Local area rail history is also shown, as it is the basis of the model. NORFOLK DOWN UNDERJohn Colquhoun describes his late 1950s King’s Lynn area representation in 4mm scale.Photographs by the authorKing’s Lynn is located at sea-level at the extreme end of the Wash. The Lynn and Hunstanton Railway built and ran the railway from 1861 to 1874, after which date it combined with the West Norfolk Junc
tion Railway, from 1874 to 1890. The combined company was absorbed into the Great Eastern Railway in 1890, then upon the 1923 grouping the LNER, and ultimately the Eastern Region of British Railways upon Nationalisation in 1948, the era modelled by myself.This period suited as I was born in 1958, and my late father had items of 4mm scale purchased in this era for a rudimentary model railway. Family relatives lived in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, and family visits took us to King’s Lynn. My sons were inspired by the Nene Valley Heritage line, and also a trip to York National Railway Museum, and Scotland by GNER train, to make me purchase a Hornby model of such. It was then that the remnants of the family models came out, old Superquick houses, shops and assorted LNER/GER Railway buildings, including Peco track-work, all of which worked brilliantly after 25 plus years in storage. Also included was Hornby DMUs, A3 Pacifics, some early BR Mark1 coaches, which after a brief spruce and service returned to working order. My eldest son, Alexander, and I , set about renewing the old model of King’s Lynn railway. It was of course scratch built to a degree and loosely based on the real thing, including the station terminus and branch-line to Hunstanton.As the boys aged the model was assigned to the garage for a decade. I could not bring myself to trash it, due links to my Dad and then my sons. I worked 20 plus years for Qantas, the Australian Airline, and was able to see the world, including many visits to UK restored railways, including The Jacobite Express, Bluebell Railway and Shakespeare Express. In 2013 I developed a brain tumour, which required surgery, as it would be fatal if not removed. The surgery took 8 hours and left me partially disabled, unable to work or drive. We moved to Queensland, in Australia’s North, and my wife took along the railway. As I improved, the railway took my interest, as a way to amuse myself. I used many of the old buildings and track-work, along with many goods wagons that were by this stage 30 plus years old. I purchased new locomotives, DMUs, and additional Mark1 coaching stock, plus Gresley and Thompson as well.The original baseboard was chipboard, and additional extensions followed with this material. As the area modelled was the Wash , major scenic work was limited and dyed sawdust was used to create ballast and ground cover. Varying greens were used to attain grass scatter material variations. Lichen provided vegetation options in the most part, along with Hornby Beech trees, native to the area , as noted by Sir John Betjeman in his inspiring mini-doco, John Betjeman Goes by Train-King’s Lynn to Hunstanton .After my last UK visit, including a journey with my wife to King’s Lynn, so she could see what had inspired her husband , I elected to add Magdalen Road to my model. The same baseboard was used, except it was mounted on trestles(removable) to extend from the spare bedroom cupboard, out across the bed.Magdalen Road was an interesting model. Once a rural outpost, it was also a junction also, that provided service to Wisbech. The station , along with the branch closed in 1968. However, as the community grew, and thanks to local efforts the station re-opened in 1975 and returned to it’s original name Watlington in 1989.The track-work is essentially Peco Streamline, some 30 plus years old, but going strong. Some Hornby was used, coming in Train Packs such as The Gloucester City Pullman set. Points are mostly manual at this stage. If my son Alex was around that would change , as he was and still is, a technical wonder. At age 13 he had the model running with colour light signals. I have reverted to Dad’s old ratio signals, which incidentally add character to the model( but being so old are VERY delicate). Dummy point rodding , together with signal wires mounted on posts and suitable boarded crossings have been added to give greater realism.The track plan has been very loosely based on that of Lynn, including the now closed 31 C Engine Shed facility and turntable. The branch to the now closed Hunstanton line is also included, along with a scratch built attempt at the now demolished Tennyson Ave walk-way over-bridge. The first station on the line, North Wooton is modelled, but it is definitely not an accurate representation of the actual facility. I have also attempted to model the effect of the line being reduced to what was effectively a long single siding from King’s Lynn to Hunstanton. This took effect 2March 1967. As such, the period is out, but the feel of the slow demise of the system is characterised. I regret not being able to model Wolferton. At the time of opening Wolferton had one of the smallest parish populations in the area. It was, however to be granted a disproportionate amount of fame and station facility size, after the growing influence of the Royal Family on nearby Sandringham Estate. The decade modelled is appropriate, as unlike it’s current status, King’s Lynn was the starting point for services to Ely, March, Norwich and the Midlands, as well as those on the Hunstanton branch. After 3May 1969, the only remaining passenger trains running would be those on the Ely line, and they now terminate King’s Cross, not Liverpool St .My model 31C locomotive shed consists of :Hornby R850 BR A3 Flying Scotsman ( My Dad’s stock so quite old but runs great)Hornby R052 BR Jinty ( Dad’s Stock but used with J83 body)Hornby R2784 BR A4 Mallard,Hornby R3188 BR N2, severalHornby B17s,2xHornby 16/3s,Hornby R3190 BR L1Hornby R157 DMU ( early mine or Dad’s runs rough)Bachmann Branch-line B1 BR loco Bachmann Branchline Class 105 DMU, Bachmann Riddles Std 4, plus a model of a 1929 version of 4472( this is just for the joy of owning it).Buildings are in the most part Superquick as are bridges ,along with some Metcalfe and Scale Scene models, although some scratch built items exist . A Wills crossing is used at Magdalen Road . People and farm stock are all Airfix, as is the turntable(now Dapol). Due the age of these they are very brittle. An interesting point is the streetscape on the bridge over the Norwich line which copies an actual rural scene, photographed at North Wooton, where a herd of cows makes it’s way along the country road. Of course in reality the method of transfer was a level crossing, not a Superquick bridge, but the bridge hides the end of the model better!!!A fiddle yard is at the end of Magdalen Road, hidden by an attempt at modelling the M & GN crossover. Of course this is out of geographic place, but modeller's license is utilised to effect. Whilst not entirely accurate, the model is fun to operate and visitors find it interesting. I hope my sons will , like me , keep it in the family, for their children to gain pleasure from. It also honours the memory of my dear cousin Lindsay, whose wonderful family took us through the magic that is Ashwell, the Nene Valley Railway, York . And of course King’s Lynn.
