'O' Gauge Model of Heaton Lodge Junction

[simonspider]

Rather than talk about my usual subject of supercars I thought a few may be interested in this epic project I've been working on for a while now. (Yes I love trains too).

Heaton Lodge Junction is a real location just West of Mirfield, West Yorks and as a kid I spent much of my school holidays there in the early to mid 1980's watching Class 40's & 56's thundering by with MGR coal trains etc.
I decided 4 years ago to start researching the location with a view to spearheading a project to re-create the location exactly as it was in 1982-5 - in 7mm 'O' gauge.
In a nutshell the model when complete will be 180ft (55m) long in 45 odd 4' sections that will be carried by a 40ft artic to exhibitions. Currently 9 of the 4' boards are complete with production running at 4 boards a month. The track is handbuilt by a chap in Swindon from components to reflect the flat bottom concrete sleepered track, the boards are laser cut by a firm in Bedale and the gradient of 1:137 on the prototype is even built in which in 7mm scale the lines rise about a foot over the 180ft distance of the model. All the structures are being re-created by Allan Downes an iconic model builder if ever there was one..however the scenery is all being done by moi - I enjoy it although I'm sick of being covered in static grass.
All the diesel loco's (about 25 of them) were seen on the prototype at the time and are being built mainly from kits as we speak. All will be fitted with fan assisted smoke units to mimic the black exhaust plumes, lights and sound decoders so they sound like the real thing.
The model covers the prototype's 1.3miles from Woodend Bridge in the East (just West of Mirfield station), to the two huge bridges crossing the Calder near the sewerage works. The girder bridge (sadly disused from the mid 1960's) has thousands of rivets all of which will be replicated.
Interestingly when I was researching Heaton Lodge (lots of photo's of it on Flickr in the 1980's) I flagged up one photo which believe it or not the photographer captured me in with two friends there as a 12 year old! I tracked the photographer down and now have the original.
If anyone's interested I'll post pics here of progress and the build is featured in BRM magazine's forthcoming May edition.
Anyway a few pics of the real thing and the build..bear in mind not much detailing as yet but the grass and first of the (handbuilt) trees are in..

[simonspider]

Banks going into 4 boards

[simonspider]

Another view of about 4 x 4' boards - there are 40 something in total when completed

[simonspider]

First of the (handbuilt) trees..

[simonspider]

Start of the model- the real Woodend Bridge just West of Mirfield taken recently. 3 tracks now but 4 up until the mid 1980's..

[simonspider]

And the model one - cobbled together for this pic..

[simonspider]

The pic that really started it..Photographer Bill Jamieson snaps a '56 passing with a coal train plus inadvertently gets me at 12 years old with two mates at the same time..

[simonspider]

Here's a 1980's shot from Woodend Bridge as the 4 tracks head up towards the junction itself..

[simonspider]

Close up of the track..

[Mr_C]

That's going to be mighty impressive. I shall watch with interest.

[4321go]

Good lord, that's ambitious! But at first glance I thought that the second photo in the thread was of the real thing. Please do post, even if only for the delight of lurkers like myself (the same could be said of the Model Engineering thread!)

[Wacky Racer]

Excellent, one of my favourite stretches of railway line...

https://www.railscot.co.uk/locationnew.php?loc=Hea...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh_7a_HJVp8

[williredale]

You're not doing things by halves are you?!

Looks great

[blueg33]

Streuth!

[Mr_C]

How are you joining the boards together? I'm making my own layout (only two boards, mind) and have been wondering on the best way

[simonspider]

Thanks for the comments, to answer the questions Warley at the NEC and Doncaster at the race course are a couple it'll fit into.
As for boards they are aligned using engineers dowels and attach together by four snap catches. The electrics then use audio type connectors. I'm glad I'm not doing any of this woodwork isn't my strong point

[DIW35]

The last time I spoke to you, which was a few years ago now, I offered to give you a tour of one of the signal boxes I work in next time you were in Kent. A few of them have closed now, and several more are due to close this Easter. Visiting some of the older remaining boxes could prove difficult, due to the fact that I will have moved in to the new signalling centre that is replacing all the closed/closing boxes, but if you find yourself down this way, the offer remains and I will see what I can do.

[WestYorkie]

That's going to be great when it's finished and I'm looking forward to seeing it in the flesh at some point.
That pic of you with the 56 could quite easily have been me and a few mates just a couple of miles west at the Ravenstone junction as I was brought up on Dewsbury moor so used to walk down the old Heckmondwike line to go spotting at the junction.
I did have to Google where heaton lodge was and now know it's just on from the ha'penny bridge by the pear tree. Funnily enough I was in there on Sunday after watching a double header black 5 go through Mirfield after recently moving here.
Looking forward to the updates.

[MitchT]

Bookmarked! Going to enjoy this one

[MitchT]

simonspider said:

In a nutshell the model when complete will be 180ft (55m) long in 45 odd 4' sections that will be carried by a 40ft artic to exhibitions.

Bloody hell!