Welcome to Whitby West Cliff Model Railway.
And so it begins..... As a small child, in the 1950's, I remember travelling by train from my home in Middlesbrough to Whitby and Scarborough via the coast line. I have had a life-long interest in model railways and whilst looking around for a new project, the thought of building a layout of Whitby West Cliff, as it was during the time when I remember it, came to mind. It closed on June 12th 1961.
As always, when building a layout of an existing station, a good deal of the pleasure is in doing the research, looking for drawings photographs etc.
As always, when building a layout of an existing station, a good deal of the pleasure is in doing the research, looking for drawings photographs etc.
In April 2011 I spent a productive morning at the Railway Museum in York researching what information I could find. Unfortunately there was not a great deal of information to be had. I did manage to get a track and signal layout but not too much else.
I then heard of the North Eastern Railway Association, by way of a letter requesting information on the station at West Cliff and its environs. which I had written to the Whitby Gazette. One day, my e-mail contained a note from Terry Morrell, N.E.R.A. secretary. He has very kindly sent me photographs of a layout of Whitby West Cliff which he and his colleagues have built.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read these ramblings.
Early days. A few photos taken on a sunny day here in the Pacific Northwest.
Overall size of the layout is 23'-9" x 11'-0"
The baseboards are built from 1"x 4" lumber with 1/4" plywood top. I cut 1 1/2" holes in the verticals to lighten the weight. Verticals were glued and screwed to ensure rigidity. The track was laid out on 1/8" cork to try and minimize running noise.
September 2012
As the weather has been a little cold and rainy of late, work on
the baseboards has come to a halt and I've been assembling Ian Kirk kits of
various Gresley coaches. My sense of timing being what it is, I'm building these
kits just as Hornby released the same coaches R-T-R.
Work has begun on the station building. Thanks to Terry Morrell
for his providing the photos of his model and of the station just after the
tracks were lifted.
I'm constructing the building frame out of 40 thou Evergreen sheet
plastic which will be covered with Slater's embossed brick plastic sheet. The
holes are drilled in the frame to ensure a better bond between the frame and
the outer skin.
The windows, mullions, sills and lintels will have to be
scratch-built.
Luckily the station buildings were built of regular bricks and not Yorkshire stone, I count brick courses to
determine the size of walls, windows and doors.
September 2013
After a summer of holidays, outdoor activities and medical issues.
it's time to get a little more serious.
The station building now has it's outer shell and work on fixing
the roof tiles continues. I'm using the excellent tiles from York Modelling. (No connection, just a satisfied customer)
The schedule calls for Station building completion by month's end.
Then it's on to the signal box and good shed. Paul Hughes, of Carlin Hall fame, kindly sent me some
sketches and photographs of these edifices which will make construction much
simpler.
Work also continues on the bridge, with the addition of check rails. Originally the three supports had pipe bracing between the columns, but they looked a little flimsy so. out they came and were replaced by angle iron bracing.
Work also continues on the bridge, with the addition of check rails. Originally the three supports had pipe bracing between the columns, but they looked a little flimsy so. out they came and were replaced by angle iron bracing.
The station building is almost complete. I'm waiting for Hattons to deliver drainpipes, gutters and chimney pots. Being so far from a U.K. modelling shop does have it's disadvantages. Photos will be uploaded when the building is complete.
November 2014:
To paraphrase that sage, Mr. John Lennon, "Life is what happens while you are trying to work on your layout." As Arnold S. famously said "I'm Back!" There is some progress to report, but as any railway modeller will tell you, it never happens quickly enough.
After the track was laid on the station module I measured the location of the platforms to make sure there'd be room on the baseboard. The board is 24" wide which means some compression is in order. (I subscribe to the theory that sometimes railway modelling is about compromise)
On a fine day weather-wise I assembled the three modules, including the station module, and with the assistance of Ian Castle, laid the rest of the track including the track at the module joints.
Updated pictures:
Overall station pictures
Up Platform Shelter
Signal box
Goods Building
All the above buildings are almost complete. I need to install some guttering and all the downspouts.
June 2017
As that learned philosopher Mr. John Lennon, once said, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans." It seems like a lifetime since I posted any updates on Whitby West Cliff. I have had several life changes but am now in a position to get back to construction.
As that learned philosopher Mr. John Lennon, once said, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans." It seems like a lifetime since I posted any updates on Whitby West Cliff. I have had several life changes but am now in a position to get back to construction.
The layout has a new home, named "The Engine Shed." Not very original, I know, but there we are.We have a 24'-0" x 14'-0" space in a custom-built 44"-0" x 20'-0" building. I decided to add the award winning layout of Bellingham (North Tyne) to the overall layout, as I did not want to dismantle it and I did not feel that I could sell it.
The major change is that the layout will become one of those layouts that "Never Leave Home." I am in my twilight years and the thought of hauling my layout, now that it has grown, is something I don't want to deal with.
The baseboards are complete and at time of writing 90% of the track is laid. I am using Peco code 75 track and points, which I consider to be more realistic than Code 100.
Once track laying is complete, I will begin dealing with the "Black Art" (wiring)
As I'm going the DCC route, it should be easier...... (Famous Last Words....) I've settled for Digitrax as the control system.
The question of a fiddle yard has reared its ugly head. To fiddle or not to fiddle? That is the question. I do have room for a fiddle yard, but hiding it behind scenery or just let it sit there in full view? Decisions-decisions......Watch this space.
October 2017
Now that Autumn is here and outdoor projects are becoming less frequent, it's time to get serious about getting trains running. The next stage is to continue with the wiring. I've also added an engine shed (made for two old Airfix kits) at the west end of the layout. Not sure it will be big enough for all my locomotives, but we'll see.
More rolling stock continues being added. There is now a complete Pullman rake and a complete rake of Thompson coaches in "Blood and Custard" livery. A third rake consists of Hornby Gresley coaches, all of which need to be repainted, renumbered and weathered. Several Ian Kirk Gresley coach kits need to be completed.
Renumbering and weathering all of the goods wagons is also a task to be completed one of these days. One of my pet peeves is to see a rake of vehicles all with the same number. Aargh!
Another future project is photographing the locomotives on the layout and uploading the pictures to this site.
