Crantock Junction
Crantock Junction is set on the northern edge of the china clay mining district in Cornwall. Facing the layout, the lines to the left head toward the north coast, while those at the rear right run onto the Newquay branch. The line at the front right climbs a short branch to what is now Newquay Airport. A single-car DMU shuttles between the airport and the short bay platform at Crantock Junction. Beyond the airport, the line continues as a freight-only route to a small clay dries, which dispatches daily trains of china clay in traditional clay hoods to the docks at Fowey.
Because of the sharp curves on the branch, a Class 08 shunter is used to haul the loaded hoods between the junction and the dries. At Crantock Junction the wagons are handed over to a main-line locomotive, such as a Class 37, 45, 47 or even a Class 50. These freight workings must fit around the passenger service, typically operated by a two-car Class 117 DMU.
Most of the locomotives and DMUs are Heljan models, with the exception of the Class 08, which is produced by Dapol. The clay hoods are Skytrex models—now discontinued—which, while not completely accurate, provide a good representation of the prototype wagons. The remaining vans and brake vans are by Dapol. Magnetic couplings are supplied by MagClic. If you would like to learn more, visit their website at: www.magclics.co.uk.
