Modelling Mangotsfield

[madhattie]

One of the things I get asked via email the most is 'do you have any other pics of Mangotsfield' or words to that effect. Without fail, the emails come from people modelling the area.

Unfortunately, everything I have is online (and without Clive's excellent contribution would be very poor indeed). It's a place I never got to see with track, let alone with a train, and I vividly remember the first time I did visit the station, on a typically windswept day, and discovered a place that simply deffied it's own existance, not least because of it's triangular layout.

It would seem to me that this forum could be a useful way for everyone modelling the place to exchange notes, stocklists and trackplans and to meet other people who share the same interest etc. I appreciate you'd have to become a member in order to post, which is without a doubt a pain in the backside (but necessary to keep down the spammers) but it may prove to be fruitful if information missing then readily comes to hand.

Anyway, just a thought If it such an idea did catch on, I'd set up a separate Mangotsfield section of the forum to make verything easy to access.

[horace]

Try and ignore the username horace, that is an old nick name from where i used to work. For horace read clive.
Although i have sent you all of my pictures of mangotsfield. i do have some pretty vivid memories of it, i spent a long time hanging around there as a kid. I was trying to model it myself, but my work commitments are getting in the way. I have just returned form india, and am returning there again soon. Great for photographing long trains, yes they still have them there. the locals dont bother counting the wagons unless there are over 75 of them. Anyway back to the point, if any one has any quetions about mangotsfield just post it here and i will answer what i can.

[Martin]

A difficulty with modelling Mangotsfield, if using ready-made pointwork, is that on the curved approach from the Bristol end there is a diamond crossing on the 'up' line on which both intersecting lines are on curves. Also, at the actual junction of the North and Bath lines there is a single slip, again curved on both intersecting lines. These two pieces of pointwork at least would need to be hand-made. Alternatively, licence could be used and the approach curve started a little later than it actually did, keeping the diamond crossing on the straight. The single slip at the junction, though, would remain a problem. I am planning to tackle it. I have most of the engine types and stock seen on the line in the 1950s and early '60s.
Martin Bennett (Australia) ex-Rodway School

[PDR]

I have plenty of info regards signalling of mangotsfield triangle, at North, South and Station junctions. Also some photos and plenty of memories.

[Martin]

Regarding PDR's posting, I recall that at South Junction there was no signalbox and that the points were electric motor driven. I guess the signals were, too, though they were certainly upper-quadrant semaphores.

Can't remember the layout of North Junction but there was a signalbox and I think at least one coach siding.

I visit Mangotsfield occasionally (from Australia). My Uncle and aunt bought a house on the site of the old Carson's chocolate factory (later Robinson's?) In my youth when I went to Rodway School I used to catch the train from Staple Hill. Locos I remember include 41241, 41242, 41249, 82004, 82043, 82044.

[PDR]

Martin, you are right in saying that South Junction was electric points and signals but there was a signalbox there until 1923 after which Mangotsfield Station took over the control of the junction. The signals were upper-quadrant semaphores. The Royal Mail ECS from Bristol used to run to North Junction, propel down the Bath branch to South Junction and then by means of a backing signal, run 'wrong road' to the station where it gained the right lines to run back to Bristol, now having been turned.
I also recal 82004/82041 on the Bristol- Bath stoppers.

[PDR]

Further to my last posting, Mangotsfield North Junction had three carriage sidings on the Up side, a siding or two on the Down side and the spur into Carson's which trailed off the Up Branch.