Modelling Matilda

That's not prototypical!

I'm not what most would call a 'great modeller', but I really enjoy giving it a shot! This leads me to today's post - my attempt at modelling a OO scale light railway station.

Yes. This is what I meant in my last post about a dangerous 'swerve' into OO...

Day 1

The station in question is 'Matilda-on-the-Waltz'. This came about as the result of faffing about with station signs and an attempt at building a Stephens-y style station building (made almost entirely out of corrugated plasticard). Naturally the two combined to create a rather naff station on the HT&CJR (see previous post for some info on the railway).

Looks a bit unstable!

It was a relatively simple build as I had plenty of spare bits and bobs about my room and plenty of motivation to make something new. Before we get to the finished product, I should probably give a brief history of the area. In fact, our author friend from the previous post has yet again given kind permission for me to reproduce some of his work here:

Matilda was set up by Francis Warburton III in 1920 to house workers for his newly acquired quarry. It was built upon the former town of Coleburn which was taken over by the army for the use of training engineers in 1914 and abandoned in 1919.
The fairly new town had a very strong Australian influence as most of Warburton’s workers had followed him over from there. This was the source of the town’s name - Matilda being a reference to the famous Australian song ‘Waltzing Matilda’. This carried over to the station that served it: ‘Matilda-on-the-Waltz’ which was never as popular as its Victorian predecessor.

HT&CJR No. 3.

Eagle eyed (or other eyed) readers may have noticed the rather big picture of a curious looking tank engine above. It's a static model (for now, anyway) that was bought from Shapeways. I think it's quite nice. Here's some information about her:

No. 3 ‘Matilda’ Ex-MER 2-4-0T - Purchased in 1922 after being sold off by the Port of London Authority for a very small sum, this little oddity was a favourite of Stephens. It was lightweight, fast and most importantly it was cheap to run!

In Service - It did most of its work during the railway’s summer seasons taking excursions into Southern territory. After a long working life, No. 3 was left in a siding at Matilda-on-the-Waltz in late 1936 and was slowly taken apart from 1939 until 1942 before the last parts were sold for scrap in the autumn of that year.

The Bundoran Express has had a bit of a diversion...

I finished the station fairly quickly and I think that it's come out surprisingly well. 

"Should we get on this one?"

At some point I hope to have this station on a layout, but for now, it's nice set fodder.

A better view of the coach body.

I wonder when the next train is...

Mrs Miggins devours her sandwich.

A familiar guest.

As with every model railway, this project is far from completion. But, for now, have some footage of K&ESR No. 3 (on loan with a pair of Stanier suburbans) at 'Matilda-on-the-Waltz' at some point in 1937.

Stuart

The Train Now Posing

Shiny, innit?

So. It's been a while. 

After a dangerous swerve into OO and a brief absence from this blog thing, I'm finally ready to show off what I've wasted all my time and money on this month.

'What is it? The Rocket?'

Meet the latest addition to my O gauge fleet: HT&CJLR No. 2 'Gladstone'!

Eh?

Okay, I should probably explain. HT&CJLR stands for the 'Harwell, Tellsbury & Clidden Junction Light Railway' - a non-fictitious* line in the equally real county of Cliddenshire.

The line was one of the lesser known projects that railway engineer H. F. Stephens undertook so it's no surprise that there is very little information about it. However, there is a book (long out of print) that gives quite some detail of the line's existence from 1910-1953. The author has kindly given me permission to reproduce the section about No. 2.

No. 2 ‘Gladstone’ Hudswell Clarke Contractors Saddle Tank - By 1912 it was obvious that one engine wasn’t enough to run the line. The company purchased a relatively new Hudswell Clarke Saddle tank that had had been used at the quarry at Coleburn (later known as Matilda). She was painted green with black and white lining and was fitted with continuous brakes at Clidden works upon purchasing. She gained her name upon entering service (being named after the first chairman of the railway company).

In Service No. 2 could often be seen on the first passenger train of the day and was a particular favourite of the station staff at Clidden Junction. She was primarily used on the line from Monks Wallop to Harwell due to her westinghouse brakes (required for taking LB&SCR trains to Harwell). She was usually a good performer and more than up to any task the railway could throw at her. However, one problem plagued the engine until her withdrawal - the brakes. The continuous brakes fitted to her by Francis Warburton III (the company's first chief engineer) were known for being unreliable on occasion. This can partly be attributed to the rushed nature in which the apparatus was set up but mainly due to the fact that Mr. Warburton was a terrible engineer. Despite the obvious danger to passengers and crew alike, the company never fixed - or even considered fixing - the brakes. This resulted in her eventual withdrawal in 1941 when she collided with the tail end of a goods train at Clidden Junction. Fortunately no one was hurt, but a cattle wagon was pulverised and the engine trapped and beyond repair at the bottom of the steep hill by the trackside. There she remained until 1973 when the last salvageable components were removed and used as spares for surviving class members. The nameplates and bent chimney are currently on display at Clidden Railway museum.

So how about that, eh? Here's some more pictures of the engine (or rather the model) in question.

No. 2 exits Harwell tunnel near the northernmost station on the line with the first train of the day.

No. 2 was named after Joseph Gladstone, the first chairman of the railway.

The rather ornate '2' on the cabside is a stark contrast to her humble role on the railway.

You may have spotted No. 2's small train of two coaches. The railway had a rather odd convention of naming their coaches instead of numbering them!

'Janine' was the first coach purchased by the railway. By the late 1920s most of the railway's stock was very tired and rarely cleaned.

Lorna was bought shortly after Janine along with several other coaches.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look at my latest project and hope to be posting more frequently (I can dream). 


So for now, au revoir, auf wiedersehen, toodle pip, goodbye-ee!

Stuart







*fictional