Hi

I live in a small bedsit, with the use of shared bathroom, toilet and kitchen and also a common room, with a television. My room is about 2m by 4.5m. In that space there are two large fitted cupboards for general storage, a wardrobe, bed, hand basin, desk and chest of draws.

If I am going to have a layout, it has to be able to be put up in my room. They layout has to be very small. It also has to be able to be stored under the bed, when not in use. My desk can easily double as a bench. I have a piece of 9mm ply which has a edge around it to catch small pieces which tend to fly, and a small model maker vice. I also have a desk lamp to provide extra illumination when required.

I wanted to be able to run in locomotives, so I needed a continuous run for this. With the size constrains I then did the basic design of the layout. I worked out that small 0-6-0, 10' wagons and 4 wheeled coaches would go round 2^nd radius, without looking too unrealistic.

I am building a model of an intermediate station, on the light railway between Van and Cearsws, a station still served by Arriva Trains Wales, on the line between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth.

The station I am going to model is Trefeglwvs Road, which as the names suggests was a long way from Trefeglwvs itself. The track and buildings at the end of the lines existence, in June 1949, in many way resembled it more famous neighbour the Bishop's Castle Railway.

The station has a short platform, with wooden building which provided goods storage, and an office for the station agent and two short goods sidings, including a grounded covered wagon for a coal merchants accommodation.

There are very few photographs of the railway, so most of my modelling inspiration will come from the numerous articles and books published about the Bishop's Castle Railway.

Julie