7mm Melcombe Magna
- Thread starter Quintus
- Start date
Joe's Garage
Western Thunderer
Hi Mike, I maybe 6 months behind in "liking" the photo of the 64xx with auto trailer on its return trip to Weymouth but it got me wondering what a similar working would have looked like if Abbotsbury remained open for another 10 years....?
Admittedly the curve at Upwey Junction would have had to be eased or maybe the Panniers could have coped.
Very thought provoking photo.
All the best
Julian
Admittedly the curve at Upwey Junction would have had to be eased or maybe the Panniers could have coped.
Very thought provoking photo.
All the best
Julian
Gerry Beale
Western Thunderer
Hi Julian
If the Abbotsbury branch had stayed open for another ten years or so I'm sure that the 14xx would have continued as they were. They remained at Weymouth until the later 1950s when they were transferred away. Six coupled locos were barred from the Abbotsbury branch due to the very sharp curve at Upwey Junction. An Armstrong Goods 0-6-0 working a passenger train was derailed on the curve in 1894 and following investigation as to the cause it was recommended that six coupled locomotives should no longer run on the line. Henceforth four coupled locos were employed, usually of the 517 class with the assistance for a time around the turn of the 20th century by some absorbed 4-4-0 tanks. In due course the 48xx/14xx 0-4-2T worked the line until the passenger service finished. The goods service that continued to run as far as Upwey was worked by the 14xx until they left the district. The remains of the line, having been reduced to a siding from the main line, was no longer covered by the ban on six coupled locos and from then until the goods service finished at the end of 1961 Weymouth pannier tanks was used without apparently any problems.
Hope this is of interest.
Gerry
If the Abbotsbury branch had stayed open for another ten years or so I'm sure that the 14xx would have continued as they were. They remained at Weymouth until the later 1950s when they were transferred away. Six coupled locos were barred from the Abbotsbury branch due to the very sharp curve at Upwey Junction. An Armstrong Goods 0-6-0 working a passenger train was derailed on the curve in 1894 and following investigation as to the cause it was recommended that six coupled locomotives should no longer run on the line. Henceforth four coupled locos were employed, usually of the 517 class with the assistance for a time around the turn of the 20th century by some absorbed 4-4-0 tanks. In due course the 48xx/14xx 0-4-2T worked the line until the passenger service finished. The goods service that continued to run as far as Upwey was worked by the 14xx until they left the district. The remains of the line, having been reduced to a siding from the main line, was no longer covered by the ban on six coupled locos and from then until the goods service finished at the end of 1961 Weymouth pannier tanks was used without apparently any problems.
Hope this is of interest.
Gerry
Gerry Beale
Western Thunderer
There were indeed 1366 panniers at Weymouth but they were restricted to the Harbour Tramway and to shunting and carriage piloting around the terminus. There were also a number of 'regular' 57xx panniers as well and in earlier times Dean panniers of both inside and outside frame variety as well as smaller 2021 classes. But all were six coupled and therefore not permitted on the Abbotsbury branch. As an aside it should be mentioned that when the Armstrong Goods came to grief in 1894 the track was lightweight flat bottom rail spiked to the sleepers, the radius of the curve was inconsistent and there was no checkrail - it was the original track provided by the independent Abbotsbury Railway Co and not in the best condition. When the modern panniers took over the remnants of the goods service around 1959/60 the track had recently been completely renewed with concrete sleepers and new bullhead rail, was properly aligned and had a checkrail - hence no problems.
Joe's Garage
Western Thunderer
Hi Gerry, thank you for this insight. As you have suggested in other correspondence the Abbotsbury line would perhaps not be of operational interest if one adhered to true prototype.
Mike's photo above made me ponder on what "might have been if......"
I totally agree with the original track.
It is still in my "to do list"
Cheers Julian
Mike's photo above made me ponder on what "might have been if......"
I totally agree with the original track.
It is still in my "to do list"
Cheers Julian
Quintus
Western Thunderer
Thanks for the info on the Abbotsbury branch Gerry, interesting to note the track must have been in pretty dire condition whilst still carrying passengers!
If I were modelling this branch, I think I would use a little modellers licence and assume the track had been upgraded earlier.
Regards
Mike
If I were modelling this branch, I think I would use a little modellers licence and assume the track had been upgraded earlier.
Regards
Mike
Joe's Garage
Western Thunderer
Sorry Mike for digressing from "your" model but that photo got me a thinking "what if".
Such is the world of model railways....
Cheers Julian
Such is the world of model railways....
Cheers Julian
Gerry Beale
Western Thunderer
Mike. I believe the original track provided by the Abbotsbury Railway Co remined in use until 1937/38 when it was replaced with standard GWR bullhead track which remained until the branch closed. The short stub from Upwey Junction - Upwey & Broadwey after the branch closed to passengers - to Upwey, that remained open for goods traffic was re-laid again by BR with bullhead rail on concrete sleepers. This was probably unnecessary but was the usual prelude to complete closure by BR in the late 50s and early 1960s - the same happened with the goods only section from Bridport to West Bay at the same time.