Flaxfield- A bucolic 1950s Suffolk backwater
- Thread starter Flaxfield
- Start date
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning all,
The first steps in project reduction have been taken, and perhaps surprisingly, I decided that the GER, pre-grouping project was to go and gone it is. The Hattons coaches, which were to form the passenger stock, have been sold on and monies added to the ' Railway Fighting Fund '
In return, I have acquired a Hattons L&NER brown liveried six wheel, all third. I've been after one for some time, and one popped up at the right price.
I've also decided to slim down the loco roster, and as such, the Oxford Rail N7 is to go, along with ( probably ) the Hornby D16.
Flaxfield was always intended to feature various J15s, as per the Mid-Suffolk and this is the intention, hence the above decision re N7/D16.
So, this is progress of sorts. I have a lot more stock to move on but I already feel less ' congested'........
Rob
The first steps in project reduction have been taken, and perhaps surprisingly, I decided that the GER, pre-grouping project was to go and gone it is. The Hattons coaches, which were to form the passenger stock, have been sold on and monies added to the ' Railway Fighting Fund '
In return, I have acquired a Hattons L&NER brown liveried six wheel, all third. I've been after one for some time, and one popped up at the right price.
I've also decided to slim down the loco roster, and as such, the Oxford Rail N7 is to go, along with ( probably ) the Hornby D16.
Flaxfield was always intended to feature various J15s, as per the Mid-Suffolk and this is the intention, hence the above decision re N7/D16.
So, this is progress of sorts. I have a lot more stock to move on but I already feel less ' congested'........
Rob
Northroader
Western Thunderer
☹️☹️☹️
no pregroup.
no pregroup.
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Joe1980
Western Thunderer
Lucky to get your hands on a Hattons six-wheeler! I wouldn’t mind the L&NER brown brake version. I’m hoping someone bought the tooling and there may be a run in the future.
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
They are out there, Joe and not everyone requires the sale of kidneys to fund the purchase !
Regarding the current location of the tooling, I had a conversation last year. Though I cannot give details due to commercial sensitivity, the tooling is with another manufactuer, who, I'm sure will confirm their intentions in due course.
Rob
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Hi Mark.
Yes, but........Rails took over the distribution of the batch two of the Genesis coaches commissioned by Hattons, after Hattons closed their doors. Rails did not manufacture them, nor do they own the tooling. They simply took delivery and processed the orders placed with Hattons. Any surplus coaches were then offered for sale by Rails.
Rob
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Evening all,
Despite all of this SE&CR stuff going on, East Anglia has not been forgotten. As you know, my layouts take advantage of the availability of ready to plant buildings, and Blackwater Pier is no exception.
Here's a reminder of Tollesbury Pier, which inspired Blackwater.
Remarkably, Bachmann have an appropriate station building in their range.
I have also found a suitable platform from the Graham Farish range. Despite being an N Gauge item, with a height of 10.5mm , it scales at 2ft 6 ( and a bit ) in 4mm. The platforms on the Tollesbury branch were 15ins above rail height so they are about right and,I think they'll do.
Food for thought I think.
Rob
Despite all of this SE&CR stuff going on, East Anglia has not been forgotten. As you know, my layouts take advantage of the availability of ready to plant buildings, and Blackwater Pier is no exception.
Here's a reminder of Tollesbury Pier, which inspired Blackwater.
Remarkably, Bachmann have an appropriate station building in their range.
I have also found a suitable platform from the Graham Farish range. Despite being an N Gauge item, with a height of 10.5mm , it scales at 2ft 6 ( and a bit ) in 4mm. The platforms on the Tollesbury branch were 15ins above rail height so they are about right and,I think they'll do.
Food for thought I think.
Rob
2996 Victor
Western Thunderer
The building and platform look great, Rob, they're amazing finds - the platform planking looks like it should be for 4mm! A quick reminder of how big Blackwater Pier is, please!
Cheers,
Mark
Cheers,
Mark
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
I think you're right. The station itself was gone by the early thirties. It was fairly active in WW1 with the grounded carriages housing soldiers engaged in Zeppelin spotting. WW2 saw the pier severed as an anti-invasion measure.
The ' facilities ' were never extensive. It was simply a loop at the platform. As is so often the case, the anticipated development of the area never happened and the station quietly faded away.
I take the view that it staggered on for a few more years and may even have made it to nationalisation.....just.
Rob
Flaxfield
Western Thunderer
Morning, Mark.
B.P measures 120cm x 40cm so 4ft x 16ins ( ish ) in old money.
I've had my eye on these platforms for a while now. You're right about the planking. I'm looking forward to painting and weathering them.
The real platforms on the Tollesbury branch were wooden front, backfilled with soil, topped with gravel. These platforms will do however. When installed, they'll sit slightly higher as I like to use a layer of DAS as ground cover but the platforms will be pushed in ever so slightly, with a bit of grass, weeds, etc 'planted' prior to final fixing.
It's bouncing around in my head ( has been for quite a while now ) but now having these platforms to plonk down has helped with the 3D planning exercise.
Rob
2996 Victor
Western Thunderer
Many thanks - that's just a nice size. I was going to suggest "planting" the platforms if you wanted them to be a more prototypical height, but you're way ahead of me!
Plenty of inspiration as always!Mark
