Point Rodding - Part 2

Tonight, after many hours over the last 8 days, saw the completion of the point rodding on Poulton Junction. To complete the rodding the remaining cranks were fitted, the upper rollers attached and everything given a good oily and rusty weathering down.

Overall i'm very pleased with the results. Here a few pictures that show the completed point rodding.

(note. the eagle eyed of you may notice that the signal pulleys are partly in place already)

An overview of the junction. 

Signal box front (Blackpool North line) 

Signal box rear (Fleetwood line)  

Main junction points.

Point Rodding

Much time and effort has recently been put into the installation of the point rods, connecting the signal box to the point tie bars. These are made from the components offered by Model Signal Engineering.

Only the cranks, point rodding stools and the point rodding, made from 0.4mm square bar, have been installed so far. The upper rollers have yet to installed. After everything is glued in position the installation shall be weathered.

Here is a selection of pictures showing progress so far.

Poulton Junction Continued

Another test run sees 37229 with a train of vans thunder through the junction at Poulton.

Here are a few pictures:

Poulton Junction

There has been focus on the signal box of late, so lets take a look at the reason the signal box exists, the junction at Poulton. The junction serves both Blackpool North and Fleetwood however the latter is now unused. Modelling license has been used to allow the Fleetwood line to be reopened to provide additional operational interest.

Below are a few pictures of progress so far:

150 Unit heads towards Fleetwood after passing under Breck Road Bridge.

Thanks for Looking!

Signal Box Gets the Scenic Treatment

Continuing with work at the junction end of the layout, the signal box has received some much needed attention in the form of ground cover and greenery. Also added are a couple of relay cabinets as well as some scrap sleepers and rail.

The static grass is applied with one of the static puffer bottles instead of the expensive electronic version and I must say I am pleased with the results. The longer grasses are from the Woodland Scenic range and have been chopped to length.

Signal Box Progress

The signal box is now painted and the roof has been installed. The roof is constructed from individual rows of card tiles which are glued in layers and painted. The box has been suitably weathered and is now glued in position on the layout.

The Track Plan

The track plan for the layout closely follows the track plan which exists currently in real life. Until 1970 the junction at Poulton-le-Fylde also provided passenger services to Fleetwood and until 1999 freight services to the ICI plant at Burn Naze Halt. For operational interest the layout encapsulates the “What if” principle and allows both of these passenger and freight services to continue running to present day. This image details the extent of the layouts coverage of the station and the junction.

Signal Box - Construction

Progress on the signal box is being made. It is constructed using plasticard with a fully detailed interior from a metal kit. It shall then have lighting fitted and the roof made. I am hoping to suitably weather it as well as everything is looking very clean at the moment.

The brickwork is currently the standard plasticard brick colour which will be getting painted over shortly.

The Station (2)

Further photos of the junction and station on which the model is based.

Looking out along the platform from the canopy. (Towards Kirkham)

Blackpool bound platform.

Waiting rooms, platform and canopy (and a crow).

The signal and part of the brick road over bridge.

Kirkam and Preston bound platform.

The Station

I took a few pictures when I visited the station in June 2011. The trip gave me a good idea of the layout and features that this quirky little station has.

An overview of the station and canopy looking from the roadbridge. 

Looking from the overbridge onto the junction.

The station building sits on the road level. A flight of stairs takes passengers down to platform level.