West Wittering - 00 modern image Southern Region terminus

[FJ1701]

Hello there, after designing and building many layout which have been subsequently dismantled, I thought I would give it another try and here I am with a fresh start. After returning to the hobby only about a month ago, I started drawing up plans on what would become a southern region terminus but with my limited time restraints, I started looking to buy ready built layouts without any scenery to save me hours of time and I finally struck gold.

After browsing ebay and various other sites for a layout, I found this terminus station with track laid and all the wiring complete. It came fitted with point motors and the baseboards had a solid construction in mind for transporting to exhibitions which is just what I wanted. After winning the auction, I brought it home and here I am creating this thread ready to this journey showcasing the progress of my new layout. Now enough of the introduction!

A map showing West Wittering in relevance to Chichester.

The plan:

A southern region terminus based below Chichester on a fictional branch line to West Wittering, note the railway did reach Selsy to the East but in the form of a light railway which had plans to reach West Wittering but never came to fruition. The railway will be based between 2015 - present which will allows me to take advantage of the beautiful new GWR livery. The franchises currently operating through Chichester station are Southern and Great Western Railway however South West Trains ceased services in 2007. Hold on a moment, I've changed my mind, I will now be modelling 2004 which is the transition period between slam door and modern rolling stock. This means I have access to a larger variety of units such as the 421's and the 423's in South Central, South West Trains and Network South East which still appeared across the network whilst also having access the the class 159'2, 450's and class 377's. Whilst looking over my layout and it's track-plan, I was thinking to myself that there was too much track and how Network rail would have streamlined it perhaps removing the sidings and a platform so I decided to bring the layout back a decade to a more realistic era for the track plan I currently have. Many thanks.

Freight services from Merehead and Whatley quarry's run to Chichester with the local stone train which is emptied in Chichester yard but the locomotives could be housed in a depot next to West Wittering station.

RoryTrack/track plan: The layout will use code 75 track but the spacing of the sleepers will be altered to achieve a prototypical and aesthetically pleasing look. This has already been carried out by the original owner however I will continue his work on the extension. Below is the current track configuration as seen before any alterations:

Thank-you and I hope you enjoy!

Rory

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

new GWR livery

I like the idea of Southern Region stock, but western in LBSC territory?

This would make an excellent station to model especially late 60's early 70's Southern Region. The locale you have chosen and the size of the station makes me think of Allhallows-on-Sea where a relatively large station was built in anticipation of generating tourist traffic but never really took off.

I look forward to seeing your ideas develop.

 

[FJ1701]

I like the idea of Southern Region stock, but western in LBSC territory?

This would make an excellent station to model especially late 60's early 70's Southern Region. The locale you have chosen and the size of the station makes me think of Allhallows-on-Sea where a relatively large station was built in anticipation of generating tourist traffic but never really took off.

I look forward to seeing your ideas develop.

Well you see i'm planning on modelling modern image so GWR does actually operate on the West Coastway line to Brighton which is indeed the LBSCR's original territory. However I'm still contemplating whether I want to model the present or around the 1970's/1980's.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Things have certainly changed down south with GWR operating to Brighton! Up here it's plain old Northern (with a set on hire from Grand Central), Virgin East Coast and TPE.

 

[FJ1701]

Just some pictures of the layout so far:

As you can see, a lot of work has already been carried out by the previous owner. The platforms are in place but need to be covered up with brick, the track has been secured down and weathered with the third rail pinned in place. The back-scene dividing the two sections will be removed following the new extension which will be built. A shelf provides extra storage for locomotives and rolling stock and a switching panel is visible in the 3rd picture however this will be replaced with an acrylic control panel with a diagram of the track configuration.

Many thanks,

Rory

 

[AJC]

Well you see i'm planning on modelling modern image so GWR does actually operate on the West Coastway line to Brighton which is indeed the LBSCR's original territory. However I'm still contemplating whether I want to model the present or around the 1970's/1980's.

Well, one train each weekday (usually a colander-like 150 which is hardly the best advert for rail travel) in the winter.

In *reality* (but where's the fun it that?) a single line terminus with a Southern-liveried 313 or - if you're lucky - a Salisbury-based 158 strikes me as being more plausible. The '70s-'80s scenario sounds more interesting to me and with scope for all that track being in use, though I accept that isn't really the point!

Adam

 

[FJ1701]

Well, one train each weekday (usually a colander-like 150 which is hardly the best advert for rail travel) in the winter.

In *reality* (but where's the fun it that?) a single line terminus with a Southern-liveried 313 or - if you're lucky - a Salisbury-based 158 strikes me as being more plausible. The '70s-'80s scenario sounds more interesting to me and with scope for all that track being in use, though I accept that isn't really the point!

Adam

Yes you are quite right, in reality the terminus if it existed would have a single platform and probably a class 313 like you said or class 377 serving the station and with the current track configuration, it would be more realistic to use 60's/70's or even 1980's stock but my intention for this layout is to inspire new modellers into the hobby. So with this in mind, I will be sticking to the modern image era but pretending that West Wittering's population has been growing exponentially so the use of 3 or 4 platforms in necessary. Do you know if class 166's serve the southern lines?

 

[AJC]

Yes you are quite right, in reality the terminus if it existed would have a single platform and probably a class 313 like you said or class 377 serving the station and with the current track configuration, it would be more realistic to use 60's/70's or even 1980's stock but my intention for this layout is to inspire new modellers into the hobby. So with this in mind, I will be sticking to the modern image era but pretending that West Wittering's population has been growing exponentially so the use of 3 or 4 platforms in necessary. Do you know if class 166's serve the southern lines?

Not yet but I gather they're destined to make the Cardiff-Pompeys unbearable in the not too distant future. They're really no cop whatsoever for such long journeys - I've done Slough to Hereford on them several times* - but at least I've never been rained on while on the inside of one which is more than I can say about the 150s. No wonder the guards hide in the rear cabs...

Adam

* North of Oxford, a large prairie with three could probably work the timetable, be more fun and a lot more comfortable...

EDIT - that said, the Western are finally getting proper suburban units with the correct form of propulsion and length a mere century after this was achieved south of the river. There, colours nailed to the mast!

 

[Wagonman]

They're really no cop whatsoever for such long journeys - I've done Slough to Hereford on them several times* - but at least I've never been rained on while on the inside of one which is more than I can say about the 150s. No wonder the guards hide in the rear cabs...

Getting 'rained on inside' seems to be a speciality of the new IEP too...

 

[FJ1701]

Just another view of the track and the cosmetic third rail which has been installed. This has been pinned temporarily in place but will be glued into its final position once the track has been ballasted. You might be able to see in difference in sleeper spacing comparing the point and the track on the left.

Rory

 

[FJ1701]

I haven't uploaded in a few days however the layout has been progressing well. First I will show you the proposed extension to the layout.

As you can see, the extension takes advantage of the full 9Ft of running space allowing the station throat to be lengthened into the new scenic section where it will curve round to the left and into the new fiddle yard. The new yard will be able to hold 5 coaches at a maximum and will be detachable from the main layout. With the new board coming Thursday, I thought I would start by removing the current scenic divider seen in this photo:

Before After

I have also taken the opportunity to fill in screw holes/cracks in the platforms and fascia board with some generic wood filler which will be sanded down to a smooth finish so that painting can commence. The same treatment has been applied on the backscene boards (please ignore the backscene colour, its just an experiment!)

Once the filler has dried, I will paint the platforms to seal the MDF and then finish it off with card in the future, the fascia board however will be black to draw the viewers attention to the layout. Many thanks.

Rory

 

[FJ1701]

Okay, so about a week has passed since my last update but after moving the layout downstairs, I set out to paint the fascia and backboards. I also built the new storage yard which simply bolts onto the existing boards and allows me to have a full 9ft of scenic space perfect for viewing at exhibitions. More in the photos below:

As you can see, the layout is now back upstairs looking very smart with the fascia and backboards painted in a sky blue colour. It's currently situated in a spare room so no one has to sleep between that small gap

however this is the only room the layout will fit in and due to it's size, I have had to use the alcove in the window to enable the layout to fit in the room. The legs may seem wobbly but they are more than adequate and provide a sturdy base for the layout to sit on however when it is taken to exhibitions, the boards will be bolted to something more sensible.

In the third photo, some plywood has been screwed down ready for the new track-bed. Whilst I was repainting the backboard, I took the opportunity to cut out the new opening for stock to pass through to the new storage yard. This yard is capable of holding 4 mk3 coaches which is fine as most of the stock running will be 3 or 4 car units however I could extend the storage yard along the back wall, thus allowing me to hold more stock. Many thanks for the supportive feedback and interesting ideas.

Hold on a moment, I've changed my mind, I will now be modelling 2004 which is the transition period between slam door and modern rolling stock. This means I have access to a larger variety of units such as the 421's and the 423's in South Central, South West Trains and Network South East which still appeared across the network whilst also having access the the class 159'2, 450's and class 377's. Whilst looking over my layout and it's track-plan, I was thinking to myself that there was too much track and how Network rail would have streamlined it perhaps removing the sidings and a platform so I decided to bring the layout back a decade to a more realistic era for the track plan I currently have. Many thanks.

Rory

 

[PaulR]

Excellent work Rory! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Paul

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

I have access to a larger variety of units such as the 421's and the 423's in South Central, South West Trains and Network South East which still appeared across the network whilst also having access the the class 159'2, 450's and class 377's.

And a rogue 319... . But in reality I don't think they strayed too far from the Bedford - Brighton and Sutton loop lines. Other than the unit which was used to test the Channel Tunnel as it was the only 25 kV BR stock which had the pantograph reach.

 

[FJ1701]

Well after taking a trip to my local model shop and buying some much needed items, I have started to work on the station throat and installing an additional 3 points which will provide better operational interest. Also I am currently enquiry about exhibiting the layout at next years Guagemaster exhibition so you may see it there!

The Cobalt PSU+2 allows me to automatically switch the point motors and works like a dream. As you can see, I have already installed two points with the necessary modifications required to be used with the point motors. A class 33 crawls waits at the platform below.

Rory

 

[FJ1701]

Some more progress on the layout, some metal brackets have been fitted to the end of the board to protect it when its being assembled or dismantled. Also, I have completed the track work into the staging yard so trains will be running once again.

The metal brackets shown above allow the layout to be dismantled easily and without fear of breaking the wood. The track work has been pinned down with holes pre-drilled ready for the point motors. Below you can see the final track layout going into the fiddle yard, as the track curves round into the yard, the radius becomes tighter but doesn't ruin the appearance of the track when looking through the bridge as shown below. The point closest to the fore ground will be only set into the position where the mainline trains can pass through as the siding come off will be disused and overgrown. Where the boards connect, I have glued down copper clad sleepers and soldered the track to them to ensure a solid connection. Once I get my hands on a dremel, I will cut the track allowing me to disconnect the boards ready for transit.

Cheers, Rory.

 

[FJ1701]

I hope everyone had a great time over the Christmas period as I certainly have with some new additions to add to the layout. I wanted the station buildings to represent something similar to Chichester railway station with an art-deco appearance so I bought the Bachmann art-deco station along with the signal box in the range. These two buildings really set the scene for the layout but the rolling stock also help which is why I went and bought a Bachmann class 450 emu and a Hornby class 423 VEP which i'm not too pleased about but more on that later.

So as you can see, I also bought the mechanical washing plant and the refuelling point to act as a small line side depot/stabling point which you see at Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. The station looks great but might need a few modifications such as a Southern green paint scheme.

The Bachmann class 450 is such a great model with a wealth of detail and great running characteristics but the same can't be said for the Hornby class 423 VEP. It could have been such a great model but they messed up and unfortunately, the model and Hornbys reputation has suffered with one more person (me) being put off from future Hornby models. It's such a shame and they went cheap and look what came out, a turd. However I found one for a good price on ebay so I bought it but have somewhat regretted my decision as the model runs poorly with the internal lights not working under DCC power and the directional lights going in the wrong direction! So if any of you want to buy a Hornby class 423 then just message me. Cheers.

Rory

 

[Alan]

How is the layout coming on?