Initial Layout Ideas for Vulcan Halt

Vulcan Halt in TT 120

This is my current plan for the layout of Vulcan Halt. It is a compressed version of the original track plan for the stopping station between Winwick Quay and Earlestown stations, following the junction for access to the Vulcan Foundry.

Although originally compromising a small turntable and more sidings, this point layout is similar to the eventual layout of the track prior to the ending of locomotives manufacturing at the site in 1970.

Vulcan Halt (or just Vulcan as it was often named) was itself closed in 1965 following the Beeching Report, with the last train between St Helens and Warrington running on Saturday 12 June, 1965.

The layout will use Scale Model Scenery's baseboard kit 'Layout-in-a-box', measuring 110cm x 22cm with a 25cm high backscene board, as well as two of their twin track fiddleyard attachments for the points at either end to connect to a temporary loop to allow for the round and round operations when desired. 

This setup rather than a permanent baseboard fits my current living space and allows for convenient storage and transportation in one or more of the 77L Really Useful Boxes.

The layout will be set from Era 4 to Era 6 to allow the running of the widest variety of locomotives both produced by the factory and in operation by British Railways and British Rail respectively.

The up and down lines from the left hand side will be flanked by narrow platforms before a road crossing and signal box, which allowed access between Wargrave Road and Hey Lock on the Sankey Canal. Behind the platform fence on the up line is a siding used by the factory for wagon storage and operations. The crossing points beyond the signal box where used by the factory to accept deliveries as well as facilitate the transportation of locomotive stock from the curved track crossing the road into the Foundry.

At the present time, the following Vulcan locomotives are planned by Hornby in the TT:120 range:

• LMS/BR Black 5 (100 built at Vulcan)
  
• J94 (50 built at Vulcan, 13 of which made up the 75 purchased by LNER)
• Class 50 (50 built at Vulcan)
• Class 37 (309 built in total split between Vulcan and RSH)
• Class 73 (49 built in total, 43 at Vulcan and 6 at Eastleigh Works)

I hope that the launch of UK TT scale will result in more models becoming available from other manufacturers, as well as further announcements by Hornby of future models.