Hospital Gates
Many ‘independent’ light railways which sprang up in the early years of the great railway boom operated around sparse traffics with pensionable and homemade rolling stock. Many of these quickly faltered and quietly passed into history during the early part of the 20th century. However, there were others which stayed the course.
One such group of these light railway lines were those built specifically to serve the nations ‘Mental Hospitals’ and ‘Asylums’. Now this is no place to debate the ethics of such establishments, but the fact remains that many of these Victorian built facilities were built in rural locations and therefore used railway connections to the nearest company line. Not only in their construction, but later for the conveyance of fuel, stores and in some cases offered a passenger service for the convenience of both staff and visitors.
The Whittingham Hospital Railway, located near Longridge in Lancashire, was one such line. It lasted until 1957 and was steam worked by an array of miss matched second hand locomotives and stock throughout its entire lifetime. The distinctive station building, yard layout and several other key features from the hospital end of that line form the basis of the layout that you see here. Though in an effort to separate our model from the single prototype and create a wider ranging vista we have also taken inspiration and imported key elements from several other sites from around the country. Notably as befits our 1944/1945 period, introducing an element of military control, workings and expansion to serve a temporary military hospital facility built within the grounds. Set up, as many were for expected D-Day casualties.
Hospital Gates has recently changed hands having originally been built by the East Riding Finescale Group it is now in my ownership. This very popular exhibition layout is still available to exhibitions country wide. The layout is 22-foot-long by 2 foot 6 inches wide 7 foot including operator space. It is DCC control now with sound fitted locomotives. The layout is fully self-supporting and does not require stock tables. The layout retains all of the superb scenic quality it has always had, changes are in the stock and operation. As mentioned above the layout is now DCC sound operated and there is a greater variety of locomotives and stock to enhance the experience for the public viewing the layout.
One such group of these light railway lines were those built specifically to serve the nations ‘Mental Hospitals’ and ‘Asylums’. Now this is no place to debate the ethics of such establishments, but the fact remains that many of these Victorian built facilities were built in rural locations and therefore used railway connections to the nearest company line. Not only in their construction, but later for the conveyance of fuel, stores and in some cases offered a passenger service for the convenience of both staff and visitors.
The Whittingham Hospital Railway, located near Longridge in Lancashire, was one such line. It lasted until 1957 and was steam worked by an array of miss matched second hand locomotives and stock throughout its entire lifetime. The distinctive station building, yard layout and several other key features from the hospital end of that line form the basis of the layout that you see here. Though in an effort to separate our model from the single prototype and create a wider ranging vista we have also taken inspiration and imported key elements from several other sites from around the country. Notably as befits our 1944/1945 period, introducing an element of military control, workings and expansion to serve a temporary military hospital facility built within the grounds. Set up, as many were for expected D-Day casualties.
Hospital Gates has recently changed hands having originally been built by the East Riding Finescale Group it is now in my ownership. This very popular exhibition layout is still available to exhibitions country wide. The layout is 22-foot-long by 2 foot 6 inches wide 7 foot including operator space. It is DCC control now with sound fitted locomotives. The layout is fully self-supporting and does not require stock tables. The layout retains all of the superb scenic quality it has always had, changes are in the stock and operation. As mentioned above the layout is now DCC sound operated and there is a greater variety of locomotives and stock to enhance the experience for the public viewing the layout.
