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Whitley
by Alan Dewey
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Built and closed in 1863, Whitley was an actual temporary station about two miles
south of Birdbrook on the Colne Valley Railway in Essex. This interpretation as
a permanent station, is based on the features of the style of that Company and
surrounding area. The services on this section of the railway were withdrawn by
BR in December 1961. The layout depicts the line just before closure,
in the green diesel period.
Over 95% of Whitley is scratch built or recycled which is a huge investment of time and
offers long hobby interest. This full length, end on view, looks towards Yeldham thence
Halstead, behind is the line to Birdbrook. At basic scenery stage, the scratchbuilt C&L
track comes to life at a Club Open Day test outing. Scenic length is 1.5m and max 0.45m
wide. The boards are lightweight of 4mm beam construction and curved to suit its home
behind a bedroom door. For the future, a short fiddle yard for the Birdbrook end will
enable 1961 timetable running.
On a bright winters morning the 7.24 Haverhill to Marks Tey service is captured leaving
the station and again passing the Mill. Both the Waggon and Maschinenbau Railbus and
British Thomson Houston Type 1 are readily available replicating the everyday typical
of this line. Railbus conversion to EM has been achieved with Black Beetle (Branchlines)
wheels. A secondary principal here is economic. Stock is currently 4 items of traction
and 6 wagons only. Two car DMU’s are lurking around the stock box, already converted for
longevity above and wait for finishing.
Across the yard. The level crossing hut is based on White Colne, now at Sible Hedingham
Station on the Colne Valley Railway.
The layout breaks down to fit into one car and currently is one person operation.
In the fading afternoon winter gloom BTH Type 1 D8207 runs over the Whitley level
crossing with a local freight towards Halstead. The previous day this engine was
diagrammed to power the Jam Factory freight to East Lodge on the Stour Valley line.
