RITES OF PASSAGE FOR A MODEL RAILWAY - 4 Signalling and Superstructure

Assuming you've drilled holes at the side of the trackbed to feed signal operating and point operating wires, it's time to decide how you're going to run this railway model that you're putting together. Is it for yourself, are you a member of a group and do you intend to exhibit at shows. and how big is it?

I went to an exhibition at the weekend, the East London Finescale Exhibition 2011 mounted at a technological college by a local group, the East Ham & District Model Railway Club. The range of model railway layouts exhibited varied between late 19th-earl 20th Century Great Eastern, East Lynn and late 20th Century modern image with diesels and colour light signalling. Also - and perhaps as important - were suppliers of kits and bits, proprietary and ready-to-run model items, and a periodical and book dealer. Without the suppliers and book dealers we don't know what's available and what we can use as inspiration, if we need any to motivate us. What I came away with was something I'd been looking for (the Parkside PC83 Diag. 5 plastic LNER Horsebox kit) , a few things I took a liking to ( Dart Castings loco crew figures and a Shire Scenics etched brass LNER platform luggage barrow) and some insight into what can be achieved by groups or individuals with help from others.

Moreover I saw how other modellers had dealt with semaphore signalling and point control. One layout I looked closely at included point and signal rodding. Although the rodding in this case was 'cosmetic', i.e., non-functional, it conveyed a 'complete image' . In other words you could take a photograph of the layout and take the result as an image of the real thing - you can after all take a colour image and 'tweak' it to look like period sepia black & white image. With modelling we are after all in the business of creating an impression, are we not? You can take it as far as your skills or imagination/observation will let you, and stand back to see what others make of it.

I will take it that the model layout in question will employ semaphore signalling. We have a choice in this respect, of plastic or metal kits. Even with plastic kits there is an element of hardware, i.e., hooks and eyes to direct the wiring from controller to signal. Ratio models produce acceptable semaphore signals for different British railway regions, and they supply control mechanisms to operate them by, with levers. You would need to be careful with them, as fragile as they are. Replacing parts may not be expensive, but could be complicated in repair. Other than Ratio's products are Model Signal Engineering (MSE). This company is based in northern Lincolnshire, and like Ratio have a website and extensive product and price lists. MSE, however, have a much wider range and supply not only more modern semaphore and colour light products, but those to represent earlier and far-flung railway companies such as Great North of Scotland and Midland & Great Northern railway companies that were later incorporated into the London & North Eastern or 'London & Nearly Everywhere' railway (LNER). If you want to model the Taff Vale Railway in Wales they've got them, too, in 4mm, 7mm scale or others.

If you're a dab hand with a soldering iron, MSE presents no problems, as ladders, posts and other non-moving parts are made of etched brass and white metal. Signal arms, cranks and other moving elements are attched, bent and tweaked into shape. Coloured plastic sheet is supplied for for spectacle plates. To help with constructing signals there are two good paper-back publications avaialble: 1) 'Mainline Modelling:1 Constructing & Operating SEMAPHORE SIGNALS published by Challenger ISBN 1-899624-32-5, 2) 'A Scratchbuilder's Guide to SEMAPHORE SIGNALLING CONSTRUCTION' by Peter Squibb, published by Wild Swan, ISBN 978-1-905184-68-2. Both books give many illustrations and line diagrams, mainly b/w and some colour photographs of signals on different regions, of the intermediate stages and the finished modelled results. They also provide ancillary details such as safety rails, how to make them and where to put them. There are signalling diagrams to help you decide what signals go where, and why. Armed with that kind of research, how can you go wrong (- well, I can and have, but that's another story)!

Step-by-step instructions are given - the first book was written in conjunction with MSE's products, and give a very detailed idea of your progress. They also tell of pitfalls and how to avoid them. The second book is particularly helpful on Great Western (GW) and London Midland & Scottish (LMSR) constituent signalling. Some LNER constituent signalling is included. I would read these publications and take photographs on location where possible before tackling the scale versions, it could save a lot of headaches!

Assuming you've passed the stage of selecting, modelling and positioning of your signals, the next stage is signal boxes (or 'cabins' in Northeastern parlance). Choosing the signal control structures is as important as getting the signalling itself right. Right? OK, just checking.

Each company, each region on British railways is different, within their constituent areas and even down the same branches. Within the North Eastern originally there were the Northern, Central and Southern Divisions with their own signalling engineers and architects. Later the Central division was dropped, leaving the other two overlapping, In LNER days new, blander concrete and brick structures on the York-Newcastle stretch replaced the more ornate period types due to bomb damage after WWII. Pressures of time, money and convenience. If you're prepared to depict, say, Northallerton, Darlington or other modern structures such as Stratford (London East) and Croydon (Southern) on your line study the buildings. While there are obvious similarities there are also nuances.

Then there are the station buildings. When modelling a particular location you are well served with taking photographs on site if the stations have changed little. With lines that have been denuded of stations or have been closed and lifted there may be structures still available where they were originally. In some instances buildings have been moved and sited out of the way, or partly demolished. Take pictures, and look for period images in old magazines, society periodicals (the North Eastern Railway Association has an archive and library of images online and at Darlington North Road Museum. Approach the Chairman John Addyman: chaiman@ner.org.uk for access permission). There are books in the series 'Lost Lines...' and Railway Memories...' that show buildings in photographs. There are also track and station diagrams available online. These show where the pointwork fitted, with distances between sections and lengths of sidings (including 'standage', and where the coal depots, goods sheds and weigh offices stood.

How much of yourself you put into the models will show in the final result, obviously. As you go on you get better. If you've got the patience to deal with difficulties along the way, 'good on yer!' otherwise you've got to learn to deal with it in your own way.

There are many other factors, such as lineside buildings (platelayers' huts, fogmen's huts, gangers' shelters, decommissioned signal boxes, cattle-creeps, footbridges, farm and other buildings. You can find kits, if the actual structure you want is for a layout of your own invention, or build 'from scratch' if you're looking for a particular type of architecture - as in a region of the railways not covered by kits available - or a definite building in THAT particular location. Again, consult drawings, old photographs or images you have taken yourself. Somebody is bound to have a picture, even if it's a local newspaper.

Next: Modelling locomotives

There are three titles I can recommend this time,

A Scratchbuilder's Guide to SEMAPHORE SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION by Peter Squibb, publ Wild Swan Publications Ltd., 2010, ISBN 978-1-905184-68-2 :- colour and black & white images, 'how to' guidance, diagrams and close-ups of moving parts, details on materials used and painting guides;

MAINLINE MODELLING 1: Contructing and operating SEMAPHORE SIGNALS by Mick Nicholson, publ. Challenger Publications 1999, ISBN 1-899624-32-5 :- Using parts from ModelSignal Engineering (MSE), Mick Nicholson takes you stage by stage through assembling and operating signalling on model railways with drawings, photographs and signalling diagrams over various British railway systems. Can be used as a workshop manual, as can also Peter Squibb's book;

SIMPLY SCENERY - An Insight into the Art of Landscape Modelling by Tony Hill, publ. Irwell Press ISBN 1-871608-36-8 :- Black & White and colour images and diagrams, 'how to' processes and techniques on strata, trees, vegetation, walls and hedges. There is a list of tools at the beginning of the book. These are options, not 'must haves'. Unless you're a professional scenic modelbuilder you don't need to buy in many of the tools. All very well if you have them as a DIY-er, you're halfway there already.

Enjoy!