Flaxfield- A bucolic 1950s Suffolk backwater

Reader mode
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
simond said:
Rob, I concur.

There’s some truly lovely modelling on RMW and I still visit regularly, but I post there much less than I did.

The photo disaster was a great shame, as so much of interest was lost, but more importantly, the vibe is, as you say, different here.

keep on posting. You continue to achieve something rare, atmosphere, and I find it an inspiration.

(there has to be a joke in there somewhere, but it’s late…)

atb
Simon
Click to expand...


That's very kind of you.

Thank you Simon.

The key difference is that there is more respect for content on here. Yes, there is occasional thread drift but it's not taken to extremes, something I have had enough of elsewhere.

Rob.
 
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
MrWolf said:
A bit late to the party regarding the telegraph pole and its fancy cladding, but it occurred to me that if it's turn of the 20th century it might well have doubled up as a hoarding for A4 sized posters or perhaps timetables?
Click to expand...

Hi Rob,

You could well be right. It just seems so odd to go to such trouble without there being some sort of use to put that fabrication to.

Rob.
 
Jordan

Jordan

Mid-Western Thunderer
NHY 581 said:
The key difference is that there is more respect for content on here. Yes, there is occasional thread drift but it's not taken to extremes, something I have had enough of elsewhere.
Click to expand...
Uh-oh :oops: probably Guilty as Charged here.
Mindyou, constant 'sheep' references do sort of invite it... suggestions for layout drapes, T-shirts, etc etc... ;)
 
Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Jordan said:
Mind you, constant 'sheep' references do sort of invite it... suggestions for layout drapes, T-shirts, etc etc... ;)
Click to expand...
There was a N gauge or 2mm FS layout at the recent NEC show which featured yellow plastic ducks on the scenery, riding in goods wagons... even a train made up of several of said ducks with wheels and coupled together, Dad duck at the front and Mum duck at the back.

Relevance? Well if it can be done with ducks on circa 9mm track then the same thing ought to be do-able in 4mm; just imagine a local passenger service pulled by a pannier called "Duck", sheep and lambs on wheels as carriages with a brake van called "Toad".

The best bit is that each "coach" (in the shape of Rob's favourite four legged) could be lettered with the relevant class... so the train would show coaches written:-

* Ewe;
* Ram,
* Lamb.

On second thoughts, maybe the brake van ought to be called "Collie".

Regards, Graham
 
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
So, back to trains.........The main 'issue' with Flaxfield is that of space. In a departure from the existing layouts, I won't be able to have it permanently operational. I don't like this but there is no alternative. I see the terminus as 140cm long, the fiddle yard as 90cm long and the additional Mill board as either 120cm or 90cm. I'm undecided but 120cm is the preferred option but I'm pretty certain I cannot accommodate all of that in the car for exhibitions so it may have to be 90cm after all.

Irrelevant at present but before I place the order, I'll measure the motor.

I'm also thinking of an 'intermission' board which will be a black box between the terminus and Mill boards, a bit like a corridor connection and which will be 40cm long. This will provide a proper separation between the two scenic sections.

So an overall length of just over 11ft when all boards are deployed.

Certainly this is my biggest layout to date, hence the reason why I'm not rushing this project through.


Rob
 
Yorkshire Dave

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
NHY 581 said:
Here is an earlier view of Cutlers Green seemingly from 1913 and pre-dating the installation of the grounded coach body. That wrapper is in place from new.

1000012131.jpg
Click to expand...

It also looks like the oil lanterns were mounted on the top of the fence posts.
 
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
More thoughts.

As mentioned earlier, the intention is that the coaching stock for Flaxfield will be six wheel coaches. Sticking with the RTR based ethos of all my modelling, these will be Hattons Genesis coaches, seen here posed with a Rapido Y7 in a North Sunderland Railway cameo.

1000011323.jpg

However, on the real Mid-Suffolk, these six wheelers were eventually replaced by bogie stock, which wasn't much younger, but on a positive, they were at least water tight.......allegedly......

Now, whilst there isn't a RTR GER bogie coach ( W&U coaches aside )., Bachmann have announced M&GNR liveried, ex L&NWR bogie coaches.

39-881.jpg

Now, they're not prototypical ( as in I'm as yet unaware of any that were used on East Anglian branchlines ) , they will be beautifully detailed, they ARE going to be really expensive.......but I only want two !

However, I do think they'll give an impression of the type of coaching stock relegated to eke out their last days on a rural backwater in the 1950s.

So, off with the M&GN branding and on with the E 's in front of the numbers and frankly, they'll do for me.


Rob.
 
Last edited:
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
Yorkshire Dave said:
It also looks like the oil lanterns were mounted on the top of the fence posts.
Click to expand...


Evening Dave,

Here's a different view taken at around the same time.

1000012133.jpg

A comparison with the earlier posted colourized views shows just how little this little halt changed in something like 40yrs. ( coach body aside)


1000011411.jpg


1000011412 (1).jpg

Looking again at these, they suggest that the lamps were moved from their original positions to accommodate the grounded coach body. It looks like the posts in the later views are old rails?


Rob
 
4

40057

Western Thunderer
NHY 581 said:
More thoughts.

As mentioned earlier, the intention is that the coaching stock for Flaxfield will be six wheel coaches. Sticking with the RTR based ethos of all my modelling, these will be Hattons Genesis coaches, seen here posed with a Rapido Y7 in a North Sunderland Railway cameo.

View attachment 228834

However, on the real Mid-Suffolk, these six wheelers were eventually replaced by bogie stock, which wasn't much younger, but on a positive, they were at least water tight.......allegedly......

Now, whilst there isn't a RTR GER bogie coach ( W&U coaches aside )., Bachmann have announced M&GNR liveried, ex L&NWR bogie coaches.

View attachment 228836

Now, they're not prototypical, they will be beautifully detailed, they ARE going to be really expensive.......but I only want two !

However, I do think they'll give an impression of the type of coaching stock relegated to eke out their last days on a rural backwater in the 1950s.

So, off with the M&GN branding and on with the E 's in front of the numbers and frankly, they'll do for me.


Rob.
Click to expand...
I don’t usually follow developments/announcements from the current r-t-r manufacturers — just becoming aware of the new models that get mentioned in WT postings in threads I read.

Some things, it seems, never change. In the pre—WW1 range of lithographed tinplate coach models offered by Bassett-Lowke, vehicles with LNWR body styling were offered in the liveries of other railway companies. Commercial reality, then as now. But in 1909 too, realism mattered. The LNWR-type bodies were not used for the Midland coaches with their distinctive windows, nor the roofs as the MR (and GWR) models had clerestories. And the very distinctive LNWR 12-wheelers were not given other liveries. In the 10 years after 1900, Bassett-Lowke transformed model railways from charming but unrealistic toys to an extremely sophisticated range of affordable, accurate models —entirely comparable with current practice.
 
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
40057 said:
I don’t usually follow developments/announcements from the current r-t-r manufacturers — just becoming aware of the new models that get mentioned in WT postings in threads I read.

Some things, it seems, never change. In the pre—WW1 range of lithographed tinplate coach models offered by Bassett-Lowke, vehicles with LNWR body styling were offered in the liveries of other railway companies. Commercial reality, then as now. But in 1909 too, realism mattered. The LNWR-type bodies were not used for the Midland coaches with their distinctive windows, nor the roofs as the MR (and GWR) models had clerestories. And the very distinctive LNWR 12-wheelers were not given other liveries. In the 10 years after 1900, Bassett-Lowke transformed model railways from charming but unrealistic toys to an extremely sophisticated range of affordable, accurate models —entirely comparable with current practice.
Click to expand...


Hi,

Sorry, not sure I follow you here.

My understanding is that Bachmann have worked with the M&GN Circle to ensure that what they are producing is accurate for the arc roof stock transferred by the LMS to the M&GN.

My spin ( and this us where it slides into the realms of fantasy ) is that one or two of these could have survived long enough to find their way onto a Suffolk backwater, Flaxfield, the fictitious subject of this thread, albeit by some rather odd means.

That part is bending reality.....quite a lot actually.

Rob
 
Last edited:
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
Further to my last, to support Bachmann's forthcoming product ( and arguably my proposed use of it ) they have indeed got it right.

transportsofdelight.smugmug.com

MIDLAND & GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE - Paul Johnson

M&GN 2008 - Corridor Brake Third - still lettered M&GN but bearing its LNER number 82008 - seen here at Melton Constable, 03/39.
transportsofdelight.smugmug.com transportsofdelight.smugmug.com

Stretching the facts, almost to breaking point gives us E82001 as seen at Flaxfield, still in it's pre war brown livery and conveniently produced by Bachmann, which ended it's days on the Flaxfield line.....

Rob
 
Reader mode
You must log in or register to reply here.
What's New?
Top