Location suggestions?

[JimF]

Broad question, please bear with me.

My interest is the SECR and LBSC, circa 1900 - 1910. What knowledge I have of UK railways is focused on that.

However, I also have a interest in WWII military modelling, and in UK canals.

So I would like to do a small layout combining a small rail location with a canal scene, set in the early WWII period (mainly before most lines, from what I understand, changed to more black loco liveries).

I don't think I can find a setting the the SE UK for this, so it will have to be in another area of the country, in other lines areas.

I am not adverse to modelling a fictional location, but would like some site suggestions to at least give me some starting ideas.

Thoughts?

Thank you.

Jim

[JasonBz]

There is the Royal Military Canal in Kent / East Sussex.....right in the correct area.

[Buzzard]

I don't think I can find a setting the the SE UK for this, so it will have to be in another area of the country, in other lines areas.

The top search item in Google for "navigable waters in sussex" is this link

http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=independentlifeb;id=5;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jim-shead.com%2Fwaterways%2Flocalww.php%3Fcy%3Dsussex

so you might be able to do something related to the LBSC.

Kent is similarly covered

http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=kentvill;id=13;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jim-shead.com%2Fwaterways%2Flocalww.php%3Fcy%3DKent

I am not adverse to modelling a fictional location, but would like some site suggestions to at least give me some starting ideas.

You could always imagine that the Kent & Sussex Junction Canal project actually happened

Nigel

[JimF]

Thanks guys. One thing I should have stated, doing pre-grouping for those lines will be work enough, in N. So for this project, I want to use as much RTR as possible.

I could do Southern, but from what I have read, canals in the south and southeast were not revived to the extent canals in more northern areas were, during the war. Most were too far into a neglected state by then.

The canals of the west midlands, and in other areas, were still active.

Jim

[daveg]

Haven't had any time to check details but this link to The Railway & Canal Historical Society may help:

http://www.rchs.org.uk/trial/gwpf.php?wpage=West%20Midlands%20Group

Good luck and please keep us posted with developments.

Dave G

[FourWheelCoach]

RTR seems to mean mostly GWR or BR as far as I can see and in any case there is practically nothing pre-grouping that you could just use in any area.  Where there are other Big Four liveries available they are from random areas and would not allow easy modelling of a specific location in terms of motive power or coaching stock without a LOT of "excuses". Wagons you can get away with.

Wherever you are looking to model you have the options of:

Truly authentic. Scale track plans (large) and precise period/location stock (difficult)

Representative of real location/period. Compressed and simplifies track plans giving the feel of a real location. (Less problematic) with more flexibility on stock.

Fictional but authentic. An imaginary location that could have existed on a particular line. I.e. an imaginary station between two real ones allowing total flexibility in layout but sticking with correct period/area rolling stock and practices.

Otherwise it's total fiction Rule One.

Any are fine. It's your spare time. I think though that Rule One migyt be appealing initially but come to be disappointing whereas sticking an intermediate station between two real ones allows lots of wiggle room but can still be quite representative of a particular area and period.

(Not another GWR branch terminus though!    )

[NeMo]

My interest is the SECR and LBSC, circa 1900 - 1910. What knowledge I have of UK railways is focused on that.

RTR seems to mean mostly GWR or BR as far as I can see...

It's not quite as gloomy as FourWheelCoach suggests, though he's right, the GWR is probably better served than any of the other Big Four companies. That said, there are gaps in the GWR roster, particularly the Welsh side of things, and the Victorian and Edwardian GWR is no easier to model than any of the other pre-grouping companies.

In any event, you do have some locos of note. You've got the Farish LBSCR H2 Class 4-4-2s on the way, the Farish SECR N Class 2-6-0s in the shops, and the Dapol LBSCR 'Terriers' have been around for a while. You've also got the SECR 60' 'Birdcage' stock that should be available soon.

I thought Union Mills might have something worthwhile, but their Southern stuff seems to be most ex-LSWR so not especially helpful.

Cheers, NeMo

[Newportnobby]

You've got the Farish LBSCR H2 Class 4-4-2s on the way

Have I missed an announcement somewhere along the way?

[NeMo]

You've got the Farish LBSCR H2 Class 4-4-2s on the way

Have I missed an announcement somewhere along the way?

Quite right! 
It's Bachmann, not Farish making them... 

Cheers, NeMo

[JimF]

Thank again, all, but I and not worried about placing it in the Southern area (the SECR and LBSC were long gone, 1939) and BR wasn't in the picture until what, '48?

If it needs be a GWR based location, fine. If LMS or LNER, that's fine, as well.

Last night, I recalled seeing a OO layout in the past, in railway Modeller, I think, that might fit the bill, so will have to go through what past issues I have, see if it is in one of then.

Jim