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. On the subject of driveways, and contractors - rest assured my lips are sealed, and my keyboard disconnected ! . Enjoy La belle France Hippo. . Albeit one suspects, for Wales, it'll be like when Ponty & Pop roganised the annual Aberflyarff RFC end of season tour to Porthcawl - "a long weekend away with a game thrown in"

Many years ago, several of us were propping up the bar in a Brugge cafe bar that resembled the sadly missed 'Cafe Rene'. . A former colleague, Chris , who whilst known as "Wacko Jacko" was not known for the ability to hold his liquor, or for his tact....suddenly blurted out "I wonder what f**king language they speak here ?" . The lady bar tender turned to Chris and said quietly...."We speak Flemish, Walloon, French, and ....very good English" .

. Widely regarded as the most authoritative and instructive resource so far produced on the subject of the steel mineral wagon. . The information therein begins with 1930s Private Owner designs, and moves through the pre-nationalisation companies, including the MoT etc and onto the BR built wagons, and their modifications and rebodying. . The author's article blows some assumptions posted hereabouts out of the water. "The 16-Ton Steel Mineral Wagon" - a three part article by Peter Fidcuk that appeared in Modellers Backtrack magazine some years ago. . Anyone with the slightest interest in Britain's most common railway wagon should seek these magazines out. . These are the three issues ............... .

. Rickard's Record Vol.1 shows a former Rhymney 0-6-2T down freight passing Cefn On with a Cardiff East Dock working in 1956. . The first wagon is a wooden five plank open loaded with an ingot mould, followed by a relatively new 16 ton mineral carrying something (potentially) similar. . The train also contains a G.K.I.S. internal user wagon, and the bottom section of a slag ladle. . I suspect the train started out a the Dowlais foundry.

. Thank you . I have a strong taste of A+ in my mouth from continually biting my tongue. .

. "No Comment" . I'll seek refuge in "The Fifth Amendment"

Hi mum, I'm home................................

Thank you Al. for bringing 'Paynestown' along, and supporting a very worthy cause. . Many of us wil be touched by 'the long goodbye' and sadly watch friends and relatives deteriorate. . All those who, like yourself, gave of their time, those who came through the door, and those who cooked the bacon rolls played their part in raising funds to provide future support. . So, on behalf of Paul and myself, may I again thank you for your support on Saturday. . Best wishes . Brian.

Excellent Al. See you next Saturday . Brian

BARRY ISLAND MODEL RAILWAY SHOW Saturday, 26th. August, 2023 Barry Island Community Centre (Please see the attached for further information) Details of this event are now all but finalised, brief details are as follows;. . Amongst those who have agreed to exhibit are ; (i) Graham Mann - 4mm scale modern image (ii) Andy Parry - 4mm cement terminal (iii) John Hayes - 4mm scale 'Spriggs Lane' (iv) Brian Tucker - 4mm scale 'Nantgarw' (v) Wayne Crowley - 7mm scale 'Pynton Sneer' (vi) Alan Jenkins - whose Hornby/Peco 'TT 120' scale layout, "Whitchurch" displays this "new" scale. (vii) Barrie Jones & Joshua Lovell - 4mm scale 'Bromford Bridge' (viii) Christopher Paul Lock - 4mm scale, green diesel era layout. (ix) Al. Reynolds – 2mm Finescale ‘Paynestown’ (x) Pontypridd MRC members with their 4mm scale GWR South Wales branch terminus Plus other exhibitors. . Others who have agreed to demonstrate their railway modelling skills include; (a) Kyle Humphries - Fitting DCC sound and smoke effects. (b) Marcus Lambert - Detailing and weathering (c) Fred Lewis - 7mm kit building, and gauge 'O' Guild representative. (d) Julian Wynn - building kits in etched brass. . Hot & cold drinks, as well as cold snacks will be available. . There will be a raffle, to raise additional funds to the entrance fees, for Alzheimers Charities . A map of Barry Island, and the location of the Barry Island Community Centre can be found at:- https://goo.gl/maps/fHbTojghNjAVWQg46 . The Cardiff Bus No.95 timetable can be found at:- https://www.cardiffbus.com/services/CB/95 . Transport for Wales (TfW) information can be found at:- https://tfw.wales/places/stations/barry-island . Please come long, and support a good cause that has personally effected members of our group. . Please remember - entry and refreshments will be payable only by cash, the organisers are unable to accept card payments.

Details of this event are now all but finalised, brief details are as follows;. . Amongst those who have agreed to exhibit are ; (i) Graham Mann - 4mm scale modern image (ii) Andy Parry - 4mm cement terminal (iii) John Hayes - 4mm scale 'Spriggs Lane' (iv) Brian Tucker - 4mm scale 'Nantgarw' (v) Wayne Crowley - 7mm scale 'Pynton Sneer' (vi) Alan Jenkins - whose Hornby/Peco 'TT 120' scale layout, "Whitchurch" displays this "new" scale. (vii) Barrie Jones & Joshua Lovell - 4mm scale 'Bromford Bridge' (viii) Christopher Paul Lock - 4mm scale, green diesel era layout. (ix) Al. Reynolds – 2mm Finescale ‘Paynestown’ (x) Pontypridd MRC members with their 4mm scale GWR South Wales branch terminus Plus other exhibitors. . Others who have agreed to demonstrate their railway modelling skills include; (a) Kyle Humphries - Fitting DCC sound and smoke effects. (b) Marcus Lambert - Detailing and weathering (c) Fred Lewis - 7mm kit building, and gauge 'O' Guild representative. (d) Julian Wynn - building kits in etched brass. . Hot & cold drinks, as well as cold snacks will be available. . There will be a raffle, to raise additional funds to the entrance fees, for Alzheimers Charities . A map of Barry Island, and the location of the Barry Island Community Centre can be found at:- https://goo.gl/maps/fHbTojghNjAVWQg46 . The Cardiff Bus No.95 timetable can be found at:- https://www.cardiffbus.com/services/CB/95 . Transport for Wales (TfW) information can be found at:- https://tfw.wales/places/stations/barry-island . Please come long, and support a good cause that has personally effected members of our group. . Please remember - entry and refreshments will be payable only by cash, the organisers are unable to accept card payments.

. On seeing this image, I immediatley thought of the late, and sadly missed Chris Foren.

Here we see construction work at the TfW Taffs Well Depot, with a few Cl.398 tram-trains parked up. . The depot is built on the site of the former South Wales Forgemasters, and also the trackbed of the Walnut Tree Junction (Taffs Well) - Penrhos Junction / Aber Junction route closed in the 1980s and known locally as 'The Big Hill' . The second photo, looking 'down' or south shows the crossover just south of Taffs Well station, and the very tight radius access (left) to the depot. . Extensive roadworks have taken place here to accomodate access to both the depot, and the park and ride car park. . Many trains will therefore need to reverse and cross over when entering or leaving the depot. . Until 1969 the famous Walnut Tree Viaduct crossed the valley and dominated the sky shown here. . The distinctive 'Walnut Tree Junction Signal Box' once stood where the grey substation is now located on the left or 'up' side, behind which was the coal yard where the Taffs Well banker would reside between duties.

Metro works taking place at Fairwater. . The photos are taken from the Fairwater Road overbridge and we are again looking in the 'up' direction (north) towards Fairwater, thence Danescourt and Radyr. . The second photo is looking in the same direction, and from the access footpath to the up platform.; but shows extension work in progress on the down platform. . Atop the right hand embankment, and well obscured behind the trees is Roald Dahl's former home. . Taken several weeks ago as I made my way stumbled home from the 'Llandaff Institute' .

A few views of the contractors compound alongside Waungron Park station. . The contractor has built a substantial earth ramp in order to allow road-rail plant to access the track . The road junction in the distance, for those wishing to 'locate' the area, is Western Avenue / Waungron Road. . Waungron Park station was the last to open on the City Line in 1987, due to the need for piling into the embankment for the platform supports, and also the 'up' platform is built on a bridge that spans Waungron Road, 'cantilevered' (not the correct term) off the existing bridge girder.

. There is currently such a company with several driveway jobs hereabouts, trading under the name 'Marshall'. . They have become very cunning in their approach. . Once upon a time they all had 'traveller' type accents, and fitted the stereotypical 'traveller' image. . But, having gained a (justifiably) poor reputation, they started using locals to canvas for work on their behalf, with a local accent and not a 'traveller' accent catching residents off guard. . Similarly, they employ labour from unusual backgrounds, again sans 'traveller' accents. . These driveway cowboys change their company names on an irregular basis, using names like 'Marshall' above which like many other such companies is also the name of a nationwide builders merchant. . The 'traveller' pavers will then accept a cheque (remember them) from the customer made out to 'Marshall' (the contractor) which they then use in turn to pay Marshall (the builders merchant) for their supplies, and the cheque never goes through the travellers 'books' - but then if you don't keep books, that isn't an issue. . Friends of mine, a reputable company in the blockwork driveway business once attended an address to give a quote. The housholder was given a basic price with which he wasn't happy, and produced a colour brochure provided by another company that had provided a cheaper quote - but this brochure showed employees and vehicles of my friends reputable company working on a job in the same area months earlier !!!!! I once made a living out of harrassing dealing with travellers, a veritable battle of wits, which experience puts me in a position to justifiably say they were the most untrustworthy group I ever dealt with in almost 40 years.

Looking north (up) along the City Line from Waungron Park . The first photo was taken in 2005, and shows 37419 departing for Radyr with the 2V07 06:59 ex Rhymney. . The second photo shows how it looks today, with the knitting up. . The white flats, Kennilworth Court are on the site of the former Ely (Fairwater Road) Goods yard, closed in 1963. . In the middle distance to the left of the line, is my alma mater, Cantonian High School, currently being demolished to be replaced by a new 'super school' combining three former schools on the same site. . The last photo shows the view from Waungron Park looking 'down' or south, towards Ninian Park, and Cardiff . The sheet piling on the right is for the extended platforms - not a very inviting prospect from the bedroom windows of Davis Place. . To the left, and below the station's 'down' platform is the former council cleansing depot, later converted to a recycling depot at a cost of several millions; and which then closed soon after to remain empty for several years. Currently the site serves as a contractors compound for the electrification and civ-eng works. Once this work is complete, a seven storey block of supported living apartments (flats in my day) are to be built on the site (much to the chagrin of the locals) , together with a transport hub..................for a handful of buses, and the 2tph on the City Line. . The local council would have us believe this 'transport hub' will be a necessity, in connection with the ongoing (and huge) 40,000 home Plasdwr development between Radyr Chain , Rhydlafar and Creigiau...........I say that's b*ll*cks ! .

Going back 16 months or so on 11th. April, 2022, I captured one of the Cl.231 'Flirt' units on the 'City Line' undertaking a mileage accumulation run from Canton - Barry - Pontypridd - Barry - Canton - it was passing my alma mater, Cantonian High School on the approach to Fairwater station; Waungron Park station is just visible in the distance. . The Cl.231 units are primarily intended for te Rhymney Valley services and were pressed into service early, due to the awful reliability issues with the Cl.769 'Unicorns'. . In this photo, the early preparatory work for erecting the OHLE is taken place. . That OHLE is now up, and live on the City Line - although from here south toward the CVL Western Boundary, near Ninian Park, is a very long neutral section.

I have recently posted to the thread shown above. . Philou may wish to join the Facebook group "Railways in South Wales" for uillustrated updates by some of the existing 4,000 members. . If you do wish to join the group, the 'Admin' is a stickler (me !) and if you don't ask the two security questions, your application for membership will be bounced. . Brian R

. "Proudly" explaining to a visiting Hippo, the concept of the embryonic Efflew Valley branch..........being a 'full frontal' layout a la Don Rowland, with no hidden sidings ! . Well, as the old adage states "pride comes before a fall" and operationally, it didn't work. . As a result, I've spent the last few days installing three double ended hidden storage loops, and two short stubs suitable for locos, or a short freight. . Now, I should be able to operate in a (sort of) timetabled manner.

. So the march past took place today, to mark the end of the Royal Air Force presence at RAF St. Athan. . I was advised the event would commence at 13:10 and be finished by 13:50, culminating in a fly past. . The fly past failed to materialise - but at 14:48, an hour later than advertised, a pair of Hawk trainers buzzed my car as I was driving home through Groes Faen. . Amusingly, we were moved from our vantage point, by a diminutive W.O. with the world's largest swagger stick (?) as our vantage point was to be the saluting dias, for the attending brass and dignitaries. Twas only when we took up our new position that the backdrop to the dias became amusingly apparent. . In reality, a sad occasion when one considers the one time size and importance of RAF St. Athan - two railway stations, and an internal rail system. . My abiding memory was in the early 80s undertaking (riot) shield and PSU (Police Support Unit) training at Eglwys Brewis (part of the camp) under the wings of Vulcan bombers that were awaiting their fate. . Now a private contractor scraps commercial aircraft at the site.

Something not mentioned so far, are the long sections of the Metro not equipped with OHLE, at points where the raising of bridges, or lowering the track bed, or other issues of cost prevent the use of OHLE. . e.g. On the City Line, the OHLE commences at the CVL (Core Valley Lines) Western Boundary which is about half a mile west of (up) Ninian Park. . The OHLE here then forms a long negative section before meeting the first energised section around Waungron Park / Fairwater ? . On the non-OHLE sections the Class 398 'tram trains' will run on battery power, the pantographs are expected to raise and lower automatically. . The OHLE is as much for charging the units batteries as it is for powering the tram-trains .

Mike aka 'The Stationmaster' would need to look long and hard to recognise this location, . . . . . . . . This is Radyr, looking in the 'up' direction towards Taffs Well and the valleys. . Farthest right is Platform 1 - which is used by trains to Cardiff / Barry etc via cardiff Queen St. . Middle is Platform 2 - which is bi-directional . Left is Platform 3 - which is used by City Line trains, which terminate here, and reverse back to Coryton. . The platform lifts are a feature at a number of CVL stations, the station also has a booking 'office' . I turned to my right to take the second shot which is looking in the down direction, towards Cardiff. . The onetime plywood wonder that was Radyr Junction 'box once stood on the far side of the lines, behind the two road-rail cherry pickers.

Taffs Well from the station footbridge, looking 'down' towards Radyr, showing the lead off (left) into the Metro Depot. . Initially, a triangle access was proposed here, but the resultant civ-eng work around the A470 slip road and Cardiff Road (the bridge in the distance) was considered excessive, cost wise. . The Metro depot is out of shot, to the left. . Those of 'a certain age' will recall Walnut Tree Viaduct once dominated the blue sky seen here, and Walnut Tree Junction Signal Box was where the electrical substation now stands on the right. . The branch to Aber Junction, Caerphilly and the Rhymney Valley curved off to the left.

. There are already complaints, before the Cl.398 'tram trains' have entered service. . Primary amongst the complaints, the units are bereft of toilets - even though there is a toilet option available from Stadler. . The Cl.150 'Sprinters' and both Cl.142 and 143 'Pacers' had toilets, and many see the lack thereof in the 398 as a backward step. . As for me, Waungron Park is at the end of my road. There are 2 tph from there into Cardiff, 1 ph in the evening ( and this is unlikely to change) - and as a pensioner, I have to pay. Whereas there are also between 4 and 6 buses per hour past my front door, and TfW allow me to travel free on them. Guess which mode wins ?