Scorton (WCML)

[hairyhandedfool]

This is my thread to show progress on my new OO gauge layout, Scorton, it will be DCC controlled and set around 2002, but please don't expect it to be factually accurate or superbly detailed (although it may be).

For those who don't know, Scorton used to have a station on the West Coast Mainline, and is between Preston and Lancaster. For the purposes of this Layout, Scorton survived (or atleast was re-built and re-opened), along with other stations on the route and now has a Branch line that serves Forton (to the north) before heading east(ish) to Tarnbrook. A diagram of local stations and operators is shown below.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/ServiceMap.jpg

Local services along the branch will either be a 153 (off-peak) or a pair of 121s (obtained following their replacement by 150s on Silverlink duties) or maybe top and tail 31s with Mk2s (like Bedford to Bletchley services had) with occasional appearances of other units should the need arise. TPE will have 158s, Virgin West Coast will have loco-hauled stock (Mk2 and Mk3) with Class 90s, maybe 87s and possibly an 86. Cross Country will have Voyagers (in pairs or on their own). Aside from the branchline services mentioned before Northern services will be mainly 158/156 units with some 142s for good measure.

The track plan will have a twin track mainline with two platform loops and then two platforms which serve the Branch line and join to the main. There will also be a fueling point for the branch line units to use, and maybe some locos if the need arises. A diagram is below.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/newplan.jpg

All the storage sidings will be below the main layout. The branch line will rise to allow extra handling room below. The sidings at the end of the branch will not be in the scenic area, and may not be quite as shown. I like the idea of the trains passing along the a valley and this may be acheived at the 'South' end of the layout were there is more room.

Any thoughts are welcome.

[hairyhandedfool]

Laying of the low level sidings is in full swing......

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Sidings3.jpg
The three sidings to the right are for Cross Country and West Coast trains, the two tracks to the left of those are the mainlines, then there are three sidings for freight trains and on the far left is a through road to more sidings. Each of th freight sidings holds two freight trains, although a couple aren't very long!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Sidingentryandexit.jpg
This shows where the sidings join the mainlines. top left is the express train sidings from the last picture, bottom left are the freight sidings. The middle two tracks are the mainlines, and on the right will be more express train sidings (top), the continuing mainlines and DMU sidings (bottom).

[hairyhandedfool]

To continue the sidings laying developements (please excuse the mess!).........

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Sidings5.jpg
At the opposite end of the sidings, the express train and DMU sidings both have a junction with the mainline, this will also be under Scorton Station. You may remember this bit from the picture of the 153s. More on where this leads later!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Sidings8.jpg
Back to where we started, this is the end of the freight sidings, with lengths of upto 13ft on these sidings they are suitably long for such tasks. To the left of them will be the main lines, at this point there will be two going up and two going down, the branch will be above the freight sidings. A solitary 66 is on the through track, with a shortened Pendelino on the right. The lines converge at the bottom of the picture and feed......

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Sidings7.jpg
......Some more DMU sidings. The upper most track leaving the lefthand side is a through track back to the mainlines for access purposes, the line below it can hold two vehicles then the next three can hold atleast four each, the track to the right is a dead end and can hold three vehicles. Above this is approximately where the scenic section will start.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Sidings6.jpg
The other end of the shorter DMU sidings, showing the return of the mainline. This is where the second picture of this post goes to. At the very top a single siding will house a five car Voyager (hopefully!).

I hope you have enjoyed the brief tour of the sidings on the lower level.

I have considered a change to the station area from the plan and also the junction to the left (north) of the station. It was mention on another site that the station may infact be too big, partly because of length (a point on which I disagree) and partly because of the through roads through the station, a point I take on board. I guess it stems from another point made on that same site, that the chances of three trains heading the same way would meet here and need the available two south bound platforms, is unlikely, therefore what chance is there of two stopping trains and a through train needing them? So I think I will lose the excess through roads and just have the four platform lines, although this may need a re-jig of the initial timetable plan for the branch line services.

As for the junction, the direct link from the down branch to the down main may have to disappear, I can't get the track to match up as it does in the plan but having said that it is another piece of track the may not actually be needed. I could cut some flexi track to fit, but I am not convinced that it would make a huge difference to the layout in operational terms.

Any thoughts?

[hairyhandedfool]

An update here is long overdue, so here goes.......


Part one.

All the tracks have been layed out and secured now, and scenic work has started on the branchline.

Forton Station

Forton is the first branchline station out of Scorton, It has seen little change from the plan I first posted and has two offset platforms linked by a footbridge.

Looking south....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Fortongeneralviewsouth.jpg

Looking North....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Fortongeneralviewnorth.jpg

This view shows a pair of 121s approaching its platform at Forton, bound for Scorton.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/TrackgangatForton.jpg

The clock on the station never works though!...
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Fortonclock.jpg

[hairyhandedfool]

Part Two

Pubs and Railways seem to go hand in hand.....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Fortonrow.jpg

But there is no Beer garden here....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Fortonpublichouse.jpg

The bus stop is quite local though....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Fortonpublichouse2.jpg

Nothing like the personal touch though, a couple of ticket inspector chat with the locals....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/RPIsatForton2.jpg

[hairyhandedfool]

Part Three

The West Coast Mainline passes behind the Station at Forton, the wonky wall will provide room for a signal.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/FortonWCML.jpg

The two lines converge for Scorton North Junction, with the fueling point Headshunt on the left....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/FortonCurve.jpg

A class 67 passes Scorton North Junction's signal box, now just used for the point work in the fueling point.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/67013mail.jpg

And a 153 passes the Junction.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/153headstoForton.jpg

[hairyhandedfool]

Part Four

And finally for this instalment, The fueling point is under way....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll50/hairyhandedfool/Fuelingpoint-1.jpg

Hopefully there will be more to come, but finances are tight so we shall have to see........