Melbridge Dock is not based on a specific prototype. Due to space considerations we based the design on a layout plan for a GWR station from a long forgotten magazine. Platforms were replaced by water and the proportions of the sidings were altered to suit.
The buildings are a collection of real prototypes with a modicum of alteration or "modellers licence" employed to give a representation of the different types seem in dockyards. They are unusual in model railway terms because they are so large. Each of the warehouses is 12 inches highs and over eighteen inches long. The decision to locate the layout on the England/Scotland border meant that stone would have been a strong candidate for an early warehouse with brick making an appearance later as transport links improved.
Other buildings are collected from elsewhere. The Harbormasters office is famously from Weymouth and is modelled using a plan from a Model Railway Constructor article from the 1960's.
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Gloucester
Docks
The brick warehouse is based on those found at Gloucester Docks, now a museum. Esentially all the warehouses here were repititions of the single unit pictured. Our models uses four units but this makes it a very short building. Thirty plus was more common but it would make a dull layout ! |
| Nottingham
Canal Museum
Another brick warehouse is shown here, this time from Nottingham. Although we have not used this style on the layout, it is an attractive style and would make a nice model. |
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Crane at
Nottingham
On the layout a Wills kit has been pressed into service as a yard crane, but here is the prototype at Nottingham. These cranes were a standard item and could be seen at many locations. |
For more information,
visit the Bibliography
