BRISTOL AERIAL PICTURES - by Peter Johnson  

Here are some aerial views taken from a hot air balloon over Bristol in August 2008, with the idea of capturing the general colours and shapes of real railway subjects when viewed in model-like form.... Unfortunately it was a cloudy day so lighting is a bit dull and resolution not that good, but hopefully some will be OK to post... and fingers crossed, next time I cross Bristol it will be sunny and we can go a little lower without getting a ticket off the CAA!!

Adding to the obvious railway subjects, there are two modelling challenges:- No.1 a set of well kept allotments.......

.... and No.2, the air-con equipment on the roof of a modern retail development (The Mall at Cribbs Causeway). Get your teeth into that lot Modern Structures in Miniature!!

Otherwise the sequence starts with the Cumberland basin in the old docks, the inspiration for Canada Road, although the main storage sidings have now been lifted and built on.

The railway is now used by the Industrial Museum for steam rides and has various preserved wagons visible. This was the site of a working coal depot in the early 1980s when planning of the Canada Road layout began.

This view shows the site of the large goods yard behind the dockside warehouses, where the pattern of a fan of sidings with road access to each track can still be seen, despite now being used as a car park.

Here is a general view of Temple Meads station, before several close-up views of the north end platforms and trackwork to show prototype point alignments, roof, and ballast colouring.

The platforms at the north end of the station, showing the old Royal Mail covered overbridge and a First Great Western HST set.

A view of the Barton Hill Depot (looking very 'N' gauge!) showing a range of buildings, stock, and trackwork.