Katharine St. - A BR(s) suburban terminus in fiNescale

[Lacathedrale]

Lets just say with charity, I can understand the shift to integrated chairs...

 

 

Thankfully, this is 'just' a test, being a spare B6 turnout that got added to the order. I didn't enjoy this one bit, I'm afraid!  I need to remove the rails and add a joggle on the straight stock rail, and a set on the curved stock rail - or at least remember to do it with the 'real' ones. At least I remembered to wire up the frog, eh?

 

I used my Rails of Sheffield gift card for a cheeky 50' LMS BG - which is, strictly speaking, a little too early for my period - and placed preorders for a centre code class 37 and class 33 'Burma Star'. I know Burma star was technically based in Hither Green, but it was the first loco I was bought as a kid by my dad - and when I moved to Lee, I used to lay in bed listening to trains go by on the Hither Green to Grove Park stretch on the embankment behind my bedroom. I can't guarantee it was Burma Star but it's about as close to a personal relationship I have with a prototype as I think I'm ever going to have!

Edited May 3, 2022 by Lacathedrale

[Lacathedrale]

Though the layout is still moribund, I've been keeping an eye out for stock and when I saw this 4TC at the Bluebell Toy Collector's Fair I couldn't resist: 

 

 

I'm going to need to make sure I have the MU-fitted Class 33 to go with it!

[eastwestdivide]

And a bit of re-bogie-ing?

[Geep7]

11 minutes ago, eastwestdivide said:

And a bit of re-bogie-ing?

Just the TBSK, the others are on B4's..... They should really be B5(S)'s, which are a bit beefier, but hardly noticeable in 2mm.... Just the extra damper detail that needs adding really, but again, might be a bit fiddly to add in 2mm.

Edited July 31, 2022 by Geep7

[Lacathedrale]

A friend and I sorted out my garage for a layout (see my Edwardian Terminus thread in the pre-group section if you're interested) and the KS board needed to be shifted around a bit for this to happen. At the same time, Revolution trains announced their stone and sand-carrying MTV wagons. Combined, this means thoughts return to this layout. 

 

The baseboard was originally designed so that it could sit on top of a bookcase in my office, and be on show and enjoyed at all times. The fiddle yard extension would be removable and sit in the doorway when in operation. For some reason, I never thought to provision for the layout to be exhibited, despite the ease at which that would be achieved with slightly different board dimensions:

 

 

As a result I am wondering whether I should remake the boards as a pair of 3- or 4-foot units so that it will be POTENTIALLY exhibitable.

 

@bécasse made some interesting comments about whether the Central Croydon track layout would have survived very long if it had stayed open (the answer was no), and having seen @Izzy's fantastic Priory Road, I am wondering whether taking inspiration from more modern stations and superimposing those features onto the original KS site, surrounding and structures. I think it could be a compelling, and maybe more appropriate interpretation of how the station would have survived into the pre-sectorisation era than simply re-using the original track plan.

 

So overall, the concept is alive, but I think I need to start again for the actual implementation.

[Izzy]

Thank you for the very kind comments regarding Priory Road. I've followed your trials and tribulations with your layout ideas with much interest. There is I think, at the end of the day, often no ideal solution and some compromise is always neccessary. Although I have been modelling for many years, and have made a few fairly successful layouts over that time, none have been based on an actual prototype. This is because I've never had the space to make anything more than of minimal size. I think doing as I have with PR in basing it on a location to help define the train types and services, but using features common to the company and era you are trying to model, while arranging the track design to suit what space you have, can produce a useful outcome. In fact this is exactly what the late Peter Denny did with the Buckingham branch so I think we are in good company here.

 

Bob

[simon b]

7 hours ago, Lacathedrale said:

 

 

@bécasse made some interesting comments about whether the Central Croydon track layout would have survived very long if it had stayed open (the answer was no), and having seen @Izzy's fantastic Priory Road, I am wondering whether taking inspiration from more modern stations and superimposing those features onto the original KS site, surrounding and structures. I think it could be a compelling, and maybe more appropriate interpretation of how the station would have survived into the pre-sectorisation era than simply re-using the original track plan.

 

So overall, the concept is alive, but I think I need to start again for the actual implementation.

 

Just an idea in my head, but if it had survived into the 1980's.

 

One of the reasons for the closure of the station was to enable high street to be widened, so you could create a model based off that. Rename the layout as "Croydon High street" with a single platform face sighted slightly to the east of the original, but still keeping the retaining wall. A runaround loop would be provided for loco hauled trains, with parcels trains using a kick back connection to a depot the other side of Park lane bridge. The depot building itself could provide a useful scenic break to the fiddle yard.

Edited September 19, 2022 by simon b

[Lacathedrale]

After something of a hiatus in 2mm, I've had a little bit of a think about this layout and setting - which is just as much a surprise to me as it is to you, no doubt.

 

It was the convergence of two separate trains (ha) of thought:

 

1. Reviewing my nascent 3mm collection of kits and components and realising that I simply don't have the time or inclination with a young family to build every single thing - even if the layout itself is relatively self contained and focused in scope. On top of that, it is actually cheaper to buy RTR Farish or Dapol in N than it is to scratch-aid carriages using Worsley Works etches/Society components/etc.

 

2. Some local RMwebbers have been inspired to design and lasercut some little micro modules based on Kato Unitrack. That is a separate discussion in and of itself, but it did have the net effect that I took stock of my collection of N Gauge bits and bobs obtained for Katharine Street, and it is more than I remembered.

 

My interest has wandered a little from solely being focused on KS with ideas around Alnwick branch (the 3mm plan) and something on the West Highlands (imminent holiday there). I realised quickly that there was a huge overlap in these seemingly disparate ideas:

 

With the addition of an SK and CK to my existing carriages I could put on a fairly reasonable representation of a loco-hauled stand-in for the usual Class 101 DMU on Alnwick. With an RMB/Mk2 TSO and an SK I could also model a cut down Sunny South Express, diverted into Katharine Street. Adding a Mk.2 BSO to that list allows me to run any pair of a score of West Highland loco-hauled branch services.

 

All of this has led me to sell off my 3mm parts and kit collection and use that windfall to buy the relevant Farish rolling stock. At the same time I am finally getting around to re-body my Class 33/0, and repaint my Class 73 both into BR Blue.

 

The unfortunate problem of Katharine Street's original baseboards now being too big to fit in my car with the sale of my camper van was insurmountable so they have been disposed of, but I do have a 4x1 Tim Horn baseboard + 2x1 FY.

 

Which of the three competing ideas actually comes to pass is not clear - but BR Blue in fiNescale will rise again.

Edited May 30 by Lacathedrale