Ever since railway lines started to weave their way across our landscapes, people have always wanted to get to the other side of the tracks.
Often, these would be farmers, wishing to get to their fields. The fences left by the navvies as they built the line would have gates added, and earth and wooden planks would be piled next to the rails to let carts cross without too much of a jolt.
On the more important roads, gates and crossing keepers were installed to make sure the trains could run through without having to stop. Later on, as road transport and pedestrian traffic grew, bridges, underpasses and footbridges were built to ease congestion at these level crossings.
But, for little-used footpaths, a footbridge was rarely deemed necessary, so using un-gated, un-signalled foot crossings was left to the common sense of the walker. Even today, there are numerous instances of foot crossings, all over the railway network.
Railway Crossing Scene
For our diorama, we've modelled a typical situation where a countryside or semi-rural footpath crosses a single line. This is in a current-day setting, where Health & Safety measures are in place to reduce the chance of any adverse incident occurring.
For the pedestrian's convenience, across the track is an Anti-Slip Walkway crossing, with bright yellow edging. On each side of the crossing, along the tracks and between the rails, are anti-trespass boards.
Again, on either side of the tracks and marking the edge of the railway property, are lengths of bright yellow tube-clamp-style fence, alongside which are ‘Stop - Look - Listen’ warning signs. Further along are stretches of the traditional post and 4-wire fence.
The track is well maintained with ballast, and there is some drainage infrastructure.
After crossing the line, the path drops away down a short slope to a footbridge, over a small stream which has emerged from a culvert under the railway line.
Further along the railway line is a Concrete Linesman / Platelayer's Hut, left from the days before the British Railways amalgamation. Although the hut appears to have been reasonably well looked after, the bank on which it's stood for many years is now starting to collapse. A support fence made from metal stakes and old railway sleepers has been built to try to prevent the inevitable slide. More sleepers are piled higher up the hill, ready to be heaved into place when needed.
Grasses and other foliage are abundant alongside the footpath and around the stream, with small shrubs and flowers also growing in clumps.
Products used
To make the basic scenery for the diorama, we used a bespoke base, strips of polystyrene and plaster, and plenty of paints. A length of PECO track was positioned on the embankment and ballasted with BL004 Mid Grey Ballast. Various static grass colours and lengths were used to create the basic vegetation, and stones and sand were placed in the stream, then covered in Mod Podge to represent the water.
For the crossing:
Fencing
Main Structures
Details
Let us know what you've made
Whatever you do for your own foot crossing or small bridge scene, please send us photos as we'd love to see what you've created.