Greatford Crossing. A Layout by Graham Hobbs

With very many thanks to Graham for supplying the text and pictures.

The Inspiration

60902 casewick br

This picture of the V2 60902 on the up slow at Casewick Bridge was taken in September 1963 and was one of the triggers that prompted Graham's modelling of the ECML and eventually, the building of this layout . 
 
This next picture shows the photograph of the original on the left and a picture of the model on the right to demonstrate the amazing wealth of detail and just how accurate and true to life the model is.
 casewick bridge inspiration
The model in colour

Casewick br V2 model

 

Background

Greatford Crossing is a layout of two parts In OO. The first portrays a prototypical section of the East Cost Main Line set in rural Lincolnshire and the second a more fictional depiction of an Eastern Region mainline station and environs - loosely based on, although not intended to be a model of, Peterborough Station.

Greatford Crossing

 
 In Graham's own words:-
 
This latter section is identified as Medehampton and has features that reflect many aspects of the area around Peterborough North which is where I grew up and enjoyed my trainspotting days as a teenager. The whole layout is operated in DCC although turnouts and eventually signals and other working accessories will be operated in an analogue fashion.
 
Whilst chiefly designed to illustrate an early 1960’s atmosphere from time to time iconic heritage trains may run.
These include:-
  • the ‘Silver Jubilee’,
  • Stirling single with GNR stock,
  • various prototype diesels,
  • SLOA steam excursions
  • and even the ‘Bristolian’
amongst many others..
Some modern trains might also appear like an East Midlands 158 DMU which frequently brings our grandchildren to see us down the mainline from Grantham.
To me it is important that any modelling has been done by my fair hand thus making it an exercise in learning multi disciplinary skills. Some areas of modelling, like electronics, I find more challenging than others so there is always a steep learning curve. Also the more tedious projects such as signalling will inevitably take a lot of time (there are lots on the layout) and therefore at the moment, although constructed, they are non working with many of the arms only supported by tiny blobs of Blutack. The same goes for the two turntables which require motorising and wiring.
 
Donovan being turned 
Graham Hobbs
 
The big question applies ‘is a model railway ever finished?’ The next question is why then have I started my new layout? My wife, however, being more pragmatic wants to know where on earth this will be stored. I just evade the issue and keep modelling! 

 

We are most grateful to Graham for allowing us to publish details of his layout above and the further pictures and text published for the first time below. The layout has previously featured in three editions of BRM back in 2019

Alternatively, to just admire the pictures, use the gallery view here.

 

 DP2 over river

DP2 is seen here passing the brick built bridge over West Glen River just North of the crossing and with Banthorpe occupation bridge behind.

Shed View

This is a general view of the shed approaches.

Station End

 Here we see the station end with a representation of the Great Northern Hotel and the old Crown pub which used to stand where John Lewis's Westgate doors are now.  There is a notice in the window for a Disco. From the age of fifteen, by which time steam had become virtually non-existent in Peterborough, Friday night disco's here, were the place to be!

Next up are two views of Crescent Bridge, familiar to anyone living in Peterborough. This is a scratch built model, using card for the trusses and other structural features. The rivets  (and there are many!) were made by dabbing spots of PVA glue on the end of a cocktail stick.

 Crescent Bridge

Crescent Bridge

The second of the two shots of Crescent Bridge.

Another view of the shed approaches

Two young lads jotting down numbers of locos 'on shed'

The shed with the coaling tower

The shed with the coaling tower. The tower was made to replicate the one at Grantham but with a different chute arrangement.

The water crane

The water crane and drain in amongst the engines.

Wild Swan 60021 

A view along the station

A view along the station.

The goods depot

The goods depot shown above is made from mounting card and Graham's own printed paper. This view shows some of the expected features of a busy freight handling yard.

The Lion

This shows the Lion with the Yorkshire Pullman.

 

The coal hoist

The coal hoist is a Walsworth etched kit and was a common feature along the southern end of the GNR. The little loading wagons are cosmetic, made from card and plasticard.

Coaling Tower and Shed

The coaling tower and shed in action.

Coaling Tower and Shed

Another view of the coaling tower and shed area.

Coaling Tower and Tipple arrangement

This shows the other side of the coaling stage with the tippler arrangement. Via a solenoid operated slider, the tower can dispense real coal from the upper bunker into a waiting tender.

IMG E6584 copy

 

South end of the up platform

The south end of the up platform. Medehampton is an amalgamation of Medehampstead, the original Saxon name for the city, and Hampton the new settlement on the old brick yard sites.

 IMG E6593

Shot 2 60103

The Flying Scotsman, 60103 was built from a Proscale kit. This is now stripped down for conversion to DCC. This is not as easy as most since the chassis is live but there is the option to adopt a more modern Hornby spare chassis should the kit's one prove too awkward.