduced at the 1924 Roads Exhibition, the Basingstoke built Advance featured wide rear rolls of almost the same diameter as the front roll and positive bevel steering compared to the chain steering of earlier Burrell and other traction engines.
One further aspect of Castle Wharf Kendal's scenery that particularly catches the eye of the road steam vehicle enthusiast is this Wallace and Steevens Advance road roller constructed from the 4mm Springside kit.  Introduced at the 1924 Roads Exhibition, the Basingstoke built Advance featured wide rear rolls of almost the same diameter as the front roll and positive bevel steering compared to the chain steering of earlier Burrell and other traction engines.

As well as having almost the same rolling footprint as a tandem roller - with two equal width and diameter rolls front and back - the double cylinder compound engine of the Wallace and Steevens Advance gave instant reversing compared to earlier machines which used a flywheel to conserve inertia.  Such rapid reversing was vital when rolling the new tarmac roads of the 1920s as a conventional roller would otherwise leave dents in the soft ashphalt surface as it finished its directional roll.

The rear wheels of the Wallace and Steevens Advance automatically adjusted to suit the road camber and instead of being carried outside the wheelbase in a tender, water was stored betwen the rolls, adding to its smoothing potential.  This in turn fed a distinctive diagonal pitched boiler which ensured that the firebox was covered by water when climbing gradients.

Wallace and Steevens were also noted for their use of disc rather than spoked wheels, and on earlier models flywheels were covered by solid discs just as the law required all steam road vehicle flywheels, piston rods and cranks to be covered in case the sun reflecting off these moving parts startled horses.  However, soon after World War II all British steam roller production ceased in favour of the diesel models we see today.

Indeed, still in business in 2009 with the very latest plant is the firm of J. Chaplow & Sons of Helsington Mills, Kendal.  Founded in 1880 at New Hutton, the company began offering a wide range of services including joiners, carpenters, wheelwrights, blacksmiths and woodturning before moving into haulage using steam traction engines to deliver slate and building materials.

The traction engines were also put to use in the agricultural industry, threshing and other works being carried out on local farms. As the agricultural work declined, J. Chaplow & Sons moved into road surfacing and steam rollers were purchased and placed on hire to Westmorland County Council.  At one time six ten ton rollers were in operation and during the Second World War these were used for runway construction. Sadly the steam driven vehicles were scrapped when they were replaced by petrol and diesel engine machinery.

  RYEFORD  
     
  Maidenhill School Model Railway Club was formed in 2007 to create a simple layout that could be computer controlled. Once the simple passing loop was completed, members wanted to make a more complicated layout based on a real railway. To make research easier, Maidenhill School Model Railway Club decided to model a local line. Ryeford station was close to the school, not too complex but interesting enough to make a good layout. Ryeford was on a branch of the LMS which opened from Stonehouse to Nailsworth in 1867 and to Stroud in 1886. The line closed to passengers in 1947 and to all traffic in 1966. The model is set in 1932 when all the passing loops and wood yard sidings were still in use.  
     
  Maidenhill School Model Railway Club was formed in 2007 to create a simple layout that could be computer controlled. Once the simple passing loop was completed, members wanted to make a more complicated layout based on a real railway. To make research easier, Maidenhill School Model Railway Club decided to model a local line. Ryeford station was close to the school, not too complex but interesting enough to make a good layout. Ryeford was on a branch of the LMS which opened from Stonehouse to Nailsworth in 1867 and to Stroud in 1886. The line closed to passengers in 1947 and to all traffic in 1966. The model is set in 1932 when all the passing loops and wood yard sidings were still in use.

With corporate sponsorship still under negotiation, layout construction began in September 2008 with puils working one or two evenings a week after school with tea supplied by their teacher Paul Mayfield, the Head of the Design and Technology Department. All pupils learned woodworking skills to create the three baseboards which together measure 12' x 4'.

Research showed that Ryeford station and wood yard were too large for the space available and Maidenhill School Model Railway Club then chose to compress the geographical features involved rather than make a very accurate - but very simple - model of a section of the site. With platforms and sidings thus shortened however, trains would have to be limited to two carriages or ten goods wagons.

With the deadline of 21 March 2009 to meet, Maidenhill School Model Railway Club focussed on operational trackwork with analogue controllers for loop and yard around a long hidden traverser. Initially ready-to-run vehicles were used but it is hoped that kit building and more scenic features will be on the curriculum for Ryeford's future exhibition appearances.

  
     
  With the deadline of 21 March 2009 to meet, Maidenhill School Model Railway Club focussed on operational trackwork with analogue controllers for loop and yard around a long hidden traverser. Initially ready-to-run vehicles were used but it is hoped that kit building and more scenic features will be on the curriculum for Ryeford's future exhibition appearances.  
     
  BROCKLEY ACRES  
     
  Brockley Acres for me is not so much a layout as an idea in action. It has no defined shape but its track plan can be build and rebuilt to suit any exhibition venue. In the case of Stonehouse Town Hall, the main lines - comprising independent clockwise and anti-clockwise loops - were wrapped around a spiral staircase. Other recyclable features included an ex Trix Twin truss bridge, town square, quay, and four stations - Green Lane, Ebley, Stroud and Brockley - all served by nearly six scale miles of track.  
     
  Brockley Acres for me is not so much a layout as an idea in action. It has no defined shape but its track plan can be build and rebuilt to suit any exhibition venue. In the case of Stonehouse Town Hall, the main lines - comprising independent clockwise and anti-clockwise loops - were wrapped around a spiral staircase. Other recyclable features included an ex Trix Twin truss bridge, town square, quay, and four stations - Green Lane, Ebley, Stroud and Brockley - all served by nearly six scale miles of track.  
     
  Brockley Acres is set around 1950 with trains from the Big Four - GWR, LMS, LNER and SR - as well as some early BR and pre-Grouping items. Alan Postlethwaite alone supplied 24 locomotives, 32 coaches and 120 wagons and further rolling stock was supplied by other operators ( whose individual interests range from the East Coast Main Line in 00 to Swiss rack system in 0m 1:45 gauge ) and by Mike Walker - in charge of the Cheltenham GWR Modeller's Exhibitions.  
     
  Brockley Acres is set around 1950 with trains from the Big Four - GWR, LMS, LNER and SR - as well as some early BR and pre-Grouping items. Alan Postlethwaite alone supplied 24 locomotives, 32 coaches and 120 wagons and further rolling stock was supplied by other operators ( whose individual interests range from the East Coast Main Line in 00 to Swiss rack system in 0m 1:45 gauge ) and by Mike Walker - in charge of the Cheltenham GWR Modeller's Exhibitions.  
     
  Representing a fictitious secondary line between Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, the main idea of Brockley Acres at Stonehouse was for a succession of trains to orbit the main line before returning to the holding sidings: double ended for the freight trains and with an end turntable for the carriage sidings. There was also a central shuttle line for freight locomotives to be serviced and push pull services between Ebley and Brockley and between Brockley and Green Lane, located below the town square and bus depot.  
     
  Representing a fictitious secondary line between Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, the main idea of Brockley Acres at Stonehouse was for a succession of trains to orbit the main line before returning to the holding sidings: double ended for the freight trains and with an end turntable for the carriage sidings. There was also a central shuttle line for freight locomotives to be serviced and push pull services between Ebley and Brockley and between Brockley and Green Lane, located below the town square and bus depot.  
     
  Brockley Acres had five electrical section with analogue controllers and required three operators to operate the entirely manual points linking Peco and Hornby tracks.  
     
  Brockley Acres had five electrical section with analogue controllers and required three operators to operate the entirely manual points linking Peco and Hornby tracks.  
     
  Among the locomotives featured on Brockley Acres were BR black liveried ex LMS 0-6-0 43924 and LMS 2-6-0 3001(above) and LNER J39 0-6-0 1996 and K3 2-6-0 2934 and GWR "Baby Castle" 0-6-0 3205.  
     
  Among the locomotives featured on Brockley Acres were BR black liveried ex LMS 0-6-0 43924 and LMS 2-6-0 3001(above) and LNER J39 0-6-0 1996 and K3 2-6-0 2934 and GWR "Baby Castle" 0-6-0 3205.  
     
  Among the locomotives featured on Brockley Acres were BR black liveried ex LMS 0-6-0 43924 and LMS 2-6-0 3001(above) and LNER J39 0-6-0 1996 and K3 2-6-0 2934 and GWR "Baby Castle" 0-6-0 3205.  
     
  Standing apart from the black and greens - and even from the Bulleid Q1 0-6-0 behind it - was sand coloured Riddles "Dub Dee" 2-10-0 7109 - complete with eight wheeled tender, red coupling rods and white tyred wheels.  
     
  Standing apart from the black and greens - and even from the Bulleid Q1 0-6-0 behind it - was sand coloured Riddles "Dub Dee" 2-10-0 7109 - complete with eight wheeled tender, red coupling rods and white tyred wheels.