Same evening as above, more ideas about the smaller surface yard for the Goods Station. The next two photos are from the definitive book on Moor Street, they are from c. 1910 so are probably not copyrighted (if they are, they are shown purely to explain the layout, nothing more).
The first shows the smaller 20 ton hoist located between the passenger station and the Snow Hill main lines. The latter are behind the traverser operator. Vans and wagons were shunted in on the far track, unhitched and lowered into the Goods Station below. Once unloaded (or possibly loaded) these were brought up and hand shunted using electric capstans and then transferred onto one of the two sidings to be taken away by the next goods shuttle to Bordesely.
The second photo shows the capstan drive (other capstans were “dumb”).
So, how to show all this? Here is an overview of the yard with my first ideas.
The hole for the hoist is clear. The beginnings of the traverser are laid out in front with a wagon representing the traverser. My first thought is to lay the traverser tracks and make a dummy wagon table which will sit (and not move) between the two widely spaced tracks.
So all shunting will indeed be by hand! Though I do plan to make the hoist work eventually. A close up of the traverser:
Finally, what about the yard surfaces? They appear to be several. Ash ballast, concrete foundations for the capstan runs, bricking paving elsewhere. No cobblestones here because no horses were used, the movement of wagons being by electricity.
Incidentally, a piece of absolute trivia! Jintys were called Dobbins in several areas south of Crewe, in particular at Nuneaton. There are also photos available showing cart horses shunting alongside an 8F at Bletchley. My own Bescot shed Dobbin is not a Jinty!
More ballasting tomorrow, perhaps a wagon traverser as well?