Leeds Sovereign Street & Clarence Dock - a UK based layout

[NorthBrit]

A Class 58  58001  On a Northbound  'Quarry Train'  to Northumberland, passing 'Marston's Yard.

 

The early arrival of the Wakefield Kirkgate to Leeds Central waits at the signal  for The Calls Junction,  whilst the Class 121  Seacroft to Leeds Central has right of way.  The tall signal is a new addition and needs 'bedding in'.  The tall signais required because of the footbridge obscuring the drivers of trains view.

 

 

The Wakefield Kirkgate to Leeds Central  DMU  arriving at Leeds Sovereign Street Station.   The Leeds Central destination sign  on the DMU is done on the computer, printed and affixed to the front.

 

David

[NorthBrit]

The Class 58 with the Northbound train of Quarry wagons.   The locomotive is  slow on its 'fast speed'  irrespective what it is pulling.  Therefore looks great hauling full coal wagons which it normally does.

The scenery is  still being redone from the footbridge to the front.

 

 

A long way from home,  Inverness based Class 37   37026  'Glencairn'  on a diverted Newcastle to Liverpool service.  At Leeds Central engines will be exchanged and a Class 52  will take over.   After refuelling at Crown Point Yard,  37026  will return to Newcastle on a later service.

 

 

I saw this 'lomac and aeroplane load'  and had to buy it.   Here it is on its way to  'Olympia Works'  Roundhay.

 

 

David

[NorthBrit]

Little scenes bringing some life to the reason of the layout.  Father and son watching the trains.

 

 

What are they seeing?     A Class 26  26016  on a freight train bound for  Royal Ordnance Factory  (ROF)   at Barnbow.

 

 

The same train at Canal Corner.

 

 

David

[NorthBrit]

Class 47  47474  Sir Rowland Hill arrives at Crown Point Yard to refuel.   Behind is Class 55  55016   Gordon Highlander  about to depart on her next turn of duty,  the 1411 Leeds Central departure to London Kings Cross.

 

 

Class 47  47474   receiving a drop of oil here and there  to be ready for the Up Postal at 2245.

 

 

Class 47  47401  North Eastern  on the 1511  Leeds Central to York  arriving at Roseville Station.  The locomotive's home base is Gateshead

 

Another Gateshead based locomotive  Class  47  47402   Gateshead   on a Castleford to Leeds Central train  due arrival 1558.

 

 

Having locomotives running for a reason  keeps the enjoyment at a high point.

 

David

[NorthBrit]

A  Steam Special.  Former London, Midland & Scottish Railway locomotive 46210  Lady Patricia  at the junction.

 

 

 

David

[Lastspikemike]

I had always thought LMS locomotives and coaches wore crimson livery.

???

[NorthBrit]

That is correct up to Nationalisation when British Railways changed the colors of rolling stock.

The layout is set in the timeframe of 1968 to 1972 and the engine is running as a 'Steam Special'.

 

David

[Lastspikemike]

I left England in 1965, departing from Albert Dock in Liverpool. 

My last memory of British steam was an A4 down from Newcastle arriving at Kings Cross. That was green LNER as it appears in my mind's eye.  The year would have been 1964 or 1965. I recall my Aunt was visiting us after her family left Rhodesia just as the troubles began, which is how I remember the time period. 

All ancient history now of course. 

[NorthBrit]

Lastspikemike

I left England in 1965, departing from Albert Dock in Liverpool. 

My last memory of British steam was an A4 down from Newcastle arriving at Kings Cross. That was green LNER as it appears in my mind's eye.  

 

That could  be British Railways Green.

They did  B R  blue,  changing to green.  A lot were changed to black color.

Some ex LNER remained Apple Green or Silver.

 

David

[Lastspikemike]

I was 9 or 10 at the time. All those memories are sepia toned now. Like on the BBC. 

[Overmod]

Note the 'cycling lion' emblem on the tender in the second picture.

[NorthBrit]

British Railways had different colors and logos on their locomotives (as if they could not make their mind up.)

Here is some diesels that could be seen (modelwise) at Crown Point Yard.

 

 

David

[Lastspikemike]

Overmod

Note the 'cycling lion' emblem on the tender in the second picture.

 

Yes. L M S would have been there in period. Except steam lasted for so long in post war Britain they actually had time to re-livery after nationalization. So, the newer livery displayed is in fact "in period" just really not that long ago.

I recall my first return visit to the U.K. on graduation from high school in the 70's. British Rail seemed appallingly bad by then, but so did most of the economy. 

It is very interesting in itself that rail preservation societies in the UK preserve quite recent steam power and in what North Americans would consider to be modern livery. The fact that this layout models that particular aspect of UK railway history is even more interesting.

One of the fascinations of modelling British railways is the literally colourful history.  

[NorthBrit]

Thanks for you comments Lpm

The liveries on trains these days is enormous.    Look at the films on the Trackside Diner thread.  They only 'scratch the surface'.    Trains and locomotives etc. built after my layout timescale are now being preserved.

 

David

[Overmod]

I am appallingly ignorant of the actual history of postwar British railroading, and am constantly finding new layers of interest that adds to the context, but only scratch the surface and bring up new questions ... much as with North American railroad history.

I suspect there was a parallel on the new "British Railways" (in the era before the development of the Standards) to practice on newly-formed Penn Central and then Conrail, to put the "new" logo and colors on rolling stock to promote the new national 'company'.  That might easily extend to having some of the shops serving the corresponding 'regions' use new livery on locomotives receiving heavy repairs, while patching equipment in progressively simpler or cruder ways depending on age, intended retirement, etc.

It is my understanding that the 'cycling lion' emblem was comparatively early and was also supplanted by other choices comparatively early, so it would make sense as I understood it to represent a locomotive 'soon after 1948' -- especially if shiny and new-looking, as that locomotive is.  Of course the same could be said of a BR "heritage unit" painted in that scheme, too.

[NorthBrit]

Overmod

I am appallingly ignorant of the actual history of postwar British railroading,

 

I do not think British Railways know what colors and branding they wanted, so most people  confused to what was what.

These may help.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Great_Britain#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_corporate_liveries

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail

 

At times i think certain areas 'did as they pleased'   until HQ found out.

 

David

[Overmod]

NorthBrit

At times i think certain areas 'did as they pleased' until HQ found out.

There is a site on YouTube that provides some of the 'Railway Rendezvous' films with an impromptu voiceover by one of the principals.  He mentions a couple of instances of this, persisting into the late '50s and early '60s, including older steam engines bearing both BR and older company 'shields'.  So there may be more instances where the idea was 'sanctioned' or selectively ignored...  

Some of the history concerning when areas of BR promoted corporate vs. 'heritage' image would be interesting to see, although this is not something that might have been formally documented 'for posterity' as such.

[Lastspikemike]

The single most important factor in nationalizing British railways was the election of a labour government in 1945. As you may imagine, the four private railway companies would have been seriously challenged to raise the capital to repair the  bombed out rail infrastructure.  Britain's mozaic of railways had already been consolidated into the four my school chums and I assumed had always been there, judging from the toy trains we could buy then. 

It was conservative governments that returned railway companies to the private sector, but not the railways themselves. That decision sowed the seeds for the current controversy over the future organization of British rail transport.

The current state of affairs treats the infrastructure of rails and stations as a public utility which rents (in theory anyway) track time out to the companies that run the trains.  Needless to say, this is causing severe undercapitalization of the infrastructure.

Compared to  70's British Rail the current passenger service in the UK is much better but still inferior to the heavily subsidized French system which includes the fabulous TGV. Fabulously expensive to run also. 

It is ironic that some preservation railways seem better capitalized than the national system.

[NorthBrit]

Lastspikemike

It is ironic that some preservation railways seem better capitalized than the national system.

 

 

It must be remembered that  all Preservation Railway pay a small percentage of staff that work there.  Most staff are volunteers (and enjoy it).

 

David

[NorthBrit]

Most of my carriages now have passengers.   Here is a Pullman carriage that has been painted inside to 'get rid' of the stark white interior.  The color  is a brown.  Passengers have been painted and added.   A new name (Alethea) has been added. Now in service passing Roseville Station.  Other Pullman carriages have had the similar treatment.

 

 

David

[M636C]

NorthBrit

 

 

Lastspikemike

I left England in 1965, departing from Albert Dock in Liverpool. 

My last memory of British steam was an A4 down from Newcastle arriving at Kings Cross. That was green LNER as it appears in my mind's eye.  

 

 

 

 

That could  be British Railways Green.

They did  B R  blue,  changing to green.  A lot were changed to black color.

Some ex LNER remained Apple Green or Silver.

 

David

 

In fact only nine A4s were painted LNER green when new in 1936-37, numbers 4482 to 4487 (numbered just above the highest numbered A1s ordered by GNR) and 4493 to 4495 (4488 to 4492 were blue for the Coronation service). These nine had been repainted Garter Blue by October 1938. From 4496 onwards A4s entered service in Garter Blue. The shortest life in green was 4495, green for 11 days in August/September 1937. Later A4s were numbered from 4462 to 4469, numbered between the Ivatt Atlantics and the first Gresley Pacific 4470. These were also blue from new. The original four silver locomotives, 2509 to 2512 (numbered in the North Eastern Railway series) were all blue by 1938. Many A4s were painted black during WWII but had been repainted Garter Blue by 1948 and entered BR service in those colours.

BR painted at least one A4 dark blue with red and grey lining in 1948 or 1949, but adopted a mid blue, darker than Garter Blue with black and white lining from 1949 until 1951. This blue was confined to locomotives rated at 7P or 8P, the most powerful express passenger classes (which of course included the ex LMS Princess and Princess Coronation locomotives.) I myself have the same Hornby model of Lady Patricia.

After 1951 all A4s were BR Brunswick Green until withdrawal.

The Princess class were named after princesses in order of their position in line to inherit the throne. this was before the abdication in 1936, so "The Princess Royal" preceded "Princess Elizabeth". After Albert, Duke of York became King George VI in late 1936, Princess Elizabeth moved ahead of the Princess Royal. The Turbine Locomotive 6202 didn't have a name until rebuilt with four cylinders by BR when it was named Princess Anne who is the present Princess Royal. Lady Patricia 6210, later 46210 was tenth in line before 1936. She was a princess, but took the title Lady when she married a Lord.

The "lion on a unicycle" logo was superseded by the "lion in a crown" in 1957.

So that logo lasted longer than the blue livery.

Some of the odd liveries in BR days discussed above are seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhDWKl-YPA8

Here in Australia we have just watched the Queen's Christmas Message and a replay of the  Royal Command Variety Performance. Thirty years ago we were familiar with British performers. Today they are completely unknown, so I guess we are to some degree independent.

Edit in bold.

Peter

[NorthBrit]

I am not one for doing any 'weathering'  on items normally,  but I thought I would  'try' on some parcel vans.   I have never seen a clean one 'ever'.    I purloined some old make-up from Dawn,  (not that she  needs it you understand)  and began to experiment on the vans.

 

 

 

David

[NorthBrit]

Adding a littlle 'life' to the footbridge.

 

 

David

[Pruitt]

I'd like to see your layout in person someday, David...

[NorthBrit]

Pruitt

I'd like to see your layout in person someday, David...

 

 

Now that is a statement, Mark.   I am intrigued.  

 

It is just two layouts on one track layout.  Both have reasons for the trains to run.  The 'people'  on it have a reason to be where they are.   The scenery is specific to the area built.  The buildings have a reason to be where they are.  To me it is  a 'Living Model Railway'. 

Many things are wrong if one looks closely.  I do not.  It is fun to operate.   

 

If you want to see it, Mark, you will have to visit the Border Region of the UK.  You will be welcome.  

 

David

[NorthBrit]

Well it had to happen.   After over three years one of the fishplates joining two tracks in Crown Point Yard has worked loose.  It is in the middle of a set of points and to repair it has meant a lot of track has had to be lifted.

The Track Maintenance Staff  (me)  will be 'working this weekend'.

 

David

 

 

[NorthBrit]

Having a login name of NorthBrit  and avatar of the North British Railway  (because I live near the old Border Counties Railway ; owned by the N B R)  naturally I have  some NBR wagons.

 

The little four plank  N B (North British Railway)  wagon behind the engine is of a 1910 design.    The model  is by Oxford Rail  and although a good runer it looked of plastic.   Therefore I dirtied it up a little.

The N B box van  I made from a 1912 design.  I am sure someone else would have made the model, but I have never seen another one..

The five plank  Douglas Glencairn  wagon is of a 1910 design.   There was never such a wagon,  but I know the family and asked if I could make the wagon.  Therefore it is  a 'one off'.  The tarpaulin is from a Company of EBay.

 

[

 

David

[NorthBrit]

The remodeling of Crown Point Yard is done.  The track is tested and locomotives can now occupy seven roads compared to five previously.

 

 

Class 47  47583  'County of Hertfordshire'  in Network South East  livery was a locomotive I used to see regularly.  Why it was in the north of England so much was a bit of a mystery.  Maybe the northern crew liked it and would not 'send it back south'.

There is no actual model of 47583, so I had  another model repainted etc.  Normally I repaint etc. myself, but the NSE livery is a difficult one.

 

 

David