Design proposed for building in 2000/2001.
This is an unusual departure from my usual areas of modelling of third-rail stock, but I have always liked the look of the class 309 EMU, and this is my excuse for building one !
West Mersea can be found just south-east of Colchester, and the branch to West Mersea leaves the Colchester-Clacton branch at Brightlingsea, and meanders across the marshes to West Mersea. Originally opened to serve the nearby garrison in Colchester, West Mersea's location being near a deep-water channel permits the shipment of armanents to the Army depots, and a seperate military-run branchline runs away from the station to the deep-water jetty on the coast.
Surprisingly, the branch was electrified in the pilot-scheme electrification of the Great Eastern - even though it was single-track througout. Class 308 and class 309 multiple units arrive regularly at the station. The armanents traffic arrives in box-vans, and they are always accompanied by a brake-van - more for the security detail to travel in, rather than to stop the train !
The signal box, catenary supports and station are all modelled on Hertford East station.
Great Eastern pattern searchlight signals are in use throughout.
West Mersea is not expected to be much more than 2m in length, and 0.3m wide - built in two sections, with an additional 1m fiddle yard board. As well as a 2-platform station, there will be an intensive service of box-vans arriving in the sidings, and being shunted away to the jetty branchline under the watchful eye of the Army !!
The above plan depicts the station layout. Areas coloured in grey are Great Eastern tracks whereas those in yellow belong to the MoD and entry to this area is through a gated fence which would be opened by one of the on-train military personnel.
4-car multiple units are able to use the two main platforms, and the additional bay platform can take 2 and 3-car units as long as the daily delivery van isn't stabled in the bay ..... West Mersea is more accessible by rail, than by road !
Operation can be split between the passenger area (all by multiple unit), and the freight sidings (delivered by mainline loco, and shunted using the MoD's own shunter from the West Mersea Armanents Depot near the deep-water jetty.)
Multiple control is switchable from the access pointwork into the yard area.
Trackwork is likely to be re-railed Triang, but may be scratch-built .... wait and see !
Expect to see ......
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October 1999 - revised April 2000