southern42

Hello, everybody. Well, I have had some more time off, so I guess I had better fill you in. Journey 16 Thursday 12 September 2019 Llangollen Railway Companions Tender and Southern42 Carrog-Llangollen-Carrog I heard They were off down the A5 for a ride on the steam train and cadged a lift, leaving Ivor at the Colliery to fill up the wagons with the last of the summer price house coal. So, we arrive at Carrog Station for the first train of the day. The train is already in the platform but we just have time for a cup of tea before it departs for Llangollen. It is just an ordinary service but there is a fair number of passengers including quite a few pre-school children. We follow the course of the River Dee, passing over it as we approach Llangollen. The Llangollen cafe is not too full but we decide to have lunch back on the train - BLTs and hot drinks all round. Back at Carrog, we visit the GWR Group shop to find out how the small pannier tank No. 5532 is progressing. There was not a lot to do while the boiler was being attended to but work on the loco is resuming. Soon, we are back on the train to Llangollen, where He sneaks into the cafe for a Kit-Kat, She has a look round the gift shop, and I get to inspect the large prairie, No. 5199. Isn't she a beauty? And then, it is time to return to Carrog and head for home. Hope to see you soon.

Well, it looks like the last three months and Cakebox Challenge 3 have passed me by! You know - summer, and all that! But... I am all aboard for Cakebox Challenge 4. How absolutely appropriate the title is - INDUSTRY - for my gravity train, the original gravity train being the method of getting slates down from the mountain quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog to the ships at Porthmadog and slate being one of Wales' major industries by the late 19th century. Then, being reinstated as a part of the Heritage, Tourism and Leisure industries of today. I am rubbing my hands with glee and excitement! What an excuse (and motivation) to carry on! So, fingers crossed I can meet the challenge this time, not that I intend to abandon it at all. ___________ Best wishes Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. A good weekend playing trains. The Society is selling its Deltic as it is not hard wearing enough for public running so I was one of several members to take a drive round the track on it before it goes up for sale. Oooh! It may not be steam but as far as electric locos go, it is a great runner! We all agreed on that. It was certainly the fastest I have dared to drive round the completed track, the loco was pretty smooth running, and I was able to bring it to a stop as controllably as a SuperVoyager easing along the platform at Euston Station. Boy, does it make you feel good! Sun is out so, hopefully, I will get the washing out and do a bit more cleaning out the front to get rid of the algae off the cobbles. Then, maybe, some m*d*ling. Well, maybe something that goes beyond just thinking about it! Mugadecaf time, now... Enjoy the little things... Best wishes to all. ________ Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. Sunny as predicted by the pine cone. Hope all is well. Belated birthday greetings to Beth. Time now to get cracking to play tr**ns. Best wishes to all. ________ Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. They said we were going to see the sun, today. OK, then. Where is it? Oh! You mean we will see it as it drops down below the horizon...tonight? I live in hope. Be positive folks. Best wishes to all. ___________ Polly

Sorry to say, we just walked past and did not see the flying angels inside. So... I googled them...spectacular! https://www.google.com/search?q=st+wendreda's+flying+angels&client=safari&rls=en&sxsrf=ACYBGNSXx5c-rJfxLVDTkM84xFnMDXlokg:1567765998633&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwic1sG7_7vkAhXjoXEKHZfBCzkQ_AUIEigB&biw=1091&bih=602 Thanks, 62613.

quote. unquote Banging your head on it won't help!

' morning all from red dragon land, talking of which, Jones the Steam got me to post his account of his visit to mid Wales last Saturday. It taught me a thing or two. Just goes to show how long ago I read one of his books! Memory is not one of my best assets! Er...have I got any? The decking on the terrace-patio wall is coming along nicely. The planks are being bolted down but rain stopped further progress. Today does not look too promising although, it is dry at the moment. Among other things, I am trying to fit in some m*d*lling. I am at the pencil-and-ruler-experiment stage on a piece of cardboard. My brain maybe more frazzled later...I will keep out of your way... I shall venture to catch up at some point. In the meantime, behave yourselves. Best wishes to all. _______ Polly

Hello, everybody. Ivor has been so busy this year but, with the Bank Holiday out of the way, and the Welsh children back at school this week, I get the chance to steal away for a trip to mid Wales. Journey 15 Saturday 31 August 2019 Mid Wales Marches Tender and Southern42 A5 to Carrog The morning was a bit grim going up through the mountains of Snowdonia but sunshine was promised for the afternoon. We arrive at Carrog Station and quickly make our way through the rain to the cafe for a mug of tea and wait to see whether we get the large prairie or the pannier tank which are rostered for the season. I do love these big engine! Still raining, 6430 arrives in the platform. The rain eases off, 6430 runs round, and we make our way to the other end of the platform, talk to the train crew, and I get to inspect the cab. Fabulous! Oh, look! You can see the rainwater running down the side of the cab. Welshpool The sun comes out and we have a pleasant drive to Welshpool Raven Square Station. Parking? “Only if you can squeeze in just there, Edwin Jones. That car is parked quite awkwardly, isn’t it?” "No problem. We will just have to move some leafy branches out of the way when we open the car door." So, where to? Ah! Straight ahead, through the station building, out onto the platform, back across the track and head towards the sheds. I have a couple of rides behind the driver of the 5” gauge train and then pop in the shed to see the layouts. Marvellous! Back to the station for a picnic lunch; a chat with one of their very informative volunteers; then on with our trip. Llanfair Caereinion First, we follow the road to the Leisure Centre for the garden rail show. She falls in love with some slate workers; imagines a quarry scene in the garden; and it is an instant purchase. He sees a Penrhyn Quarry open carriage he wants, and it is in the bag. Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Then down the hill to Llanfair Caereinion Station for the 5 o'clock train to Welshpool Raven Square and back for the evening’s event. The previous day's update notes that the Austrian loco would not be available, but there she is, passed to run at the last minute! We climb aboard a balcony ended Austrian carriage and watch "Zillertal" being filled with the water below the water tank. For our return journey, we stepped aboard the Hungarian carriage though the trip was not without incident. After a short while, the train slows to a crawl round the curves and comes to a stop near the Hanged Man’s Tree. The grate is full of clinker, the fire is rebuilt and a member of the crew is on the radio about the situation - no doubt, a call out to Idris of Smoke Hill.*** After a while, the fire is going, steam is up , the sun is going down, and we are on our way again. We pass the half past six train, now running late, from Llanfair to Welshpool which is patiently waiting for the line to Raven Square to clear before proceeding. Eventually, we arrive back at Llanfair and join the gathering queue at the Burger Van. With tasty hot burgers in our hands, and a chill in the air, we find warmth beside the engine of a full-size steam road roller and enjoy the music and promised steamy night atmosphere of locos and traction engines. What a wonderful end to a brilliant day out. I must tell Ivor all about it! *** Meet Idris… And if you wish to know more about the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway you can start here: https://www.wllr.org.uk/about See you soon, Edwin Jones

' Morning all from red dragon land. Gorgeous sunshine when I got up and expecting to get some outside work put in BUT... black clouds have arrived...so who knows? A blast of a playtime at the weekend. Down Up the A5 and stop off at Llangollen for coffee break and see GWR 6430 arrive in the platform at Carrog. On to Welshpool Raven Square Station for lunch, a train ride on the 5 inch gauge Simplex and walk round the exhibition shed - target: Mannin Middle. One I have seen before and wanted to see again. I must say - a clever idea! Then back west to Llanfair Caereinion Leisure Centre for the garden railway show and afternoon tea - bought myself some 16mm pobl bach, little people cutting slates - and with a choice of heads. How wonderful is that? I am now thinking of a little diorama for the new terrace or garden using some of our rubble leftover slate.... Back down the road to Llanfair Caereinion Station for the 17.00 to Welshpool and back but a bit of a delay on the return. The train stopped in the vicinity of Hanged Man's Tree on the steep curves. Sometime later, clinker removed, the fire going once again, steam pressure up and sun going down, we were back in time for the Evening's Entertainment of burger bar, music, and steamy night atmosphere amongst locos and traction engines. Then back to the hotel. Now the website did warn that it was situated on a Service Area (as is usual for a weekend stay somewhere) but no-one said there would be lorries unloading their wares into a superstore, loudly rumbling and banging continuously for 90mins or so immediately BELOW us at 4 in the morning. Who's clever idea was that to design such a feature? One for a layout, maybe, with little old lady in long bleached white nightgown and cap stretched halfway through an old terraced house sash window, in the middle of the night, shouting because of the noise of rumbling and banging wagons below her bedroom, though barely seen through the smoke and steam of the shunting engine! (...and no, I did not get up in the middle of the night. Ray went down to the desk and asked if we could change rooms but "We're full." Not according to bookaroomhere.com! but hey-ho. Bleary eyed, we set off for Telford and our lateness, due to time spent putting in our complaint at the hotel desk, gave us a quick entry to the show and plenty of time to do our usual round the traders with short stop for coffee, followed by lunch and then the layouts. Top of my shopping list was a 7mm sheepdog for Trip-Titch, found within minutes at Duncan's Models (TBH, I asked if they had one), although the pack just says "The Dog" but it is just the job - superb, in fact. A few items bought between us, including a couple of BR Mk1 suburbans form Ellis Clark for the new layout, gives us room to vary the stock for exhibition. Both of us found Sherton Abbas the one to eye up in respect of our new layout as it has similar concepts. I always find it helpful to go and see how others make these ideas work beforehand so you know you are not barking at the wrong sheep! Phone call. Excellent news - we are getting a full refund from the Hotel. My goodness, is it lunch time already? Er...hum? Well, we were not, exactly, early risers this morning! Have a trouble free day... Best wishes to all. _______ Polly If you were at Telford/Welshpool/Llanfair you may have seen me - the little old lady in the bowler. Next time, come and say hello. And if I failed to spot any of you, apologies...

I got round that one by carrying a wee photo of an x-ray of my elbow in my wallet! So far, I have only used it on other hospital matters, like "do you have any metal inserts?" What does get me is: you go to A&E/other dept. in the same hospital - with all your records to hand!!!! - and they DON'T look it up! And I am not the most reliable person for remembering all my medical history...but there we go.

' Morning all from red dragon land . Windy all night and still blowing. The band of rain has arrived but should pass in time for playtime. Weekend off for youngest after the summer season's festivities in the North West and four days at Notting Hill for the carnival. Yesterday she did us the honour of unscrewing our old wood and metal garden seat and table and took it all to recycling. Lovely big space outside the front door now for me to clear, clean up and get ready for another seat. Enjoy your day. Best wishes to all. _______ Polly

Titanium? That seems to have been expected by my consultant for the screw in my arm. Nope. Stainless steel, arrived.

Wettish and windy but the decking on the patio wall has progressed nicely - although very time consuming for Ray with a lot of that time spent in the shed drilling and tapping holes in the straps that will hold all the planks together - the original holes not lining up as required. Consequence today was a late trip to Tess Coe's for weekend fodder although I did manage to get dinner in at a reasonable hour afterwards. Also got to see most of Father Brown on TV. Long weekend beckons, so off to bed. ' night all and nos da from red dragon land. _______ Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. Now there's a first - this early riser going out to water the plants before I did anything else. What is the world coming to? Time now to get ready to play t***ns. Enjoy your day. ______ Polly

Funny you mention that...I picked up a copy in the Conwy Valley Museum this afternoon and, when I sat down to flick through it, it fell open to that very page! No kidding! Good to see it is going well, Andy. Look forward to seeing you appear on the Ch.5 programme. Also, having posted the pics of the West Shore member's Lanky, I then spotted the double page article on modelling the L&YR! Hopefully, I will have time to read that tomorrow. Later, I got talking to a couple on the CVR platform, and during the conversation it came out that the guy grew up in our home town - around the same time as us! I recognised the accent... And my other big day brightener came via Ray's mobile re a certain cricket match... Guess it is bedtime now - an early start in the morning... ' night all and nos da. _________ Polly Edit: corrected an auto-corrected Welsh word at the end of post!

' afternoon all from red dragon land - sun predicted for this afternoon... Work on the terrace patio decking progressing - between drizzly showers... The top of the wall is not as even as it looks but we are getting there - slowly. Play stopped for lunch... Best wishes to all _______ Polly

My French Connection will let you off...

Duly corrected, Mike. I am sure that is what I put - but it does not surprise me, I had to re-spell several words on that post. Shame I missed that one! Never mind. Thanks for pointing it out. Polly

I gave you a "funny" because I can relate to that so well it hurts... With empathy Polly

' morning all from red dragon land. Wet and windy - I shall say no more. Yesterday, we eventually got out after the delay of the early delivery of wood so we got to West Shore a bit late - one of the members was bringing his newly completed handbuilt, all lined out Lanky 0-6-0 Lancashire & Yorkshire engine for a photo shoot but by the time we arrived it was back under cover out of the intermittent rain. No.1079 was allocated to Bangor in 1948 and to Rhyl in 1957 until withdrawal in 1962. Gorgeous! We hope to see it steamed up soon. Notice the hydrostatic lubricator on the right of the cab - not part of the original but added for 5" gauge running! Next, we spent the afternoon on the 7 1/4" gauge Conwy Valley Railway (CVR)* and I took my first passenger load round the 5/6th mile track driving the diesel, "Gwydir Castle", and I got more than I bargained for... "Tradition" has it that if a train (currently a 2-car DMU run by Transport for Wales) arrives in the adjacent station (Betws-y-coed),** the driver sounds the whistle/horn. Timing for this is crucial and you cannot guarantee one of our trains being alongside the mainline at the right moment (the steam train - Driver Ray - was unseen behind the wall of the covered drop-off platform). What anticipation followed when I saw the train standing in the platform as I came out of the forest... and saw its white light brightly shining before me! "C'mon! C'mon! Move!" I found myself muttering... Y e s! "Toot, toot," I sounded as it slowly moved off...and what a wonderful exchange of horns we shared after that...it delighted the passengers and it sure delighted me! * The CVR is on the site of the old goods yard. ** On the Conwy Valley Line from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog Best wishes to all. ____________ Polly

Sorry to hear your news, John. All my thoughts and best wishes to you both. Polly

The Cob on the Broads Ah! So. We also have the Cob we got for the boat and rarely used! In the garage somewhere, I expect! There was a mention of bringing it back into use...

' morning all from red dragon land. Tomorrow's delivery of decking has just arrived! We can get on with laying it straight away, tomorrow, then. So, that is good. Best wishes to all. Hope things go that well for you. __________ Polly

Ah! So! Strictly on the beach* - on a flat rock surface or below the shelter of a rock if a bit breezy. Favourite BBQ beaches included: Rowen Bay (Y Felinheli, on the Menai Strait) Abermenai, Llanddwyn (out of bird nesting season) and Moelfre (Anglesey) Porth Dinllaen (Lleyn Peninsula) and Lawrenny (up river from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire) However, eating onboard our first yacht, a Jaguar 21, was more like barbecuing. It got a bit better on the next one, a 27ft Albin Vega, though you had to sit on the cabin steps to cook, wash-up or do the chart work. The last one, a 27ft Vancouver, was luxury - complete with standing room, it had stove with oven, workspace, and sink on port side; table which stowed around the mast post; and chart-size(!) chart table on starboard side and loads of stowage everywhere. The only downside were the narrower berths to sleep on! A darn good ocean going boat though the Irish Sea, North Channel and St George's Channel were enough for me! Now swapped driving helming boats for driving t***ns - can't be bad! ________ Polly Edit * And we took the remains back to the boat's waste bin if no litter bin around.