rhyd-y-clafdy

7405 is back from the cleaners, having spent Lock Down at Steve's Grimey Times. 7405 spent time at both Oswestry and Machynlleth sheds. There are photos of it at Ellesmere and there is a photo of it on the auto train (I think in the book on the Ellesmere-Wrexham line). Not being auto fitted I assume it had to run round. A must to be included in the operating sequence. The photo shows 7405 on the baseboards of Rhyd-y-Clafdy (a bit of the back scene in the background). Rhyd-y-Clafdy is being re-visit-ed having been in store for the last few years. It is being completely rebuilt to live permanently in my garage for me to play with. I'm not sure I can write about this under the heading "Modelling Real Locations". It is a real location but the railway is a definite "Might have been". The Cambrian submitted plans to Parliament for an extension from Pwllheli to Porth Dinllaen in 1870 and 1880. The plans are to be found at the Welsh National Library in Aberystwyth, as also is Brunel's plan for a railway to Porth Dinllaen. Perhaps I need to start a new thread on that. Ellesmere has spent Lock Down locked down at a friends house in Crewe, he has had fun operating it although with some very dubious stock at times. It was booked for Warrington and Gaydon exhibitions this Autumn but we'll have to wait and see if they take place.

Hi Ian That looks really good. I wonder how many other people have produced the same coach. I noticed a while back a thread on building the Comet A44 kit which might be useful to people. I notice you have painted the bar across the driver's window cream. I've left it off because I couldn't decide on the colour and was leaving it out until I redo the drivers window. Thanks for the interest and comments. Phil

Its been quiet at Ellesmere for quite a while, however, there is an addition to the coaching stock! W6820W of lot 1550 was an autocoach built by the GWR built in 1936. Essentially, a Diagram E147 Brake Composite (half a B set) with a drivers compartment at the Brake end. Driver's access was via the Guards compartment. Photographic evidence in books shows at least 2 of these vehicles in use at Oswestry, often used as strengtheners on the Oswestry-Gobowen auto train. There are also photos and video of one in use on the Ellesmere-Wrexham auto train, either singly or as a strengthener. To produce this model I used the Comet (W80) Diagram A44 kit which was a brake second trailer apparently converted from Diagram D117 non corridor brake 3rd in the early 1950s by BR for work initially in South Wales! I used Comet's E147 (W51) sides to make the brake composite. The only info and detailed photos I could find are in J H Russell's GWR coaches. Not experienced in making Comet coaches this has been quite a mission with many tribulations on the way and there are some errors. The most obvious one is the driver's window which was smaller in height (2mm I think) on the Composite. Also the Comet etch for the drivers end is the wrong way round, a mirror image. I suppose I could have reversed it but didn't and will have to live with it! I had to cut my own drivers windows out of the sides (not easy for me) and apparently the bogie centres were moved inwards from 41'6" to 38'. I had to compromise on this because they were fouling the trusses on the underframe so I split the difference at 39'9"! I also made a complete botch of applying varnish and had to strip all the paint and transfers off and start again. Glazing was also an issue with so many door handles and grab rails close to windows hence the need to redo the drivers window at some point! However I'm looking forward to seeing this on the layout (hoping the overwidth cosmetic bogie sides don't hit the ground signals. Anyway, all will be revealed at Wakefield exhibition, November 15/16/17, where I hope Ellesmere functions well after 6 months storage in the garage!

Hello to everyone: Just to let you know Ellesmere will be at the Warley Exhibition at the NEC this weekend 24/25th November (Stand C17). We are very approachable if you have any questions or just want a chat. I hope everything is ready now anyway its all packed away! Think I finally ironed out our signal problem and have just ironed the drapes, just need to sort out the coach sets so we know which ones to use when! Here's hoping there aren't too many gremlins!!! See you there. Phil

Hi Everybody I'm starting to think that the Brickworks and siding were on the site now occupied by Cargotec. I've looked on google maps, earth and street view and can see no evidence thats useful. My only conclusion is that from the point of view of operating Ellesmere I should substitute vans for open wagons loaded with bricks!!!! Beyond that as my layout just covers the area between the Elson Road bridge and Grange Road bridge and apart from the academic interest I'm not going to worry too much about Elson Siding unless I can find someone in the area who knows!! Apart from exhibiting Ellesmere my energy is heading towards my next layout. For anyone interested it will be at the NEC in November but beware taking too much interest because I am always on the lookout for operators!!! By the way the layout was featured in the October 2016 BRM magazine. Cheers Phil

Hi Paul and Brian I have pondered over Elson Siding. I thought like you that it was off the Oswestry line at the west junction of the triangle. But the triangle was taken out of use a long time ago whereas the WTT shows a morning and afternoon 'pilot' shunt to Elson Siding as late as 1962. Having just googled Elson I noticed a reference to a wharf and siding for Elson Brick Works (Duddleston Road) in the National Archive. Don't know what that was or when! I did wonder about including the moves in my operating sequence but decided it was a complication too far for my operators. As far as I know the loco propelled the vehicles with a brake van at the front. I planned to send a couple of vans in the morning and bring them back in the afternoon. As far as buildings are concerned - I based my Goods shed on the ones at Bettisfield and Llanfyllin which were very similar and are still standing. My signal box is adapted from measurements and brick counts of Pwllheli box and photos of Ellesmere box. The stable and weigh office are based on the photos in Derek Lowe's book (not always easy to count bricks from a black and white photo!) whilst everything else is guesswork. I think my Up platform shelter is a bit on the small side in retrospect. Hope that's useful. Phil

Hi Paul I passed through Ellesmere a couple of weeks ago. The site is owned by Fulwoods and it appears to be surrounded by new security fencing so access at a weekend may not be possible (Maybe a Saturday if Fulwoods are open). I assume the gates will be open during the week and you might be able to get in (I never got chased off!). Otherwise the Elson Road bridge provides a vantage point. The Vic Rogers and Keith Mitchell book - Oswestry to Whitchurch is also useful. Have you tried the Disused Stations website on t'interweb? And Google images will throw up so pics as well. Phil

Hi The track plan I have used is from the late 1950s after the turntable was taken out. Earlier plans do show different access to the goods yard but photos from the late 50s/60s clearly show just the one point accessing the yard from the down line and protected by the trap point with a ground signal. On the up side the two sidings come off a headshunt/refuge siding which continues under Grange Road bridge. It isn't double track although it appears that way. One thing that has bothered me is that I can't see any ground signals controlling movements from the headhunt back onto the up running line although arlier photos show a 2 arm shunt signal. I have put a double ground signal in on my layout! Ellesmere model railway club had an old 2mm model of Ellesmere but I am not sure where they are up to with it after it suffered some damage a while ago. Derek Lowe's book on the Cambrian Main lIne has some useful views of Ellesmere. Hope that helps and I am glad to answer any questions you may have Cheers Phil

However, we have finished the Mess van which we saw in a photo taken when it was parked at Ellesmere in 1961. It was presumably there when the Elson Road bridge at the west end of the station was being strengthened. It belonged to the Oswestry Division Bridge Department which was based at Caersws near Newtown. The model is a modified Ratio GWR 4 wheeler. Transfers were produced by Railtec and the end detail and painting were done by Ian Chapman. The roof still needs sticking on and it still lacks screw couplings. Plenty of time to do that now!

Apologies to anyone who was hoping to see us at Aylesbury Railex. Unfortunately, we've had to cancel at the last minute! Our next exhibition is currently Warley at the NEC in November.

Sincere thanks to Ian C. 2239 made its debut appearance at Liverpool exhibition over the weekend. An old mainline loco which met with an accident at Stafford exhibition last year. 2239 was built during the war without cab windows and spent much of its life on the Cambrian. Apart from filling in the cab windows and adding lining It now has a Comet chassis and a new chimney. Just needs lamps and a crew now. Time to get in touch with Alan at ModelU

Hi. thanks for that. We decided to paint it black then give it a quick dust of navy before weathering it. Although I am told (from someone who should know) that it was navy I have found no reference to that anywhere and assume like you suggest that it is black that has faded bluish. I will go with cream lettering assuming the yellow has faded. Yes there is an extra door at the end with ventilator and droplight but I couldn't figure out how to represent the vent to match the ratio moulding on the other doors. I used very thin plasticard (paper thin) for the plating but even now as i look at the photo can see bits i overlooked. I found the photo on Facebook but it would be inappropriate to divulge the actual source or to stick it on here for copyright reasons. I have to hold my hands up and admit that I cheated with the other side of the vehicle. With no photos I decided to make both sides the same!!! At least it won't matter which way round we put it on the layout. Many thanks Phil

Hello everyone I'm in the process of doing DW14928 Mess and Sleeping Van (Bridge Department) from a photo I have seen of it at Ellesmere in 1961. As my layout is Ellesmere it has to be done. Modified from a GWR 4 wheel Ratio kit I am at the painting stage. Lettering is coming from Railtech but i'm not sure whether it should be white or cream. Additionally the vehicle looks black in the photo but I am told it was Navy Blue!!!!!??? I notice from the link that PauL Bartlett has a photo of it. Anybody able to help. Thanks Phil

For anyone who might be interested Ellesmere will be at Alsager exhibition Sat 4th Nov 10.00 - 16.30 and Sun 5th 10.00 - 16.00. Legends Conference and Leisure Centre, Bentley Motors, Crewe CW2 8WD. If any of you manage it please come and have a chat. Next exhibitions are Liverpool April 2018 and Aylesbury May 2018. Phil

For anyone who might be interested Ellesmere will be at Halifax exhibition Sat 23rd Sept 10.00 - 17.00 and Sun 24th 10.00 - 16.30. North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, HX3 6TE. If any of you manage it please come and have a chat. Phil