Nick G Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 A few of Maentwrog Road. Most of my black & white negs were never printed. Colour trannies were only used on sunny days. One of the irregular Inspections of the line passing Maentwrog Road goods.... Thanks Coach, great photos and thanks for sharing them on this thread. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike morley Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Coachmann's photos prompts the re-asking of a question I first posed a few years ago without ever getting a satisfactory answer (Educated guesses are okay. All I got then were clearly uneducated guesses) Trap-points on freight-only lines. Is the one at Maentwrog Road simply a relic from its days as a 'normal' branch or do sidings on non-passenger lines also require such things? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 Coachmann's photos prompts the re-asking of a question I first posed a few years ago without ever getting a satisfactory answer (Educated guesses are okay. All I got then were clearly uneducated guesses) Trap-points on freight-only lines. Is the one at Maentwrog Road simply a relic from its days as a 'normal' branch or do sidings on non-passenger lines also require such things? I believe it was because passenger trains as in specials ran along the branch so the point was to stop runaways getting on to the 'main' line. I am sure Merf will be along soon with the definitive answer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 A couple of quick iPhone snaps I took today, still very much work in progress on the layout... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Trap point make sense as you wouldn't want wagons rolling out of a siding onto a running line and doing untold damage and ending up goodness knows where... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 Any of you guys that where photographing at the time 1986/7 have any photos of the road vehicles that were used to deliver the explosives to Maentwrog Road? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merfyn Jones Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 I believe it was because passenger trains as in specials ran along the branch so the point was to stop runaways getting on to the 'main' line. I am sure Merf will be along soon with the definitive answer! Nothing to add to that Nick. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 An image of Maentwrog Road taken by Ken Robinson that I have tried to re-create. See more of Ken's images from around N Wales here: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/74121005@N07/popular-interesting/ 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkAustin Posted December 26, 2017 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Coachmann's photos prompts the re-asking of a question I first posed a few years ago without ever getting a satisfactory answer (Educated guesses are okay. All I got then were clearly uneducated guesses) Trap-points on freight-only lines. Is the one at Maentwrog Road simply a relic from its days as a 'normal' branch or do sidings on non-passenger lines also require such things? An observation. The goods branch at Cockett (on the South Wales Main Line West of Swansea) had trap points on the sidings. As the goods station was at the top of a 1:200 incline, I presume it was to prevent runaways. So trap points on goods only lines did happen. MarkAustin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Today I have mostly being assembling the fiddle yard board, this will take the layout to 10 foot long. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted December 28, 2017 Author Share Posted December 28, 2017 The fiddle yard board has had its first coat of satin black paint and is drying. It will be able to be set up in two configurations as you see it in the photo or with added full height side and end bolted on. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevblokey Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Hi Nick, MRd was in my mental plans book to do at some point, so I am delighted that someone had the same thought and actually done something about it! Great work, will follow with interest. Kevblokey Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted December 30, 2017 Author Share Posted December 30, 2017 MRd was in my mental plans book to do at some point, so I am delighted that someone had the same thought and actually done something about it! Great work, will follow with interest. Thank you Mr Blokey. Always been a fan of the Conwy Valley line riding along it in DMU's in the 70's visiting family in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Being brought up on class 24, 25, 40 & 47 also added to the attraction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevblokey Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 I just always thought with the combination of explosive and nuclear traffic sharing the same single line “what could possibly go wrong?” Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merfyn Jones Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 I just always thought with the combination of explosive and nuclear traffic sharing the same single line “what could possibly go wrong?” But not on the same day ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Robert Shrives Posted December 30, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2017 Hi I think the writers of the famed "Pink Pages" freight book might have something to say if it had, followed by a calling to Chester and Crewe to explain the career plan..! Mind you when not all goes to plan what happens in marshaling yards does need to stay in the yard cabin. Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevblokey Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 I just always thought with the combination of explosive and nuclear traffic sharing the same single line “what could possibly go wrong?” All said purely in jest! Seriously though, a great project, propelling moves with brake vans at the leading end, whats not to like? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 (edited) Without looking at my photo diaries, I seem to remember there was a lull in nuclear waste traffic and gunpowder had the line to itself after it was transfered from the Cambrian coast route to Maentwrog Road. Then that traffic too ceased and the nuclear decommissioning traffic started up. Some track maintenance was then carried out over a period of weekends with numerous ballast trains working over the line. When traffic re-commenced, bogie barrier wagons and bogie brakes were used for several months until the line settled in again. Edited December 31, 2017 by coachmann Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted January 2, 2018 Author Share Posted January 2, 2018 Looking for some photos. I have plenty of photos of 25's and 47's on the explosives train at Maentwrog Road but I have not seen any photos of a class 31 on the train at Maentwrog Road. 31's took over from the 25's in 1987 and I know that amongst others the following worked the explosive train: 31202 31407 31264 31305 31323 31284 Any photos out there please? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phixer64 Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Been following this thread with interest, had a searched on Flickr.Might be a few on here ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/74121005@N07/albums/72157671261680946 Regards Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted January 2, 2018 Author Share Posted January 2, 2018 Might be a few on here ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/74121005@N07/albums/72157671261680946 Thanks Jeff, I am familiar with that page but sadly none of 31's on the explosive train only the flasks in the 90's. I have been in contact with Ken Robinson who took all those photos, top bloke. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 (edited) I have just looked through my photographic diary and found 31201 on gunpowder near Tal-Y-Cafn on 4/6/87. (31323 ran with nuclear flask the day after so they did share the route for a time). The majority of sightings were of Class 47's on gunpowder traffic after the demise of the 25's., whereas single Class 31's had moved in on the Trawsfynedd flask traffic. Edited January 2, 2018 by coachmann Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merfyn Jones Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 I have just looked through my photographic diary and found 31201 on gunpowder near Tal-Y-Cafn on 4/6/87. (31323 ran with nuclear flask the day after so they did share the route for a time). The majority of sightings were of Class 47's on gunpowder traffic after the demise of the 25's., whereas single Class 31's had moved in on the Trawsfynedd flask traffic. Just found one of your prints in my collection, of those many rejects that you gave me many years ago. It is 31201 at Betws on 4/6/87 with the up train of 2 vans. My record shows it on the second but the print has clearly the fourth. I had forgotten the 31s arrived so early, a full 2years before they saw any passenger work on the line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.C.M Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Hi Nick, I have never seen a pic of a class 31 on the gunpowder traffic. But I did find this shot of Larry's in an old Rails Railfreight supplement. 31323 on a Flask. I had a running session on Llanbourne today and thought why not run my model of 31323 on the gunpowder train I normally use a class 25 or 47. Cheers Peter. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 (edited) Hi Nick, I have never seen a pic of a class 31 on the gunpowder traffic. But I did find this shot of Larry's in an old Rails Railfreight supplement. 31323 on a Flask. I saw the entry for that photo in my diary yesterday. I have been unable to print or scan any negs and trannies since going Windows10 (it didn't recognize my old scanner). I like your layout. It has a purpose and must bring you hours of pleasure. Edited January 3, 2018 by coachmann 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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