LARNE CABIN

Hi @Lambeg man, I am sure that you are much more knowledgeable than myself on these matters (I saw your input to the discussion on the 1944 mystery photo), and I'm sure you are already aware of what follows, but, as you ask for any advice I will contribute the following. The photo on page 39 of R M Arnold's The Golden Years of The Great Northern Railway Part Two of SG2 16 hurrying past Scarva with a ballast train suggests that behind all the smoke from 16 there is the base of a signal post. This is confirmed in the film Off The Beaten Track - Scarva to Banbridge and Newcastle, (utube, at 4min 44secs approx), shows a Down Starter at the Norhern end of the Up Platform. Although the photo is very clear, there is no evidence of any other signals, apart from the vague suggestion of a Down Advanced Starter, on the Down Side a bit beyond the cabin. There is no indication of any signalling on the branch. The article in the IRRS Journal, No 109 June 1989, 'The Banbridge Lines' , states 'The line was worked under the regulations for One Engine in Steam', but how would a goods say from Banbridge to Newry or Banbridge to Poradown via Scarva be signalled from the branch unto the Up Main Line? Just a few observations, which as I said I am sure you are aware of. An Ordinance Survey Map of the 30's/40's would be good, as they usually indicate Signal Posts. As an aside, @Patrick Davey of this parish, has a thread on the Workbench Forum, 'Two GNR(I) Buildings', where he describes the building of both a GNR(I) Signal Box and a GNR(I) Waiting Shed. Although the Signal Box at Scarva was far from typical GNR(I), in fact it was fairly unique and would make a great modelling project, the Waiting Shed is a definite candidate for Scarva.

Some fool had removed the Castrol Oil Drum before yesterday's photos! The drum, starting to rust in the late 60's, is totally rusted in the 1985 photo. It seems oul Paddy liked his recent photo in front of the cabin and is keen to pose again. More station staff and friends, including Barney the porter's daughter, Rebecca, to come shortly. Watch this space.

Goodness, Patrick, that was a lot of work and I admire your pursuit of improvement and, I agree, it looks neater now. A water crane would be a bonus.

Thanks for your message @Lambeg man. Sorry to hear that you are in the same boat as myself, and my thoughts are with you and your wife. Even though very little time is spent at the kitchen table actually building anything (that P W Shed took me two months) I find that there is a therapy in planning and thinking about next steps etc. in the mind. I was brought up in Gilford and went to Portadown College, 1965 - 1972. At primary school I was friends with the son of the Station Master at Tanderagee, Mr Morton, and spent many happy hours around Tanderagee Station. That's where I got my love of railways from. I would also have been familiar with Scarva and so look forward to seeing how you progress.

Yes, @jhb171achill, it is a very different location today, infrastructure wise, but one of the reasons I chose it as a model is that the area is still there today, exactly as it was, from the Olderfleet Road Bridge to the point where the crossing was on the Shore Road, so that makes proportions and distancing quite easy. Some of the structures of the Aluminium Works are still there!

A few kitchen table builds, and a few more 'signature features' for Larne Harbour Station. This is the real scene, albeit in a very dilapidated state in 1985..... © Jonathan Allen ..... and this is the model scene, mid to late 60's, last days of the UTA, and just before NIR introduced white lettering on a maroon background for Signal Box and Station Name Boards (see photo at end of this post)..... Some would say a bit too pristine, but when the ground covering and ballast is eventually added it will subdue the overall scene and my aim is realism, hopefully to the standard of Noel's Gort Station. The P W Shed has a weathered appearance with slightly rotted door and rusted corrugated roof..... The canopy is now almost complete, including sky lights and rusted corrugated metal..... .....and a buffer stop has been installed at the end of the short Up Siding. This is one of my favourite photos, probably because of the blue sky and the overall view giving me a wealth of detail for my model. ©The KDH archive, 27th June 1969.

Terrific stuff @Darius43, I feel envious of forum members, like yourself, who have such huge spaces to model and Middlemark is going to be seriously impressive. I also love all the models you churn out at a tremendous pace, especially all the Norn Irish stuff. Can I just ask where you sourced that corrugated metal sheeting for the refuelling point as it looks exactly what I am looking for for my canopy at Larne Harbour Station.

Very little has happened at Larne Harbour Station since December last year. This is due to my wife's illness and the need for almost 24/7 care, and with all the chores to be done, shopping, cleaning, cooking etc., as well as looking after her, railway modelling is restricted to 10 minutes here and there at the kitchen table. But the Larne Harbour Station project continues, albeit at a very slow pace! As a way to get back on track, i am going to introduce a few more of the staff at Larne Harbour Station. As mentioned earlier, these individuals will be with us throughout the development of this project. We have briefly met Barney, the porter in previous posts, learned about his background and his craic and banter, but never actually seen him, so here is the man himself.......... The Signalman at Larne Harbour is Hugh. Hugh has worked on the railway all his working life, working for the NCC all over the system and now for the UTA. Here we see him in the cabin and on the phone........... Picture it, as Sophia in the American Sit-com, The Golden Girls, would say. It's a late summer evening in August 1969. It's around 6:05pm (18:05). The 5:30 (17:30) ex York Road Boat Train has left Whitehead on time and is approaching Magheramourne Loop. The 5:05 (17:05) Up Non Stop Boat Train is sitting in Platform 2 at Larne Harbour. The steamer is very, very late. Hugh,the Larne Harbour Signalman is on the phone to the signalman at Magheramourne Loop and they are agreeing to let the Down Boat Train continue on the single line section to Larne Harbour. This train will probably arrive on time at 6:22 (18:22) well before the 5:05 Non Stop Up Train is ready to leave. and here we see Hugh ready to go down to the trackside to pass the token for the single line section to Magheramourne to the driver......... [Michael Stevenson, in his book Steam's Last Fling, recounts a run on Saturday 9th August 1969. The 17:05 Up Boat Train was severely delayed due to the late arrival of the steamer and did not leave the harbour until seconds after the 17:30 ex York Road came to a halt. 55, with six coaches and with John Weatherup driving did the non stop run in 34m 37s, reaching 62mph at Eden, 60mph at Bleach Green Junction and 72mph at Whitehouse. Mac Arnold, in Steam over Belfast Lough, tells how, prior to 1967, this sort of running in from Greenisland was commonplace, but permanent way restrictions, followed by restriction on steam engines, had ended the day of the near 80mph dash in along the Lough Shore]. The last ever Steam Boat Train was on Saturday 16th August 1969]. Lastly, for now, we have oul Paddy, a member of the Permanent Way Gang. Paddy is nearing, in fact we'll over, retirement age and generally is to be found in the station area. He doesn't travel too far from home......... These figures are by Modelu, www.modelu3d.co.uk , mentioned previously in a few posts on this forum, and more recently by IRM, in their announcement of driver and second man figures for their Accurascale Deltics. These figures are expensive, but highly detailed, and for a small area diorama/layout where detail is needed, they are excellent.

Growing up in the village of Gilford, and going to school in Portadown, William Redpath's model of Poradown Station is so nostalgic. What an achievement to model such a large area so accurately. I remember seeing it a few years ago (probably at Cultra) when the roundhouse area was still being developed. There are so many areas along the length of the model brilliantly modelled. Hats off to you William, brilliant realism, terrific modelling.

Agree, @Lambeg man, definitely Lisburn!

Hadn't heard of Sunrise Models before, Patrick. Had a quick look there, and looks interesting! Thanks for mentioning them! I'm thinking of something UTA ish for Harbour Road on Larne Harbour!

Yes, Kevin, I am a great fan of and take a great interest in Signal Cabins and signalling. That Signal Cabin is terrific for 2mm. I have went back and forwards between your model and your 1959 photograph and the model is very, very impressive. Looking forward to the Water Tower.

Welcome to the forum Kevin. The Station House looks great! I love to see people attempt 'an actual layout of an actual station', as you put it, and in 2mm as well. Looking forward to seeing the Goods Shed and then a layout of Ballywillan.

As you know, @Galteemore , I love to see people model real locations and based on the excellence of your previous projects, this promises to be something special, so looking forward to seeing it develope.

There are three sets of semaphores within the area being modelled. The simplest is the single shunt signal connected to Lever 20 and controlling exit from the Up Sidings out unto the Up Running Line. The second is the bracket signal, close to the cabin and connected to Lever 30, controlling exit from the Down Harbour Sidings out unto the Up Running Line. The third is the impressive and defining feature, the Platform Starter, with the two main Signals, the Up Platform 2 Starting Signal connected to Lever 31, ,the Up Platform 1 Starting Signal connected to Lever 32, and the two shunt signals, Lever 11 from Platform 1 and Lever 12 from Platform 2. As my first project, I have started with the bracket signal. There are two reasons, first I have never built a signal before, so this will give me some practice before attempting the challenging Platform Starter and secondly, if I have this signal in place it will allow me to begin completing the area around the cabin, telegraph poles, ballasting etc. I have used this 1985 photo, ©Jonathan Allen, to give me the detail of the signal, position, size, structure etc., it really is a sturdy structure........ © Jonathan Allen It's amazing how you can look at a photograph time and time again and not see the obvious. I pondered for months on how this signal connected to the lever frame, as there was no evidence of any pulleys etc. on the ground! Then it just dawned on me. If you look closely you can see just above the rail, a rusty signal wire, passing through a pulley post to the crank at the base of the signal base post....... ........ and again here we can see the rusty signal wire continue to the box and presumably enter the locking room via the hole created by removing a few bricks. © Jonathan Allen So, having researched the prototype, it's time to start the model............ To get as an authentic look as possible, various materials have been used. The base post is Plastruct Styrene Rod, 4.8mm square, the trimmers are made from plastikard and the bracket is of course from a MSE fret......... .........the landing has been added, MSE fret, and the base for the doll, plastikard ......... .........just checking the height next to the cabin before too much detail is added....... .........the start of work on the doll, the doll is Plastruct Styrene Rod, 4mm square, the lamps and lamp brackets are from a Ratio Kit, the arms are from an MSE fret and the pulleys are 3d design. I haven't decided yet whether to paint the arms or use transfers. I'll probably use transfers as they will be neater and I am so pernicity about detail. The spectacles will probably be the most difficult part! .........by the next post I hope to have the detail complete. The idea is that the wire from the short shunt arm will come across the trimmer via the two pulley wheels and down the base post to the crank and hence under the baseboard, so that eventually it will be operational. A wire from the crank will pass through a pulley post and into the box, as a dummy from the main arm, which will not be operational, so more later.........

Fair comment @Fowler4f, @£4.50 per figure they are expensive, and I suppose for a diesel driver, you're not going to see much detail! However, for someone like myself working on a small space, highly detailed layout the MODELU Figures are extremely detailed and I think worth the money.

Nice colour view of Brown Van with 186!

Hi @Fowler4f , the best figures that I have come across are produced by MODELU Finescale Figures. I have bought a number of them for my 1960's layout, but they also do modern image. If you look under Loco Specific Crew you will find suitable drivers for the A Class.

This is just mind boggling, for someone like myself, working on a 6' x 2' board, which fits in a 6' x 2' alcove and gives me so much enjoyment. Imagine having a 'railway den', it must be heaven, and all that stock and track diagrams and sophisticated control. Hats off to you Raymond. You're a lucky man, enjoy.

Yes, again, all the above compliments very much deserved. There is so much detail here reflecting the love of farming and the countryside, as well as railways. There is so much to like, the tractor tracks in the soft ground, the hay in the barn, the vegetable garden and greenhouse and the blown off corrugated roof! The other outstanding feature ,( as well as the viaduct and of course the track), is how well the backscene fits in. Many congrats and looking forward to more.

Super diesel collection, Patrick, and nice wee narrative to explain so many diesels at Brookhall Mill. Even allowing for the sheer perfection of the A's and the 121, I would pick out the Hunslet!

Welcome aboard Rush and Lusk (loved your GNRI Signal Cabin). Yes, there is so much knowledge, inspiration and encouragement on this forum. Enjoy.

Absolutely terrific work. As I said before, inspirational. Thanks for posting these detailed photos. They will be a terrific aid to others. Hard to pick out a favourite, as they are all top class, but to me the 70 Class is brilliant!

Again I am drooling! Red Star Parcels Containers at Larne Harbour! Another little project I am working on, so great to see how you've done it. You are going to give inspiration to a lot more NIR modellers.

Fully agree with @Galteemore , that is UTA/NIR railcar heaven! What a line-up!