 |
|
| |
PASSENGER
SERVICES
|
| |
|
| For the time being, passenger
services on the Little Bazeley branch are still
restricted to being a feature of the extended
layout concept, but the module with Little
Bazeley station - the terminus of the line for
passenger trains - is currently in the
preliminary planning stage. What follows
is thus a look ahead to what should one day
materialize.
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
| |
| Southern
Region Electric Multiple Units (EMU) are the obvious
choice for the geographical location the layout is set
in. This also means that this part of the layout will
feature the third rail of the "Southern
Electric" which carries the "juice"
(components for which are available from Peco). Up until
very recently, 4mm scale (00) EMU models in ready-to-run
form were virtually non-existent, and it is only since
late 2009 (when Bachmann UK introduced its first Southern
EMU model, the 4CEP / Cl 411) that this part of the r-t-r
market has been opened up. Previously, modellers had been
limited to using one of three models produced in the
1960s/1970s or to resort to kit-building. The most
commonly available of the 1960s models was (and still is)
the Tri-ang generic EMU (in either 2, 3 or 4 car
formation, produced between 1957 and 1964) which somewhat
resembles a SUB (suburban) unit.
|
| |
 
|
|
As such it would have been a
fairly ideal choice for a mid-1960s layout
portraying an out-of-the-way branch, as this
would have been served by ageing stock running
out its last miles. However, while actually
looking quite good, the running qualities of
these models are somewhat erratic, and the coarse
wheel flanges can almost hardly be used as-is. The other two
early models, Wrenn's Brighton Belle (produced
1976-1992) and the Hornby-Dublo EMU
"2EPB" (produced 1962-1965), have
always been tough to locate and/or commanded
collector's prices, making them de facto
useless for the average modeller.
Kits
have existed for a long time (such as the 2EPB in
1970s/80s blue and gray livery built from a
Southern Pride kit, shown here) and remained the
only option until the ready-to-run market
gradually turned to Southern Electric models -
even though Hornby's pioneering launch of the Cl
466 Networker model in 1997 only served
as an intermezzo and failed to trigger
any further items as this model received mixed
reception from the market (basically because it
was underpowered).
|
|
| |
| Announced
in mid-2006 and finally launched in late 2009, Bachmann
UK's aforementioned 4CEP (Cl 411) was followed by an EMU
far more suitable for services on a line such as the
Little Bazeley branch: announced in 2009 and launched in
various liveries in 2011, the 2EPB (Cl 416) exactly what
passengers travelling to and from Little Bazeley would be
most likely to see apart from the aforementioned older
stock on its "last leg". Bachmann has since
added the motor luggage van MLV (mid-2012) to its range,
while Hornby offer a 4VEP (2011), a two-car but
expandable "Brighton Belle" (2012), a 2BIL
(2013) and a 2HAL (2014).
|
| |
EMU STOCK SERVING LITTLE
BAZELEY
|
| |
 |
|
2EPB #5770
(BACHMANN UK)
OVERALL GREEN BRITISH RAILWAYS LIVERY (WEATHERED
BY TMC)A so-called second
generation multiple unit, this is the
most modern stock to appear on services
to Little Bazeley
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
2BIL #2090
(HORNBY)
OVERALL GREEN BRITISH RAILWAYS LIVERY (WEATHERED
BY TMC)A first generation
multiple unit, the 2-BILs were frequently
used all over Sussex in the 1960s, quite
often in multiple with 2HALs
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
2HAL #2630
(HORNBY)
GREEN BRITISH RAILWAYS LIVERY WITH YELLOW
WARNING PANEL (WEATHERED BY TMC)A
first generation multiple unit, the
2-HALs were frequently used all over
Sussex in the 1960s, quite often in
multiple with 2BILs
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
MLV
#68006 (BACHMANN UK)
GREEN BRITISH RAILWAYS LIVERY
WITH YELLOW WARNING PANEL (WEATHERED
BY TMC)An oddity for
the Little Bazeley branch and
stemming from pure modeller's
license, the motor luggage van is
used on parcels and special
services
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
2EPB
#5764 (BACHMANN UK)
BRITISH RAIL BLUE WITH FULL
YELLOW ENDSA number of
EPBs had been repainted in the
new British Rail corporate blue
by 1969 and possibly also
earlier, so this unit is supposed
to be the first sign of the new
BR era to appear at Little
Bazeley - fresh from the
paintshop at Selhurst and
therefore in pristine condition
|
|
|
|
| |
| These EMUs
(with the exception of the MLV) are perfect for depicting
passenger services to Little Bazeley in the mid- to late
1960s and are ready to form the backbone of the EMU
service to Little Bazeley. |
| |
Hornby's 2BIL 2090 (above) and 2HAL
2630 (below), both in expertly weathered condition from themodelcentre.co.uk
|
| |
| |
|
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
