Hewish Gates #9

Rarely, when creating a model of a real location do we find sufficient photographic evidence to accurately portray it. This is the case for my Hewish Gates diorama. I had just three historical photographs to work from, all of which were taken at ground level close by the level crossing. This left the wider environs much to the imagination.

Take a moment to study this diorama before I reveal a photograph of the prototype I recently discovered, taken from this viewpoint.

Click images to enlarge.

Click to view the prototype scene (opens in a new browser window).

Photographed in the 1950s or early 1960s, long before drones were invented, the photographer climbed a nearby semaphore signal to snap the view. Judging from the onlooking signal box staff one wonders if he had permission to do so! Never the less, it is an astonishing photograph because it captures a plethora of detail within an expanse of landscape making it an ideal reference point for the modeller. 

The locomotive has the look of an S15, designed specifically for freight duties. But, it could be an N15 since these are near identical in style. The N15 was relegated from express passenger to occasional freight duties when the new Bulleids took over its express passenger duties around 1945. I can only make out the first three loco numbers as 304xx , which applies to either class.

Do you like 'spot the difference' challenges?

Comparing the diorama and prototype reveals significant differences. Most noticeable on the diorama is :-

• Two missing buildings
• A higher embankment near the signal box
• An embankment retaining wall
• Missing fenced refuges adjoining the wicket gates

There are many more.

Did you also spot the bicycles and milk churn (probably for drinking water) in the prototype photograph. These transient items bring life to a scene that make for a visually interesting model.

So, I decided to rework my diorama to closely reflect the prototype photo.

Not perfect but, much more authentic

With an S15

In colour

Click to view the prototype scene in 2026 (opens in a new browser window).

To Part 1.

Inspired Modelling Scene of the Week

One of the great joys for me is to recreate and photograph prototypical scenes on my model railway. Engine smoke/steam effects have been added to the photograph of the model, where appropriate. Apart from that they are true images of the model.

The Prototype: 

A down west country express headed by a Bulleid pacific locomotive passes the goods shed at Crewkerne. The wagon glimpsed on the right is most likely a horse box used for the conveyance of calves. A cattle dock exists in this siding.

Click to view (opens in a new Browser window).

The Model:

A down west country express headed by a Bulleid pacific locomotive passes the goods shed at Misterton (based on Crewkerne).

The goods shed is shorter than the prototype and the train enters from a curve. This is a compromise due to space limitations for the model, a requirement typically encountered by modellers.

Overley - A Summer Spent Building a Plank

Back Story

Well, that was not planned!

In the words of Jethro "What happened was.."

My son and grandson joined the local model railway club and attended the Saturday novice group where each member builds a one metre long diorama, at the club and/or at home. The dioramas are joined together to form a large operational model railway. Each scene is unique.

My grandson's  idea was to have a station and a working level crossing. They were given the baseboard, some parts and guidance by the club and got as far as preparing the trackwork and knocking up a couple of platforms before reality kicked in. The problem is my grandson is on the autistic spectrum, which limits his comprehension and abilities, and my son's busy home and work life does not allow sufficient time to create this thing within a reasonable time frame. He asked if I would help.

I agreed on one condition; that the lad must get involved too. The lad reluctantly agreed. During each week over the summer I created some complex part of the scene leaving a simpler task for him to finish under guidance during his visit to me one day each week. Things like ballasting, static grass laying etc.

The most pleasing result was his attitude towards the project. What started as a chore to him developed into an expectation and commitment to it as he learned new practical skills.

It Posed a Challenge for Me too

My grandson already has a fully scenic 'table top' roundy roundy model railway and has asked for years if he can have a working level crossing. It is a complex thing to make, and one that I had avoided but now, for this plank, it must be done.

My concern is how to do the automation. Early research led me to the Viessmann automated two barrier crossing (its expensive, H0 and we need a four barrier crossing for this 00 layout) and the PECO Smartswitch electronics that needs a crossing and additional parts (also expensive). An influencing factor for me is that I have a 3D printer and can design and make the crossing parts easily and cheaply myself. I just needed help with the automation.

The only difficulty with the barrier design was how to make a moving skirt? Some experimentation lead me to using staples from an office stapler machine.

And so to the automation. I doubt I could have achieved this without the generosity of a Youtuber who has explained how he did it and has made available free for all his programming code.

At the core is an Arduino Nano microcontroller and his tutorial is here:

https://youtu.be/gApek9WjnSo?si=ErEPQYEbSuLfM5_b

I needed to modify his code to operate a four barrier crossing instead of two, adjust timings and introduce an initialisation sequence that checks the position of the operating switch on power up and sets the barrier position accordingly. In addition the platform starter signal displays red when barriers are up and green when down. Some knowledge of the programming code used is necessary for all this.

Why Overley?

The level crossing is based on BramLEY and platform furniture is based on OVERton, both in Hampshire.