Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Someone's going to get another warning for slipping in photos of the real thing, while pretending it's a model....
4mm Parkend Marsh Sidings in P4
- Thread starter Charon
- Start date
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Some more photos from yesterdays operating session:
7788, so wonderfully weathered by Tom Foster recently, in it's natural habitat:
D6331 is the recent conversion to P4 that I documented:
7788, so wonderfully weathered by Tom Foster recently, in it's natural habitat:
D6331 is the recent conversion to P4 that I documented:
2996 Victor
Western Thunderer
I'm not quite sure how I've missed this fabulous layout, but I've just spent a most enjoyable hour or so catching up! I would love to be able to head down to Bath at that weekend and see the Sidings for real, but alas.....
Scenes like this are so evocative of the quiet backwaters nearing the end of their working lives. The scenic treatment is absolutely stunning. I keep coming back to the trackwork, it is quite simply so believable in its treatment - the way it's laid and ballasted, of course, but also the growth of grass as well, as if the weedkiller train ought to be along soon but probably never will be. And how the head-shunt just disappears into the undergrowth.
Am I right in thinking that the raised platform area is also for coal loading? Did it ever have a tramway?
Anyway, I've run out of superlatives, so before I go through the pics again, I'll just say, "wonderful!"
Cheers,
Mark
Scenes like this are so evocative of the quiet backwaters nearing the end of their working lives. The scenic treatment is absolutely stunning. I keep coming back to the trackwork, it is quite simply so believable in its treatment - the way it's laid and ballasted, of course, but also the growth of grass as well, as if the weedkiller train ought to be along soon but probably never will be. And how the head-shunt just disappears into the undergrowth.
Am I right in thinking that the raised platform area is also for coal loading? Did it ever have a tramway?
Anyway, I've run out of superlatives, so before I go through the pics again, I'll just say, "wonderful!"
Cheers,
Mark
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Being ever so slightly picky, and in the same vein as I posted Over There (RMweb), but rather more succinctly here...
Needs sheep.
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
There were actually two raised areas, the large one squarely in view in many photos was the original loading platform, served by various narrow gauge tramways from the various coal mines in that part of the Forest.
Some time, possibly around 100 or so years ago, the tramways disappeared. John or I may be able to look that up in the Wild Swan books on the Severn and Wye, there is probably some information about the subject there.
Latterly, that area was used for stone loading from Whitecliff Quarry, once the Coleford branch had closed in July 1967.
There was another raised area on the other side of the three tracks, which was also used for coal loading. Things had gone fairly quiet on that score by the late 1950s, but new contracts with the Forest of Dean Free Miners in the early 1960s saw a resurgence of coal traffic, by then more typically brought in by lorry for tipping into mineral wagons.
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
The scenery is entirely the talented and expert work of John ('Charon' on here, Re6/6 on RMWeb), who owns the layout and in who's shed we were playing trains yesterday.
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
John and I have talked about this. We will no doubt talk about it again at Larkrail this weekend, especially with Rob the Sheep, who is visiting the show.Being ever so slightly picky, and in the same vein as I posted Over There (RMweb), but rather more succinctly here...
Needs sheep.
I am in favour of sheep (both generally and specifically in the context of this layout). I'm not sure what John's general attitude towards the ovine race is, but as regards the layout, a Change of Mind may be called for...
I'm sure I have some 4mm sheep somewhere, not quite ready to go but probably eager enough...
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
I've just been on RMWeb, where it seems that the alluded-to Change of Mind may actually have occurred...
2996 Victor
Western Thunderer
Thanks for the extra info, CK, that's fascinating! I did have the first three WS books on the Severn & Wye, but sold them years ago, and knew that small tramways were quite common in the Forest for coal and stone carriage.
I'd love to create something like this but space is the eternal problem, of course, plus I change my ideas so often that I end up mired and get nowhere!
Cheers,
Mark
Bulldog3444
Member
At some time during the session at Larkrail on Saturday there should be a short interlude with some circa 1920 stock running, showing some Forest of Dean wagons.
I was planning that they would be accompanied by some 1920s sheep (John permitting).
Ian
I was planning that they would be accompanied by some 1920s sheep (John permitting).
Ian
Charon
Active Member
"I'm sure I have some 4mm sheep somewhere, not quite ready to go but probably eager enough..."
CK, If you can find them bring 'em along! I'm now more than happy to entertain some ovine additions!
"I was planning that they would be accompanied by some 1920s sheep (John permitting)."
Ian, permission granted!
CK, If you can find them bring 'em along! I'm now more than happy to entertain some ovine additions!
"I was planning that they would be accompanied by some 1920s sheep (John permitting)."
Ian, permission granted!
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Forest of Dean, circa 1970:
timbowales
Western Thunderer
Please translate for us grokkles......I spy Scraggies!!!
Jordan
Mid-Western Thunderer
Scraggies is the local Forest term for sheep.
They roam free in the Forest & add to it's unique character.
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
You see, someone does take notice of what you say!!I spy Scraggies!!!
