Theme, check; Location, check; Era, check
Luckily, all the elements overlap and allow me to construct a model story around the era, location and activities I wanted without taking too many liberties in any one aspect.
The only bit that doesn’t fit naturally is the sidings inside the overall. Here I admit I’ve compromised.
Originally, my plan was to have have two layouts – St Blazey – and a simple layout consisting of just some sidings on which to test model railway building techniques and demonstrate tips for budget scenery etc.
Then I decided I didn’t really have time for both and would build just one combined layout. This was chiefly based St Blazey but I incorporated the Guildford sidings mini project into it so the work already done wouldn’t be completely wasted. Having sidings inside the main Par/St Blazey loop also made sense from a operating perspective hence it’s inclusion albeit it’s a compromise.
The Tunnel is also a tiny compromise. It’s based on the Great Pinnock Tunnel at St Blazey which was opened in 1874 – again in precisely the right time frame for my story. The compromise is that it’s where it sits in my model but on the St Blazey to Fowey circuit – this would be towards the on the left hand section near the industry zone – but space forced it’s relocation and shrinkage in length.
The Story
The story then is one of the lives of workers as they toiled in the Tin mines on nearby hills, in the ancillary industries and on the railway that is transforming the landscape around them.
As is often the case, a stream emerges on high ground and in which workers wash off the dirt from their labour in the mines. Weaving its way down through soft rock (at the front of the hill) the stream causes landslides which prevent a tunnel being cut. This isn’t the case further along however and a tunnel has been carved out of Granite using explosives, including the newly invented Dynamite.
A small village – Par – is starting to form near the spur (bottom right) providing humble homes for these workers. Initially, prior to 1800, Par was just a collection of houses, but grew into a village and then town with a harbour and docks. My model will mirror the middle period of this transformation with a few properties, the odd electric light, but yet to be a full town.
Figure specialists Noch produce a great range of N scale people that will show the workers and their families living out their lives around the mines, on the trains, washing in the stream, around their homes and in the woods and fields.
When the model is complete there will also be some other inhabitants. These “people” normally live below ground but have emerged after being disturbed by the explosions from the mine and tunnel works.
I’ll have to rework some of Noch and maybe Faller figures for these “people” but it shouldn’t be two difficult.
Faller’s lumber yard, which I might use instead in a scratch built version.
I also plan to use Brawa electric lights alongside Faller and Ratio Models buildings to create Par village and nearby mining associated buildings, perhaps smelting and candle production.
I haven’t found an off-the-shelf Cornish mine yet so may scratch build these along with a lumber yard amongst the trees although Faller do a nice old lumber yard (272530) which I might buy instead.
The Faller yard is from the wrong years, so if I do use it I’ll have to make some modifications although the basic framework seems okay.
Future Plans?
As I write this, the model is based on a 3x2ft baseboard which limits my options but if I expand it the story can grow with it.
Par had a harbour/dock to where the Tin etc would be taken and this is a natural progress of the layout given more space. This would be (see my original St Blazey and Par track plan) at the bottom left on the above plan and so would dove-tail nicely with the current use of the nearby space as an industrial zone while remaining true to the real geography of the area. Ironically, Great Pinnock tunnel (see above) connected to these docks so if I do expand I wouldn’t have needed to situate the tunnel where it is – one the right – ah well.
Project Progress – Other Posts
- It’s Decided – Par & St Blazey It Is
- Par And St. Blazey In N Gauge, First Steps
- St Blazy & Par Layout Project – Building Pictures
- Project Update – Layout, Bedding, Wiring And Track Laying
- Great Pinock Tunnel
- Project Evolution
References:
- St Blazey
- Par & Par Harbour
- Cornwall Minerals Railway
- St Blazey Depot and Par Harbour
- Mining in Cornwall
- Par Consols Mine
- Cornwall Transformed – how Cornwall’s industrial past has shaped the modern landscape.
Picture credit, tin mine: Richard Clark
Andy is a lifelong modeller, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com and its sister site. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 30 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.