A while ago I was asked if I could make a model of the now demolished Milton Junction signal box on the Stoke to Leek Brook Junction line on the NSR. I have to say at first I was a little reluctant due to the amount of brick and lack of detailed photos… but after being pestered by Simon, I made a start as it gave me a break from the models I have been doing for Yorkie on the Leek project (a change is as good as a rest.) so I set to with the large amount of bricks! - on studying photos I found the following… 27 1/2 bricks wide across the front. 41 bricks up to windows, 63 bricks at the side and back up to the roof line and 15 bricks deep. I also noted that every 4th row was made up of end on bricks. The style was not totally the usual NSR, but a Mackenzie and Holland design similar to a GWR box. unfortunately, I was fed some duff gen when first drawing up the roof and then as ever a photo turns up.. so as you will see below, the early drawings show an open roof like a midland box, as I’d been told it had a high roof and was hard to heat, yet the photo I got this week shows it was more standard to other NSR boxes and had the flat internal roof and “loft” above. hopefully we can look at starting the printing next week as now I’ve done the roof redraw, I only have the locking frame to compete. Andy from the front. Externally complete. The open area to the front will be covered with wood planks to hide where the rodding exits. From the stairs side, showing the fire buckets. From the other side prior to the other name board being fitted. early internal shot. Now with the boarding to the front side point rodding exit point. Later internal view modifying the timbers so that meant removal from the drawing. An internal photo of the real box back in the mid 1980’s (photographer not known) and finally, external.
And just incase your wondering, here are the later drawings for the changed internal roof. It’s drawn on one program (Autodesk 123d design) and then imported in to a newer program for the photo renders. (fusion360) These are drawn in 123D design.. they are now awaiting importing and colouring bin Fusion360. Andy
I think ima round 40 hrs so far! (Although some of that is down to a slow laptop which died yesterday. )
Only 40, I've lost track of the hours I have spent on the learning curve just to get something simple designed, methinks I should have looked into that more thoroughly before buying a 3D printer
Jim, What you have to remember is I’m now in my 8th year. My first model took well over 100 hours and was much smaller and simpler than this. Didn’t have the internal detail… but it was a learning curve with issues raised along the way and on an even older laptop that was even slower than the one that just died! Don’t give up or loose faith. Persist! You will get there. Just pick a topic to do that is simple, and not too large.. have a go!! Andy
Great model build of Milton Box Andy but that roof with planked ceiling still throws me because on my very last visit to Milton Box when Chris Procter was relief bobby there in the early nineteen eighties was that you could look right up into the loft space and see the painted roof beams and the undercroft planks holding the laths for the slate rows. From study of the black and white photo showing the internal arrangement of Milton box we can quite clearly see that the single line instrument for the block section from Milton to Endon is a Tyers No5 tablet machine, Endon box was abolished 30. 12. 73 when the gates went over to stop and proceed with key... now the section from Endon to Leekbrook was singled 10. 6. 73 and the Tyers blocks removed and replaced with ex GWR single line token machines between Leekbrook and Milton. Effectively Endon box was down rated to a basic crossing hut with repeater bells for the new longer section, this tells us that picture was taken prior to 1973 when Milton presumably did have a planked ceiling with loft... but that was before I started working on BR so I couldn't say but the picture is proof. So I'd say there is the possibility here to create two versions of this box. Another thing I noticed was the lack of anti vandal mesh fitted to the outside of the windows and the signalman there is the late great Eddy Hambleton who lived at Winkhill and was a close friend and colleague... I don't think Eddy had covered at Milton for a very long time when I knew him... note also the penguin block instrument hooked up to Stoke Power Box, something that was removed when the Stoke Junction - Milton section was singled not long after the closure of the remaining section of Biddulph Valley line from Ford Green in June 1976.
I wouldn’t say professional? I still have a 6 day a week shift work job to go to for 10 hours and have the family! It’s still a hobby. mad I’ve said to someone recently, if I were to charge the £10 an hour or even a minimum UK wage, at 40+ hrs, who would pay that for a one off? Then cost in the resin, the postage etc.. I couldn’t do it for a living as no one would buy then.. it’s pure enjoyment ! andy
As per usual, I’ve learnt more from your ramblings here Paul than through any of the discussions with Simon and Nick! Excellent being able to date it all! But it’s defiantly Milton, and you were not the only one to say it was a high roof? So I wonder if the internal roof was removed at some time late 1970’s? Graham referred to it being high and a “bugger” to heat! what stove would it have had? One like we have already modelled? Andy
Milton had a black enamel Coutier stove Andy, I suspect the ceiling planking was removed when the anti vandal mesh was installed, this would be to prevent the local idiots breaking in and setting the place on fire... removing the planked ceiling would certainly reduce the possibility of setting a nice fire in the loft. You don't remember what happened to Ford Green Yard box do you... that went the same way and was replaced with a five lever ground frame soon afterwards.
Excellent Paul. no wasn’t aware of the fate of Ford Green yard. What a shame. yes, quite plausible I guess that that’s what happened hence yours and grahams memory that it was high.. At least we have the stove. Not printed in OO before !
The latest from Milton Junction… had a small issue with the printer so making the actual model has been delayed. The modern Penguin block for the Endon section setting up the box tried something new in this … even a glow from the fire.. signalman’s moon. The block shelf signalman’s moon from the other end of the box
I’ll share a quick update as we are half way through the printing. We have had failures, but that was down to an error by myself. first up, the main brick structure. And first off after that is the start of the internals… the floor. A slot for the lever frame to locate in and the raised block for the stove to sit on. the block instrument shelf. £1 coin for scale. and a few other parts. Seat, stove, token machine, choice of block shelves a box seat and a desk. There were spreader beams for the roof, but I’ve now opted to add these to the timber structure.
Andy, How do you do the brick work. there must be a wrinkle as doing it longhand would fry anyones brains. Mossy
Lots and lots of copy and paste! Which normally how I feel when done. I think there is somewhere near 5000 bricks in this design - and it’s the usual Murphy’s law that just as your about to finish, you spot a near vertical Mortar line you have to adjust by moving and chopping bricks. and no, I’m no bricky! My last effort albeit still standing since 1996 looked like a badly built wall of china.. there was nothing great about it!
And today we have the failed lever frame successfully reprinted and also the chair Drying post washing and then uv curing next take a seat… watch the world go by…
5000 bricks is a real labour of love there must be an easier way. I might have a fiddle in fusion. Mossy
Well that’s most the interior done. Lever frame and chair. Token machine at the back, desk, stove and box store along with the M&H lever list board in front of the levers. Next up will be the timbers, porch and roof to finish it all off.