Lametton Halt: A trip down the Looe branch.

[wigancg]

Hello there and thanks for stopping by.

May I introduce you to Lametton, a halt down on a Cornish branch line in the beautiful West Country. Lametton is loosely based on St Keyne Halt on the Looe branch line with its abandoned canal running alongside and also has references to the station at Causeland on the same branch, both still open today on the national network.

The scenic part of the layout measures 120cm x 30cm and consists of the halt on the right hand side, a siding running off the main and a kick back siding which would once have served an old lime kiln.

As per the set up at the real St Keyne station, there is a bridge across the railway and canal at the end of the platform with the canal arch noticeably smaller than the railway opening. At the other end of the layout is another small overbridge with tight clearances, again, as per the Looe branch.

The layout is supported on trestles at eye height to give an atmospheric overall impression. Lighting sits under the pelmet and is fed from a separate 5V feed. Two fiddle planks are at either end to allow trains to run off scene down the branch to Looe and Coombe Junction / Liskeard.

Chris

 

[AdeMoore]

Bob on that Chris, looking forward to seeing more closer!

 

[Dan Randall]

Excellent! More pictures please.


Regards

Dan

 

[Joe's Garage]

Very nice Chris, as per Dan's request more photos. Amazing what you can get in 4'
Cheers Julian

 

[wigancg]

Hello everyone,

As explained yesterday, an abandoned canal runs part way down the layout. It emerges from under the bridge next to the halt, runs alongside so the passengers (very few that there are) have a view of the swans that gently meander along the water and turns left to continue its run off scene.

As you can see, the bridge designs are very different, as per the originals at the real St Keyne on the Looe branch.

The bridge acts as the scenic break with the fiddle plank beyond. The swans are from Modelu.

Historical photo courtesy of Gerry Beale's excellent Wild Swan book, 'The Liskeard and Looe Branch' (2000).

Chris

 

[Penrhos1920]

Have you got the special coaches that were built for the Looe branch? They were a little bit narrower than most plus there was 1 less compartment so that the van was bigger.

Looe B-set coaches

 

[wigancg]

Have you got the special coaches that were built for the Looe branch? They were a little bit narrower than most plus there was 1 less compartment so that the van was bigger.

Looe B-set coaches

I haven't I'm afraid. Maybe that could be a project for the future...

However, a lovely 14xx does run with her autocoach from time to time. She may make an appearance very soon...!

 

[wigancg]

Hello everyone,

And just like that, a train has appeared! At long last.

Work stained but polished on shed, 1470 pauses at the halt for any custom with her equally mucky autocoach.

 

[wigancg]

Hello there,
1470 calls again this morning with her usual autocoach on the way down the branch. A few passengers have boarded, however, it's likely to be busier on the way back.

Access to the halt isn't from the road overbridge but from a path off the end of the platform, across the line, through some gates, across the old, abandoned canal and into Lametton village. There is a whistle board either side of the overbridges (off scene) as per the rulebook. All passenger services call at the halt but goods run through, unless there's some shunting to do.

Next time, we will come back, sit by the lineside with the swans and observe some shunting in the yard from the daily goods service, which takes place "as required".

Chris

 

[Muddysblues]

Hello Chris, lovely stuff , very atmospheric, just too echo others, more pictures please, do you have some overall views from each end ?

I have an avid interest in the Looe branch, and I am just waiting on a parcel from Tim Horn, so I can start my project nod to the same line.

Best regards
Craig

 

[wigancg]

Hello Craig,

I can take some photos from each end, sure.

It sounds great that you've got a Looe branch project in the making. Do you have the Wild Swan book by Gerry Beale? It's very useful for photos of the line's structures and workings over the years. The majority of the structures are still there in situ!
The line does have a tendency to flood though during the autumn/winter months when the tide comes in on the estuary down between Sandplace and Looe. It happened yesterday and train services were suspended!

All the best,
Chris

 

[Alan]

Looking really good Chris.

 

[Pannier Tank]

What a lovely atmospheric layout you have created and BR(W) too!

 

[Mike Walker]

What a truly superb little layout. Not only BR(W) but Cornwall too! Welcome to the wonderful genre of cameos.

Hopefully we'll be able to enjoy it in the flesh on the exhibition circuit before too long.

 

[Joe's Garage]

Lovely close up photos Chris and those swans look wonderful.
Cheers Julian

 

[wigancg]

Hello everyone,

I managed to capture the mid-morning goods today as it came down the branch to Lametton and did some shunting.

The way the siding was laid out at Lematton meant that shunting any necessary wagons could only really take place on the way back up the branch from Looe, as the locomotive would be in the correct position to access the siding with the wagons trailing.

So, 4666 brings her freight to a pause on the main line. She only has a few vans and the mink needs dropping off in the siding.



With the guard having uncoupled the mink from the rest of the consist, the pannier draws forward towards the halt and beyond the point. The points are controlled by the guard with a key from the signal box at Coombe Junction.

With the pannier and mink safely beyond the point, the guard begins to pull the levers for the next part of the shunt.





With flanges squealing on the curves, 4666 propels the mink slowly into the siding ready for the guard to uncouple.







Having uncoupled, 4666 now runs slowly back onto the main line and rests by the platform as the guard returns and locks the point to its original position.



4666 then is coupled back up to the rest of the wagons before proceeding back along the branch towards Coombe Junction and then onto Liskeard.



The mink can wait patiently in the siding for unloading.



And just like that, all goes quiet for a while at Lematton.

Chris

 

[wigancg]

Our photographer down by the lineside managed to capture a different type of traction this morning, shuttling up and down the branch...

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

Ah, the penny drops!!! Thought I recognised this layout.
A James Hilton commission.

Commission: Lametton Halt in OO…

It was the start of the year that a scheme based upon the Looe branch was tentatively sketched out with my customer, and having studied an ...

paxton-road.blogspot.com

 

[Alan]

I rember going on the Looe brach in the mid 60s in one of those. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

 

[wigancg]

Ah, the penny drops!!! Thought I recognised this layout.
A James Hilton commission.

Commission: Lametton Halt in OO…

It was the start of the year that a scheme based upon the Looe branch was tentatively sketched out with my customer, and having studied an ...

paxton-road.blogspot.com

Hi Jordan,
It is indeed! James did a wonderful job and I highly recommend him to anyone. He's a top notch guy!