sparky

Thank you, but I have never really been away, I drop in from time to time to keep up with my favourite threads and whenever Simon sends me a link to topics that he feels might be of interest to me. Llangunllo is now history and as Simon has pointed out this was the final chapter. So having tied up loose ends there is really nothing more to add, unless I come across a few unpublished photos, but they would just be more of the same sort of thing. But from the ashes of Llangunllo a new layout is under construction, some of you will be aware of my new 7mm scale project Bleddfa Road which is currently being developed on the site of Llangunllo. This is a brief introduction to the project....................... The plan is a mix of Blodwell Junction and Llansilin Road on the Tanat Valley Railway.......... Early days, the small signal box has since been replaced with an open ground frame. Track is to 31.5 mm gauge, and constructed from ply sleepers, C&L rail chairs and Slater's n/s rail. The crossing keepers cottage, and my first attempt at painting a backscene.... Lionheart Pannier 7416 at rest between shunting duties.. Geoff

During a recent exchange of emails with a friend, I was asked if I might consider continuing with this thread. So following a little arm twisting here is the final chapter featuring Llangunllo and Llanbister Road. The end came quickly once the milk marketing board took Llangunllo Creamery over, only to close it down soon afterwards. Matters were made worse when a swollen River Lugg damaged one of the many rail bridges that crossed it, an event that gave B.R the perfect excuse to close the line. The signal box was the first casualty, and with nobody around to tend the allotments they were soon reclaimed by nature. The crossing gates disappeared soon afterwards..... In the meantime the station area and goods yard were becoming more overgrown. The clump of weeds just behind the truck mark the spot where the yard crane once stood. No use could be found for the station building so it was demolished, the platform becoming little more than a loading dock for the remaining goods traffic. Having collected the last of the coal wagons 1455 sets back to collect a brake van, prior to departing with the last train. A few weeks later the remaining track and the bridge span were removed, and another branch line bit the dust. The whole site has since been cleared to create the foundations for Bleddfa Road in 7mm scale...... Llanbister Road together with my 4mm locos and stock are safely in store just in case my 7mm plans come to naught. No doubt you will recognize Llangunllo signal box and crossing gates. The old allotments and huts can also be seen along with a part of the old Penhydd Creamery office, I throw very little away. Geoff

The pick up goods prepares to depart from Bleddfa Road, for Presteign, Kington and Leominster........

Thank you Tim, alas the layout is no more, as I'm now continuing with the same theme in 7mm scale. 7719 takes a break from shunting at Bleddfa Road....... So nice to see Bleakhouse Road again, one of my all time favourite layouts. Geoff

Before and after, a Class 122 approaches Llangunllo for Presteign, Titley Junction, Kington and Leominster on a hazy summer afternoon. The scene six months later on a dismal Welsh morning, passenger services have now been withdrawn and the end of another country byway is fast approaching. Geoff

Hi Liddy, Well I guess there is no hope for you now you have started to build a 7mm wagon kit :-) You have done a cracking job in weathering those wheels and axle guards. I find it best to phone Slater's, or better still drop in and chat to them if you are in the area, as they don't seem to check their inbox:-) Another source of etched detailing components is D. Parkins https://www.djparkins.com/product.php?productid=18284 . Before I forget thanks for plugging my blog, I'm very pleased that you consider it to be inspirational. Geoff

............and where exactly did he tell you to stick it? :-) Great to see the layout getting so many nice comments, less really is more. Geoff

A little bit of both, that should keep the fans of both gents happy :-) Geoff

Those blue remembered hills set the layout off a treat, a huge improvement. Geoff

Looks as good as it did at Welshpool in 2018, where it also performed superbly. So pleased that you are taking it on the road again, good luck with the forthcoming shows. Geoff

Which ties in with what Hattons advised me by email on the 2nd September 2019. Dapol 7S-006-021U Class 14xx 0-4-2T in BR black with early emblem - unnumbered. Our latest information from the supplier suggests this item will arrive with us between January 2020 & March 2020. Whilst we are hopeful this information is accurate, manufacturer lead times are frequently prone to be delayed. Geoff

Hi Rich, Greenscene do ash ballast in three grades to suit 2 /4 and 7mm gauges and don't charge the earth for postage. http://www.green-scenes.co.uk/store?productlist-sort=score-desc&productlist-categories=&productlist-itemcount=20&productlist-search=ballast This is GS415 (4mm) which I am using for my new 7mm layout, I always use the next grade down from whatever scale I model in, so their 2mm G414 might be worth looking at for 4mm scale. Cheers, Geoff

You can rest assured that there is still plenty of life left in Llangunllo yet Don, as for 7mm scale, I'm just dabbling and experimenting for now. Geoff

Well that's praise indeed coming from a dyed in the wool Midland man, thank you. Perhaps its the fifties setting and the lack of chocolate and cream that won you over :-) Geoff

Very true, that is why I do some actual modelling rather than just talk about it. Geoff

Perhaps I should use more stuff straight out of a box then

Damn, I knew I had forgotten something :-) On a more serious note here are a few spoilers of Llanbister Rd crossing and shed. Its early days as yet but the mock ups have proved that my ideas will work as intended. The shed has been modelled on the one at Tetbury minus the water tower. Measuring 1000 x 350mm short cassettes will be attached at each end to allow through running. Geoff

Well thanks for that, here's another one for you Geoff

Thanks Rich, thought you might get sick and tired of the same old stuff. You mean like this........ Had to be careful that damn tree trunk is made from twisted wire! The lamp post is actually vertical, I went back and checked after uploading the photo Geoff

Thank you, as you know I am a huge fan of Ben Ashworth and Geoff Bannister so many of my model photos are based upon their work. Geoff

Thanks to Steve, Dave, Rob for your kind words, and to everyone who ticked a like against my last post. Rob said that he never tired of seeing the layout, so we'll see if he stills feel the same after viewing the following photos:-) I'll now disappear before I bore everyone to death. Geoff

" I think there is something of watching the trains, plus I love the bleak landscape. My friend Simon and I enjoyed operating the layout, there is a good number of trains coming through. I think the fact I’m going to be extending adds to that, but overall I feel I’m running a real railway". Far better to feel that you are running a railway than simply playing trains Tom. I find its very rewarding trying to capture the atmosphere of a certain place and time, I think you have discovered that as well. Geoff

Cheers Tom, the old layout surfaces from the depths of the forum every now and again :-) Its good to see you actively modelling and posting more of Cym Prysor again. Its coming along superbly, and just goes to show how effective and satisfying small layouts can be. Best Wishes, Geoff

Thanks for the plug Mr D. Over the past few weeks I've been putting the finishing touches to Llangunllo, whilst converting my old Class 121 Bubblecar into a Class 122, and planning my next two projects. If you thought Llangunllo was simple then you are in for a shock! In the meantime this is how Llangunllo looks today............ Both the signal box and cottage now have new slate roofs to bring them in line with the station building, once again I used York Modelmaking slates. Signal wire posts have also been installed but still need more toning down. Whilst the cottage was removed from the layout for work on its new roof I took this photo of the allotments huts, which were built and presented to me by Iain Robinson. One job that I had been dreading was adding the line side fencing, it took ages to clean up, and thin down the old Ratio mouldings. Well that more or less brings Llangunllo to a close, I still have a couple of small jobs to do and details to add, but I'm now focusing on Llanbister Road engine shed. Unlike Penhydd the layout isn't being dismantled but will live on, as I have no intention of building a replacement. The new projects that I mentioned being small diorama's that feature other scenes along the Lugg Valley line. Geoff

Thank you John, the river bed was indeed created with PVA, followed by many coats of gloss yacht varnish. The Llangunllo blog it is back, albeit in a different form. https://luggvalleyrailway.wordpress.com/llangunllo/ Geoff