Rugby flyover

Photo courtesy of Andy F

The grade separation, or flyover to you and me, just south of Rugby Station on the WCML was the inspiration for Phill Hutching's model bridge on New Mills. The original track plan for the layout, drawn in 1990 by the Artistic Director on the back of the proverbial envelope, incorporated a flying junction at the north end of the layout to allow trains to move between the upper and lower levels. However, as the project developed it was soon realised that this interchange would seriously interrupt the flow of trains on both levels and reduce our ability to 'keep things moving' at exhibitions. Consequently our flying junction is cosmetic, the trains on the upper cross country line simply returning to or exiting the upper fiddle yard. But it still makes for an interesting feature nicely captured in model form.

The photo above is looking south (up) from Clifton Road bridge at the grade-separated junction of the 'old line' (the main line route to Euston) and the 'loop' (the route via Northampton) south of Rugby station. A Virgin Trains Pendolino on the up main line passes under the down line of the loop.