The project to model Wonbourn station (on the Wolverhampton - Kingswinford branch of the GWR Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton line) is now prperly underway.

OO scale using code 75 track.

So far I have 3600/900 mm of baseboard up, but after printing out the station end from a 1914 GWR plan provided by the National Archives, I am going to have to substantially lengthen that before I even add fiddle yards. The alternative is to compress the platform and good loop lengths, but I'd prefer not to if possible. At least I now have plenty of baseboard framework available after taking out a bespoke fitted wardrobe last week. There is plenty of room in theory, but SWMBO is baulking at taking up ever more of the loft storage space.

Latest cunning plan is to have the main fiddle yard at the 'down' end at 90 degrees. The single track can go over the road bridge and disappear through a scenery background then do as tight a curve as possible to the fiddle yard/ It won't be that extensize for a while as I have little in the way of locos and rolling stock yet and normal passenger services when still running were mostly steam rail motors.

A bit chilly up there today so haven't finished the two extra 1200 by 400 board kits I have yet. I think the whole shooting match will have to shift more to one end of the bungalow, though that will limit width available as there is a brick chimney. Access all around it but working on track laying and scenery on the board between it and the roof purlin might be tricky. This section also needs an inclined embankment up to the road bridge with the goods yard at a lower level and approach road even lower (down to road level under the bridge), so quite a bit of preparation work needed before starting to lay track. Possibly best to get that done first with the boads involved located with all round access and under my spiffy lighting panels. Then move in to position. The photo shows some very preliminary setting out with 3 boards.in the 'middle' with the best headroom all round just to get the feel of things. It can't stay there long term as the loft access is very close. The whole section of line is on a slight curve , including a 'kink' in the platforms where the brick one changed to timber (see image) which makes things more challenging. Modelling the timber framework platform and the footbridge will be 'interesting' - but far in the future.

Next step is how to transfer the printed plan to the boards for track positioning (on cork). I know that using standarad Peco turnouts that can't be perfect but it's a starting point. SWMBO used to be a graphic designer so she has been muttering arcane words like 'pounce wheel'.




 

Wish I had your space Pete, but I well understand it's not really enough for what you want to do.

Looking good so far  


Ed

My initial thought Pete, was to move the boards closer to that heavy purlin on the right and work from 1 side but I see the baseboard is 900 wide so, unless you're monkey like, you won't sensibly be able to reach the back of it …….  Do you actually need boards that wide ?

Regarding SWMBO and her attic storage - my experience is that once things are put in there for "storage", they mostly stay there until you move house !!  Don't ask me how I know ………………………..   All she needs is a small area for Christmas decorations and the odd "seasonal" item so the rest should be yours ………….. just tell her that's the way it's going to be !!!  (p.s. where do I send the flowers ?)

I sometimes wish I'd chosen to model a specific location - at least you know why they put track where they did and it gives the whole thing a genuine "raison d'etre".

Looking good so far and I'll be following along.


 

Petermac said

My initial thought Pete, was to move the boards closer to that heavy purlin on the right and work from 1 side but I see the baseboard is 900 wide so, unless you're monkey like, you won't sensibly be able to reach the back of it …….  Do you actually need boards that wide ?

From “Post #289,087”, 27th November 2023, 3:44 PM

Good point. I overkilled it to allow for the curve, which until I got hold of the plan I wasn't sure how 'bent' it was. The photos I have make it look quite significant, but that could be foreshortening. The only part that needs approaching the full width is goods siding/station platforms area. I may be able to keep that more central, push the track and platforms over more and  have a narrow offset board to take the embankment part past the chimney. I want to have room for the up platform and small waiting room but I'd also like to model the water tower, That could be pushed right to the back edge against a scenic background though. I worked from the start on viewing and operating it from the down side.

Next step is to get the existing boards clear again and try shifting them about and taking measurements. If necessary, I reckon a Grainger and Hodder 1200 x 900 board might survive removing a third of it and I have a Dremel ;)

Point taken about storage priorities but she has to have room for her rucksack collection and to be fair, I already have an area dedicated to fly fishing rods.
 

Currently conducting incline testing and experimenting with wiring on the first bit of line coming in from Himley towards Wolverhampton. Photo later, but I am actually getting to the point of laying track properly at last. It looks very different to the last photo now.,

Quick question though. What livery would a GWR steam railmotor be in the 1930's on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton. Kernow models site seems to suggest (from destination board options - Kidderminster, Bridgnorth etc.) red rather than chocolate and cream. Google as I might I can't be sure. Anyone know?

72degrees said

Currently conducting incline testing and experimenting with wiring on the first bit of line coming in from Himley towards Wolverhampton. Photo later, but I am actually getting to the point of laying track properly at last. It looks very different to the last photo now.,

Quick question though. What livery would a GWR steam railmotor be in the 1930's on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton. Kernow models site seems to suggest (from destination board options - Kidderminster, Bridgnorth etc.) red rather than chocolate and cream. Google as I might I can't be sure. Anyone know?

From “Post #289,279”, 22nd December 2023, 4:34 PM

OK, a bit more research tends to confirm simplified chocolate and cream is suitable.

Should be delivered next month - better get stuck in to the track laying!

Can't help with the GWR liveries, but did you move the boards in the end.



Ed

72degrees said

Currently conducting incline testing and experimenting with wiring on the first bit of line coming in from Himley towards Wolverhampton. Photo later, but I am actually getting to the point of laying track properly at last. It looks very different to the last photo now.,

Quick question though. What livery would a GWR steam railmotor be in the 1930's on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton. Kernow models site seems to suggest (from destination board options - Kidderminster, Bridgnorth etc.) red rather than chocolate and cream. Google as I might I can't be sure. Anyone know?

From “Post #289,279”, 22nd December 2023, 4:34 PM

My go-to resource for GWR livery questions is GWR liveries and you can allow yourself some latitude here, as SRMs and coaching stock usually had repaints every seven years.

I'm running both 1920s (branchline) and 1930s (mainline) and also have the simlified liveried SRM ordered, but have both Dapol's 1922-27 and  1927-34 autotrailers on order as well.

Ed said

Can't help with the GWR liveries, but did you move the boards in the end.



Ed

I have, though I may reconfigure things lengthwise so that they can be not so far under the eaves. Mustn't get too much in the way of the loft access though. The incline is not fixed to the boards yet. Shifting it side to side to create the correct degree of curve. Without the full plan right through to the last point going towards Wolverhampton it's a case of eyeing it up, but photos tend to foreshorten the view compared with how things look on the ground now .

Incline and wiring logistics trials. Might be better to go DCC even on this noddy layout! Actually starting to lay track properly on the far end on the embankment where the line goes on a bridge over a road. Going to have to get inventive with the fiddle yard that end. It will need to be at a height to match the embankment and also accommodate a 90 degree bend before it hits the wall. The bend and yard will be out of sight though so as long as trains can negotiate it, it can be unrealistically tight before the start of the turnouts for the fiddle yard that will be parallel with the wall. Plenty of timber from the old wardrobes to construct it. Having run SO Italian bikes for years I have a decent soldering rig 😉

Longchap said

72degrees said

Currently conducting incline testing and experimenting with wiring on the first bit of line coming in from Himley towards Wolverhampton. Photo later, but I am actually getting to the point of laying track properly at last. It looks very different to the last photo now.,

Quick question though. What livery would a GWR steam railmotor be in the 1930's on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton. Kernow models site seems to suggest (from destination board options - Kidderminster, Bridgnorth etc.) red rather than chocolate and cream. Google as I might I can't be sure. Anyone know?

From “Post #289,279”, 22nd December 2023, 4:34 PM

My go-to resource for GWR livery questions is GWR liveries and you can allow yourself some latitude here, as SRMs and coaching stock usually had repaints every seven years.

I'm running both 1920s (branchline) and 1930s (mainline) and also have the simlified liveried SRM ordered, but have both Dapol's 1922-27 and  1927-34 autotrailers on order as well.

From “Post #289,286”, 23rd December 2023, 11:29 AM

Thanks. I'm not freezing the scenario in time, as I want to also run goods trains from the early 60's  (line closed comp;letely in 1965) as well sometimes. I have already decided to model the two sidings in the goods yard that the 1914 plan shows though the only photos I can find only show one, for more interest. Plus the signal box must have been built in a different location and as a more grand affair than the one on the plan. That shows very detailed drawwings for the main station building and wairing room on the other p;latform so no excuse not to get them looking roughly correct.

72degrees said

Longchap said

72degrees said

Currently conducting incline testing and experimenting with wiring on the first bit of line coming in from Himley towards Wolverhampton. Photo later, but I am actually getting to the point of laying track properly at last. It looks very different to the last photo now.,

Quick question though. What livery would a GWR steam railmotor be in the 1930's on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton. Kernow models site seems to suggest (from destination board options - Kidderminster, Bridgnorth etc.) red rather than chocolate and cream. Google as I might I can't be sure. Anyone know?

From “Post #289,279”, 22nd December 2023, 4:34 PM

My go-to resource for GWR livery questions is GWR liveries and you can allow yourself some latitude here, as SRMs and coaching stock usually had repaints every seven years.

I'm running both 1920s (branchline) and 1930s (mainline) and also have the simlified liveried SRM ordered, but have both Dapol's 1922-27 and  1927-34 autotrailers on order as well.

From “Post #289,286”, 23rd December 2023, 11:29 AM

Thanks. I'm not freezing the scenario in time, as I want to also run goods trains from the early 60's  (line closed comp;letely in 1965) as well sometimes. I have already decided to model the two sidings in the goods yard that the 1914 plan shows though the only photos I can find only show one, for more interest. Plus the signal box must have been built in a different location and as a more grand affair than the one on the plan. That shows very detailed drawwings for the main station building and wairing room on the other p;latform so no excuse not to get them looking roughly correct.

From “Post #289,289”, 23rd December 2023, 5:32 PM

The answer was staring me in the face!

72degrees said

72degrees said

Longchap said

72degrees said

Currently conducting incline testing and experimenting with wiring on the first bit of line coming in from Himley towards Wolverhampton. Photo later, but I am actually getting to the point of laying track properly at last. It looks very different to the last photo now.,

Quick question though. What livery would a GWR steam railmotor be in the 1930's on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton. Kernow models site seems to suggest (from destination board options - Kidderminster, Bridgnorth etc.) red rather than chocolate and cream. Google as I might I can't be sure. Anyone know?

From “Post #289,279”, 22nd December 2023, 4:34 PM

My go-to resource for GWR livery questions is GWR liveries and you can allow yourself some latitude here, as SRMs and coaching stock usually had repaints every seven years.

I'm running both 1920s (branchline) and 1930s (mainline) and also have the simlified liveried SRM ordered, but have both Dapol's 1922-27 and  1927-34 autotrailers on order as well.

From “Post #289,286”, 23rd December 2023, 11:29 AM

Thanks. I'm not freezing the scenario in time, as I want to also run goods trains from the early 60's  (line closed comp;letely in 1965) as well sometimes. I have already decided to model the two sidings in the goods yard that the 1914 plan shows though the only photos I can find only show one, for more interest. Plus the signal box must have been built in a different location and as a more grand affair than the one on the plan. That shows very detailed drawwings for the main station building and wairing room on the other p;latform so no excuse not to get them looking roughly correct.

From “Post #289,289”, 23rd December 2023, 5:32 PM

The answer was staring me in the face!

From “Post #289,296”, 25th December 2023, 1:47 PM

So glad you found your solution. I've just reminded myself of my Kernow order and discovered that they have partnered Modelu for SRM period crew and passengers, which can only enhance what I hope will be a great model.

Bill