I started a new project. It is called "Project 368". The reason for this is that it is going to be set of modules showing some places along Line No 368 in Poland. This is secondary line, not in use any more. The line was built in the year 1908 and is 58 km long. It is in unused condition since 1995. Although it was built in lowlands area there are beautiful landscapes due to the fact that this is post-glacial area with some creeks, lakes and hills. Because of this there are several interesting bridges on the line. To give you some feeling of possibilities I post some photos of real line AD 2015/2016.
Abandoned railways, always very evocative. Where do they come from, where do they go? I live in England, in a small town which was once a branch line terminus off the old GWR. Unlike yours the tracks and most of everything else are long gone. All the best for your new project. Love the "upside-down bridge". Rob Pearce (aka ViperBugloss)
Looks beautiful. My grandmother, when she was alive, lived in Poland before she moved to America. Whenever I see pictures of Poland, even though I've never visited, I somehow feel nostalgic. Sounds like a really cool project.
Old and unused lines are very interesting places to explore ! My job started with the visits on the line. It is good for me because it is only 1-1,5 hour driving time from my place. Making photos, measuring bridges looking for interesting places to be modelled is really great thing. The other area of exploration was Internet. Old photos, history of the line, current aerial photos, copies of old maps - all of them are great resources to be studied. Interesting thing is that I have found an information that two former station buildings were sold to private persons and it was possible to contact them to gather extra info. The funny thing is that one of those buildings do have Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/stacjabinino/ As the result of those contacts I also got old official railway plans of some stations. They were prepared approximately 70 years ago ! Here is the example: Those stations in most cases do not loook like years ago. There are less tracks remaining. There is no signalling any more. I also get some architectural plans produced by architects at this time in order to make a reconstruction of the buildings. It is a very importatnt thing because I was able to get measurements of some buildings: Some additional information was found in articles from civil engeneering revievs concerning some of the existing bridges. With all those information I could enter the planning phase having in mind much more data and ideas - sometimes too many ideas...
The line was built in year 1908. At this time that part of Poland belonged to Prussia. Buildings are 100% German design !
Based on information I was able to gather I started to plan the modules. The main subject of modules will be Nojewo station. This is a small place but very interesting. I decided to model the station together with approaching line starting in the place in which first entry signals were placed. This means altogether 3 km of the line. Of course some compression is necessary. Based on old station planes, maps (including maps produced almost 100 years ago I started detailed planning of the line. I want to model: - all the railway buildings: station, toilet, water tower, ramp for loading and unloading wagoons, technical building - all 5 bridges including 3 relatively big arch bridges - all the railway signals - all roads crossing the line I had to decide to have some selective compression but this is limited to maximum 3 times outside the station area and maximum 1,5 times in the strict station area. This assumption is applied to all distatces beetween two objects planned next to each other. As the result I got a general plan which look to be very basic and simple but realistic. I decided to have 99cm long modules: 88 cm of "normal" tracks + 11 cm for bridge tracks (5,5 cm each side). I plan to apply the Z-bend concept of using adjustable Marklin tracks.
Next phase of the project was the more precise module planning. I tried to have all "railway part" to be planned taking into account distances beetween objects and areas available on modules. Finally 7 modules were planned. The plans are simplified so at the moment there are not curves planned on drawings. Module 1 and 2 - eastern approach to the station: The bridge:
Second part of the plan is actually the main station area: Some buildings still exists but for some of them I try to find an information and old photos. The main station is currently under reconstruction. It looked like this in the past - probably 80-100 years ago: Water tower is still there - while visiting a place I was lucku to have a chance to visit it inside. That is the view of the water tower: There are only some remainings of one of the weights. the second one gone totally:
The last part - 3 modules: 4 bridges are planned as well as some railway signs and signals . I hope there will be place for watermill which in reality is located very close to the railway:
Although plan for Nojewo station is ready there are some more very interesting places along the line to be modelled. I also need to get some buildings to be custom made for thet project. I started to work with fellow modellers to have soma acurate bridges, railway buildings to be designed and produced. I belive there will be a mix of techniques: 3D printing, carton laser cut models as well as photo etched models. I decided as an exercise to start with simple model of Klosowice railway stop. In reality it looked like this in time there was still railway traffic - unfortunately only special touristic runs: Source: http://www.wrphoto.eu/details.php?image_id=28826 Current situation: I started with construction of module:
Basic landscape formation is prepared: Railway crossing and platform edge: Sand platform and first roads were created:
Some buildings prepared for the module. They are lasercut in wood models produced by Lutke Modellbahn of Germany. They were painted and weathered.
It is interesting to model some little details. Of course one has to find them at first. Long time ago the railway stop at Klosowice had additional loading truck and there was a narrow gauge railway (probably powered by horses) to transport clay. It looked like this: The relict of that narrow gauge railway still exists: I try to model this tiny detail of landscape:
Relict of the narrow gauge reilway placed on module: Some development in landscaping. All roads are in proper place.
Love he idea of the relic rail. Liittle spurs like this are all over Atlanta and always make me wonder what used to roll on those now forgotten rails.
There is some progress in landscaping - more grass is planted. It is my first experiance with the electrostatic grass planted in proper way - using special "hand-made" equipment. All roads in place. Part of it is "stone road". This is made using N-scale Auhagen plastic plates. The sand platform is not frequently used so there is some grass on it. One can see also final placements of narrow gauge relict. Platform edge is made of painted wood.
I like the way this module is constructed. Several of these may be connected to form a longer track with loops constructed at each end to run trains. Great idea.