Thursday, 7 July 2011

Track Diagram: Stourport-on-Severn

(View from footbridge. Photo: 'Unlocking Stourport's Past')

In the earlier post 'Visiting Signalboxes', I described being invited into the signal box at Stourport-on-Severn. The diagram below is a very simplified version of the signal box diagram.

(Click on the sketch to enlarge)

(View from platform. Photo: 'Unlocking Stourport's Past')

Track Sketch: Stourbridge Junction

(Photo: David Wynne Jones Collection)

Sketches done on site are often hard to follow. Normally, I'd make a fair copy when I returned home but, in this case, I haven't found a later copy, so here is the original version from 1955.

(Click on the sketch to enlarge)

F - Fixed (distant)
W - Wooden post
D - Doll (Goods arm)
S - Subsidiary arm
CO - Calling-on arm

The diverging track top left is the short branch to Stourbridge Town Station, at the time served by a '1400' with a single 'auto' coach, as shown in the heading photograph.

For details of what remained in 2005, refer to 'Railway Track Diagrams' Book 3: Western', Fourth Edition, published by Trackmaps (ISBN: 0-9549866-1-X). The First Edition of this book was published by Quail in 1989.

Track Sketch: Penzance

Sketches done on site are often hard to follow. Normally, I'd make a fair copy when I returned home but, in this case, I haven't found a later copy, so here is the original version from 2nd September 1964.

(Click on the sketch to enlarge)

T - Tubular post
W - Wooden post

Penzance station remains in operation.

For details of what remained in 2005, refer to 'Railway Track Diagrams' Book 3: Western', Fourth Edition, published by Trackmaps (ISBN: 0-9549866-1-X). The First Edition of this book was published by Quail in 1989.

Track Sketch: Newquay, Cornwall

Sketches done on site are often hard to follow. Normally, I'd make a fair copy when I returned home but, in this case, I haven't found a later copy, so here is the original version, believed to date from 1964.

(Click on the sketch to enlarge)

T - Tubular post
W - Wooden post
D - Small arm (Goods line)
CR - Crane
GS - Goods Shed

At the time, there were seven departures during the day to Par, including the 8.10 p.m. On a Summer Saturday there were 16 departures, to destinations as remote as Liverpool.

For details of what remained of this branch in 2005 (at Newquay, simply a single line running into platform 2 with no sidings), refer to 'Railway Track Diagrams' Book 3: Western', Fourth Edition, published by Trackmaps (ISBN: 0-9549866-1-X). The First Edition of this book was published by Quail in 1989.

Track Sketch: Falmouth

Sketches done on site are often hard to follow. Normally, I'd make a fair copy when I returned home. So far, I've not found a better copy, so here is the original version, believed to date from 1964.

(Click on sketch to enlarge)

T - Tubular post
W - Wooden post
GS - Goods Shed

Note the Tablet Catcher opposite the signal box. There was a steeply-inclined branch leading down to the docks. The main platform was provided with an umbrella roof. Note the Camping Coach in the siding next to the station. The branch seemed to be worked by 3-car Diesel Multiple Units.

For details of what remained in 2005, refer to 'Railway Track Diagrams' Book 3: Western', Fourth Edition, published by Trackmaps (ISBN: 0-9549866-1-X). The First Edition of this book was published by Quail in 1989.

Track Sketch: Looe

(Click on sketch to enlarge)

On 1st September 1964 I visited Looe and sketched the layout. Stations don't come any simpler! Amazingly, the line to Looe survives.

'Lion Shoot'

No, not a wildlife safari but a morning filming session with John Hawley at the 'Lion Tavern' in Liverpool on 6th July 2011. Centre Screen Productions are making an audio-visual presentation to interpret 'Lion' in her new home in the Museum of Liverpool and Jan and John had been invited to participate. The 'Lion Tavern' is a traditional Public House situated on the corner of Moorfields and Tithe Barn Street.

I was particularly impressed with the view of the restored facade of Liverpool Exchange station from the bar of the 'Lion Tavern'. The location is now 'Mercury Court' and the interior of the building has been completely re-modelled. There is still a station here - the subterranean 'Moorfields' accessed via the usual nondescript modern British Rail buildings.

John and I were finished shortly after 1.00 p.m. and the weather was good, so we decided to treat ourselves to a round trip on the Mersey Ferry before returning south.

Pictures:

'Lionshoot'
Exchange Station (and elsewhere)
Liverpool (from the Mersey Ferry).