steveNCB7754

Hi Arthur, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, I cannot lay my hands on a source right now (about the dust explosion link), but I am pretty sure that it is a factor in this design choice. Equally, explosions at mines are not restricted to above ground events, as was witnessed at many sites over the years. On the other hand, I take your point about the insulation factor of brick versus steel cladding - especially in some of the remote and (in winter especially) cold locations for such mines. The thought occurs that, after an explosion involving a steel-clad structure, the cladding is usually so distorted that it is scrapped and replaced, whereas any dislodged bricks could, in theory, be reclaimed and relaid (though I am probably clutching at straws here). My 'fact' about this use of brick in this way has been held for a very long time, so if anyone knows for sure it is false I hope they can put me right before I tell it to anyone else (LOL). Steve

Hi, On the cover of B&R Video Productions DVD Vol.147 ('Steam In The Valleys - South Wales Part 2') which I purchased recently, there is a photograph (dated 04.06.1970) by Colin White, of Hunslet 0-6-0ST (#3816) 'Tudor', working at Beynon Colliery in Wales. Should you not have this video (shame on you), an internet search will find links such as this one; videoscene.co.uk/images/thumbnails/0//700/BR147--B&R-147-Steam-in-the-Valleys-South-Wales-Industrial-Part-2.jpg (copy+paste into browser address bar) The locomotive is presumably shunting the open steel wagons under the screens building(?) in the background, but my interest and questions, concerns the structure immediately to the left of the locomotive and its wagons. This consists of a raised steel platform, accessed via a stairs, on top of which is a brick building having a pitched roof and large windows. Essentially my questions are; a) What is the function of this building/structure? b) Why put a brick building on top of this platform and not a steel-clad one? The second question, is because whilst I understand the reasoning behind brick infill in steel-framed colliery buildings (the brickwork falls or is blown out in any explosion or disturbance, but the structure remains standing), why would you build what appears to be a solid brick building on top of such a platform - surely the whole lot would come down in similar circumstances? The screens building in the background is steel-framed with brick infill, so putting a solid brick building at height like this, seems to asking for trouble. Puzzled. Steve

Web searches seem to bring up on-line suppliers for etch/cutting machines and associatedsupplies, so sales of this material is probably only to trade. This material; TroLase ADA Signage ...looks like it might be the stuff, try a search on that to see what I mean. Steve

Paul, Well, you learn something every day - rather them than me though. Do you know if they actually remove the equipment, or just stop using it? The firebox still had a conventional firedoor of course, despite the mechanical stoker fit.

Hi Paul, Just a 'heads up', but the QJ's are/were fitted with mechanical stokers (you would not want to try and hand-fire one of those beasts!). Although I do not have (or know of) any photos to back this up, I would imagine that the coal pile in the tender would all just slump down towards the bottom of the tender, as the screw feed in the bottom moved the coal there forward on its way up to the 'distribution table' inside the firebox. The motion and vibration of the tender and loco would help to shake the contents down as well, so I would imagine that the pile would remain relatively level whilst the loco was working (until topped up again at the next stop). Others may know more though (as they say). Steve

Hi Mike, Movement of the sheep up to yr Hafod (or, indeed Meifod) would presumable be staggered, depending on the season and latitude. My Welsh friends farm a remnant 60 acres, of what was once a 1000 acre farm, on the lower slopes of Plynlimon (in mid-Wales). Spring comes up from the south, so I am sure their predecessors would have been able to put their flocks on the hill/mountain, much earlier than a compatriot on Snowdon or even the Llŷn Peninsula. Equally, the vagaries of climate and mountain weather, meant that 'old hand' ewes and the new replacements, might still face the chill of a late snow, on the 'high tops', in either location. Steve N

Hi, Yes, I forgot about the 'whole' (pun intended) male sheep thing - of course they would have been castrated and been the chief source of mutton. Females (lambs eventually becoming ewes, with maturity), were more valuable as breeding stock - mountain breeds providing the crossing animals for those lower down in the system (both in terms of the 'industry' and geographically). On the hurdle thing - looking at some digital images on the National Library of Wales website (albeit, that these tend to be early 20th century, rather than late 19th), I am seeing a lot of hurdles at fairs, of the kind made from split wood (presumably chestnut), in the form of miniature '5-bar-gates'. Again, I think of the woven hazel hurdle as a lowland (and lowland England) feature, both in terms of source material (broadleaved woodland) and husbandry system ('folding' on the Downland and, in some areas, the use of watermeadows). Equally, given the climate in Wales (historically and recent), I cannot imagine that woven hazel would last that long up mountains or near coastal climates - it would most likely rot quite quickly in all that rain and snow (LOL). Steve

Chris, Hi. This is getting a little complicated, but I came across a link (Google Books) to the book, where you can search for terms (search box at middle left I hope) - https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CCe-kXSRkoUC&pg=PA1178&lpg=PA1178&dq=were+sheep+hurdles+used+in+wales&source=bl&ots=rhqJL3MgrQ&sig=gkIR_8-qnL6hr0iXPSZGX2DT8xY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjttozirrfNAhWDLMAKHYyvDtIQ6AEIVDAI#v=onepage&q=sheep%20sales%20wales&f=false As has been mentioned in your thread, welsh sheep farming traditionally relied on sturdy mountain breeds, taken up onto the mountain 'sheep walks' for the summer (and tended there, although they were/are generally left to their own devices during this period). Such breeds are typified by the Welsh Mountain type: good mothers, single lambs (usually) but relatively poor lambing percentages (i.e. survival of lambs) - one book I have quotes a historical figure as low as 40% (40 lambs survive from 100 ewes put to the ram), whereas figures around 200% (2 lambs per ewe surviving) were more typical for lowland breeds in more favourable parts of the UK. Also, I suspect that those stone buildings up on the mountain were more likely for the storage of summer hay, than for the shelter of itinerant shepherds, but others may know more. In any case, stone would probably also have been the material of choice for sheep/livestock handling areas (gathering pens and the like), up on the hill. At the end of the summer, flocks would be brought down from the mountain 'walks' (by the families and also by their neighbours, all on horse-back) for dipping (where practised, this would have been in a traditional pool in a river or stream), shearing and for the separating-out of 'culls' (old ewes, lame stock, etc.), 'stores' (that season's lambs to be taken-on for fattening in the lowland areas) and the selection of breeding ewes (either to maintain the flock itself, or for sale to farmers elsewhere for 'crossing' with other breeds, again in lowland areas). Sales would have been in the Autumn (probably, as in England, on a traditional date) - the Agrarian History (book) says that after 1850, the traditional seasonal agricultural fair (where most sales took place, just once), lost out to the new auction markets, held at more frequent intervals. Remember also (historically), lambs were a means to an end (to eventually produce mutton), not a consumer product in themselves. Eating lamb is a relatively modern invention, enabled by modern production methods, transport and storage. My maternal grandmother apparently refused to give 'lamb' (when it was introduced from New Zealand after the second world war) house room (and told her butcher so), feeling it was a swindle to be offered something that had barely been born, compared to 'proper' meat! Anyway, the flock (now just consisting of ewes of breeding age) would have remained relatively close to the home farm on the 'in-bye' (the better grazing at lower altitude, combined with access to stored hay, straw or maybe even roots), firstly to receive the 'attentions' of the rams during the autumn period and then to survive whatever the winter had to offer. Sometime in the later spring (depending on location, altitude and weather), the flock would again be taken up onto the hills and mountain walks, for the whole cycle to begin again. Sorry, what was the question again (LOL)? Will try and see if I can find any early photos of welsh markets (to see how the animals were contained) - woven hurdles feels more like the Cotswolds to me, but we will see. Steve N

Hi Chris, Just a thought, but would sheep hurdles have been much of a feature of Welsh sheep husbandry in your time period anyway? Just checking online, I came across some relevant lines in 'The Agrarian History of England and Wales' (Cambridge UP). In the chapter on the 'Retail Trades and Agricultural Services' (page 1178); '...counties [in England] where sheep were folded predominated, and hurdles were primarily employed for folding or shelter in the downland farming districts: in Wales, where sheep were more hardy, their use was limited.' Later in the same paragraph; '...After the 1890's, machined-made wired, split chestnut fencing came increasingly to be used where temporary barriers were required. The rise of these new materials, the declining use of the sheepfold as an integral feature of lowland farming, and the growth of timber imports which favoured urban supply of fencing timbers, left the hurdle and fence makers as largely a relict population by 1914.' Not a criticism, just an observation. Steve N

Excellent and very evocative. Might I be so bold as to suggest that the forge also needs a quenching tank/tub of water, to go with it? The detailer's work is never done :-) Steve N

Still very good, but I was expecting it to end with a nose-dive into the (static) grass - 'fade to black' (LOL).

Hi Ray, The usual 'form' of a YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=, followed by the alpha-numeric identifier. Your link's first part is wrong (or different) on that score, but I tried editing it to 'correct' that and it still does not work. That suggests that the 'identifier' at the end of your link (8lzoAS2XiHc) is also suspect. On the other hand, what do I know? (LOL). Steve N

Hi Chris, Regarding Welsh dressers - just because a family was poor, does not mean they necessarily had a simpler example. They might have hung onto a grander one, if it was inherited for instance (a reminder of better times for the family, or a generous forebear). I also have a few books on Welsh housing (I did a building conservation degree, back in the 1990's), but not many have details of period interiors. Problem, is that (being National Museum of Wales publictions) some are often museum recreations of interiors, rather than actual photos of real rooms. The other thing that is not helping me visualise the situation, is (as we are now at thread post #1970) where now (in the thread) are the basic details of the house/rooms in question at Traeth Mawr? There are an awful lot of pages to sift through (LOL). Steve

Now this is the one I wish they had built ... http://www.gwr.org.uk/galfox2.html 2-10-2T with a modified 'King' boiler - what a 'beast' that would have been (preserved and pounding up the bank on the Pontypool & Blaenavon)! Still have the 'Model Railway Constructor' article from 1981 and that model was in 7mm. Steve N

Funny, I was thinking just the same thing when I looked at that photo. Also, do those fence stake spacings seem a bit closer than we use today (I've put up a few and will, no doubt, be doing some more this year at my friend's farm near Llanidloes). Have also just looked at Averdovey on the Merionethshire XLVIII.NW 6-inch map of 1887 (http://maps.nls.uk/view/102185248 on the Nat. Library of Scotland website) to see what the railway facilities on the quayside/jetty were like. Quite complex and includes what looks like several wagon turntables, to allow individual wagons to be sent off onto tracks set at right-angles. Stimulating thread as always. Steve N

Penlan, on 26 January said: ... Another (Worcester) person who had loads of pre-grouping photographs of Cambrian Railways stock and infrastructure was Pearce-Higgins who died many years ago. All his notes, photo's etc., went to the NRM at York, but I doubt they have been catalogued yet, or if they are still there. Have just checked the NRM (www.nrm.org.uk) online archive - on the 'Research & Archive' tab, choose 'Records of Individuals and Families'. Scroll down and there is a link to' Pearce Higgins, Selwyn' archive list here; http://www.nrm.org.uk/~/media/Files/NRM/PDF/archiveslists2012/personal/Pearce%20Higgins%20Selwyn%20archive%20list.pdf# The catalogue is shown as being created in 1996 and updated in 1999. Word of warning though, it runs to 141 pages! Enjoy Steve

Hi Paul, Originally, I had decided that my first DCC set would be the NCE, then I was invited to see a very large (private) DCC layout, where Digitrax was the order of the day. Always a problem to get truly independent advice; as in, if someone has already committed to a system, are they really going to tell you not to buy it because it has issues? Anyway, I let their 'counsel' sway my decision and so ended up getting the latest Digitrax Zephyr 'Xtra' as my first taste of DCC. Have been regretting that ever since. The 'Xtra' can access the higher CV's you mention, but only by a convoluted 'extended addressing' workaround which, frankly, is a PITA! Let us know how you get on with the new 'toy' (though if you say it is fantastic, I may well sulk for a week). Steve N

Chris, What a great shame. Do not have a 'fix', but one 'trick' I picked up when aircraft modelling (actually, from a car modeller's demo, at a show), is the use of a hot hair dryer during spraying. Use it just before actual spraying the paint on, to slightly heat up the subject matter (takes any chill/condensation off and encourages rapid drying). Once the appropriate coat of paint has been applied, use the hair dryer again to get the paint to dry much quicker (stopping any runs and allowing subsequent coats to applied sooner). At a pinch, I have under-coated and top-coated on the same day, even masked and applied a different colour on the same day (albeit using low-tack Japanese masking tape). Obviously, spraying should (ideally) take place at room temperature or above, but this often conflicts with good ventilation (unless you have a pro-spray booth). Equally, you can have the spraying environment too hot - not nice to work in and the paint may dry in the air, before it hits the model. Most of my model spraying is done in the garage, which I pre-heat with an electric fire - note, this is not switched on during the actual spraying!! Most important, is to have a proper face mask (mine is a 3M one, with dual filters). One final 'word to the wise'; its probably not a good idea to have the hair dryer blower set to 'Warp Factor 10', in your haste to dry the paint. This is especially true, if you have been a bit heavy-handed with the paint application, as any runs will probably end up halfway round the model before they dry! (Ask me how I know) Steve N

Not sure, but probably not. Might just be added protection for the (expensive and relatively more recently fitted) sash window, as well as greater privacy. The sash might be fitted to the 'best' front room - don't want the 'common folk' gawping through the window at night, when the oil lamps are lit, do we? Steve N

Great shot! Notice also the 'pitched' slate strip in front of the house, between it and the road (very distinctive). Quite a mix of window types (sash and casements) as well, in the same building. Sash - now there's posh. Talking of distinctively Welsh features: the road is wet! Steve N

This is such a good thread, that it is sometimes easy to forget that it was about modelling a railway! Anyway - cattle. My friends in mid-Wales keep Welsh Blacks and there is often a brown colouring in the mix ('recessive gene' IIRC - in the same way that you can occasionally have black Herefords or even Highlands). Sometimes, this is quite Russet in hue (that's Hue, not Huw). More often seen when they are out in the field, in their summer coat, with the sun on their backs. Bit of dry-brushing with some 'Bauxite' might do - also (esp. in summer), Welsh Black cattle have quite a sheen on their coats, so they are not matt black. As to the 'scrawny' Herefords in your photo - remember, that breeds have also changed over the years due to 'improvements' (for both production and fashion). The modeller's problem is, which animal did the manufacturer use as their source to base their (scale) models on? The classic example, is the Aberdeen Angus. In the period of this thread's layout, the Angus was a relatively small animal, often kept as a 'house cow' (not the bull, obviously!!). By the latter part of the 20th century, it had become the proverbial 'Brick Outhouse' - not one you want to stand on your foot (ask me how I know!). Steve N

One of only four images available of the works, that I am aware of. Got my copies from the Warwickshire County Archive, at the beginning of my research into Shipston, way back in 1981! Keep hoping that one day, a set of more detailed images will turn up, perhaps taken by somebody on one of those steam trips down the branch in its latter days. Suppose people had better things to point their 'Brownie' at, than a small, town, gasworks. Equally, I have never come across an image, even an engraving or illustration, of the original horse-drawn tramway or its terminus, which is surprising given how inovative the venture itself was, in its day. Steve N

Just thinking back to the earlier post, about the juxstaposition of the tank to the railings (and the temptation to locals to climb up onto it), and why that would be impossible given the 'pastoral care' on offer(!) - how about shielding it with an advertising hoarding? Would only need to a bit bigger than the tank and the supports could be bolted to the retaining wall. Since it would be facing the road/houses, all 'we' would see is the back of it, so it does not even need an advert on it. Just a thought. Steve N

Paul, Sorry (again!), have only just come across your new repy by chance. So this is the second time I have had to click 'Follow This Thread' - hope it 'sticks' this time. If only someone hadn't built a gasworks nearby, you could have had the 'Cordon' gas tank wagon traffic as well (LOL). On the subject of goods traffic (and research); if you need any information on that score, I still have all my research notes, which I could knock into some sort of order and post here, if required. Steve