This layout is not the first project of the Bradford Model Railway Club where we have taken a Midland Railway proposal that never came to fruition and carried out the proposal in model form.

When the Midland built the Grassington Branch from Embsay Junction, their intention was to carry on right through to Wensleydale to link the North Eastern's cross country line from Garsdale on the Settle-Carlisle to Northallerton on the East Coast main line. However, the branch never got further than Grassington (that is until Bradford M.R.C. got involved!), so here is the Grassington Branch Extension as it might have been in the late 50's to early 60's.

The layout was built between two already existing fiddle yards and a 90° curved non-scenic board, which needed only slight modification plus the scenic treatment. The station and goods yard follow the prototype track plan, although a certain degree of condensation in length has been necessary to get a manageable size.

The track disappearing under the wooden footbridge leads to Skirethornes quarry from where stone was transported for roadway construction.

As for the extension northwards, the line on leaving the station (which was the terminus) crosses the main road between Threshfield and Grassington on the level, and passes by the well-known Baxter's Confectioners shop.

Speculation was that had the line been extended, this shop would possibly have been demolished - however on examining O.S. maps and researching the actual area, we believe that the single line could have passed by the shop without any need for such measures. This shop has therefore been modelled more or less as it was in the chosen period.

As the extension is supposed to join the NE Region line in Wensleydale, locos and stock from both North Eastern and Midland regions will be seen working on the line.

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Page updated 7th March 2004 KDJ

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