Ash Valley Railway. Hazel Grove and District Model Railway Society.

The Ash Valley Railway layout is built to UK '0' finescale standard (scale 1/43). Motive power is 12-15v DC electric. It represents an independant railway that originally transported coal from mines to a canal basin somewhere in Cheshire, England, that was subsequently linked to the Midland and London & North Western Railways. The period modelled is the mid 1930's. The layout itself is 'L' shaped with both sides being approximately 24ft long.

An imaginary journey.

At one end of the layout is the fiddle yard, which uses the cartridge system. A journey from here would probably find us in an ex-Midland Railway 6-wheeled coach hauled by a diminutive 0-6-0 steam locomotive. We would have a compartment to ourselves, since there would be few fellow passengers. A tunnel takes us through the hill on which Ash Hall stands.

We emerge into the light at the Junction Station. Here the ex LNW lines joins us on the left. Beyond this is the original Ash Valley line, whose narrow bore tunnel only permits the passage of coal trains. After a short pause at the station, we set off across the junction throat controlled by a Midland signal box. Passing between rail linked factory and timber yard we emerge onto an embankment which, swinging to the right, carries us above the village of Ashbridge.

This brings us under a bridge where the track immediately fans out into the sidings of the railway's terminus. Our train comes to a halt with the single platform to our left where our journey comes to an end.

The following locomotives see service on the Ash Valley Railway.

North East meets South East!
The left locomotive is a North Eastern Railway J79 0-6-0T. Built from a Connoisseur kit by Ian Major. The frames are heavily modified to accept Slater's sprung hornblocks on all three axles. With its small diameter wheels it is the most powerful, and slowest, locomotive on the line. Three of the prototype were built, known as Gateshead Shunters, reflecting their main role. One was modified to haul trains on the North Sunderland Light Railway. None survive.
The right hand locomotive is a South Eastern & Chatham Railway Class P 0-6-0T built from a Meteor kit by Nik Bak. Eight of these engines were built in 1910 for railmotor work. Later they were used for shunting. Several survive, examples can be seen on the Bluebell Railway. Some were sold for industrial work, the Ash Valley version is supposed to be one of these.
Both are club owned.

A freelance design locomotive, made from a Leeds Model Railway Company kit by Nik Bak.The body is original dating back to before World War 2. As with many of the Leeds Model Co. items, the original wheels disintegrated, as did the motor, so Nik built a new chassis using Slater's wheels. It is the only engine on the line to carry a name, "Pit Gavenny". Club owned.

Other Locomotives. Three Lima 4F 0-6-0s which at one time were the mainstay of the line. These have now been relegated to secondary duties.

The latest locomotive is a Midland 0-4-4 tank, completed by Nik Bak. More detail on this at a later date.

Last changed: 12th December 2002
Ian Major.