I finally managed to track down some pictures of warehouses typical of around Sovereign Street, Leeds. Hopefully they now bring an enclosed, almost claustrophobic feel to the area as I remember as a young lad of seven or eight years of age.
David
Signalling still needs to be done at Sovereign Street. I havenât seen the ones I actually want. Most of our model shops/stores are low on most items since lockdown.
Leaving Leeds Sovereign Street Station we come to The Calls Junction. The first line to the left is to Roseville Station and stations to Wetherby and York northwards. The far line goes to Dewsbury & Wakefield and the south and west.
The picture was taken when the new track had been laid. Scenery has been tidied up since.
Happy modeling.
David
I like the detail in your layout. But I have to admit Iâm a bit overwhelmed. Having no experience in your part of the world, I have no frame of reference. I for one could use an aerial view of your layout, or even a track plan, but I understand how that would spoil the illusion you are creating.
Hi Chip. Here is a rough plan of the layout. It is 11ft by 8ft approx.
Originally the layout ran from where Clarence Dock is and was (what we call) the fiddle yard. (The rest of the UK.) The line ran round past Crown Point Yard to Sovereign Street. Another line was added from a junction to run through Roseville Station to The Calls Junction and Sovereign Street. I could not get the line to end at the fiddle yard, so a junction was made, (Here in the UK space is a premium.[:)])
Then I built the bridge, which can lift off for access to the room. The line over the bridge made a continuous circuit; to the joy of the grandchildren. [(-D]
I then wanted a harbor. Leeds is well inland, so the only thing that could resemble a harbor was Clarence Dock. The bridge has now become the fiddle yard
When running steam trains Crown Point Yard is a Goods Yard
When running diesels Crown Point becomes a diesel shed.
In real life Crown Point was actually so.
I hope that all makes sense.
By the way the numbers at Sovereign Street are businesses at the yard. The letters next to Marstonâs Yard are buildings in the small Industrial Estate.
David
The bridge, built long before Clarence Dock
It was as an entry to a competition and is still in operation. (No I did not win.)
David
That is nicely done. Love to see more as you progress on the work. I dont think I have ever seen a layout based on three eras at the same time. Definitely a new idea. They are close enough that a lot of details wont change much too. It is also nice to see stuff from accross the pond.
Shane
Thanks for your comments, Shane.
Sovereign Street and Clarence Dock are both set in 1914/19 era. Clarence Dock looks like rainfall has just finised (hopefully). There are puddles everywhere and the ground is wet. Thick varnish with a piece of plastic over for the puddles. Coatings of clear varnish for wet pathways etc.
For Sovereign Street I want to have a covering of snow.
The remainder of the layout is modeled as if 1968/78 in summertime.
Not only is the layout have three timeframes, I can run steam trains from Crown Point Yard to Clarence Dock as a separate layout. It brings a little more variety if I want to have a short running session.
Making it all great fun. [:D]
David
I know Chip wants a general photo or two of the layout and I promise to take some, meanwhile here is a photo of two red squirrels, native to the UK. The real ones are becoming an endangered species as the gray ones âtake overâ. These two reside at Roseville Station garden
David
The photo is not showing up. I get the following error message:
âThese are not the droids youâre looking for.â
By the way, my U-shaped American Layout is bigger than your Brit space hog, but only on one one penninsula. Overall, it is 8âx13 ft., but the smaller penninsula is only 11 feet.
A nature writer once described a red squirrel as a cross between a Tasmanian Devil and whatever that is on Trumpâs head.
I bet he has never seen a red squirrel, or a Taz, or even Trumpâs head.[:)]
Taz and President Trump are not as calm an placid as a red.[(-D]
David
As promised. Overall views of the layout.
Leeds Sovereign Street Station looking towards The Calls Junction & Crown Point Yard.
Crown Point Yard looking towards the main road.
More to follow.
David
Roseville Station at the front. Timber Yard and rest of Crown Point Yard.
Marstonâs Scrap Yard looking towards the timber yard.
The small industrial estate with Wyndham Farm and Canal Corner behind
David
Finally two views of Clarence Dock
David
My reference etc. library. Not just railroads, but my other interests in transport etc, road trasport, trams, buses canals and ships & shipping. [:D]
As lad I used to see trains running through overgrown scenery. Hardly anything was âperfectâ. Being on a train and branches of trees âthwackingâ the side of the coaches; even on the windows.
The lines on the Sovereign Street layout have become a secondary route and when running diesels local services rule. There are times when trains are diverted onto the line. There is an air of neglect. Long grass is evident and nature is slowly taking over.
Class 47 47515 Andrew Carnegie on a diverted Doncaster to Leeds Central passes Marstonâs Yard. Picture taken from the control area.
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Sometimes trains are hard to see, but I know they are there. A Leeds Central to Dewsbury Market Place DMU waits at the signal. (In the distance beyond the scrap yard.)
David
Your layout is quite dense, isnât it?
David,
Your layout is amazing! There is so much to see! As Chip suggests, there is a lot going on but none of it looks âforcedâ to me. The scenes are quite believable.
Cheers!!
Dave
Thanks for your comments Dave & Chip.
All around the layout are things that interest me and my grandchildren have asked for to be included. Also I wanted things to be different to other UK modelers.
Sovereign Street was predominantly a warehouse area with a tram depot nearby.
(Now in 2020 the area is expensive apartments.)
Crown Point Yard was a more shopping area. Not malls but individual stores.
(Now 2020 the yard is a huge Mall.)
I wanted an area of layout to be trees and bushes. Most of it is part of the backscene.
I wanted a scrap yard. Not one like every other I have seen. Hence the small rail scrap yard. As far as I am aware I am the only person that has built one.
My oldest grandson wanted somewhere to play with his (and mine) cars and road vehicles. Therefore a small industrial estate was built.
A canal and canal boat was made at Canal Corner. Every other layout I have seen that had a canal, had locks on it. I just wanted a quiet scene.
Wyndham Farm building was a must purchase from my local model shop/store.
As mentioned previously I wanted a dock area. Clarence Dock is only two miles away from Crown Point in real life. Therefore Clarence Dock is being built.
(Now 2020 Clarence Dock is named Leeds Dock and the warehouses are expensive apartments.)
Yes the layout is âbusyâ but everything has a reason to be there. I do not like the scenery to be âcut perfectâ. Grass is not one colour There has to be âfifty shades of greenâ. Trees are all shapes and sizes. Nature at its best. [:D]
Happy modeling
David
Still working on the backscene at Clarence Dock. Some of the buildings were actually there before being demolished. A case of compression and compromise.
David