valleymodeller

FAO Paul and Brian R. I see from the plan we (Pontypridd MRC ) are upstairs. That might be a problem as Reg is about 74 and Roger about 70 years old (and with a heart problem) so any chance we can go downstairs? Tony

We should have body searches on entry to Warley, and confiscation of rucksacks in las they contain offensive sandwiches.

Looks like industrial stuff c 1970s with steam? Probably based on Mountain Ash?

Hi Brian, will there be plenty of hot tea on the day? I've just bought this month's BRM and whilst browsing through I found Rosamund St and then turned the page...........meet the modeller! Great to see it in print again though. Tony

God help us when we go to Russia for the Model Railway World Cup next summer!

I'm trying to get get Graham Mann to come up with a name for the new layout, as it will be attending the Pontypridd MRC Show in April too. The name I have been given so far is unprintable so a working party has been set up to come up with something more appropriate!

Great news, I am really looking forward to seeing these two books. Based on the Sixties ones they will be wonderful.

I remember in the last 1960s and early 1970s there was a non=stop Pontypridd to Cardiff run on 116s. They did shift and sped down the line. Sadly the non stop runs stopped not long after and all trains after that were stoppers all the way.

Re the photo of Blenheim Road above , the builder/owner is Reg Owens of Pontypridd MRC.

There are a couple of shows run in that area by Rotary club and their advertising and information leaves a little to be desired. The photo above of Blowers Green looks really great. The only two layouts I know of are Llandre, which is N gauge continuous run and the incorrectly named Blenheim Road. Blenhiem Road is SR terminus station which can be run as steam or diesel combined with SR electrics. It was built by Reg Owens of Pontypridd MRC and had it's debut at Thornbury last May Bank Holiday. I'll probably go as it's about 50 miles for me and I haven't been to a show since May!

Don't be silly. The Severn Tunnel of course! Although if they making their way down from North Wales to South Wales probably not. They're probably on shed somewhere. The blue one looks great.

I've got a blue one and a green one on order from a local model shop so can't wait to get my hands on them, but they've not arrived there yet.

Let's hope they arrive in the shops soon so we can have good look. I was told they are due 'imminently' but that was 3 weeks ago, not sure how long it takes to get by ship from China though?

Just checked and Cardiff City are away on that day. It was a choice between spending the afternoon with a load of hobby obsessed old men with backpacks.......or go to the model show!

I can't wait for these to arrive in the UK. Should be soon I hope.

Hi sorry, I missed your post last week. I was unable to attend the Pontypool event last week as I was on a school reunion and the beer took its toll! I'd be happy have your layout at the show and will be at the Museum Show in November too. I'll drop you a pm. Thanks Tony

This year's event will take place on Saturday 21 April at our usual venue, Newtown Llantwit Community Centre, Crown Hill, Llantwit Fardre, CF38 2NA. Admission £3 all classes (up to two children free with paying adult). Exhibitors are as follows: Layouts Sheep Lane OO Somerset & Dorset Rob Gunstone Tawford OO Modern Image Station Jason Jones (Barry MRC) 79A OO Steam Shed in the Snow John Gooding Burrard Inlet HO Canadian Shed Scene Brian Tucker (Pontypridd MRC Member) Forest Gate Parkway OO MI Privatisation Era Graham Mann (Pontypridd MRC Member) Bagley OO S&D/BR(W) Steam/Diesel Nigel Broad Hornby Dublo Playtime OO Hornby Dublo Chris Cheney Much Snoreing N Cityscape Ed Farms American Coal HO US freight Richard Flannigan (Western Valley MRS) Crossley Scrapyard OO BR Sector era Baz Jones (Western Valley MRS) Gunpoint HO US Diesels/Steam Reg Owens (Pontypridd MRC Member) Jedbach Hoe Austrian narrow gauge Bill Thomas (Pontypridd MRC member) Weyford N gauge Hants/Dorset Keith & Peter Matthews Thomas The Tank Engine OO Rhondda MRC Trade Lord and Butler (incl 'Dirty Boy Weathering' Cardiff MIB Models (incl 3D models + demo layout) Porthcawl Tallyllyn Preservation Society Club sales stand Demonstrations Project22Society Stand to promote the rebuilding of a NBL Class 22 locomotive. Narrow Gauge Kit building Jim Edwards /Pontypridd MRC PG Models N gauge military models in pewter by Paul Gandy. Refreshments Limited refreshments available on the day, Bacon Rolls, sandwiches, tea , coffee etc. All exhibits subject to change (the curse of the cancellation!) 15, 4 demonstration/Society stands and 3 Trade Stands for £3 I think offers good value. I will post some links from RMWeb to some of the listed layouts later. And add some photos for some others. Any questions please ask. Tony

It was a fantastic show, and credit to all the organisers. The info booklet/show guide was well produced and informative. After leaving Burton at 4.50pm I got to Cardiff at 7.30 to be held at signals for 20 minutes, then when i arrived was told all trains to the Valleys had been cancelled and to go to Cardiff Queen Street. Got there, and waited 20 minutes for the next train only to see it sail straight through the station, later to announced that the incident was 'to be investigated'. I think the driver forgot to stop! Got home eventually and thankfully before an estimated 200,000 people int he City for the European Champions League Final started making their way home. If Carlsberg could organise train services they'd take the franchise from Arriva Trains Wales. This was my first visit to the Showcase and I'll certainly be back next year. What a great show and a great Society,.

Thanks for letting me know, I didn't want to miss too much of the show searching for food and drink. i'm on a tight schedule on Cross Country.

Excuse me for asking a silly question, but is there catering at the venue? I'll be travelling up by train from South Wales and may not have time to get a meal outside Town Hall.

It could be Branchlines Around Britain by Bradford Barton Books. It is really excellent and normally sells for about £10 on eBay, although i agree it can be a bit depressing. It has some lovely photos of Hymeks working on long gone West Wales branches. Tony

Gary, you advised me to buy this book back in the 1980s. I still have it and it is one of the better 'Diesels in....' books, as it has lots of really early photos of diesels on long forgotten branch lines. I still refer to it regularly. Tony

Hope so , just bought my Senior Railcard(!), and looking forward to a cross country rail trip, £27 return apparently. It's 152 miles each way driving so cost would be double the rail fare. I am looking forward to it.

Do members have too bring their membership cards? As a newbie to DEMU I am not sure of the requirements. Tony