Steve’s been in touch, and he’s added to the OO gauge model layouts on the blog:
“Hi Al
My layout, “Whenton”, is very much a work in progress.
A UK based 00 gauge layout situated in my garage (so-called “double”, but if you put two cars in there, you wouldn’t be able to open the doors on either of them 😃).
The idea behind Whenton – an anagram of “now” and “then” which appeals to one of my other pastimes, cryptic crosswords – is that in the late 40s onwards a group of incredibly rich railway enthusiasts got together to finance a railway preservation society (the Whenton Railway Preservation Society or WRPS) based on the old station of Whenton and the nearby Motive Power Depot (MPD) at Adamsdale.
This backstory is merely an attempt to justify my rather “magpie” approach to buying models – i.e. if I like it and can afford it, I’ll buy it!
The plan is to have a continuous run of double-track main line, with a 7-track fiddle yard on one side of the garage, with Adamsdale MPD and a branch line descending to the “heritage” railway’s Whenton HQ.
Much of the groundwork for all this has been built, although only the “Whenton” heritage railway station site has been scenically treated as of now.
Like many heritage lines, the WRPS holds special events to help with fundraising. The one shown here was their “centenary cavalcade”, which was staged in the mid-sixties to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Great Northern Railway works at the nearby Adamsdale MPD.
It was inspired by the 1975 event at Shildon marking 150 years since the opening of the Stockton & Darlington railway, which I was lucky enough to attend. The fact that 2025 will be the 200th makes me feel rather old!
Temporary stands were built by the TLA showbiz consortium, famous for their live concert seating and stage structures and – not entirely coincidentally – owned by one of the WRPS’s multi-millionaire founders, Sir Frank Silversmith.
TLA stands for Three Letter Acronym (yeah, I know, an acronym should be pronounceable as a word) but coincidentally it’s also my grandchildren’s initials 😃.
The VIP stand seated a select group of local worthies: Lord and Lady Whenton, of course, whose chauffeur had to be content with a trackside view from their Jaguar, the Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Whenton and three of the society’s founders: Sir Frank, Jimmy Keith, at the time guitarist with The Tumbling Boulders – he went on to join Heavy Hindenburg, of course – and Don “Boy” Trotter of the trading empire Nextyear. T
he fourth member of the founding consortium, known only as “GW”, always shuns the limelight so was, as usual, nowhere to be seen. There has been much speculation in the more sensationalist press as to why he or she never appears in public, with theories ranging from underworld connections through alien abduction via being just a clever tax-dodge. The lady sitting next to Sir Frank attracted the attention of the newspaper gossip columnists as she certainly wasn’t Lady (with a capital “L”) Silversmith!
The section of the station yard where the temporary viewing stand was placed, together with the grass area currently in use as a car park, are used on the layout for varying scenes.
I previously sent in photos which Al kindly published, showing a classic car show in the grass area and a traction engine rally set out on the hardstanding where the viewing stand is in these photos.
Last December I set it out as a Christmas Market and there was also a “Santa Special” train running on the preserved line.
Other ideas in the pipeline include a military re-enactment society’s display, a funfair, and a model railway show – the latter probably housed in marquees to stave off the effects of our English weather ☔️.
Regards,
Steve”
Early morning and the cavalcade locos await their crews at Adamsdale MPD. There was light rain overnight but luckily the weather held for the cavalcade weekend.
The viewing stand. Scratchbuilt from card and wire oddments, populated mainly with cheap figures bought from eBay. The steps are unfeasibly steep really – but were “inspired” by the hair-raising real ones at the O2!
Locomotion approaching the VIP stand. VIPs, L to R: Don “Boy” Trotter, Jimmy Keith, Lady Whenton, Lord Whenton, The Mayor of Whenton and the Lady Mayoress, Sir Frank Silversmith and unknown companion. The attendant on the far left is George “Jeeves” Wodehouse, a volunteer on the heritage line who usually works as maitre d’ on the Pullman dining car specials. The Whenton’s chauffeur, Parker, found that he had a great view of the cavalcade from the parking spot next to the VIP stand allocated to the Jag. He thinks that Lord Whenton probably doesn’t know what his first name is – or whether he even has one. This suits Parker fine, since Parker isn’t his real name anyway – the result of a shady past!
Rocket passes the tiny signal cabin at Whenton. Crew are dressed in suitable 1830s gear, including top hats.
LMS (ex-LNWR 0-6-2T “Coal tank”) drifts slowly past the VIP stand.
“Patriot” class Duke of Sutherland comes to a halt at Whenton before reversing into the sidings for the return parade back to Adamsdale shed. Somehow the driver’s white shirt has stayed as pristine as the loco’s paint!
A4 pacific Sir Nigel Gresley coming into the station.
The cavalcade locos waiting for the return parade back to the MPD. It seems that both of the “oldest” locos (actually replicas specially built for the occasion) are receiving some attention from their crews. The locos are: (front row) S&D Locomotion, L&M Rocket, L&M Lion, GNR Stirling single, SDJR Johnson 1P 0-4-4T, LMS (ex-LNWR) Webb 0-6-2T “coal tank” (middle row) City of Truro, SECR P class 0-6-0T, LMS 4-6-0 “Patriot” Duke of Sutherland, LNER 4-6-2 A4 class Sir Nigel Gresley (back row) LMS prototype Co-Co diesel no.10000, BR (ex-SR) Bulleid 0-6-0 + 0-6-0T Leader and BR experimental gas turbine 18000.
A big thanks to Steve for sharing adding to the OO gauge model layouts.
What I like best about his layout is that he’s clearly having fun, and that’s what it’s all about.
I do enjoy reading about a layouts backstory – real or fictional – they just add so much to a layout.
Here are some more OO gauge model layouts on the blog if that’s your thing:
That’s all for this time folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if creating your own model railroad is an itch you just have to scratch, the the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.
Nice layout you have built there Steve
Opps! Re photo 4, George the attendant seems to have moved from “far left” over to the right of the VIPs – didn’t realise that those Bachmann Pullman attendants could walk … must be a DCC feature 😃
Steve- love the story, love the start you have made. Looking forward to updates!
Whenton looks like you had fun creating it. That should be why we do this hobby. We do it because it is fun and entertaining. It is also a way to express ourselves in what ever way we want.
Rob
Steve you should be writing short stories as well as creating railway worlds x
Steve, I love your attitude of “if I like it and can afford it, I’ll buy it!”. Your back story is also very creative and I agree with Chris Palmer, you SHOULD write stories.
Clearly, your ARE having fun and I wish you more of it.
It should be inspiring all of us to have a great backstory.
Thank you.