Inspirational Stations

26505 Views 120 Replies 30 Participants Last post by Norman Byrne, 1 h ago

Greyvoices

Discussion Starter · Jul 5, 2013

7

There are many stations that inspire modellers. I suspect that we each have a favourite location that we would like to model. How often do we dream of what we would create if only we had the time/money/understanding spouse/someone made a suitable kit .......... yes there are many reasons why these railway layouts never get built but the dream remains in a corner of your mind. At odd idle moments you search out that dream, run your mind over the perfectly executed track diagram, imagine yourself holding an exquisite model of the station building which you have just built with your newly found scratch building skills. Then the car driver behind you runs out of patience and honks as the lights return to red.

But why not share that dream. If you are unable to build it ...........

I will start the ball rolling with Döbeln Hauptbanhof (Main Station) which is situated on the Dresden to Leipzig (via the Muldentalbahn) route where it crosses the Chemnitz to Berlin line.

Looking East 120 278 runs through the station with a freight off the Dresden line. 21/09/90

The interesting layout is shown to advantage in the first photo.

A simplified plan view.

132 039 leaves with a service to Chemnitz 21/09/90

118 747 arriving from the West, again on 21/09/90

All the previous photographs were taken before the East German DR was merged with the West German DB. This was the scene just a year after the wall came down. Not much changed on the railways.

Now electrified, we see 143 087 pushes a short rake of double decker coaches.

Here another modern view shows some more station details.

I travelled through this station a few times but never had the time to alight and take some photographs. I find the station layout to be very interesting and hope to incorporate something of the essence of this place in a future layout.

I found the wonderful photographs on Flickr, specifically here: Werner & Hansjörg Brutzer Flickr collection. I wrote to Werner asking for permission to use their photos on MRF and he has graciously given permission. I urge all to visit their fabulous Flickr collection, you will not be disappointed.

Anyone else like to share their dream?

Best regards .............. Greyvoices (alias John)

Nearly forgot the roundhouse. 201 050 on shed with a pair of shunting locomotives in 1992.

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Long funnel & tiresome

· #61 · Jul 11, 2013

That was a really well researched post about Bebra, a good map always attracts me like ...well u know what.

I haven't been able to lever SWMBO into train travel as far north as Germany (we mostly ride through southern Europe: usually the FS - equipped with kilimetrico tickets (with nibbled away cut outs like our old Brit Willebrew bus tickets). I also promise never to be on a train at mealtimes.
But, like in Italy still (just), the last time I roamed the DB all the important Bahnhofs continued to maintain well loved station facilities: Refreshment Rooms, Book stalls, Gents toilets, Left luggage w.h.y.

And we have always enjoyed gatecrashing the well founded railway staff clubs adjacent to prominent foreign railway stations (Siena for example) - they are always most welcoming.
Happy Days!

LF&T

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6991

· #62 · Jul 15, 2013

Well, I told you about the inspirational station which was probably responsible for my ITD (incurable train disorder), but let me tell you how everything came back together.
Of course, I sold all my N-gauge stuff in 1970, all the proceeds going down my throat during first year Uni, another common affliction. I stayed in touch with all things railway in a practical sense, home in Sussex, Uni in Birmingham - so the New Street to Brighton run was pretty well covered. At the time my sister lived near Banbury so trips along the exWR mainline were also frequent. Had a girlfriend in Exeter at one stage and visited in 1973. But it wasn't that cool to be too involved, enjoyed my train journeys etc, but no models. Had a great day on the Kingswear line in 1977 (another girlfriend was on holiday in Brixham - this was also interesting because I went back home to Brighton on the through train from Exeter, which in 1977 was run by ex-Hastings 6-car sets!). Went to UCL in 77, during this time had a girlfriend who lived in a village on the old Ware to Buntingford line, so it was classical commuting, drive to Broxbourne (in her Triumph Spitfire - she was flash), down to Seven Sisters and on to the Victoria line to Euston for the 200m stroll to the Lab. So trains always important and lovely re-connection with the ER roots of my ITD. There followed spells in Canada, Australia and Saudi - enough for several other stories. But then something else happened, I was employed by a company in Karlsruhe and went to work there in 1985...
It's late now, so part 2 of this story tomorrow, and the inspiration for my modelling interests.
6991

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steveiow

· #63 · Jul 15, 2013

Broad Street
Leicester Belgrave Road
Liverpool Central
All long since gone
Steve

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Jon Hale

· #64 · Jul 15, 2013

Manors & Newcastle Central in the mid 1970s: Deltics, Peaks, 40s, 37s, 47s, 31s in abundance, and still a lot of steam railway architecture and ambience.

Long funnel & tiresome

· #65 · Jul 15, 2013 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE (steveiow @ 15 Jul 2013, 19:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Broad Street
Leicester Belgrave Road
Liverpool Central
All long since goneLpool Central I find a surprising "inspirational" nomination; I'd like to know your reasons why.
As a Liverpool student going home to N Derbyshire, Lpool Central was the boring choice - just a 2-6-4 LMR tank and BR suburban coaches in a 45 min sprint to Manchester Central via Widnes north and Warrington or Padgate.
The big exception was the 13.15 departure of the North Country Continental to Harwich - a glorious set of spacious Gresley stock that got worked by the electrics over Woodhead from Manchester and on, I imagine, via Lincoln and March to Parkeston Quay, thence overnight to the Hook and the Rhineland.

Generally more interesting were the Newcastle corridor expresses from Liverpool Exchange, behind a Patriot, via Wigan Wallgate and Bolton Trinity Street to Man Victoria (now there is/was a beautifully mysterious " additive" station plan if ever there was one).
Then when the Trans Pennines were introduced, nothing beat the ride up out of Lime Street and out through the sheer sided rock cuttings to Olive Mount and Rainhill, sitting behind the driver.

Leicester Belgrave Road I never knew about until too late.

My one surprise in this thread is that no one has singled out a marine station. I hereby nominate Hyderapasa station on the Bosporus.

LF & T

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reddo

· #66 · Jul 16, 2013

As James Bond might say, now you have brought Hayderapasa into the conversation - I had to check it out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haydarpa%C5%9Fa_Terminal

Greyvoices

Discussion Starter · #67 · Aug 14, 2013

5

........ and now for something completely different:

Thetford has a simple station layout but the detailing of the structures and memories of my visits when a boy have made this one of my favourite stations. I used to cycle the 12 miles from my home in Bury St.Edmunds to watch the Norwich <> London Liverpool St. expresses hauled by Britannia's or B1's, steam lasting just into the sixties. There was also the off chance of seeing a midland engine, a Black 5 or a 4F on Summer Saturday workings if there was no suitable change of loco at Peterborough or March. What memories.

As I mentioned, the detailing of Thetford station is very interesting particularly the knapped flint walls and ironwork:

I took these photos in 2005 but the scene is little changed from what I remember in 1960. Sadly the train services are not so interesting with modern DMU's, the Norwich <> Liverpool Lime Street and the Norwich <> Cambridge services replacing the variety of hauled trains that worked a range of routes and destinations in former years. Such is progress. There is a vast number of rural towns that have lost direct links which results in inflated journey times due to the constant and time consuming need to change trains en route.

I found this interesting study on the interweb:

Thetford is now a through station shorn of yard facilities and lacking the strategic importance it once had as a junction station, the branches being over the Suffolk border to Bury St.Edmunds and, via Roundham Junction, to Swaffham. Thetford also boasted a second station, Thetford Bridge on the Bury branch but this was closed to passengers in 1953, the route finally being closed to freight in the early sixties. I have a photo of it somewhere but in the meantime an internet search will throw up a few images. (I was going to post a photo of Thetford Bridge in the Great Eastern era but someone has put it on Flickr claiming copyright. Surely that cannot be right for a hundred year old image that has been printed in magazines and books over a number of years).

I hope this simple station has been of interest. It is not just the complex locations that inspire.

Best regards .................. Greyvoices (alias John)

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Greyvoices

Discussion Starter · #68 · Oct 23, 2013 (Edited by Moderator)

.............. and now for something completely different ...... again .......:

The use of this photograph is pursuant with the licensed use allowed by Wikimedia Commons.

Name that station.

Sadly this beautiful location was changed out of all recognition by the brutal logic of 1960's architectural tastes. If only it had survived in its original condition for 2 or 3 more decades the eventual refurbishment would have been (I like to think) far more respectful.

Best regards ............... Greyvoices (alias John)

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Free_at _last

· #69 · Oct 23, 2013

The image properties give it away as Birmingham New Street.

reddo

· #70 · Oct 23, 2013

Beautiful canopy supports in those Thetford images

kristopher1805

· #71 · Oct 23, 2013

I have a soft spot for early stations that quickly became unsuitable usually due to location but mostly size, some of these simply were much ignored such as Curzon Street in Birmingham which was missed off the railway clearing house maps of the early 1900's used for passengers from 1838 to 1893 but latterly only specials, others such as Bradford Adolphus Street featured an overall roof a small St Pancras and opened in 1854 it was closed to passengers in 1867 and lived on another 99 years.

Manchester original station at Liverpool Road is another has a certain charm about it.

There are others some of which limped on such as Belgrave Road in Leicester whilst a few still exist and made fame such as Green Park in Bath,

I like the scale of these stations and the congested utility they are a good size for modelling as they were a bit small in real life but that is all to the good in a model

As a result I intend that Towcaster will have an Adolphus Road station alongside the GCR high level but used as a parcel depot and hopefully it will have trams underneath, Faller do a nice approximation as ref number 120199 which I can make into a 4 platform face 4 road station with the 2 through lines on one side and a siding on the other to give a total of 5 platforms, this side would be open the others built up so I can say that Adolphus Street has been an inspiration.

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jim s-w

· #72 · Oct 23, 2013

QUOTE (kristopher1805 @ 23 Oct 2013, 12:05) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I like the scale of these stations and the congested utility they are a good size for modelling as they were a bit small in real life but that is all to the good in a model

Exactly. That's what I've always thought

Jim

Trog

· #73 · Oct 23, 2013

QUOTE (Greyvoices @ 23 Oct 2013, 12:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The use of this photograph is pursuant with the licensed use allowed by Wikimedia Commons.

Sadly this beautiful location was changed out of all recognition by the brutal logic of 1960's architectural tastes. If only it had survived in its original condition for 2 or 3 more decades the eventual refurbishment would have been (I like to think) far more respectful.

Best regards ............... Greyvoices (alias John)

The track condition and stock look better than today's as well.

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andrew

· #74 · Oct 24, 2013

I have always liked Balnaguard, though I doubt there is much trace of it now - it was closed in 1965. It was our station when we on holiday in the village, staying at Ivy Cottage a considerable number of years ago. I haven't got photos of my own, but Google images has some good ones. The track plan isn't too demanding of the modeller and neither are the buildings.

andrew

Iarnrod

· #75 · Oct 24, 2013

QUOTE (reddo @ 23 Oct 2013, 11:33) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Beautiful canopy supports in those Thetford images

They aren't canopy supports, they're where a whole load of bicycles were chained up and all but the front wheels removed by the tea leaves!

sto243

· #76 · Oct 25, 2013

There are some very inspirational stations here, each with their charms, and this thread has made entertaining reading.

To add another possibility to the list, I've always thought that Perth General station in pre-grouping (or early Grouping) days would make a fascinating model, with a gloriously colourful mix of stock from Highland, Caledonian and North British railways, and through stock from the Midland, East and West Coast Joint Stock just to spice things up even more. Add in the imposing station building with its overall roof, the by-passing lines and the diverging Dundee lines platforms, no less than 3 locomotive depots, and extensive sidings and the station is interesting in its own right. With a lot of selective shortening (and a truly enormous dream railway room) it might even be possible to include a representation of Stanley Junction before trains head off to the North.

This site gives some more detail on what a great place it was:
http://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/perth.html

Even today it is an imposing place, albeit slightly faded from its glory days, but well worth a visit.

To recreate it is, I know, beyond my capacity - whereas Jim S-W has said his amazing P4 New Street will take him 30+ years, and I am in awe of his progress, I suspect trying to do Perth would take more than my lifetime. Instead I have set my sights on recreating something a bit more modest and more recent, but I will keep that to myself.

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kristopher1805

· #77 · Oct 26, 2013

Continuing the theme of long gone downgraded terminus stations, Southport Central is another one this may be an easier model as it had an apex roof rather than a curved one, details can be found on disused stations, it looks like it had 4 roads on a 2+2 format and was downgraded to a goods depot from 1913.

Lord Street closed in 1952 but is still there having been turned into a bus station but this was larger and grander that Central.

Greyvoices

Discussion Starter · #78 · Oct 30, 2013

2

What turns up on this thread can be a real surprise. I would not have thought of the Leeds or Southport stations so I hope for a bit more on those.

Perth, on the other hand is a station that I know very well. Somewhere packed away in a box in my garage is a slide magazine stuffed with images I took at Perth in the early eighties. I will try to find then scan them.

In the meantime I will just post a further image of Birmingham New Street prior to the 1960's "upgrade".

This photo clearly shows the two elements of the station, the ex LNWR and Midland. The track plan ...........

............ clearly demonstrating the two halves of the station.

What a fascinating place this must have been. I have in my possession a Colour Rail slide of an LNWR train awaiting departure under the big roof sometime in the thirties. That too I must dig out.

We had such a rich railway culture in Britain, so much of which was swept away in the post war haste to modernise and rationalise. We can only now imagine what it must have been like for a Brummy lad spotting at New Street in the twenties and thirties. The parade of Dreadnoughts and Prince of Wales 4-6-0s, tenders piled high with coal, plus of course those new fangled Staniers and the Midland 4-4-0s.

I wonder if there is an MRF member who can remember those days.

Best regards ............... Greyvoices (alias John)

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Iarnrod

· #79 · Oct 30, 2013

I've always been very fond of The Far Tottering and Oyster Creek Railway. Very glad to have found someone makes the rolling stock and locomotives!

kristopher1805

· #80 · Oct 30, 2013

I think it is however very difficult to reproduce something as large as New Street, I took the thread to mean of inspiration to modellers. True however I looked at Nottingham Victoria as some part of the inspiration for Towcaster although this had a twin track tunnel at either end but the triple through road looked eminently excellent, also although generally the GCR main line had wide open spaces the part of Nottingham south of Victoria was old, crowded, tight and something out of medieval England.

Meanwhile looking at some small terminals that are able to be reproduced on a modest layout I always liked Banbury Merton Street, I now find that the setup at Oxford Rewley Road was almost identical but had a nice swing bridge on the approach. I have found quite a few nice small terminals and some such as Croxley Green in Watford that were as minimalist as they could possibly come. A few are a surprise such as the size and scope of Alnwick, and others seem to be just about right for the job such as Aldburgh. There is certainly more here than I had thought and although the disused stations website has about 1800 stations this looks like less than half the total to go at! (good on you lads for the effort)

Stamford Water Street had a most attractive frontage, there is no photos I can find of the old terminal at Lancaster Penny Street, Birmingham Curzon Strret was even left off the Railway clearing house maps, Halifax Old never gets a mention anywhere, Manchester Liverpool Road has a very interesting history etc. basically there was such a diversity of design and style that anything goes!

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