Neston Parkgate - DEMU challenge layout

Neston Parkgate Exchange by Jon Price

By 1866 the Wirral Railway had reached Neston Parkgate where a new dock complex was built jointly with the Wrexham, Mold and Connah’s Quay Railway. A passenger station was built in co-operation with the LNWR/GWR joint line. The success of the Welsh Railway Union led to increased traffic and the growth of the docks. In 1900 The Wirral Railway, following the example of its partner the Mersey Railway decided to adopt the use of electric traction.
By 1908 the electrification using the four rail system was complete, although without the preferential relationship with the manufacturers enjoyed by the Mersey Railway the stock was sourced from a variety of sources. Old steam passenger stock, and through trains, are hauled by Metropolitan box-cabs bought from the District Line. Shunting and light goods is handled by Siemens-Schuckert steeple cabs, and passenger stock bought from the Mersey Railway sale of redundant stock in 1906 has been converted to motor and trailer units.
The layout depicts part of Neston Parkgate Exchange station. This is a first attempt at P4 and is intended to form part of a larger layout including docks, and the rest of the station.

Progress photos as at February 2008, click on photo to enlarge.