Brookhall Mill - A GNR(I) Micro Layout

[Broithe]

3 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Good plan, Patrick, although it’s hard taking up work already done well! The street version of those shelters were death traps, as the slab roof could collapse if the walls were hit by a blast wave. I have seen many shelters like yours over here and they were often surrounded by an earth bank, overgrown with grass, to soften the blast.

The NI Govt never seriously expected a raid as it was so distant, with relatively small targets compared to GB. As one Westminster official put it, it would be like a shoplifter walking through Harrods to do their pilfering in a corner shop! Sadly, when NIs meagre defences were tested they proved most inadequate. 

I spent a lot of my youth messing about in old bomb shelters. Most were, as you say, earth-banked - this provided added loose mass to 'soften' the blast, and a bit of 'shape' to allow it to pass, having less effect. I was never happy that few of these place had a secondary access - so, if the door became blocked, the occupants would be left in the hands of those outside, who may have other priorities, by that stage.

I have seen it suggested, with an air of confidence, that more people may have died in the UK from TB contracted in shelters than may have been saved from death due to the bombing - who knows?

If you ask people on the Big Island where in the UK, outside London, had the greatest WW2 bombing casualties, by far the most likely answer is Coventry, when it was Belfast, by a long way.

[Patrick Davey]

Interesting replies everyone, thank you.  

Look what I found in my 'bits of everything' box:

It's an old Hornby one but it looks decent enough I think?  Will be sunk into the ground of course and any other suggestions re: personalisation would of course be welcome!  Maybe a chain hanging down, for moving the arm...... and should the crane be facing the other way ie with the vertical part deeper into the V....?

I know these structures are often seen with braziers to keep the water from freezing but this part of Co. Antrim rarely sees extreme temperatures!

Edited July 31, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Galteemore]

Sound job. Tone down the whole with a wash and change the red bag to dirty linen colour. 

[Broithe]

Ballybrophy, if it's of interest. The chain is 'hooked', to avoid the possibility of it swinging around in the wind, into the path of a passing train.

[Broithe]

The brazier thing often seems a bit odd to me.

Both in model form and in real life, you often see braziers that are only going to warm parts that are empty of water, unless water is actually flowing, when it wouldn't matter anyway.

This one at Henley-in-Arden is a case in point - in this situation, there would be no water above the bottom of the horizontal section. and the heat is going to be of little use to the bit that does have water in, the vertical column, up to the bottom of the horizontal section.

I suppose you could get a frozen blockage there, if you had a slow leak that froze and built up over time..?

[Patrick Davey]

A bit more work at the mill this evening - the new water crane has been installed (to be further detailed) and the repositioned air raid shelter has been blended in. A large pile of coal has also appeared, to fuel the various fireplaces around the site.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Galteemore]

Excellent work. One thing I meant to say (well a few things)is to paint the drain of the crane in concrete/mortar colour, leaving the grid dirty/rusty. A smidgin of Humbrol gunmetal on the working parts such as the wheel rim will also subtly enhance the effect. Also think about how water and rust might leave their mark ..

[Patrick Davey]

Currently upgrading the roofs of my smaller buildings with an excellent product from Scale Model Scenery, their LX415-OO Lightly Weathered Laser Cut Roof Slates, which make a big difference. Also improving the flashing around the chimneys, using DAS clay and silver paint. Rain streaks applied too.

 

[JasonB]

Lovely work. Really like the streaks in particular. 

[jhb171achill]

Excellent - the weathering really sets it off perfectly.

[2996 Victor]

I've got some of Scale Model Scenery's weathered slates to try. They look really very good on your buildings - I'm looking forward to giving them a try!

The DAS flashing and rain streaks are particularly convincing.

Cheers,

Mark 

Edited August 14, 2022 by 2996 Victor

[Patrick Davey]

Another roof upgraded - better and more detailed barge boards, finer finials, weathered slates and better lead flashing with rain streaks. 
 

[Patrick Davey]

A short clip showing the weathered roofs back on the buildings on the layout.

I don't like the green patch on the office building roof, that will need toned down.....

 

 

Edited August 28, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

Been working on the interiors of the mill buildings recently, and experimenting with lighting. Lots of fun that!
 

 

[2996 Victor]

51 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

Been working on the interiors of the mill buildings recently, and experimenting with lighting. Lots of fun that!
 

 

Fantastic work - lit, detailed interiors look so good!

Can you post some details, please? I found a great article in a previous Railway Modeller about water colour tinting a drawn, fold-up interior.

All the best,

Mark 

[Patrick Davey]

5 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:

Fantastic work - lit, detailed interiors look so good!

Can you post some details, please? I found a great article in a previous Railway Modeller about water colour tinting a drawn, fold-up interior.

All the best,

Mark 

I will indeed Mark - thanks!

[Patrick Davey]

Introducing the man who put Brookhall Mill on the map - the long time Mill Superintendent, Mr. Weaver (nobody ever knew his Christian name).

 

In charge of the mill from before WW2 until the late 1960s, Mr. Weaver was very popular with all the mill employees but less so with GNR(I) management who viewed him as something of a 'loose cannon'. He started his railway career as a boy porter at Finaghy in the 1920s, transferring to Ballyroney as Senior Porter in 1930, before being appointed as Stationmaster at Inniskeen in 1935. It was while at Inniskeen that he began to lock horns with management, who first asked the GSR to take him on at Dugort Harbour but then decided to move Mr. Weaver to Brookhall where it was assumed that because he would be out of the public eye, he would be less likely to cause embarrassment in Amiens Street. This happened in early 1939 but it was an unintentionally fortuitous move by the GNR because Mr. Weaver was exactly the right person for the job when the mill was required to move to a war footing. Inspirational and motivational to the staff throughout the war, Mr. Weaver fine-tuned Brookhall Mill into a very efficient and productive operation, which was certainly appreciated by the War Department and grudgingly acknowledged in Amiens Street.

 

Very much at home in the GNR house at Brookhall, Mr. Weaver's hospitality was legendary, so much so that Brookhall became something of a 'retreat' for GNR staff who would often be given leave to spend time there as a reward for exemplary service. Mr. Weaver's Saturday night céilís were renowned throughout the GNR and many's a sore head was nursed the following morning.

 

Mr. Weaver was passionate about steam traction and felt increasingly uncomfortable with the appearance of English and American diesel locomotives during the 1950s and 1960s, so he had to 'hold his nose' on any occasion when they rumbled into his mill.

 

Mr. Weaver had one great passion outside the railway - vintage cars......

 

 

The man himself.  Even the buses stopped for him:

 

 

 

Mr. Weaver was always very dapper, sporting his trademark linen suit (made of course from the finest Brookhall linen), brown bowler hat and immaculately-polished black Oxford shoes:

 

 

 

Mr. Weaver was very proud of his vintage cars:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 1, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[jhb171achill]

".................who first asked the GSR to take him on at Dugort Harbour..................."    

The GSR declined the invitation; just as well, he'd have got bored listening to seagulls!

 

[Patrick Davey]

More lighting experiments at Brookhall Mill.

[Galteemore]

Lovely. Last photo esp good 

[2996 Victor]

10 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

Mr. Weaver was very proud of his vintage cars:

 

That's a rather nice MGTD on the right

Cheers,

Mark 

[jhb171achill]

Those interiors are superb. Inspiring me to get on with my own buildings - if I can find where I have all the bits and pieces after last house move 2 years ago!

After all, there has to be an office at Dugort Harbour to deal with the paperwork related to incoming GNR vans from Brookhall in the north, with linen consignments!

 

[Patrick Davey]

Been working on the mill roofs today. Coping stones and a hut giving access to the roof from the staircase.  Also tidied up the doorway from the platform to the staircase. 
 

 

[jhb171achill]

Jayyyysus, Weaver, don't jump!!!

[Patrick Davey]

8 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Jayyyysus, Weaver, don't jump!!!

He might, if any more of those blasted diesels arrive......

[jhb171achill]

28 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

He might, if any more of those blasted diesels arrive......

If the UTA have anything to do with it, it'll be buses!

[Patrick Davey]

A few views from around Brookhall Mill this evening.

[Galteemore]

Very nice. Do like the T2. The layering of levels in this photo is a world away from the ‘flat baseboard’ syndrome! 

 

Edited September 4, 2022 by Galteemore

[Patrick Davey]

Cheers GM and thanks for spotting one of my main objectives with the build - multiple levels within a small space.  The scenic section is actually just 18in by 48in but certain photographic angles make it look much bigger!

[Patrick Davey]

Mr. Weaver at Brookhall has been going through some old photo albums and he unearthed this interesting shot from UTA days with a UG loco shunting a linen van and an ex-GNR bus departing for Aghalee with a staff service.

 

[Patrick Davey]

And another from the old shoe box under Mr. Weaver's bed - this was one he took from the tree behind his house, when his cat 'Merlin' got stuck up there after getting spooked by a nasty diesel engine (visible on the left shunting a brake van).

[Galteemore]

I spent hours in my childhood going through shoeboxes of photos just like that, which my dad had taken, mostly GN region from 59-65. Most of the ‘altitude’ images were taken from signal posts rather than trees though! 

[jhb171achill]

6 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

And another from the old shoe box under Mr. Weaver's bed - this was one he took from the tree behind his house, when his cat 'Merlin' got stuck up there after getting spooked by a nasty diesel engine (visible on the left shunting a brake van).

I thought Henry Casserley took that one?

[Westcorkrailway]

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

I thought Henry Casserley took that one?

They Must’ve gone up the same tree….

[Patrick Davey]

Then there was the famous diplomatic incident in the late 1960s, just before Mr. Weaver retired.  CIE sent up a train of dignitaries to personally thank Mr. Weaver for his hospitality over the years but he was in a particularly grumpy mood that day and refused to speak to any of them nor would he be seen anywhere near the diesel locomotive which brought the train to Brookhall.  Instead he went off in a huff, stood on the footbridge above the signal cabin and just glared down at A3r.