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The Story Behind The Model Midchester is a cathedral city in the west of the midlands, a part of the big conurbation with Birmingham at its centre.
At the time that the railways were being built, it was still a small place and it was only much later that it began to grow, basing its increasing wealth and population on industry and commerce. So, during the railway building era, the main railway route by-passed the area some two miles to the east. This meant that as growth occurred, industries and commerce requiring a railway connection located some distance from the centre of the new town alongside the railway trunk route.
By 1900, Midchester lacked a railway service to its centre and the city fathers were not at all impressed by this. Little land remained free for a railway to be built, and the railway authorities in Paddington and Euston thought it would be prohibitively expensive to provide a through route from the main line to the city centre. However, it was agreed that what was effectively a branch line could be laid from the junction to the city centre, through a number of cuttings and a few short tunnels, and that services along the main line which stopped at the junction would be connected by this branch to the city centre.
The city station is small, with short platforms and no facilities other than a couple of lay-off sidings. It was built with tank engines and three coach suburban trains in mind; indeed, the land available precluded anything larger.
As steam services were replaced by diesel in the sixties and seventies, it became possible to add a short fourth platform where tank engines had been coaled and watered and had waited their turn. A building was added which spans the platforms and connects with a somewhat modified main building. This building was kept in sympathy with the surrounding brick structures and replaced an open-air walkway with steps which originally linked the platforms to the main building. Through services to the city station were introduced from a number of other places, thus obviating the need for passengers to change at the junction station.
After privatisation, traffic leapt enormously and the station is busy throughout the day. Trains from many companies link the city with stations to the north, south, east and west, without the need to change at the junction station two miles to the east. An intermediate station, Colmore Cross, has been opened between Midchester City and Midchester Junction. This has increased rail traffic even more.
Heritage specials are often to be seen at the station hauled by heritage diesel locomotives.
The city station is now the subject of a planning enquiry as proposals are considered to completely rebuild and extend it, with offices and shops above it, and to extend electrification from the junction station. This will enable services using longer trains to terminate and increase the number of towns and cities in Britain having direct links. |
Downloads for Exhibition Managers |
Download the Exhibition Manager's Guide for Midchester City (includes track plan for Exhibition Programme). Click Here. |
Saturday, October 19, 2013 - Sunday, October 20, 2013 |
Peterborough Held at East of England Showground |
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Saturday, November 02, 2013 - Saturday, November 02, 2013 |
High Wycombe One Day Exhibition |
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Saturday, February 15, 2014 - Sunday, February 16, 2014 |
Syston |
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Saturday, March 15, 2014 - Sunday, March 16, 2014 |
Nottingham |
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A Chiltern Railways 168 waits to depart for London Marylebone.
A Cross Country 170 departs from Platform 4 as an East Midlands 153 arrives at Platform 1.
A First Great Western 166 arrives from the west at platform 2.
Ready to depart. The city's main shopping centre is immediately adjacent to the station.
An Arriva 158 starting its journey west.
A London Midland 170 arrives from Milton Keynes.
A Cross Country 170 passes the small industrial estate.
A First Great Western 166 heads out of Midchester City.
An Arriva 150 arrives from Shrewsbury and is seen passing the small industrial estate.
A heritage diesel (Class 26) hauls a heritage special out of platform 4.
A First Great Western 166 arrives at platform 2.
Railway Terrace
Mercia Street bridge.
A Class 26 hauls a heritage special into Midchester City
An Arriva 158 departs from Platform 2 whilst a Cross Country has just arrived at Platform 3.
An East Midlands 153 heads out towards Leicester.
An Arriva 158 leaving Midchester City.
A busy time at Midchester City.
A Chiltern 168 leaves platform 3.Train Companies seen on the layout |
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| Arriva Trains Wales | Serving Shrewsbury, Chester, North Wales. |
| Chiltern Railways | Serving London Marylebone. |
| Cross Country Trains | Serving the north east of England. |
| East Midlands Trains | Serving the east midlands. |
| London Midland | Serving Rugby, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Bedford. |
| Charters/Specials | Preserved diesel locomotive hauled charter trains, such as enthusiast specials, occasionally use the station. |
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