Melton Mowbray

[Fincra5]

Hi, I'm looking to build Melton Mowbray as a model railway and i was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the track layout, the OS map shows a couple of sidings next to the station, which i would presume are for trains to reverse onto the Old Dalby test track.

Here is the OS map version:

Also if anyone has any good pictures and perhaps better track diagrams than an OS map they would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Finners.

Edit: By Looking on google earth i have found that they are sidings for a form of goods, anyone know what type of goods?

 

[Metroland]

Pet food, not sure if it's still in use.

 

[John Webb]

Are you looking to build Melton Mowbray in its present-day shape or at an earlier period in its life? Just that this will colour what sources you need to look at for information.

Current OS large-scale maps are available at a price - for a local OS agent try www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk - or if the Middleton Press have done a book on that line there will be an elderly map extract in that plus useful pictures of what the station looked like in the past.

Local history societies, museum and county archives are also worth investigating - the latter often have a wide range of large-scale maps covering the county over many years which can be consulted.

 

[Tomnick]

There's no facing connection into those sidings from the Up Main, only a trailing connection from the Down Main, which would rule out use for reversing movements to Old Dalby. Indeed, there's no facing movement to Old Dalby from the Down Main; I think setting back over the trailing crossover to the Up Main then wrong direction to Melton Junction is a signalled move throughout. I seem to remember that the pet food factory used to be into pork pies, though I'm not sure if my memory's being influenced by Melton's reputation!

 

[Fincra5]

lol, thanks. I suppose i could use modellers licence to turn them into reverse sidings for Old Dalby

 

[Tomnick]

Just be aware that putting a facing connection into those sidings would generally be unprototypical for a layout dating from the era that Melton does - apart from the preference against facing points in running lines where possible, it's often operationally easier to propel into sidings via a trailing connection, as the loco's then at the right end (i.e. not up against the buffer stops!) to shunt. Anything running round would do so in the Up Goods beyond the station, which has a facing connection, or even on the running line if there's a second crossover.

 

[Fincra5]

Well i plan to base it around the 90's to Present

 

[Tomnick]

The layout and the signalling doesn't date from that era though! That's part of the appeal, and operational interest, of somewhere like Melton.

 

[Fincra5]

yea, thats what i liked about it I'm sure if I use it as inspiration but develop a different layout it would work.

 

[TheBigD]

There are some track diagrams from Melton's past on this website...

http://www.systonandpeterborough.info/