Neath Junction Signal Box

[Miamigo259]

I've never really got round to having much in the way of signals on my garden line (about 4 rather basic ones, of three different styles), let alone a signal box, so I decided, now that the layout has been rebuilt, to get on with producing a box, together with some "decent" looking signals to go with it.

Whilst looking online for photos of the South Maitland Railway coal hoppers that I have been scratchbuilding, I found a photo of Neath (NSW) signal box, which, given its small size, I thought I would have a go at basing a model on.
There are several photos on Flikr and other sites, though most show it in a "modernised" state

https://www.flickr.com/photos/coalfieldsheritagegroup/9850336053/in/pool-1221873@N24/

There appears to be a laser cut HO version available in Australia as well!

From the various pictures, I was able to work out some suitable dimensions and construct a plasticard shell, clad in coffee stirrers where appropriate.



Window sizes were based on some units that I had "in stock" - purchased ludicrously cheaply when a local model shop closed down a few years back.
The breeze block base was scribed onto the plasticard and painted accordingly.



At some stage I will get round to detailing the interior, so the main roof is removeable. The corrugated roof is the usual (for me) craft shop corrugated paper, stuck to plasticard.

The finished article..............




Estimated cost of materials involved, for anyone interested, is well under £10. In fact the resin coal bunker visible in the last photo was the most expensive item in the build!

Next job is building some signals...........

 

[stockers]

very nice. And a unique model.

 

[3Valve]

Oh yes. Nice.

 

[Tas devil]

I've never really got round to having much in the way of signals on my garden line (about 4 rather basic ones, of three different styles), let alone a signal box, so I decided, now that the layout has been rebuilt, to get on with producing a box, together with some "decent" looking signals to go with it.

Whilst looking online for photos of the South Maitland Railway coal hoppers that I have been scratchbuilding, I found a photo of Neath (NSW) signal box, which, given its small size, I thought I would have a go at basing a model on.
There are several photos on Flikr and other sites, though most show it in a "modernised" state

https://www.flickr.com/photos/coalfieldsheritagegroup/9850336053/in/pool-1221873@N24/

There appears to be a laser cut HO version available in Australia as well!

From the various pictures, I was able to work out some suitable dimensions and construct a plasticard shell, clad in coffee stirrers where appropriate.

View attachment 203117

Window sizes were based on some units that I had "in stock" - purchased ludicrously cheaply when a local model shop closed down a few years back.
The breeze block base was scribed onto the plasticard and painted accordingly.

View attachment 203118

At some stage I will get round to detailing the interior, so the main roof is removeable. The corrugated roof is the usual (for me) craft shop corrugated paper, stuck to plasticard.

The finished article..............

View attachment 203119
View attachment 203120

Estimated cost of materials involved, for anyone interested, is well under £10. In fact the resin coal bunker visible in the last photo was the most expensive item in the build!

Next job is building some signals...........

Hello. Excellent model, looks good so well done.

I have ridden steam hauled coal trains on South Maitland Railways a number if times years ago,(while wagging school).

But a bit of additional trivia that came from my long deceased mother. Apparently "Neath Hill" was a fair grade on the SMR.

In the days when they ran passenger trains, when the 'away game' football specials returned to Cessnock, the loco would whistle cock-a-doodle do all the way up Neath Hill. A whistle free arrival told the town that there had been a loss!

 

[owlpool]

very neat model
confused me at first, though, as Neath is just down the road from me !

 

[Tas devil]

very neat model
confused me at first, though, as Neath is just down the road from me !

Ah! The confusing colliery names of the Newcastle and Hunter in NSW.

Browns private railway ran from Pelaw Main and Richmond Main, located at Kurri Kurri ( an Australian Aboriginal word) to wharves at Hexham. Then there were collieries at Barnsley and Wallsend.

Just to make it mor interesting, Brown's railway ran ex WW1 ROD 2-8-0 steam locos, ex Mersey Railway 0-6-4T locos, and Kitson 2-8-2T locos (amongst others).

All very interesting when it was operating until 1987.

 

[Miamigo259]

I've started to produce some of the signals to go with the 'box now.

The post is 15mm square section wood, with the rest of the fittings being made from various oddments of plasticard and wire. Signal lamps use an old Parker Pen plastic box and a washer. The signal finial is a tapered washer, bead off an old necklace and the pointed end of a 1.5" nail !

The unpainted item under construction





The (almost) finished article - just needs a ladder to be constructed now