End of the Withered Arm

At last I've tracked down a copy of this months Steam Days magazine. I was given the nob (thanks Nick) that it contained an article on the North Cornwall line and was starting to be worried that I'd missed it on the newsagents shelves. Eventually after a visit to a larger WH Smiths I found a copy. That is one of the problems living out in the sticks some magazines take long to reach us if at all.

The article mainly covers the later years of the line from Wadebridge to Oakhampton and mentions Bude, Bodmin and Padstow. It charts the decline of freight and passenger services, closure dates and demolition of structures and trackbed. One interesting fact I found for myself is that the Wadebridge to Boscarne section stayed open until 4th September 1978 for goods traffic. One commodity was slate dust that was transported from Delabole quarry to Wadebridge by lorry. Loaded into Presflo wagons for transportation toTonbridge in Kent via Bodmin Road. This has given me the fleeting thought about my Boscarne Wharf Junction layout as a freight only line in the late 60's early 70's.

Not sure if some would agree (recent excellent Deltic article in MRJ 188/189 in mind) but P4 conversion packs for diesels would seem to be an easier way to get things running. This would be while I build up confidence in steam conversion/kit building techniques. In the era that I was thinking (early 60's) the Wharf siding would have shown signs of being overgrown anyway.

Food for thought while I tackle track building techniques.

How I ended up here, at Grogley.

This project has been bubbling away for many years. The origins of which start back in the early 1980s when a Model Railway Club, of which I was a founding member, decided to build Bodmin Road as a club layout. This prompted me into looking at this area in more detail for my own interests. At this point I discovered Bodmin General. It has everything, single platform with interesting L shaped station building, goods yard, engine shed and coach siding. It has two lines exiting the station and natural scenic breaks with the ground rising behind the station and the road over bridges over the incoming tracks. It was also busy for such a small station with the exchange goods traffic and clay workings. All this possible in 12 x 2 feet. I thought I'd found the ideal station to model. But at the time North London Group's model was just starting to appear in the magazines. I was overawed at the standard of this model and felt that I would be disappointed with what ever I managed to create when comparing the two.

At this time I did venture into EM gauge and build a few wagons and started on building track with copper paxolin sleepers which were intended to convert a previous small OO layout. Somewhere along the line (no pun intended) I lost my way. Many projects were drawn and not progressed. I kept getting drawn back to Bodmin General and the surrounding area. I have a general leaning towards the GW with its 57xxs and 45xxs along with the diesel hydraulics. But I then discovered the Beattie Well Tank which is such a beautiful little tank engine. The more information I collected the more I was getting drawn to the SR workings and locos of this area. The N Class 2-6-0 is such a well proportioned engine.

After I'd spent many years in the wilderness, Boscarne Junction started to be in the frame for a layout. At the start no station platform seemed to be an advantage but I then realised it my not hold my attention for long without one. What about the mill at Boscarne? Could there have been a private siding or a wharf siding similar to those on the Wenford Branch giving extra shunting potential? Could I include a halt similar to Dunmere or Nanstallon at the other side of the level crossing to the junction? After a while I began to realise that this would not be Boscarne and if I was going this far away from the location should I look elsewhere? The project was put on hold for a while longer. I had a demon in my mind that the layout had to be of an actual location, anything else was just playing trains.......

I have always been negative about my ability to build a model of a real location and have it scrutinised. However, more information gathered, and a few exhibitions visited started the thought process again albeit from a totally fictitious angle. Perhaps adding a twist on history for Boscarne would do the trick? More plans and still not satisfied. I was trying to find a solution to justify a layout that would have seen Beattie Well Tanks, O2s, 45xxs, 57xxs, T9s, N Classes and Diesel Hydraulics. Trying to keep the interchange of clay traffic as an interesting freight working. Also if possible including Atlantic Coast Express workings, behind a West Country Pacific, with some BR Standard Class loco's along with some more GW types for good measure. That stereotype GW Branch working of a 14xx and auto coach would also be nice. As a curved ball a 42xxs would be interesting as a couple were shedded at St. Blazey for the clay runs to Fowey and finally was there any way I could justify larger GW tender locos.

Ruthern Bridge was in the frame at one time and could, with different twisting of history, have been developed into a model of a large junction station with Wadebridge and Padstow being a branch line from it. Eventually I thought that this would be too big for my first project, so Grogley was developed. I liked the idea of building a junction on a curve and first tried to transpose Boscarne Junction onto the location at Grogley. Initially with no station then I adding a halt, then altered this to include an island platform and finally as the final sketch (see track plans). I also want to fit as much of the actual location into this fictitious layout thus fulfilling the need for a model of real location. In the end I have taken a couple of liberties to try and make an interesting model that should be enjoyable to build, interesting on the eye, and a pleasure to operate. After all a hobby should be fun and entertaining.

I think after 20 years I have finally expelled the demons that if any layout is worth building it has to be an actual location. I am hoping that with Grogley Junction I will created a plausible layout bridging the gap between real and fictitious.

North Cornwall Railway

http://www.northcornwallrailway.co.uk/

Excellent web site containing much information regarding the North Cornwall Railway (The withered Arm).

Sections on; Its History, The Route, Operation, Traffic, Rolling Stock and The ACE.

I've used this site to gain an insight into traffic, locomotives and stock used and to develop though workings to Magan Porth from Wadebridge and Exeter. May be using the Architectural plans for station buildings.

Factual potted history of the Bodmin & Wadebridge Line.

1848 - LSWR took control of the Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway

1862 - China Clay traffic started to be carried between Wenford Bridge and Wadebridge. It was also proposed during this year that the Ruthern Bridge branch be extended to serve a proposed iron ore mine at Withiel.

1864 - Launceston, Bodmin & Wadebridge Junction Railway obtained an Act of parliament for the construction of a line from Launceston to Wenford Bridge. Also a second act to extend the line from Ruthern Bridge to Truro and change its name to Central Cornwall Railway. (Both proposals did not come to fruition, but for the model the latter did).

1865 - Bodmin and Wadebridge railways track was relayed using second-hand rail from LSWR. The Bodmin and Wadebridge act of this year also contain permission to realign the Wenford line involving several crossings of the River Camel and the junction at Dunmere also the construction of a south to east curve near Grogley to accommodate through traffic.

1873 - Two proposed lines. One was to extend from Wenford to Delabole slate quay. The second was an extension from Ruthern Bridge to join the Cornish Minerals Railway being built between Fowey and Newquay. Part of the plan was the construction of a south to east curve at Grogley to avoid reversal of trains. (For the model I have assumed that the extension to join the Cornish Minerals Railway was built).

1879 - Further relaying of track. Why? How? (Further research required?)

1882 - North Cornwall Railway with the backing of the LSWR obtained an Act to build a line from Launceston to Wadebridge and Padstow

1886 - An agreement drawn up between the LSWR, Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway and the GWR to control GWR access to Wadebridge. The LSWR were to rebuild the B&WR including a new station at Wadebridge

1888 - (3rd Sept.) GWR completed the extension from Bodmin to Boscarne

1895 - LSWR arrived at Wadebridge after the opening of the Delabole to Wadebridge section of the North Cornwall Railway on the 1st June.

1963 - (1st Jan.) All control of the B&WR pasted to the WR.

1964 - (June) Bodmin North passenger service reduced to a shuttle service between Bodmin North and Boscarne Junction.

Using proposed acts and extensions outlined above to create the fictional Grogley Junction:

1862 - The extension to Withiel was constructed

1873 - The extension from Ruthern Bridge join the Cornish Minerals Railway was built and used to transport Clay, Iron and De Lank Quarry stone to St. Blazey and Fowey. Fowey which offering better sea access.

1882 - The North Cornwall Railway with the backing of the LSWR obtained and Act to extend the line from Withiel to Mawgan Porth.