simond
Western Thunderer
Maybe so, but whether it’s retaining the land from becoming mud, or the mud from becoming land is clear as, well…
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Looking at the position and design of the retaining wall it was probably there to mitigate erosion of the narrow spit by the fast moving water around the bend in the narrow Walberswick Cut. Otherwise it would have cut through and isolated the footbridge at the end of the spit.
The tidal range here is 2.5m and being very close to the coast there will be quite a volume of water flowing with the rising and falling tides.
The tidal range here is 2.5m and being very close to the coast there will be quite a volume of water flowing with the rising and falling tides.
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Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
When you look at the NLS OS 1892-1914 25 inch series and change the overlay transaparency in respect of the underlying satellite imagery you can see how 100 years+ coastal erosion and intervention has changed the area. I've annotated two NLS extracts to show this.
And a zoomed out version of the coastline. Red being 1892-1914 and yellow from today's satellite imagery.
And a zoomed out version of the coastline. Red being 1892-1914 and yellow from today's satellite imagery.
PaulR
Western Thunderer
Thanks for that bit of research Dave, it's very informative - and fascinating. Apart from the erosion along the coast it's interesting to see how the deposit has built up on the south side of the estuary and effectively moved that part northwards. I can't wait to get back there and do some more research, and it's tempting to chuck the tent in the car and just set off. It'll have to wait for a bit though as family commitments make it impossible right now - September perhaps.
I'm assuming that the river will remain much more stable from now on with it being so well used; there are retaining walls on a lot of the southern bank now but it still retains that slightly shambolic atmosphere.
I'm assuming that the river will remain much more stable from now on with it being so well used; there are retaining walls on a lot of the southern bank now but it still retains that slightly shambolic atmosphere.
AJC
Western Thunderer
I agree with the shambolic (and it's attractive, in the way that watery contexts are), but this patch of coast is mobile, places come and go.
The community of Dunwich took huge efforts to manage that and keep their port open (the same is true of most of the East Coast ports), but it failed. The archaeology is really interesting and reveals a surprising amount about the lost town:
Dunwich - The search for Britain's Atlantis -
Dunwich: The search for Britain's Atlantis-
www.dunwich.org.uk
Lost in a Landscape: Shipden | Invisible Works
We are spoilt for lost villages in Norfolk and due to the nature of the coast have a huge number that weren't down to the usual suspects, so not things like plague, pestilence or bad land for farming or landlords enclosing land or commons; moving sheep in to replace tenants as is the way with
www.invisibleworks.co.uk
Adam
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Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
That coach looks like GER type 3b pre 1885 stock... Most likely a 3rd due to the close nature of the compartments... Would need a full side on view to work out the diagram but would either be a 402 (4w five compartment 3rd) or 403 (6w six compartment 3rd)
Sorry that is way to much useless information! It's a grounded coach body
Herb Garden
Western Thunderer
Sssshhhhh.... You might give the game away.....
Nothing to see here officer.... Nothing to see....
James Spooner
Western Thunderer
Well, to be honest, there’s only one letter in it, if we substitute an A for a W, and do an Eric Morecambe… so nothing to get fussed about
Nigel
Nigel
Overseer
Western Thunderer
I have dug out a few slides which may be of some use. Including sunshine.
1995 first -
The carriage body was a little less weathered.
And a couple taken during 2000 -
Blackshore Quay with a siding and buffer stop still in place. I have earlier black and white photos of the track when the tide was lower somewhere, although the water shows the sleepers still in place more clearly.
The replacement footbridge in the location of the swing bridge looking towards Southwold. I do like the big sky in the area.
1995 first -
The carriage body was a little less weathered.
And a couple taken during 2000 -
Blackshore Quay with a siding and buffer stop still in place. I have earlier black and white photos of the track when the tide was lower somewhere, although the water shows the sleepers still in place more clearly.
The replacement footbridge in the location of the swing bridge looking towards Southwold. I do like the big sky in the area.
paulc
Western Thunderer
Being in Australia i had to chuckle when i saw the aerial photos as i was walking around there about ten months ago watching the ferry lady putter back and forth and wondering how long it would take for the pebble beach to become a sandy one .
My father (96) lives a few miles down the road at Halesworth if anyone was wondering why i was there plus Guldex was on around then , coincidence?????
PaulR
Western Thunderer
In the early C20, along with other extension plans, there was a proposal to convert the Southwold Railway from 3ft gauge to standard gauge. It never came about but my fiction supposes that it did. As noted above, a harbour branch was eventually built, being completed during WW1. It was a failure, however, because although the harbour was busy, most of the catch at this time was transhipped by sea to northern Europe.
Wolsey's Creek exists and is a little way upstream from Southwold; it can be seen from the A1095. However, no railway ever went there and I'm using the name in the same way that Iain Rice used Butley Mills - as an excuse to live my own model railway fantasy and we all know about that!
Meanwhile a couple of unexpectedly free days has given me the opportunity to work on the baseboards. This is the lower level and will be the river layer. The trackbed will be set over those access holes at a height of about 20mm, or 5ft in scale. If I'm lucky I'll have time this weekend to construct the frame for the backscene. The cassette fiddle yard will be on the right and I haven't thought about that yet.
Wolsey's Creek exists and is a little way upstream from Southwold; it can be seen from the A1095. However, no railway ever went there and I'm using the name in the same way that Iain Rice used Butley Mills - as an excuse to live my own model railway fantasy and we all know about that!
Meanwhile a couple of unexpectedly free days has given me the opportunity to work on the baseboards. This is the lower level and will be the river layer. The trackbed will be set over those access holes at a height of about 20mm, or 5ft in scale. If I'm lucky I'll have time this weekend to construct the frame for the backscene. The cassette fiddle yard will be on the right and I haven't thought about that yet.
NHY 581
Western Thunderer
Morning Paul,
Given that I'm at a similar stage, it's really useful to see your baseboards. Cross bracing has been suggested to me and it's interesting to see you appear to have supported yours from below as well.
I take it this improves rigidity, preventing twist ?
Rob.
Given that I'm at a similar stage, it's really useful to see your baseboards. Cross bracing has been suggested to me and it's interesting to see you appear to have supported yours from below as well.
I take it this improves rigidity, preventing twist ?
Rob.
PaulR
Western Thunderer
Hi Rob,
I can't take credit for the design. I drive up to Richard's (Heard) on Tyneside where he has a workshop with some delicious tools. At home I get by with a saw and set square! He has developed this method and we used it for Old Parrock.
Basically, we cut a piece of 6mm birch ply the dimensions of the board and this becomes the bottom. We then cut out everything to leave a web of the frame. The ends are 9mm birch ply and we set the board joints in first. The diagonal cross pieces have holes cut in to reduce weight and the whole lot is then glued and clamped in one go - clamping is very important and Richard owns more clamps than a heart surgeon.
The next morning the whole thing is strong and stiff with absolutely no twist - it's a glorious moment. It's also light which is important because my boards are already beginning to accumulate weight with all the added extras.
We reckon that it would work with 4mm birch ply but I'd still use 9mm at the ends.
I can't take credit for the design. I drive up to Richard's (Heard) on Tyneside where he has a workshop with some delicious tools. At home I get by with a saw and set square! He has developed this method and we used it for Old Parrock.
Basically, we cut a piece of 6mm birch ply the dimensions of the board and this becomes the bottom. We then cut out everything to leave a web of the frame. The ends are 9mm birch ply and we set the board joints in first. The diagonal cross pieces have holes cut in to reduce weight and the whole lot is then glued and clamped in one go - clamping is very important and Richard owns more clamps than a heart surgeon.
The next morning the whole thing is strong and stiff with absolutely no twist - it's a glorious moment. It's also light which is important because my boards are already beginning to accumulate weight with all the added extras.
We reckon that it would work with 4mm birch ply but I'd still use 9mm at the ends.
Nick Rogers
Western Thunderer
That’s a very interesting way of building boards - it’s quite similar to an aircraft wing in a way! Could you take some photos of over angles and joins. I have a small project which requires a few more boards and I’d be interested in adapting this idea.
Clamps do make the world of difference. I own several long sash clamps, and 40 odd 6-inch F ones. They really do make life easier. That coupled with a table saw, pillar drill and a good, large flat surface is key in my experience.
All the best,
Osgood
Western Thunderer
I cannot recommend highly enough the period after all the holidaymakers have gone home, despite the cooler temperature.
Lunch or supper in either of the pubs will not be a disappointment either.
Some wonderful old photos above, also Overseer's more recent siding pic.
Richard H
Western Thunderer
Hello Nick,
Here are three photos of Paul's baseboards under construction - I'm afraid that these are the only photos that show the joints. You'll probably be able to make out that the joints are not sophisticated, but are simple butt joints, which were clamped and glued in stages. I must emphasise that I have no engineering background or knowledge, so this design and approach only emerged intuitively and pragmatically. However here's my explanation of the construction:
The one-piece fret that forms the bottom of the structure keeps the bottom edge of all the sides, ends and diagonal cross-members in alignment, and gives stability and reinforcement at the bottom of each vertical joint. The combination of square and diagonal members glued at all contact surfaces gives rigidity in all directions to prevent twist, especially when the trackbed is attached. Essentially the bottom fret, the vertical members, and then the trackbed on the top combine to form a strong 'box' of interconnected I-girders. The trackbed or top surface board will be screwed in place but not glued, to allow for possible future modifications and/or re-use. The bottom fret and the positions of the various joints can be arranged to meet the needs of the layout design - they don't have to be completely regular, but what matters, I think, is that (a) all the joints are cut to give a firm fit, and (b) the diagonals running in opposing directions are critical in ensuring overall rigidity.
I hope this helps,
Richard
Attachments
Nick Rogers
Western Thunderer
Thank you, Richard, that’s really useful to see.
Myself and a late friend produced some underside baseboard protection for our groups new test track. It is a similar idea to this, but not one sheet for the underside. It is something I will experiment with in the near future.
Best wishes,