Layout Origin's

As proof  of this layouts origin along with recognising the modellers themselves who had a hand in its design and construction, I took the liberty of copying the following text and images below from the their old website. http://cravens4ag.blogspot.com/

This layout was originally built by the Scalefour Societies Craven Area Group

The Craven Area Group

back row: 

Paul Hatherley, Roger Courtenay, Roger Cox;

front row: 

Allan Smith, Paul Severs, Howard Lorriman

Three things inspired the concept for this model: first, the Scalefour Society Challis Challenge (2002-2005), where entries had to be within a 'footprint' of 18.83 sq.ft.; second, we had built only end-to-end layouts before, and had never had a continuous run; third, our honorary member had started the Challenge [as it became known] by building a totally circular layout, with curved inner and outer edges to the baseboards. We decided that a circle would be just right, but preferred on balance to have straight-sided boards, which put us over the 18.83 sq.ft. area, so we decided not to take the Challenge [operating as we have done at our usual pace, we'd never have met the timescale requirements anyway!].

Heath End - the Fictitious Origins

The Basingstoke and Newbury Railway was enacted after the building of the LSWR and GWR lines through those two towns, and Heath End Station was approximately halfway along the line, not only providing an important rail link between two important towns, and facilitating in particular, race traffic for Newbury, it provided the Brick and Tile Works at Axmansford easy access to markets for its fine products.

 

The upper map shows the route between the two towns, and the lower a more detailed location of the Station, like so many, quite some way from its eponymous settlement! Originally there was a private siding to Wheat Fold, that required a second arch to the over-bridge to the south of the Station; this closed in the mid-war period, and Coutenay and Cox, local coal and coke merchants purchased the arch for its offices and stores.

The Station comprises a single platform, with a level road crossing at the north end, and a passing loop at the south end, leading to the coal yard, and two other sidings, one incorporating a cattle pen, and carriage chute. Trains originating on both Companies' metals traversed the line, but it was owned by the GWR and the buildings and signalling reflect that Company's practice. However, in the mid 1950s, when the BR Board rejigged the Regional boundaries, the operation of many of the lines to the south-west changed hands, and so the responsibility for this line transferred to the Southern Region.

The period modelled is just after that transfer, so that signs and paintwork are beginning to change colour from the old [not updated] GWR light and dark stone, to the SR green and cream.