FYI - Beechingless Barnstaple - Version 4 (2005) link to information

Are you putting in the river bridge at Fremington? I remember the line carrying occasional goods after the line closed to passenger traffic, and what about East Yelland power station?

Phil: As mentioned in the accompanying text, Fremington is newly added in this version.. and I'd love to have added the bridge with tributary heading away from it.... and I WILL be using it a source of traffic - its going to aquire the coal traffic that would have gone direct to Yelland. At present, that bridge is not included - although a representation COULD be added by extending 'flat' over the line entering the 'tunnel' behind it. The water in front is of course partially over the base level Pilton Depot - Barnstaple Town modelling stopping at Rolle Quay.

I used to walk back from Instow to Westleigh along the track at night in the 70's - it seemed safer than walking along the road -until I saw an evening train once (not when I was near the line!) China Clay trains were the last to use the line - heading as far as Meeth beyond Torrington.

Detail at the 'outer' edges of the boards is limited- because of the necessary 'drop' in scenary height at the outer edges of the boards - I'm allowing only 10cm above the basic board at the edges - that is also one reason why the layout is using 1 inch speedframe - with the polycarb inset

- because on a 36degree pitch roof, every 1cm height I save, is 4cm extra width available!

The full 3D Railroad (Abracadata) CAD file is available if you are interested -and you'll see its a maximum gradient of 3% on mainline, and

The central multi level storage is planned like this: ILFRACOMBE LEVEL ================ II store II store PULL OUT shelves for II easier access to tracks lower store II lower store for cleaning etc or II changing period of stock II II II II ================

Not detailed on the web is the idea of the multilevel storage (above) - Accessed like a marshalling yard - but a bit like a traverser but with only 2 positions - 1/operating and 2/ pulled out for maintenance or stock period change (non operating) using Kitchen drawer type runners supported on Speedframe horizontals.

This kind of storage is increasingly necessary because of modern units which do not like being uncoupled repeatedly! (eg Voyagers)

Phil

Yes, I walked accross it a few times too and along it once or twice, the line ran right past the training workshops windows at Yelland....'76-'77 down there, visited a couple of years ago, cycle path, daft station thing at Fremington and no more power station, though the training workshops were still there, being used as small commercial units.

Niel.

Phil: Much easier to walk it now - or cycle it, with refreshments at Bideford inthe Mk1 coach there. The landscape has changed with the removal of Yelland.. but it left a lot of cleaing up required on the land.. hence, I think, the lack of anything else on it yet. In many ways my besy memories are of the section up from Exeter in the failing light (must have been a winter trip?) as the ACE stooped at each station, and talking/riding with the Guard (once with a 'half width compartment next to the guards compartment). This of course reinforced by subsequent trips in DMU/modern days (when not repkaced by a bus!). But not modelled on my layout.