PARKSIDE DUNDAS
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 Information updated 9 July 2005

GRAND JUNCTION (LNWR Building Panels)

Prototype Notes

The London & North Western Railway, as many enthusiasts will know, was a great believer in standardisation and the benefits accruing therefrom. As a result the company house style could be seen all over the system and the legacies survive to this day. One of the most noticeable features was the use of prefabricated sectional station buildings which were normally used from the late nineteenth century onwards whenever new stations were built or existing stations were enlarged.

After some initial essays the most well known design was introduced about 1883. After that there were minor changes, the principal one being the use of hipped roofs to replace the gabled ends of the previous type. A few buildings also appeared with rounded corners but these were superseded by square cornered ends using 7" x 7" corner posts. The buildings consisted of rusticated boarding on wooden framing. There were three main types of side panels, namely plain boarded throughout, a nine-pane sash window or a single door set in surrounding windows. There was also a double door panel, without surrounding windows, which was occasionally found leading to and from booking halls, each panel was 6'8" wide. End panels were 11'6" wide and were usually plain boarded although modifications to suit individual sites were common, principally introduction of a doorway to give access to a Gentlemens lavatory.

Building lengths varied from a basic four panels as found on the Up platform at Parsley Hay to over twenty, where Waiting Rooms (General and Ladies), Booking Office, Station Master's Office, Booking Hall, Lavatories (Ladies and Gentlemens), Porters Room and Store were incorporated. At smaller stations in particular the buildings on the more important side were usually significantly larger than those on the other platform. The Gentlemens lavatories were frequently sited at one end of the building and often lighted by a glazed and louvered clerestory. Inevitably detailed variations abounded and one can but repeat the usual advice to consult photographs of the prototype wherever possible.

In later L&NWR years livery was dark brown up to sill level with framing and doors the same colour and panelling above sills a colour described as buff. Window framings were white. The brown and buff combination was sometimes described as dark and light buff. The same colour scheme prevailed in LMS days although in a few cases the brown was replaced by green. If anything the buff changed to become a lighter creamier shade, a process which seems to have continued into BR days with those stations still on the LM Region in a maroon/carmine red colour and cream.

Useful References:
The L&NWR Portrayed, Nelson, Peco, 1975.
Pictorial Record of LMS Architecture, Anderson and Fox, OPC,1981.
L&NWR Liveries, Talbot et al., HMRS, 1985.

The Model Components (4mm scale)

It must be stressed at the outset that what is offered is NOT A COMPLETE KIT TO BUILD A STATION but a supply of side and end panels injection moulded in plastic to allow the scale modeller, using other readily available modelling materials, to create a very convincing representation of an L&NWR station. The design of the mouldings is based on the actual L&NWR architectural drawings for Hindlow station. A degree of modelling skill is required and, needless to say, the parts are not suitable for children under twelve years of age.

THE FOLLOWING PARTS ARE AVAILABLE - 4MM SCALE
All prices in English Pounds

GJ01 Plain Boarded End Panel is similar to GJ04 except wider.

User Instructions

To complete the model styrene sheet of varying thicknesses plus clear 0.010" sheet for glazing, typically Slater's Plastikard and solvent, typically Slater's Mekpak, are recommended. Some modellers may wish to use simulated plastic roof tiling. You may notice that rebates are provided so that the individual pieces of glazing can be cut out to size and fitted. For painting a steady hand and patience are definite assets. Experience suggests that parts first be sprayed individually with an undercoat of red oxide or grey car primer and the front faces then finish painted in appropriate colours. The glazing should then be fitted either in large sheets or in the smaller panes as set out above, and the interior colours applied. Finally the panels should be joined together and the painting on the joints touched up where it has been affected by adhesive. The tags should be removed from the extreme ends of the group of panels. The ends will then locate with the bars on the end panels. Double door panels can be created using one plain boarded side panel plus two single door panels.

5522 Models, Kippilaw Hill, Melrose, TD6 9HF, UK also supply suitable pboto etched valancing and awning support brackets. Please contact Mr A W H L Wright at the above address for details.

Finally it is interesting to note that from the modeller's point of view the L&NWR's policy of standardisation has at last paid off. Building a station still requires time and effort but the skill of the toolmaker and the injection moulding machine make it possible to reproduce standard components and thereby save a lot of modelling time.

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