Wellington Street

[makhis]

Wellington Street is my 7th Earl of Dudley based railway. All of the previous layouts have been area specific so for a change Wellington Street incorporates a number of key elements from all over the Earls system. The name is a modification of Wellington Road which was at the Eastern extremity of the Earls system but out of use just after the Second World War. However, there was a short section of line from the Wallows to Old Park Engineering. So by twisting fact with more than a generous helping of fiction,( or should that read Modellers Licence), Old Park has become Doolittle and Waite casters and fabricators. The Wellington Road land Sale Wharf has been moved to Cradley Heath where the line crossed Forge Lane renamed Wellington Street and connected with the GWR via Cradley Goods Yard. So what else has been moved? Well a dismantled rail bridge which carried the GWR line from Old Hill to Dudley known as the Bumble Hole line.
So all 9ft x 20 inches of it set up outside the work shop. You can see that one half is ballasted whilst the other is still to do. Really need to finish the back boards and ballasting.

 

[makhis]

Such a pleasant morning thought I would have a play instead of getting on with the scenic work. I noticed even the tally clerk had done a runner.S taithes coaled, Early type Williams point lever installed- still no ballast hey ho

 

[Osgood]

I don't suppose you could join all seven up if the opportunity ever arose?

 

[makhis]

Ballasting not one of my favourite jobs I'd sooner watch paint dry or cut my wrists, but that would make a mess of the baseboards. Hopefully it will be finished by the weekend after a visit to the 7mm Narrow gauge show in Burton. Phoenix figures and a few other bits'n'bobs on the agenda, the one advantage of having worked for B.R. I get free rail travel, couple that with my free bus pass and it's a no brainer. It's great being a senior and before you ask how old, I remember the big four and nationalisation not just the railways but coal and canals. Of course I was born at a very early age.

 

[Dog Star]

... I really look forward to seeing this layout for real, one day.

That is just how I felt about some of the predecessors - and then three come along at once, at the NEC last year. I was impressed with the care and attention across all of the layouts so I shall be keen to see this layout.

 

[makhis]

A quiet time at Wellington Street ( really must finish the Bedford)

 

[makhis]

Experimental Buddleia (butterfly bush) a few brush bristles and foam with a touch of paint and et voila. OK not perfect but getting there, just need a butterfly now.

 

[makhis]

Just when you think everything is going your way ( cue for a song) you discover that the brick overlay on the central bridge pier has lifted (insert suitable expletive here). So without a major hack job my solution is do what bridge engineers do with bulging brickwork, fit suitable tie rods. copy of an actual support.

 

[makhis]

Some times life can get in the way of modelling however, I have found a very large and easy on the tonic Gin and what did I say? helps.

 

[makhis]

A walk through Wellington Street while the sun was smiling although just noticed that I hadn't snapped the rear clip in place so that the gap between the boards was a little generous to say the least. Sloppy

 

[David Hall]

Hi Mike,

What a fantastic layout, absolutely inspiring stuff! I particularly like the buildings, the detailing and the way the whole scene is 'balanced' (if you know what I mean). I am a big fan of industrial and minor railways so it's right up my street. Is the fiddle yard simply a one track line?

David

 

[makhis]

Thought it expedient to try loading the car and transporting the layout, so I journeyed to my Father-in-Laws and set up the layout in his garage. No problems except I damaged a plug in unloading the layout from the car. Easily sorted so I shall have a day playing trains on Sunday. "Bostin!"

 

[makhis]

With kind permission of Chris Nevard and Model Rail here's a little taster: Wellington Street all 9ft of it

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Very inspirational for a small layout (if you can call 9' small).