'Aylesbury', L&NWR 1911
In 1982 I got a job in Aylesbury, and it wasn't long before I found a 'short cut' that took me down the road from Broughton to Bierton. The path of the abandoned branch line at Marston Gate was then still quite marked. This was my first introduction to the real-life Cheddington to Aylesbury branch, but I had already come to know the model version through Geoff William's writings in various journals in the late 50s and early 60s. As Geoff gathered more information, a rebuild became inevitable, and it is this later layout that is now preserved by the Risborough & District Model Railway Club.
The layout had a 'once only' public viewing at Railex in Aylesbury on 28 & 29 May 2016, and the following images were taken on the 29th.
The first view is taken from the sector plate looking towards Aylesbury. Note the passenger train held on the headshunt for the goods yard, with the loco up against the stock blocks. It seems unlikely that this was a prototype manoeuvre, and is a 'modelling' convenience.
We have edged towards Aylesbury and the Advanced Starter signal can be seen on the right, whilst the very tall Outer Home with repeater arm can be seen just above the white notice pinned to the fascia. The prison can be seen on the backscene - it is still there today.
The crew have presumably abandoned the footplate, as they appear to have been parked out of the way of operations in the station area, and so are also out-of-site of any local management. The loco is standing on the cross-over, so is effectively boxed-in by its train.
A closer view of the loco and train.
Stocklake approaches Park Street in the foreground. Rather than provide a bracket signal, to home signals of appropriate height have been provided to signal trains either into the passenger station or into the goods yard.
The allotments to the right of the signal box are a nice touch.
The loco in the above photograph stops beyond the home signals, and awaits the road to complete its run round manoeuvre.
The goods yard throat with the 'steam shed' in the middle distance. For those who know the modern Aylesbury, this is the site of the modern B&Q DIY store.
The station forecourt. I explored this area in 1982. The actual forecourt survived and it was possible to drive onto it. The bottom of the station building wall survived, cut down to form a wall, with the doorways bricked up.
Gas works detail. Note how the houses in this area have no backs.
Copyright J K Wallace, t/a 'Hall Royd Junction' 2013-2023 email: Hall Royd Junction
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