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Cashmores - the next layout?


marc smith

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Hi all,

 

For some time I've been planning yet another layout (well TWO actually!) based around a railway scrapyard...

As a young lad in South Wales, scrapyards left an indellible impression on me.

 

I know some of you may think the railway scrapyard is an awful place, and not the happy,

picture-postcard-view many people have of railways, but that impression on my then young mind

is of a fascinating, atmospheric place, full of visual interest....

I appologise to those who think otherwise, but I've wanted to model one for a while,

simply to recreate the times when I went to Barry Scrapyard to clamber all over those rusting giants,

and to recreate what I always thought was an interesting "modelogenic" location of Cashmores

 

Barry was an eerie place, and yet so many wonderful machines were saved because of it...

Anyone who doubts the atmosphere generated in such places really should take a look

at "Woodmores" scrapyard diorama on this forum - It's a simply stunning model

 

Cashmores too left indellible images in my minds eye.

I really only went there to see some Southern region Class 71's

when they were cut up there. I recall going there only 3 times,

and could seldom afford film in those days...

even more infuriating, is the fact that I actually DID take 1 or 2 pics...

but never got that film developed (it was that, or buy a wagon, the latest edition of Locoshed etc)

 

I started making bits for the Cashmores layout,

but I have changed my designs several times

It always struck me that the nice retaining wall and arches along the one side of the yard

would be a superb backdrop -especially as this was another minimum space plan

 

Anyhow, I have re-drawn my plan (again) and have opted to go for a simpler,

inglenook-type design. There may be an additional kickback road, at the back

as I may use a modified loco-lift for occasional run round manouvres

I have been very pleased with this space saving run round design I adopted for my

OO layout "Wales, Rails, Rain & Steel"

 

Also, I've decided to revert to EM gauge

Partly because I rediscovered some EM points I built years ago,

and partly because I'll have dedicated stock for this layout,

which won't be needed elsewhere...

Also, I still have 1 or 2 lcos and wagons etc...

 

If anyone out there has any old pics of Cashmores they don't mind the rest of us seeing,

please feel free to post them here, or PM me...

I'd love to see them

 

I'll draw out my latest plan soon

 

Cheers

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Aaaaah Cashmores, Newport - a magnet for us in the late 60s and early 70s.

.

Of course John Cashmore wasn't the only 'murderer of iron horses' based in Newport docks; Messrs Buttigieg, Mahoney, Woodfield and United Wagon Works to name but a few, were also engaged in such activities.

.

I too can remember struggling to look over the wall into Cashmore's yard and see which loco(s) were next to be added to the mountain of metal in the middle of the yard.

.

Twas here one Sunday morning, whilst sailing down the Usk on the sand dredger 'Isca' I saw my first USA tanks awaiting their fate.

.

It was in the shadow of the "Baltic Oil Works" I saw my only Crosti 9F or should that be 8F ?

.

Parked up against that beast, was one of the BR built (GWR designed) Pontnewynydd brake vans.

.

My 'combines' show that I saw most of the Bulleid 'Packets' and Light Pacifics - sadly, all in scrapyards - and the first I ever saw in steam was in Newport, Clan Line, years later.

.

I envisage Mr.Smith rummaging in boxes at swapmeets and shows in the hunt for suitable candidates for emasculation ????

.

Brian R

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When I saw the title my thoughts were of something rather larger than your proposed layout.

Cashmores seems to keep cropping up in my current ship research project with several large vessels ending their days at Newport.

It looks like an interesting theme.

Bernard

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When I saw the title my thoughts were of something rather larger than your proposed layout.

Cashmores seems to keep cropping up in my current ship research project with several large vessels ending their days at Newport.

It looks like an interesting theme.

Bernard

 

Hi all,

 

Yes, I gather Cashmores was quite a large site

My memories of clambering over the wall

" I only want some train numbers officer!"

 

Were of a smaller area than I realised...

Perhaps I was only interested in the trains parked right up against the stone wall?

And so my memories were of a smaller area...

 

... Oh and of piles of wagon wheels.... PILES of wagon wheels!

 

I managed to buy a couple of secondhand 35mm slides of steamers awaiting their fate,

but there are only a couple of piccies of diesel locos sat there

Anyone got some?

 

Cheers

Marc

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Aaaaah Cashmores, Newport - a magnet for us in the late 60s and early 70s.

.

Of course John Cashmore wasn't the only 'murderer of iron horses' based in Newport docks; Messrs Buttigieg.....

.

I too can remember struggling to look over the wall into Cashmore's yard and see which loco(s) were next to be added to the mountain of metal in the middle of the yard

.

I envisage Mr.Smith rummaging in boxes at swapmeets and shows in the hunt for suitable candidates for emasculation ????

.

Brian R

 

Your memories of Cashmores are as welcome as your many other memories Brian :)

I have already been "rummaging" and have amassed a pile of stuff to "scrap"

but I think I'll need more

 

My pal Dave (Wenlock) has agreed to make some cast wheels, for scrapping....

Wish I could find the site of Cashmores too

Newport has changed so much, I've no idea now of where it was :O

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I've got a pic of a 22 awaiting its fate there - i'll get it copied and enlarged for you matey

 

Roger

 

PS Llanishen Leisure Centre has a toy & train fair this Saturday if you fancy it? May be some handy "scrap" going cheap?

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hi Marc

glad I found your new Topic Thread here - this sounds as if it will be great.

I had fun murdering a few diesels in a wee scrap yard scene a few months back - and have often wondered why scrap yards are seldom modelled. If you are interested my topic link below will get you there - last 2 pages.

 

Most major depots had the odd scrapper lying around - often for years and then thee were special cases like Eastfields 24 006 used for re railing exercises. I was always fascinated by works visits and images of logos in distress or just in bits.

 

Good luck with your ideas - I have seen good images of Falcon waiting to be cut taken from quite a high vantage point sHowing an extensive yard area - you might need to use another of your wee mirror tricks......!

 

Stuart

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For some time I've been planning yet another layout (well TWO actually!)

 

I'm guessing the other one being a china clay works? ;)

 

Looks good Marc...and if anything like your previous layouts it will be superb.

 

Bring it on...

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I had fun murdering a few diesels in a wee scrap yard scene a few months back - and have often wondered why scrap yards are seldom modelled. If you are interested my topic link below will get you there - last 2 pages.

 

Most major depots had the odd scrapper lying around - often for years and then thee were special cases like Eastfields 24 006 used for re railing exercises. I was always fascinated by works visits and images of logos in distress or just in bits.

 

Good luck with your ideas - I have seen good images of Falcon waiting to be cut taken from quite a high vantage point sHowing an extensive yard area - you might need to use another of your wee mirror tricks......!

 

Stuart

 

Hi Stuart,

thanks for that link - very nice modelling sir :)

 

I think most of us never really liked seeing the real thing being cut up

so maybe we don't like to see that replicated in model form?

 

I've had this idea on the back-burner for some time now...

I got some old Hornby class 25 bodies cheap some time back

and when building "Wales, Rails, Rain & Steel" i used removable scenic sections

 

I thought at the time I was building WRR&S, that I might employ removable scenery in this scrapyard layout....

Especially as the yard itself would not change over the years... just the rolling stock in it, being reduced to piles of metal

 

Now I know Cashmores had closed long before we saw striking images of class 25 & 26 bodies,

in the famous "pyramid" at Vic Berry's - but I thought I might use my modellers licence,

to keep it open a bit longer.....

 

This removable scene could of course be replaced by boilers & bits n pieces of steam locos,

or anything else for that matter.....

Just a thought, but I do like the idea of being able to change a scene slightly and subtly,

just by replacing a few key elements...

 

Still appealing to anyone who owns decent shots of Cashmores....

Can't get enough of them at the mo....

PS. Anyone got the grid reference of the old site?

 

Cheers all

 

PS. BCNPete, no, the china clay dries are somewhere around 3 or 4 down my ever-growing list lol :)

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Marc

 

Grid reference for Cashmores - ST319874

 

From memory, and looking at a Google map, Cashmore's yard was on the west bank of the River Usk, east of what is now the A4042 'Usk Way' and almost immediately south of George Street Bridge (B4237).

 

You may also wish to try this link (named after a street in Pill):-

 

http://www.quietwoma...moonfruit.com/#

 

Brian R

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Thanks for that info re the grid reference...

I can remember seeing Cashmores, from George St bridge

- I recall it was some distance from the bridge though...

and couldn't recall in which direction - so that's a great help, cheers

 

Thanks also for that link

there are some nice shots of old Newport....

I reccomend a view, for those who haven't seen it

If you look at the menu, there are also some nice shots of Pill shed :)

 

When I first saw the link, I thought.... "what's a quiet woman?"

Lol... only joking dear, ouch...... ;)

 

Cheers again

Marc

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  • 2 months later...

Hi folks,

 

I haven't posted anything here in a while

So I'd better fix that :)

 

I drew up several plans, but had another re-think

I've had an EM 3 way point built for me, by hayfield golfer

who did a smashing job - I just don't have time these days....

 

Anyhow, here's the plan

Originally, I had 2 points, instead of the 3 way

but this has made my original design flow a bit better

and instead of making more space on the scenic area,

I've squeezed it a tad more.....

 

I'll make my mind up finally on this later,

if I feel it could do with a bit more "space"

 

For years I've fancied the idea of what Barry Norman and Iain Rice

refer to as a "vicarage study" design

i.e a central "main" baseboard, with folding down ends

 

I prefer to keep these fold-down sections non scenic

i.e. as fiddle areas

 

Both fiddle areas are shaded in green

and I think this gives me more flexibility,

having an additional short fiddle on the right hand side.....

 

On my OO steelworks layout

"Wales, Rails, Rain & Steel" I use a wired-in peco loco lift,

to save space, and add flexibilty in the fiddle yard

I'm pleased with this arrangement, and find it works well for me

 

The plan obviously isn't an exact replica of the real Cashmores....

That would take up an enormous amount of space,

and be fairly dull, in model form I think

 

The track layout is of my own design,

and I envisage locos & wagons arriving,

to be cut up in the main shed on the right

 

I intend to make some of the scenic scrap material "removable"

This will allow me to change period

I saw class 71's at Cashmores in the late 1970's

The yard closed in the early 80's, I think

but I'd like to keep it open...... with my modellers licence

having bought some old Hornby class 25 bodies when they were cheap on ebay!

Images of a Vic Berry like scene in my mind....

 

So I may "EM" one for this project

Then again, I may just make a sector plate....

post-2973-0-24734900-1346860376_thumb.jpg

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Looks good Marc.

 

Great piles of rusting metal and associated mess!

Should take you a while to create the right looking scrap, which I guess will be most of the fun!

 

What size are you making the centre board?

 

Yes, I'm looking forward to making the piles of scrap metal & wheels etc

My pal Dave (Wenlock) is casting up a load of wheels, hopefully as I'm typing this....

 

The visual section is around 3 foot 8 at the mo....

but I may extend this slightly, once the plan is drawn again

I originally drew it full size, before getting the 3 way....

It flowed nicely then, so why on earth did I change it? Groan!

 

Cheers

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Searching on Flickr, there are a few photos of Cashmores

My first visit was in search of 3 southern region electric locos - class 71s

 

2 batches of 3 locos were stored very briefly opposite Ebbw Junction Depot

and sent to J Cashmores for scrapping, in the late 70's

 

Neither batch lasted long in Cashmores yard

they must have worked very quickly

Searching the net, I found someone else who reckoned that a total of 7 of the class were scrapped there,

although I thought it was in fact 6....

 

With its' high brick & stone retaining wall,

I long ago imagined this could make a nice, natural backdrop to a model

 

Many would not wish to model such a location,

and given the subject matter, I can perfectly understand this....

but it obviously left an indellible image in my mind.....

 

http://www.google.co...6&tx=154&ty=100

 

http://www.wnxx.com/...als/class71.htm

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks to my old pal Dave (Wenlock)

I have a small pile of wheels, which he very kindly cast up for me

Together with some old wheels, and odds 'n' ends I've been collecting,

I'm starting on the genesis of my scrap piles...

 

No piccies as yet, I'm afraid

but I'm sure you don't want to see piccies of me with a file in my hand...

 

.... dust everywhere.....

"nothin to do with me, dear, honest ;)

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  • 3 months later...

Hi all,
It has been a while since I posted anything - I know, I know,
"Get yer skates on Smith!"

I have been busy with other things - namely making my garage into a railway room :)
Ok, I'll have to share it, with some domestic appliances...... but.... more space woo hoo :)

I have been doing a few bits & pieces on the layout
In my parents loft was a pile of airfix odds n ends and some other components,
suitable for my scrap pile

 

The track on the layout proper is laid, and mostly wired -
just the frogs to do..... then my folding sector-plates......

I cut the coal out of some airfix tenders (which I built when I was about 13 or 14!)
applied british railways transfers, and rusted them up
I also rusted up a Mainline Pannier, and I've another to do
But, although the wheels are re-gauged to EM
they tend to catch on the sleeper chairs

I'm accruing other bits for my scrap piles, and I promise to post some piccies,
as soon as I get time to take them...... whew!

Cheers all

 

Edit: Oh, and I've built the rear retaining wall, in sections
and painted it to my overall satisfaction
Once in place, it will require toning down a tad,
and the characteristic fence behind it....

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