Layout planning update

After some consultation with other modellers on the N gauge forums, I have come to the realisation that I should model a heritage railway line. As this will allow me to use equipment from various periods of UK rail history. Like the Dapol HST (Class 43 in Intercity Swallow livery) that I have on order.

I am currently figuring out a history for my heritage line, listed below is a draft of my ideas for the history:

• It was originally a branch line linking two main lines, and had a junction for another branch line that terminated at a rural community.
• Was closed down due to the Beeching cuts.
• Not all of it could be saved, as local governments wanted the land for development purposes.
• Thus the main facilities and terminus used to be a through station and junction:
• The junction still exists and so does the branch line that ends at a small rural community.
• The other part continues onto one of the main lines.
• The other mainline link is gone, thus the terminus station.

Currently I have three stations to choose from to model, I have listed below a draft of my vision of the three stations:

• Branch branch line terminus
• Rural station
• 1 main platform (4 ~ 6 coaches) with a bay platform (3 coach DMU)
• turntable to turn locomotives around (including diesel)
• one or two through sidings - runaround and freight breakdown.
• small goods shed and cattle dock
• Branch line terminus (previously a through station)
• Previously the through station.
• Three platforms that can handle rakes of 6 coaches
• One bay platform that can support a DMU of 3 coaches or a steam push pull train consisting of a tank engine and a rake of two coaches.
• With heritage rail takeover the following was facilities were implemented:
• coach and locomotive depots
• steam and diesel refueling facilities
• DMU stabling yard (including fueling)
• Automatic carriage cleaner
• Carriage stabling yard
• Locomotive storage
• turntable for turning locomotives around to face correct direction.
• small freight handling area
• Food preparation facility and loading bay for kitchen/buffet cars.
• Branch line meets mainline station
• one island platform under network rail
• heritage rail control:
• one island platform plus two bays in middle of platform which are heritage rail.
• or one platform plus bay platform, and then one half of a island platform, the other half under network rail control.
• locomotive water supply at both ends.
• colour light signals, as track on southern end joins back into the national railway (network rail).
• In order for points to be set for the heritage rail to access the main line. Network rail via their control system needs to authorise local control of points (station signal box). Once movement is done, the signal box is required to return control to network rail. Network rail can override this but only in a safe manner. (If a train is already occupying the block or is on the points, then the points can't be changed).
• Track heading south is by default set to head shunt. Alternate path is onto network rail.
• There is a turntable access via head shunt.
• There is a draft plan from network rail, to allow heritage rail northbound from platforms access to network rail northbound track. This is to facilitate northbound network rail steam trains, and emergency usage of extra platforms for non electrified equipment.

Of the three ideas, the branch branch line terminus appears to be the easiest, and will most likely to be my first construction project.

Draft plan of the Branch branch line terminus.

Based on measurements from the draft plan shown above, I should be able to fit a HST with a rake of 7 coaches easily on the main platform. Alternately I can fit a rake of 6 coaches for a regular locomotive hauled passenger train. The bay platform can handle a DMU rake of 3 coaches or a push pull fitted passenger train of 1 locomotive and a rake of 2 coaches.