A Derry Central Diorama

[Patrick Davey]

Time to share my latest efforts!!

Anyone of a railway persuasion who travels along the A6 road from Belfast to the North West will be familiar with the small station at Knockloughrim, located a short distance beyond the Castledawson roundabout.  Knockloughrim was the first stop out of Magherafelt on the oddly-named Derry Central Railway, which meandered through the eastern edge of the county, almost in County Antrim.  The line eventually closed completely in 1959 but most of the stations survive and Knockloughrim in particular is beautifully preserved, with station building, goods shed and adjacent road bridge all in excellent condition:

 

I have long been an admirer of Knockloughrim so this year I decided to have a go at creating a winter diorama of the station.  The owner was very welcoming and I have had the pleasure of visiting the station on a few occasions and he has even provided me with some very interesting historical photos:

  

The last photo above is of great interest as it shows a Mogul passing through Knockloughrim - an unusual visitor.

 

I also received a very useful plan of the smaller Derry Central stations from Kieran Lagan:

 

I started into the build a few months ago and unlike my usual situation, progress has been fairly rapid and the build is almost complete.  I decided that although it would be a diorama, I wanted to have trains moving, and that is still the plan.  The station is depicted in the final years of the DC line, under UTA ownership, although modellers' licence has been used to make the station appear a bit busier.  Passenger services stopped in 1950 but goods traffic lingered on until 1959, although by then the line was completely closed north of Kilrea.  The 'Kilrea Goods' workings were the final regular movements on the line but there were also occasional passenger specials during the final years, some of which are described by James McIlfatrick, in his charming and highly readable 1987 memoir of the line ‘The Derry Central Railway’.  

The diorama is 41 in long with a depth of just 16 in, and the baseboard was constructed in foamboard - this material is not very strong but I do not envisage any outings for Knockloughrim.  The landscape was built up using foamboard and plaster bandage, and winter scenics came from Noch and All Game Terrain.  Gabor Evenich supplied three beautiful handmade winter trees and further trees were obtained from the scenics section of Hobbycraft.  Buildings are my greatest interest in any project and all have been constructed with a mount board core.  The exterior of the station building was finished in Metcalfe brick paper but the goods shed and bridge were finished using Das clay, with the stonework scribed once the clay was fully dry.  Wills Random Stone sheets were used for the vertical platform face.

 

I also made use of a suitably wintry backscene from Model Scenery Supplies and I am particularly happy with how this has worked.  Final scenic work remains to be done and I am also hoping to add some basic lighting to the building and the platform.

 

Motive power on Knockloughrim will mostly feature ex-NCC U Class No. 80 'Dunseverick Castle' which was converted for me a few years back by Colm Flanagan, from a Hornby LMS 2P.  One of the recent Marks Models Jinty tanks will also appear, along with the OO Works ex-GNR UG class No. 49 - I doubt if either of these latter two locomotives ever visited Knockloughrim in real life but it would at least have been possible.  A number of UTA-liveried wagons and vans from Provincial Wagons will also feature, along with a few ex-GNR vans, as well as Gareth Brennan's superb scratchbuilt UTA brake van.

And I feel a story coming on............

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 11:44 by Patrick Davey

[Mol_PMB]

Wonderful! You have captured the winter scene perfectly, something which is very hard to do convincingly. I love the station building too!

[Galteemore]

This is rather wonderful and you do buildings very well Patrick. As @Mol_PMBsays, hard to do this sort of snow scene without it looking twee. This is very good indeed. I suddenly feel rather cold… 

[Northroader]

That is a terrific model layout, really lovely.

[leslie10646]

Mind-blowing, Patrick. Just terrific!

[jhb171achill]

Outstanding, as always. 

[jhb171achill]

“Knockloughrim” means “the hill of the stony ridge”. Possible fodder for a Patrick-pun-based back story?

We will listen, stony-faced….

[Kevin Sweeney]

That's beautiful work Patrick, a wonderful winter scene.

I have long been thinking of doing a brick Great Northern Station. I've saved the plan you posted here into my future projects folder.

[David Holman]

Lovely! Well done you.

[Tullygrainey]

A masterpiece Patrick. You've nailed the snowy atmosphere perfectly. You've even managed to achieve that hard winter light in the photographs. 

[Patrick Davey]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments, always appreciated!  There must be someone working the Sunday shift at Knockloughrim today as there was a late afternoon goods to be dealt with…… with unusual motive power…..

[Sea Breezer]

On 11/1/2025 at 7:22 PM, Patrick Davey said:

Time to share my latest efforts!!

Anyone of a railway persuasion who travels along the A6 road from Belfast to the North West will be familiar with the small station at Knockloughrim, located a short distance beyond the Castledawson roundabout.  Knockloughrim was the first stop out of Magherafelt on the oddly-named Derry Central Railway, which meandered through the eastern edge of the county, almost in County Antrim.  The line eventually closed in 1959 but most of the stations survive and Knockloughrim in particular is beautifully preserved, with station building, goods shed and adjacent road bridge all in excellent condition:

 

I have long been an admirer of Knockloughrim so this year I decided to have a go at creating a winter diorama of the station.  The owner was very welcoming and I have had the pleasure of visiting the station on a few occasions and he has even provided me with some very interesting historical photos:

  

The last photo above is of great interest as it shows a Mogul passing through Knockloughrim - an unusual visitor.

 

I also received a very useful plan of the smaller Derry Central stations from Kieran Lagan:

 

I started into the build a few months ago and unlike my usual situation, progress has been fairly rapid and the build is almost complete.  I decided that although it would be a diorama, I wanted to have trains moving, and that is still the plan.  The station is depicted in the final years of the DC line, under UTA ownership, although modellers' licence has been used to make the station appear a bit busier.  Passenger services stopped in 1950 but goods traffic lingered on until 1959, although by then the line was completely closed north of Kilrea.  The 'Kilrea Goods' workings were the final regular movements on the line but there were also occasional passenger specials during the final years, some of which are described by James McIlfatrick, in his charming and highly readable 1987 memoir of the line ‘The Derry Central Railway’.  

The diorama is 41 in long with a depth of just 16 in, and the baseboard was constructed in foamboard - this material is not very strong but I do not envisage any outings for Knockloughrim.  The landscape was built up using foamboard and plaster bandage, and winter scenics came from Noch and All Game Terrain.  Gabor Evenich supplied three beautiful handmade winter trees and further trees were obtained from the scenics section of Hobbycraft.  Buildings are my greatest interest in any project and all have been constructed with a mount board core.  The exterior of the station building was finished in Metcalfe brick paper but the goods shed, bridge and platform face were finished using Das clay, with the stonework scribed once the clay was fully dry.

 

I also made use of a suitably wintry backscene from Model Scenery Supplies and I am particularly happy with how this has worked.  Final scenic work remains to be done and I am also hoping to add some basic lighting to the building and the platform.

 

Motive power on Knockloughrim will mostly feature ex-NCC U Class No. 80 'Dunseverick Castle' which was converted for me a few years back by Colm Flanagan, from a Hornby LMS 2P.  One of the recent Marks Models Jinty tanks will also appear, along with the OO Works ex-GNR UG class No. 49 - I doubt if either of these latter two locomotives ever visited Knockloughrim in real life but it would at least have been possible.  A number of UTA-liveried wagons and vans from Provincial Wagons will also feature, along with a few ex-GNR vans, as well as Gareth Brennan's superb scratchbuilt UTA brake van.

And I feel a story coming on............

 

 

 

 

Really impressive stuff.. Just wondering how thick the layer of das clay is on the goods shed bridge and platform? The results are top notch

[Patrick Davey]

6 minutes ago, Sea Breezer said:

Really impressive stuff.. Just wondering how thick the layer of das clay is on the goods shed bridge and platform? The results are top notch

Cheers - about 2mm depth for the clay

[exciecoachbuilder]

I would never get tired looking at these photographs, fantastic stuff altogether.. Paul.

[Patrick Davey]

UTA-liveried U class 4-4-0 No. 80 ‘Dunseverick Castle’ has braved the snow to make a few visits to Knockloughrim this evening.  This is a scene which was probably acted out in real life, about 75 years ago at least

[Galteemore]

Now that’s very nice indeed. The U is very well done - all those key features like tablet catcher and tender numberplate really make a difference. Although as it’s carrying the lamp code for a stopping passenger I think the coaches might still be in Magherafelt  

Edited January 16 by Galteemore

[Patrick Davey]

18 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Now that’s very nice indeed. The U is very well done - all those key features like tablet catcher and tender numberplate really make a difference. Although as it’s carrying the lamp code for a stopping passenger I think the coaches might still be in Magherafelt  

They apparently got caught in a snow drift a few miles back towards Maghera but 80 has made it to Knockloughrim to raise the alarm……

Edited January 16 by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

Getting dark at Knockloughrim now, a blizzard is coming!

[Patrick Davey]

[David Holman]

Lovely pics, but no snow on the loco though!

It would be a brave soul to disfigured a prized loco for just a photo shoot, methinks.

[Patrick Davey]

1 hour ago, David Holman said:

Lovely pics, but no snow on the loco though!

It would be a brave soul to disfigured a prized loco for just a photo shoot, methinks.

She was inside Magherafelt shed until just a few minutes ago…….

Edited Friday at 08:42 by Patrick Davey

[Weshty]

Lovely looking loco and very well prepared photos.   Atmospheric....no pun intended.

[Patrick Davey]

The exact layout of this area wasn’t completely clear from maps or historical photos, although I suspect it was the gents’ conveniences, which would be suggested by the excellent plan provided by Kieran Lagan:

One photograph seems to show a longish slated roof building, so that’s what I have gone with.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments and the encouragement.  Working on the backscene today then hoping to get trains running during the coming week.

[Bob229]

The winter scenes are excellent

[Patrick Davey]

I had an unexpected free morning today and I paid a visit to Knockloughrim.  The owners kindly showed me inside the building and it was great to see what appears to be the original fireplace in the former waiting room:

 

Hard to beat a roaring real fire!

I brought the diorama with me and was pleased to get a photo holding it in front of the real thing:

A very pleasant morning - better than working!

[Broithe]

33 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

A very pleasant morning

You should have gone when it was snowing..?

[Signal Post]

That dusk/blizzard photo almost had me reaching for my warm coat.

Methinks we'll be admiring a flickering amber glow from inside the station building before long......It's a stunning diorama, but I never realised that Knockloughrim was mid-way between Brookhall Mill and Clogher Head...... Now that would be quite something!

I love your "Dunseverick Castle" btw, a truly stunning loco, I think that UTA livery is most attractive, I was passing Mark's Models in Cork some time ago and saw a Jinty (Marks/Hornby) on display in the window and I was smitten, it's not what I'm modelling at all but....re-writing history a little bit I thought what if the RPSI had been formed a year earlier, they might have been able to pick up a Jinty for little more than it's scrap value and relatively cheap to run too. You've probably guessed by now but I am very pleased with my UTA No.19!, in spite of it not being DCC ready it was a very easy conversion and with a stay-alive fitted it is a stunning low speed performer, didn't see many comments on here about it, which is a shame as Mark's should be commended for commissioning it.

Anyhow I digress, was the U-class a kit built model or scratch built?

Edited 32 minutes ago by Signal Post

[Patrick Davey]

Thanks @Signal Post - Dunseverick Castle was a conversion from a Hornby LMS 2P - the prototypes were similar enough to make it an effective conversion.  The conversion was done by Colm Flanagan a few years ago, and I agree about the UTA lined black livery, very nice it is!

[Signal Post]

Thanks @Patrick Davey, clearly Mr. Flanagan is an expert at his craft.

[Patrick Davey]

New arrival on the new diorama.   A must-have for a winter scene

Edited 12 hours ago by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

The last train has left Knockloughrim for Magherafelt as the sun begins to set.  The porter has tuned off the gas lamp in the waiting room, now illuminated only by the flickering light of the turf fire.  He heads into the office to complete the paperwork for the day, and all is now quiet on the Derry Central this cold winter’s evening. 
 

 

 

The northern lights over Knockloughrim station.

[StevieB]

There are only a few snow scene layouts but they are all very effective.

Stephen

[Northroader]

Shouldn’t the snowman have a sash round him when he’s wearing a hat like that?

p.s. the flickering fire effect is very effective.

Edited 48 minutes ago by Northroader

[Signal Post]

Fabulous scene, the flicker from the fire makes me want to go inside with a hot beverage...