As it got to the point where I could start playing trains, everything wired in together and working I did just that. Only issue I had was how on earth to manage this strange station with anything over five coaches long. This left me wondering something may have gone wrong with the plans. Back to the drawings, photos and books and it seems that the LNER may have had the same issues I had.
The layout of Mablethorpe is very restrained with no real storage for carriages of any description. It now seems from help on the LNER Forum that long extra trains will have been confined to Sundays, when the northern line to Louth didn't run. This meant carriages could be stored on the line to Louth. Ive read this could sometimes mean six sets of coaches would all be queued up from Mablethorpe which must have been some sight. With crossings accounted for, it must have got close to Theddlethorpe with lines of coaches.
The turntable at Mablethorpe upto 1952 also is a strange story in that it wasnt much use for large engines (those coming with the long trains) so upto six engines could be coupled together after arriving facing North, pulled down to the Firsby loop, turned and brought back to Mablethorpe for the return journey facing South. A 15 mile round trip to turn the engine round!
Seemed sensible to put in a new turntable which they then did in 1952.
Love this video..
Love this video..
Mablethorpe was strange but very interesting, must have been great for trainspotters on Sunday with all of these manoeuvres to watch.
My only issue now is I don't have a northern line to store coaches so space will be at a constant premium so thinking of my Stage 2 extension to provide a northern line to a fitties yard might be pushed on.
Next stage for my layout is to lay some grass. Looking through the forums for good ideas as Mablethorpe seemed to have long grazing grass either side of the station which should be fun to model.
Then the Station Building, Platform Shelter, Water Tank and windmill to install!
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