Hollybank Depot, Westcliffe CCE Yard and Mossbank Yard
New Forest MRS and Tony Sinfield 

 

Follow the life of this line over 24 Hours, where Hollybank Depot, Westcliffe CCE Yard and Mossbank Yard form a part of the railway scenery off the West Coast Main Line somewhere North of Crewe, during the period 1985-1995.
 
Hollybank Depot
 
The depot is a diesel and electric Railfreight depot and features a loco shed, a diesel refuelling point with the oil storage tank and rail tanker unloading facilities nearby. Some loco storage tracks run off towards the canal bank to provide traction availability for the adjacent yards and observer may see locos of classes 08, through to 90 during an operating session.
 
 Westcliffe CCE Yard
 
The Civil Engineers took over the site of the old small steam shed at Westcliffe in 1976 when stabling and maintenance were transfered completely to Hollybank Depot. Westcliffe's sheds have fallen into disrepair, the old buildings still remaining although some clearance has taken place to allow for the provision of permanent and temporary accommodation for the Engineers.
 
The track plan was altered to provide 6 storage sidings for the departmental wagons, a reception loop with head shunt and access down towards the redundant turntable where materials storage facilities are situated.
 
Opposite the yard there are 2 loops where departmental block trains and weekend only locos can stable. Behind them lie 2 private sidings, one for a coal disposal point and the other for a small distribution service. 
 

 Mossbank Yard 

 

The Speedlink freight yard of Mossbank consists of 3 reception sidings, 6 sorting sidings, and a loco holding point. There is also a private industrial siding which handles rail borne chemical tanks.
 
Trunk freight traffic arrives at Mossbank from the North into the reception sidings and is either re-marshalled in the yard or held for loco or crew changes before recommencing its journey.  The yard pilot re-assembles the wagons into trip workings for departure and sorts the incoming trips for their outward journey on the trunk Speedlinks again. Overhead wires are installed on both the through line and the reception sidings to supply power for AC electric classes that are used on the freight and parcels services.
 
Block freights such as oil, steel, MGR coal or stone visit the reception lines to perform reversing movements. Passenger traffic is handled by DMUs passing by on the through line on their way via Westcliffe towards Hollybank where they go further up the line behind the depot.
  
A few of the structures are from modified kits but many are scratch built using Slater’s, Wills & Ratio plastic parts. Much of the stock is kit, scratch built or super detailed RTR, locomotives have been resprayed, detailed and weathered, and many have been fitted with directional working lights powered by rechargeable batteries. Also working Roger Murray Coloured Light Signals are in evidence on the layouts. Backscenes are by Adrian Cox.
 
The 3 layouts together span 52ft of continuous scenic layout and usually travel in a car and a trailer.  There are 9 single or combination sizes available down to 15ft. The layout has been seen in various formats as far apart as Truro and Leeds, Ally Pally and Wigan, although not in the same weekend. If you would be interested in some or all of it visiting your exhibition feel free to contact us at exhibition@nfmrs.co.uk

 

More photos can be found by following the links from our Club site. www.nfmrs.co.uk


Page Information

  • 1 month ago [history]
  • View page source
  • You're not logged in
  • No tags yet learn more

Wiki Information

Recent PBwiki Blog Posts