Model Railway Forum

The dock was constructed for boats using the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Aire and Calder Navigation to tranship goods and commodities from Leeds city centre in 1843. It was primarily used to bring coal from collieries around Rothwell and Wakefield to supply heavy industries in Hunslet and business and commerce in Leeds city centre.

The western side of the dock once had a large crane on tracks along the side of the dock to load and unload goods from canal barges. In the 1990s the surrounding area was made up of Victorian industrial buildings most of which were derelict. Throughout the second half of the 20th century the area suffered steady industrial decline. The mills and many heavy engineering works began to close, move further out of town or scale down.

Construction of the £42.5 million purpose-built Royal Armouries Museum marked the start of the area's redevelopment which opened in March 1996. No further development was made until 2004 when a multi-storey car park opened followed by an Express hotel in August 2006. The retail and leisure sector was launched on 11 October 2008 with fashion shows from celebrity fashion consultant and TV presenter Gok Wan. However few retail chains were attracted to the area and the site failed to take off as a shopping centre.

The site, which had been known as Clarence Dock, became New Dock in mid-2012 as part of a re-branding initiative. The site was bought by Allied London, and rebranded as Leeds Dock in 2013.

The plan for the model is a smaller version of Clarence Dock (Limited Space.) The timescale set 1910 - 1920 and using the steam locomotives from the Sovereign Street layout.

Further updates in due course.

Glencairn

Sounds interesting - looking forward to see how it develops.

Hound Dog wrote: ↑Mon Feb 17, 2020 12:38 pm Sounds interesting - looking forward to see how it develops.

So am I.

A case of researching first.

Glencairn

The initial template to see where and how the dock area would look like. The tapering is to ensure the door will still close.
The plan for 'Clarence Dock' is to be an extension to Steam Trains to Sovereign Street.

In reality Clarence Dock is only a few miles from Crown Point, so on the model layout trains will run to and from both places.

Apparently there was a crane at the dock for loading and unloading. I shall try and find out what it looked like (or will the Airfix/Dapol one be similar?)

Getting old information on both areas is rather difficult. Details of the areas are more modern. Crown Point is now a 'shopping park' whilst Clarence Dock (now Leeds Dock) is upmarket apartments and marina.

Glencairn

Things are moving at a pace. I have ordered a coal narrowboat for Clarence Dock. Should arrive by the weekend.

Glencairn

Just been informed that the narrowboat will arrive Tuesday.

A couple of minor personal challenges to cope with, so not much been done. I did however, manage to lay the track around the dock and ran engines around it, successfully.
Glencairn

Coming along nicely Glencairn.

Puddles

Thanks, Puddles. At the moment the area is still the fiddle yard. Seeking the right information for Clarence Dock is much harder than anticipated.

Glencairn

Unable to find out what the warehouses were like at Clarence Dock, so I have resorted to Metcalfe warehousing.
Still a long way to go, but at least we are progressing.

Glencairn

These Metcalfe kits work well with the location and era, and although you have mounted them flat on the backscene, I think the addition of even cut-back coping stones will make them look even better and give the appearance of some depth.

Coming along well as you have clearly been busy.