Narrow Gauge to Standard Gauge Transfer Platform

[berryr99]

David - had another close look at this photo and I fancy modelling it.

Do you know if there is any more prototype information available ?

I was thinking as to how long the shed was and also why the right hand (standard gauge side) looks to be quite a bit narrower than the left hand (NG side)

Thanks

Bob

[clayliner]

My previous two attempts at a reply have disappeared into the ether so I'll try a third time...!

I may have misunderstood you, Bob, but I hope you won't be too disappointed if I tell you the Swanage Branch was very definitly LSWR / SR!

Here are a couple more (festive!) photos but they probably don't add much:


FZBK transfer shed 2 by clayliner, on Flickr



FZBK transfer shed 3 by clayliner, on Flickr

I do have some doubts as to how much this structure is, or relates to, the original. For one thing, the vertical steel columns on the right hand side do look rather modern. Secondly, I suspect that when the clay started to be delivered by lorry the lorries may have needed some extra space to manoeuvre and back up the the standard gauge siding (assuming the clay was tipped out the back), so maybe the shed was re-modelled to allow for this, and this may be why the n/g side is wider.
The far left-hand wall also appears to be made out of sleepers, incidentally, and I'm a bit puzzled by the low platform to the right of the standard gauge siding, though again it may be a later addition and not necessarily rail-related.

Finally, here is a page out of Rodney Legg's book 'Purbeck's Heath - claypits, nature and the oilfield':


transfer sheds by clayliner, on Flickr

The photo of the branch train at the top must show one of the last steam-hauled trips, as it's dated 1967. The siding to the transfer shed curves away to the right and the oil depot sidings were (later) behind the loco, on the other side of the branch line.
The sketches show the transfer arrangements at both Norden and Furzebrook. It's hard to tell whether the Furzebrook one is the one in the recent photos, or an earlier (?timber) version. but the general arrangement is much the same, at both sites.

Hope this helps.

David.

[clayliner]

FWIW -

I have recently come across some photos of the Furzebrook transfer shed (in Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith's Middleton Press book 'Dorset and Somerset narrow gauge') taken in 1956 where the structure looks remarkably similar to the current one in the photos above, so while I would agree with Ted's comment that the cladding on the end gable has to be relatively recent it may be that the structure itself goes back further than I thought.

David.

[theelliotts]

At the Transfer at Meeth in North Devon the clay was tipped directly from 2 ft gauge wagons into the SG. See page 93 of 'North Devon Clay' by Michael Messenger. Its a good read too.

David