Dunkow Road N Gauge
The layout is loosely based on the SR/WR region lines of BR in the late 1960‘s / early 70’s. As such operation can be steam, diesel or mixed, with the diesel only option being the preferred choice.
The scenic area of the layout is 10’ x 2’3 and the operating area including fiddle yards totals 10’ x 7’.
Dr Beeching has taken his toll on the lines in the area and the station has been reduced to a request stop halt, mainly to cater for the workforce in the abattoir and cattle market industries close by.
Buildings are a mixture of kit built / bashed and modified ready to plant with the rolling stock being mainly ready to run items from Dapol & Graham Farish along with a selection of kits from the NGS & other manufacturer’s.
Class 122 departs the halt with the first train of the day which includes the local trip working for a milk tank as a filthy Class 47 passes with a loaded engineers train ready for the next track possession.
An immaculate Class 33, perhaps “bulled up” for the VIPs on board the attached inspection saloon, pauses for the right of way. Are more line closures in the offing?
The twice daily milks are being loaded ably assisted by a class 22. One wonders how much longer this service & the loco will survive.
The effects of Beeching & the road lobby are being felt everywhere in the local area.
Class 47 D1745 approaches the halt with a rake of loaded Seacows in engineer’s olive having been loaded earlier in the day at Meldon Quarry.
A Class 122 DMU departs the Halt, having dropped off the next shift of workers. There is a milk tank in tow, destined for the dairy in the next town.
The Mid-Day Express rushes through the Halt whilst a dusty Class 14 enters the branch with a local coal working. It appears there has been an accident in the adjacent yards as the ambulance escorted by the Police head for the nearest hospital.
A battered “Whizzo” heads the parcels whilst a recently repainted Class 22 into the recently adopted all over blue, passes with loaded grampus.
Class 22 6326 looks resplendent in its new livery as following the end of steam the ‘D’ prefix was dropped from all diesel locos. The Teddy Bear has been allowed access to the level crossing now that the bus has passed & its passengers disembarked.
The Class 35 Hymek heads down the branch to the dairy with empty siphons for loading. The Warship D827 “Kelly” having just received a full yellow warning panel, heads up the main with loaded cement Presflo wagons.
Market day at the auction, several beasts await their turn in the pens whilst the next 3 to be sold are led into the ring. The 03 shunter awaits its next turn of duty in the yard.
Near the end of the day at the abattoir, one of the staff takes a breather & looks upon the few sheep & cows that remain to be despatched & processed.
The empty cattle trucks await marshalling for their return trip.
Ralph the local farmer stands & watches as 2 of his sheep are penned ready for the next day. The abattoir official records the arrival assisted by several others to ensure the sheep do not wander onto the tracks.
The old signal box has seen better days as it protects the adjacent head shunt for the yards. The surrounding vegetation encroaches & only the semaphore signals on the branch line remain
