PotterBourne - A Reflection

Easterner

Western Thunderer
Good Afternoon All,

I'm currently in the process of moving, and during this time I've took some time out to reflect on my layout PotterBourne and its future.

For those of you who remember and for the benefit of those that don't, Potterbourne was started a mere 9 years ago (Advert Eyes) on the old RMweb forum shown in the link below.

RMweb Archive • View topic - G.W.R Branchline Potterbourne *Available for Exhibitions*

Over the following years, I went on to exhibit the layout at various shows around the country with a group of local modellers where I discovered the various delights of exhibiting, something which I do miss from time to time and hope to get back to in the future.

The last few years have been quiet on the exhibition front and on modelling in general. I've taken some time out to develop my career and voluntary footplate work, and in doing this have only managed to pick up bits and pieces in 2mm Finescale, 00 and 7mm but haven't exactly stuck to any of them but have learnt many things along the way, oh and also have various shelves full of half started and finished items of stock, track work, buildings, etc!

Going forward, I hope to stick to 7mm and develop my small Cameo Layout "Easton Mill" along with my locomotive and rolling stock building skills, and also help with a larger 7mm layout with a local friend.

Anyway - Back to PotterBourne!

With all of this in mind and with moving, I feel that PotterBourne has come to the end of its time with me. As much as I have enjoyed creating, developing and the time away with the layout; it has always been a bit of a hindrance to set up at home due to its foot print and lack of available space to set it up. With the new 7mm project, I can't envisage the space or time to keep PotterBourne and I think inevitably in the not to distant future it will be offered for sale for somebody else to hopefully enjoy and possibly continue to exhibit if they so wish.

With all this said, I've created this topic to hopefully collate and showcase pictures and information about the layout which I can reflect back on once it has moved on and also answer any questions anyone has about it.

So without further ado, here is a snippet of some of the pictures taken by Paul Bason when the Layout featured in BRM in May 2013.

PotterBourne 1 - 57xx Light Goods.jpg

57xx Seen departing with a small local goods service

PotterBourne 2 - Bulldog on Local Passenger.jpg

Bulldog arriving with the local passenger service formed of a 2 car B-set whilst the 45xx receives some attention on shed.

Potterbourne 3 - 57xx on Local Passenger.jpg
57xx Seen again, this time arriving with the local passenger service with the regular B-Set. Meanwhile in the yard, some goods are being prepared.

Potterbourne 4 - Collett on Brake Down Train.jpg
A rare appearance of a breakdown train, constructed from a Cambrian Kit.

Potterbourne 5 - Overview Shot with AutoTrain.jpg

And overview shot of the main part of the layout where the 14xx waits to depart with its auto-coach.
 

Osgood

Western Thunderer
Delightful.
First impression is of a feeling of space - yet it is remarkably compact!
Is the goods shed loading dock layout based on an actual location?
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
Brings back memories Josh, hope you are successful in selling it. Perhaps see you in the KA sometime?
 

Easterner

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the comments!

I remember being told several times after various plans that the feeling of space was a key attribute of any layout as it is easy to cram to much in, and in hindsight am glad I listened to others opinions.

The layout measures in at about 10ft x 18 Inches, I've attached a closer picture of the goods shed which was just based on a Wills or Ratio Kit and the loading dock area just grew around. The whoe layout was built fictitiously but with the mind set that it could satisfactorily represent a real location.

Thanks for your kind words Alan! I'll drop you an email.

Potterbourne 11 - Goods Shed.jpg
 
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