SALTFLEET UPDATE

[chris58]

SALTFLEET
Salt fleet has been designed and built to provide me with a way to play trains at short notice .It lives in the family living room and I can be operating five minutes after finishing work as no setting up or dismantling is required.

SCALE 4mm = 1ft
GAUGE 18.83mm ( p4)
DCC using Bachmann Dynamis or Lenz
SIZE 48” x 21” ( Traverser adds a further 9” )
STOCK HORNBY Class 31 with Southwest Digital sound. ULTRASCALE wheels fitted
WAGONS by Bachmann , Dapol & Parkside . ( Gibson wheels fitted)
TRACKWORK consists of Exactoscale pointwork and SMP plainline

The future should see the addition of a CLASS 37 and the on going detailing of the scenery and the
small fuel depot which provides the only regular traffic.
I would like to thank fellow members of St Neots MRC for their encouragement and advice.The following members deserve a special mention.
Roy Gill for help with baseboards
Peter Siddall for scenery and good advice
Jullian Sprott for waggon weathering and ideas.

THE STORY
Its 1973 and the lincolnshire branch line from Louth to Mablethorpe is open for freight trains its passenger service long since consigned to history.The only regular freight traffic is the small quantity of fuel such as Gas Oil and Kerosene to the local merchant at Saltfleet.Due to the poor condition of the trackwork all trains run straight from Louth to Mablethorpe where the only useable run round loop is located.Shunting is carried out on the return trip to Louth A speed restriction of 25mph and the crew operated level crossings mean the trip takes around 1 ½ hours and this alone seems to spell the end for what is a charming operation.At its busiest the train runs twice a week and for a short while brings life to the quiet disused station area.Regular motive power is Class 31 31165 which has only recently gained it,s T.O.P.S. Code.The ESSO tanks still proudly show the company logo,s all these are likely to be removed on the next works visit.Once in awhile a vanwide is dropped off in the old cattle dock. ,and cattle feed is off loaded.
All is not lost however and rumours of a north sea gas terminal at nearby Theddlethorpre bring hope of new traffic in construction materials and maintainence spares.This new traffic is likely to bring additonal motive power in the shape of class 37.This is for the future and could well see the branch into the 1980s.for now the branch line and the people who work on it or are connected with it in anyway are content to amble along at this comfortable pace .Profit before people is along way off although the local coal merchant who also manages the fuel depot has cast a glance at the increased use of oil fired central heating by his more well to do clients.The signal protecting the level crossing is out of use as the branch is controlled by token block.The token is issued by the signalman in Louth signal box who also holds the keys to unlock the crossing gates along the line.
CHRIS58

[DougN]

Chris this sounds really interesting, any chase of a few photos?