Atomic Systems

Said it before Mark, but I will say it again - fantastic work.

What is really great about the three variations of this route is the romp through our railway history in a manageable package (or maybe 3 manageable packages ).

The route is a perfect length to get immersed in the beautiful scenery placement, the atmosphere is just right and you can spend hours just fiddling around. If you are into bashing along great lengths of track at high speed, then maybe this won't satisfy, but that would be missing the point of what Mark has achieved here.

Absolutely perfect for going slowly, shunting, pushing and pulling wagons about, and, especially with the 50s/60s version (and someone of my age) slipping right back into your childhood and those perfect model railways that you dreamt of but would never be able to afford or even model. Stuff dreams are made of.

Thank you Mark

Rod

Thanks very much Rod
I hope steam buffs won't be dissapointed with Laneshaw Bridge Modern.

Because back in 1987.......

Good news amongst the gloom of rationalization!
After a number of years campaigning & fundraising The Norbeck Steam railway Society managed to save the old steam shed at Norbeck & after a frantic last ditch effort secured the turntable which was about to be cut up on site. The company which owns Oldswick quarry also owns the land formerly used by Moss quarry on which their sidings stood. The last remaining siding, which was recently leased out to a local coal merchant who supplied a number of mills & still survives was donated to the society, after securing a long term lease of the goods yard & former loco shed land. This then formed a base from which they could operate & restore some industrial locomotives with a view to saving the Branch as a whole, which is still used daily by BR for quarry traffic but under threat of closure. 1987 saw the first steam loco in action on the branch for decades. An agreement with BR has resulted in the society running brake van specials at weekends the entire length of the line to Noyna Hill.........


Awaiting restoration in its new home ex BSC Austerity saddle tank.


Running round its train ex NCB loco works the first steam hauled trains in 20 years.









A brief stop off at Harden Hall


Mark

Good storyline and use of the Maerdy stock.

Mark, what are you using for reference material for the 3 ages of Laneshaw. Presumably pulling in from a number of sources, but given that it is a fictional route, are you restricting yourself to "local" regional reference material, or are you gathering in from likely sources all over the UK?

Rod

And is that you and Judith sitting down on the sleepers doing a bit more research Mark?

Haha! Well she isn't to dissimilar looking to the woman & judging by the way she is behaving, ie, fed up.........mmm yes it could be!

Regards references...... Harden Hall obviously based on Oakworth but certainly not a copy I've intentionaly made things a little different but kept the similarity & Norbeck is an exact copy of My 'O' gauge model layout which is itself fictitious.
Everything else is completely out of my head I'm afraid, no photos or reference material used, just tried to keep the Northern rural/suburban feel. My memories & a bit of what I see now affect how I conceive the changes that would likely happen.

Mark

New industrial units have sprung up at Glusburn..


Heavy rain caused subsidence, engineers work through the night to bring things under control..


Snow arrives on the line...








Mark

The second last is truly beautiful Mark - great setting.

Rod

I'm a steam buff, and the modern looks brilliant! We can have main line tours!

Thanks
Oh I think main line tours are a must, the Norbeck Steam Railway is well placed being in between the WCML & Settle Carlisle, it would be nice to see scenes such as this repeated once again!


The 6.20am Manchester Victoria - Leeds parcels hurries through the morning mist at Dale End.


Approaching Lothersdale.


From the footplate at Laneshaw Bridge.

Unfortunately we won't be able to witness gems such as this back on the mainline...


50655 runs round it's train at Laneshaw Bridge.



Waiting for the right away with the 6.01am service to Norbeck, known localy as 'The Bob' it was a somewhat odd mix of two ex LNWR coaches hauled by 50655 an ex L&Y Lanky tank! The carriage & wagon staff at Colne were to blame for it's creation.


Mark

known localy as 'The Bob'

Hey, a train named after myself and I never knew.

You live and learn every day.

Hehe! It dawdled along & was regarded as being somewhat tatty due to the condition of the old stock!

A shot here taken at Weatherhead station as the 7.52am Bolton Trinity St - Leeds calls to drop off a passenger.



And another one taken from onboard Gordons excellent Stanier coaches.



Mark

Modern is more my sort of thing and i will be welcoming it to my machine in open arms
the shots look amazing so far

Regards, Tom

Thanks, it's almost ready, just testing the scenarios, there's a full days services included so quite a few scenarios to play with.

A few more shots taken on the original 1950's version again, all from scenarios I'm working on for that version.


Bolton Leeds service calls at Noyna Hill


One of Skiptons 4F's hurries through Dale End with the snow plough


Bolton trinity St - Leeds passing Laneshaw Bridge sidings


Crew change at Glusburn

Mark

love this route any plans to extend or add any other bits to it?

Thanks!
No I don't plan on extending it, that would mean modelling the real places, I wanted to keep just to the fictional area a bit like a model railway!
I'll release the Modern era version next, then possibly some scenarios for the 50's version later. Time to do something else

Mark