Cornish Riviera Area Group
The Cornish Riviera Area Group exists as an informal get-together
arranged to offer S4 modellers living throughout Cornwall an
opportunity to meet and have a natter. We extend a welcome to all
finescale modellers who might be interested in coming along for what
we hope will become regular sessions. The other objective of the Group
is to rebuild and restore the P4 layout 'Watermouth Riverside' and its
companion 'Watermouth Junction' which has been in storage by the
Helston & Falmouth Model Railway Club for several years following the
death of its owner Pat English.
Watermouth represents a medium sized terminus of an imaginary GWR
branch running south from Chard to the coast near Charmouth. Just
short of the terminus on the north bank of the estuary, the branch is
joined at St David's Junction by a GWR/SR joint line running down from
Axminster and Kilmington. The line crosses the tidal estuary by an
iron viaduct and enters Watermouth Riverside which is also assumed to
have a branch running on to Watermouth Docks. The station arrangement
draws inspiration from Kingsbridge, Weymouth and Kingswear. Watermouth
Docks are assumed to be an embarkation port for steamers to the
Continent and the track plan is designed to accommodate busy summer
passenger traffic, including a daily Sleeper to London and through
trains from the Midlands, London and Taunton as well as local
branchline services. In the Master Plan, this station lies on the
bank of the estuary and a single line section on a long bridge over
the river(based on the Taw bridge at Barnstaple) links it with St
David's Junction. Because this bridge has a weight restriction,
'large' engines come off their trains at the Junction and go to a
small MPD, whilst the train is taken on to the main terminus by a
lighter locomotive. The corresponding empty stock and light engine
workings should allow for a variety of interesting traffic movements.
The layout was begun over 35 years ago and represents a pioneering
example of early P4 modelling. Pat English was a meticulous modeller
and researcher and the layout was designed to strict prototype
practice. Originally conceived as a 'U' shape with the stations on
either side of the room, it was later rebuilt following a house move
into a 'L' shape and the bridge over the estuary and the junction
station were abandoned, (Watermouth Junction was given to another Club
member who has also since passed away and in memory of him it was
re-named 'St. David's Jct.) Although never developed to a fully scenic
finish, enough has survived to make a full restoration feasible,
particularly since 'St David's Junction' has also since come into Club
custody.
The baseboards were originally constructed on half inch chipboard and
2"x1" timber as was the custom of the time; track is fully chaired
'Brook-Smith' pattern with correct 2 bolt chairs and captures
beautifully the 'flow' of the prototype. All this has withstood the
years remarkably well, but as the baseboards were altered and rebuilt
at various times, the depth of the baseboard members varied from board
to board making setting up and dismantling unnecessarily awkward (the
layout was never intended for exhibition viewing) The main baseboard
framing has been replaced with new timber of consistent depth, new
alignment and fixing bolts installed and new supporting frames
built. The baseboards representing the estuary and bridge connecting
the two stations have been reconstructed and the entire layout
measuring some 24' by 18' has been fully erected for the first time in
many years. A suitable cassette and stock storage system will be
created to replace the original and highly complex fiddle yard that
Pat constructed.
As can be seen from the photos, the model, even in its present form,
is impressive. We hope it will encourage other Cornish finescale
modellers to join in the project. The layout has now been relocated to
the Helston & Falmouth MRC's clubroom at Gunwalloe near Helston,
where the detailed work of revising the outdated wiring and point
control is now in hand. We intend to simplify the control systems and
maximise its operational potential. For details of meetings and
working sessions please see the contacts below.
We hope this will be the start of an exciting project.
For further information contact:
Steve Howe
01872 571925
cornwall@scalefour.org
chairman@hfmrc.co.uk
www.hfmrc.com
Blue Sheet (PDF, members only)
More photographs of Watermouth from the Scalefour Forum