br2975

"The 4mm Coal Wagon" by Wild Swan describes using the round insulation foam for lagging pipes, cut lengthwise and then trimmed to fit wagons, then black coloured PVA is painted on top, coated with sieved coal. . I may be able to help you out there (I have the book in my collection) - just remind me at some stage. . Don't forget, some collieries shipped out differing grades of coal - others may have a single (e.g. power station) contract shipping but one grade. . Throw in a few Internal Use wagons as well Marc, an excuse for some beaten up seven plank wooden bodied models (that wouldn't suit any other project) languishing in the scrap box ? . Brian

Marc Something of an operational master stroke for a minimalist layout. . The "through line" across the top of your plan - ( if based upon / inspired by Pontardulais ) can employ empties going right to the left, fulls left to right and a 'paddy train' with some converted exGWR / LMS and even a SR van and in addition the exchange sidings would be just off stage to the right - and could be shunted along the "through line". . Most weekdays there were generally two engines in steam as well - you're made ! . A Hunslet 18" or two, and a hired in Landore or Margam BR Cl.08 such as 08818 (on hire June 1980). . Photo evidence (I can pass them on to you) shows 16tonners, 241/2. tonners and even several iron ore tipplers working to Graig Merthyr from Pontardulais. . Plenty of variety for the, builder, operator and viewer. . Brian R

Nice choice Marc. . I visited Pontardulais a few times - on one memorable occasion I caught the first Cardiff - Swansea (Western Welsh) bus at Ely Bridge, then changed to a Swansea - Gorseinon bus to get to Brynlliw Colliery where they still had a Peckett shunting the pit and exchange sidings. . I left the bus, and walked through the drizzle (as my mother used to refer to it "wet rain") to the pit, to find no railway activity at all. . Unperturbed, I walked on in the direction of Pontardulais, where I found all the locos out of steam and cold, in and around the shed yard adajacent to the level crossing. . A local codger chatted and updated me as to the lack of activity - "stop fortnight see" .................................. Probably the most atmospheric book when it comes to photos of the the South Wales coalfield railways, and containing several of Pontardulais and the Graig Merthyr line - "Visions of Steam" by Peter Cavalier & Geoff Silcock. . The yard area at Pontardulais contained a fair amount of light FB rail was well. . Will it be ready by October ? . Which reminds me, I must carry on laying granite setts - and get them finished by the tenth month too. . Good luck Brian R

After paying to endure something that contravened the 'sale of goods act' (i.e. advertised as Premier League Football) I couldn't bring myself to watch it again on MoTD - did some modelling instead ! Malky Mackay's OK - but word is he's not 'whiter than white' when it came to his departure from Cardiff City. . Brian R

FOR SALE . The David Moyes lamp . Sits nicely in the middle of the table.

Cardiff City 0 v West Ham Utd. 2 . The footballing equivalent of two bald men fighting over a comb. . Obviously West Ham neede the comb more than we did . The honeymoon is over Mr Solskjaer . Brian

I know but I did type that in full, but I have a broken keyboard and the , , and , keys don't work ! Brian

Impending storm ? We use 'black as the hobs' (in case you're puzzled, I don't know either !) Brian R

Excellent - please, keep them coming . Brian R

I wondered how long it would take a polyglot to work it out. It's more a 'literal' translation than an accurate one - but hopefully the name will reflect the industrial setting ? Brian R

Hence the contruction of a new shed to house my proposed 4mm 1971/1972 South Walian empire aka "Twll Cach" Brian R

(i) It bears a striking resemblance to the inside of an Eccles Cake (ii) They must be tame sheep grazing in a field - in most of South Wales they graze where they bl**dy well like, and deposit their excrement in a similar manner. "In a previous life" my daughter attended a neighbourhood PACT meeting in the Garw Valley - where the most contentious issue was a flock of feral sheep terrorising Pontycymmer - mob handed they would enter gardens and back yards, rip open bin bags, knock over bins, cr*p everywhere and weren't scared of humans shouting and waving their arms ! Brian R

Two days late - but what the heck ! . On 5th. January, 1973 I recorded the following (some of which were ex store at OOC) at the Barry Docks West Pond site of Woodham Bros. awaiting scrapping. . I have included the Regional prefixes; E96310, S96399, S96359, S96389, S96366, S96379, S96390, S96382, S96365, S96414, S96398, S96362, S96360, S96411, E96337, S96408, S96376, S96377, W96355. . The following locos were awaiting rescue, and 'marked up' with their respective society / prospective purchasers details, as follows; 75069 Severn Valley Railway 41312 South Wales Fund 34039 S.G.Tawes, Leicester. 41313 Ivatt Trust 80078 Swanage Fund 34081 92 Squadron 80064 Dart Valley Railway 80080 Steamport Brian R

I can only add that it's even better in the flesh. . Brian R

Could this actually be the Talywain 'paddy train' that ran from Big Arch - employing ex-GWR and ex-LMS 12 ton vans ? Which, along with the similar Pontardulais - Graig Merthyr working further west, were the last two such trains to operate in the South Wales coalfield. Brian R

I can't speak too badly of her indoors either - surprised me with a G.F.Y.E. Brush Type 4 - how did she know ? Brian R

Bah ! Humbug.

B*ll*cks - I didn't see them on Sunday, and Peter didn't mention them; and there was me with money burning a hole - lucky I didn't buy the green Peak ! . Brian R

"CHANGING FACE OF BRISTOL" eh ! . Well if one of you is closer to the City Fathers than I, please congratulate them on causing the mother of all traffic queues this evening along the Portway. . In future, when mending the swingbridge thingy they may wish to put advance warning along the inbound carriageway of The Portway and not rely on the three cones placed across the two lanes at the foot of the ramp onto the elevated section. . The traffic was better during the Balloon Fiesta . Now I know why the Severn Estuary is too narrow ! . Rant over . Brian R

Excuse my ignorance ... but what is a 'ring stiffness tester' used for ? Brian R (I wonder who'll be first to bite ?)

Wayne, . Industrial Railway Record No.166 Contains an illustrated account of the ARC branch from Hirwaun to Penderyn Quarry, by Adrian Booth. In it he states that ARC had lost the ballast contract with BR and the ARC branch would close at Christmas 1982. Brian

A bit before your time Wayne, circa 1978 - and an unidentified Cl.37 slows for the token at Abercynon en-route to Hirwaun with empty ballast hoppers. . Brian

Just for you Wayne. . A poorly cropped view of 37796 on Aberthaw - Cwmbargoed empties crawls thro' Cogan, circa 1989/1990. . Brian

"Sixty-eights" was indeed a term used by South Wales railwaymen, derived from the GWR practice of referring to locos as a 'forty-two' (42XX) or 'twenty-eight' (28XX) etc. . Many of my spotting chums of the late 60s and during the early 70s referred to them slightly differently as 'six-eighters', the terms 'growlers' and 'tractors' were unheard of. . Here I've attached a (much reworked) slide taken from the roof of a rickety PW hut of an unidentified 'six-eighter' (by now a TOPS Cl.37) free wheeling downhill through teeming rain from Cwm Colliery passing Common Branch Jct toward Cross Inn and eventually Llantrisant - taken early 1979 on my then morning commute into Cardiff. . Brian Rolley

Well 41 years ago yesterday ...... . Sat. 02/12/72 Cardiff General 1692 (1Z43) ex Swansea 1654 (1Z45) ex Hereford 1730 (1Z44) ex Carmarthen 1686 (1Z47) no further details 1848 (1Z4?) no further details 1903 (1Z46) no further details Excursions run in connection with Wales v New Zealand, which Wales lost 19-16. 7098 (1Z18) Cardiff – Swindon Cl.45/46:- 138, 155, 156, Cl.52:- 1040/49, Cl.47:- 1605/54/62/77/92, 1730/46, 1924/28 (2C38), Cl.08:- 3753, 3960, Cl.25:- 5182, Cl.37:- 6605, 6841/86/90, 6997+6998 DMU:- (50674+59278+50723)+(50735+59294+50683)+(55025) Crewe/Cardiff service Brian R