Focalplane

You are very kind! The underground system is obviously fiction but a very good way to get trains back in the right position for prototypical operation. As to my visualization in 3D, even 4D, that comes from a career in geology. Even then, it is not always right, sometimes more miss than hit. It is said that geologists use more weasel words in their reports than most other professions. Why, because most of the evidence we need is missing, so it's always "possible, probable, maybe, etc." We take a 2D image (a well bore, an outcrop and so on) and somehow deduce a 3D or, more unlikely 4D, history. I stumbled on my career but it has always, or nearly always, been a lot of fun. Paul PS When I have laid all the track I might, possibly, be able to draw a track plan!

Simon I have always thought of myself as a Jack of All Trades, Master of None. I have dabbled in this and that and learned and forgotten a lot along the way. When I retired I was thinking of doing what Alan Buttler is doing so successfully. I even thought his choice of 3D printer was the way to go, but I am glad I didn’t because Alan has taken his business model way beyond my ken and I am a much better customer than competitor. I can’t remember my first CAD program, it was for an 8086 CPU! But then I found myself the owner of a Mac IIfx when a potential business partner declared bankruptcy and I had to buy the damned thing for thousands of dollars. Actually, it was a turning point and although I wanted to pursue CAD, as a geologist it was not the ideal machine (all the major oil companies dropped Macs around 1986 because the Mac threatened their IT job security). Sometimes being different actually helps one’s career. I became good at economics thanks to an industry downturn and Excel on the Mac worked really well. Then it was desktop publishing and the Mac came into its own though my employer at the time, who knew nothing about computers, could not understand why I used my own Mac at work. i made him a wealthy man and then he fired me. True! I am rambling but the point is that when you cast around with a fishing rod you never know what you might catch. The odd old boot one day, 50 mackerel the next. I remember a saying when starting out in America. It’s not true you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, he’s fed up with the old ones. So true, Paul

A good day, today! The area I am working on has progressed well, with all the track bases screwed down, half the cork sheeting fitted and two yards of track added. Having cleared the space properly I found I could move ahead more quickly and safely - no surprises there. Think of "there's a place for everything and everything is in its place" - there's nothing better than knowing exactly where you left the countersink bit when you need it! I know I am preaching to the converted. Or am I? And at 1 p.m. today the new lathe arrived! So far I have opened the box and not much more. There won't be any immediate activity anyway as I am off to England for a week and I don't have any tools yet. Paul

Thank you for your kind comments! I am beginning to wonder what I am going to do when the woodwork is finished. I have learned and re-learned a lot of woodworking skills over the past 6 months and I would not like to forget them in a hurry. After watching a rather disappointing effort by England's second eleven last evening I got some frustration out of my system by cross cutting some supports and screwing them to the framework. Then I noticed the time! No complaints from the neighbours, fortunately, perhaps the insulation is better than I imagined. Paul

I have made some progress on the track beds on the Barmouth end of the layout. Three photographs may give insight into how the hidden and scenic areas work together. This view is of the corner where the engine shed will eventually sit. The temporary pieces of plywood represent the rough alignment of the scenic line as it turns the corner from Penmaenpool and into a short cutting. The curve is much tighter than in real life. The scenic line is at a constant height so I cut some cheap chipboard strips and clamped the scenic line "track bed" in place. On the left of the photo are two tracks, one behind and one in front of the scenic main line. There is yet another line in the very front which will go to the Barmouth fiddle yard. Ignore that one for the time being. Of the two hidden tracks, the near one comes from the double slip that provides an easy connection between fiddle yards and the scenic area. The rear track is simply a loop (suggested I believe by Jintyman) that forms part of a second continuous circuit but also can act as storage for one or two long excursion trains. These two will join at a point just to the right of the picture. This photo shows that point and you can see that the turnout track will pass under the scenic line with enough clearance (11cm). Both hidden tracks part company either side of the scenic line but the line on the rear of the layout will actually be hidden by the cutting. The third photo shows the same corner but looking towards Barmouth Junction. Hopefully the combination of views will make things a bit clearer. The scenic layout above will consist of the main line plus the two road engine shed. The three points (including catch point) and the base for the engine shed will be formed of a largish sheet of plywood, mounted on numerous vertical posts with any potentially weak areas strengthened with metal strips. Once having checked the clearances and radii of the hidden tracks I can now place permanent vertical supports and screw down the plywood track bases. I shall leave the set up over night and check again in the morning. Paul

Having cleared and vacuumed the railway room last evening I thought I should take some photos of the bare L Girder framework which will now be worked on (in fact the room already needs a good cleaning!) The framework has an even spacing but it doesn't need to if things like point motors need the space. The framework is rock solid even though it is only fixed to the walls in four places. I have been cutting track bases this morning and hope to have the hidden track beds installed soon. Paul PS I have finally mounted my Philip Hawkins' prints!

Ray I have a clause added to Rule 2. It says that "el cheapo tools cost you in the end". When I returned to the UK from America in 2003 I was shocked by much of the rubbish that certain DIY shops sold as "tools". After all, we had Sears Craftsman at the time and they would replace any tool free of charge if it failed. Sadly, being 110 volt I sold most of my stuff when I left. I agree that a separate mill makes more sense, particularly if space is not a problem. Paul

My wife told me yesterday that Porthmadog had the highest temperature in the UK. Ironically my railway room (ex-home cinema) has air-conditioning but I have yet to turn it on as it is basically a cellar on the ground floor (no windows, heavy insulation, outside wall faces north). So it has the opposite effect, when it gets really hot in the rest of the house I simply go to the railway room and close the door! Coastal breezes are nice until they become hurricanes (I have had experience of such things!) Paul

Yes, it probably would be better, but if you say “Say Day Eff” for CdF? Maybe we’ll just stick with Railway Room with House Attached! Paul

I have just spent the rest of the afternoon in the relative cool of La Salle de CdF* cleaning up the mess and doing some wiring. Now, to celebrate Germany being knocked out of the World Cup I have decided to support their economy by purchasing a Proxxon lathe. It's been a desire of mine for some time to buy a lathe now I am retired and have the space. With some help and advice I have plumped for the PD 250/E. Last weekend I missed the opportunity to buy one that had been on display and unpackaged. Today I had a second opportunity and went for it. When the piggy bank is replenished I plan to buy the mill attachment (or maybe the separate milling machine, we'll see how it goes). Time for supper before the Brasil game starts! Paul * Railway Room

A few days off from painting but I have accomplishing something in the railway room (I may start calling it La Salle de CdF). I have completed the installation of the LED strip lights. To celebrate I remembered I have an app on my iPad that stitches together a panorama, complete with massive distortions when scaled to a flat surface. Here is the view standing in the entrance doorway. Please excuse the mess, that is my next job, getting my friend Henry the vacuum cleaner to suck up all that sawdust. Then a complete sorting out of stuff is required so that I can complete the hidden track beds on the right hand side of the room. Track laying can also be completed so that testing can start before the upper scenic layer is added. Having just previewed the image I have to admit in my defense that my woodworking is a helluva lot better than it looks! Paul

When I heard the seagulls and the bells I couldn't help but compare North Wales to Southern France. Your seagulls have a relatively pleasant sound, ours make the most awful cacophany but at least they don't wake up with the rest of the dawn chorus, leaving it until 8 am. The church bells here are a constant reminder of tempus fugit, striking on the hour and again at 2 minutes past the hour in case you were wondering if it was 5 or 6 pm and therefore time for the gin and tonic. It's all automated as far as I can tell with additional sounds for services and funerals. But the strangest sound was one morning when the bells "thudded" out the time. On opening the blinds came the answer - we had had a blizzard in the night and the bells were full of snow! Being dyslexic at times, I though your 4F was a very strange 4-4-0. It does help to read the appropriate caption! Great videos! Paul

Larry Could you replace the tender wheels? Sounds easier than relaying all that outdoor track, or am I missing something? Paul

Me too, with Legge Lane MPD when I had no room for anything bigger. But it's gone now, except for the turntable and that may live to play another role. I designed the depot around the LMS cafeteria system but even then operating it got a bit boring. But if locos are your thing it does make sense! Paul

Ray The more the merrier! As 6357 was photographed in 1959 on the line at Arthog it may have already arrived at Croes Newydd, so it remains a good option. I should add that another requirement will be the availability of plates from Severn Mills Nameplates! Paul

Thanks Grahame Yes, not so bad this morning but I am trying not to do too much. I enjoy this sort of research and this enforced period of "relaxation" has made it possible. The urge to get on with constructing Penmaenpool is hard to ignore, but ignore it I must for the time being. Rail on line have only three useful images of North Wales moguls - most seem to have been in your county, particularly the Barny, though most of that line ran through Somerset! We lived for a while near Bathealton. Paul

Here is my first edition of Moguls photographed (available in various books) along the Ruabon-Barmouth line. Some explanations. Some books identify photos by the page, some by the plate. The latter don't have page numbers. The list is sorted by running numbers, Ray's 1959 shed allocations are highlighted (red - Croes Newydd, blue - Chester) Those photos taken in 1959 have the year in dark green bold font. Moguls.pdf If I am going to be truly prototypical and stick with 1959, then some of the more frequent locos won't make the cut. In fact only 6316 was photographed in 1959! I can give myself some latitude here but is does look like the most common images are post 1959 (brought about by imminent closure no doubt). Now, where was 6357's shed? Captions in the well researched Steam in Mid Wales say that it was a Croes Newydd loco. If this is the case, then that loco should be selected as it had a long life up and down the line, from at least 1957-1961. And it was photographed on shed at Penmaenpool in 1961. I am hoping that there may be more photos available in books I have ordered, so this is my first edition. Paul Edit to add - the spreadsheet was exported to pdf but the original, either in Numbers (Apple) or exported to Excel format can be emailed. PM me!

Ray The year (plus et moins, d'accord) is 1959. Thanks for the heads up on David's book, I just bought it! I have plenty of examples of the middle of the class to use for the kit, a matter of which ones have the best photo record. As to 5322: Featured on Plate 16 of Middleton Press Ruabon to Barmouth book in 1957, an UP train at Llangollen. Ruabon was UP. Paul

Simon According to my entries so far, the GWR moguls were not officially allowed on the old Cambrian before WWII, except on the Ruabon Barmouth line which was mostly built by the GWR. The source of this is from page 82 of Cambrian Railways Album, volume 2. The only two pre-war photos are of 6399 and 6336. However, remember that my material is focussing on the Llangollen Line, not the Cambrian Coast main line and other sources could indicate differently. HTH, though as you plan to run Castles to Porth Dinllaen perhaps it doesn't matter! Paul Edit to say that the painkillers are dulling my memory and that I had previously noted the lack of moguls pre WWII. But at least I can walk around a bit!

Ray I have started a spreadsheet to document all the photos in various books that show a mogul on the Ruabon Barmouth line. So far I have only two pre WWII photos and both were on the line when moguls were not allowed to run on most of the Cambrian system. So they could get to Barmouth but not beyond, apparently, even though logic would suggest that the biggest obstacle would be the Barmouth Bridge. In post war years most of the locos seem to be in the 63xx series, not one so far in the 93xx series. Many books are filled with photos of the BR Standard Class 4s which replaced the aging moguls when the LMR took over. Very few photos really help in identifying the subtle changes within the class and at the moment there are no books available (new or second hand) on the usual web sites. As the Heljan model will be of one of the early series, I should be focussing on the later cab design but without windows. (All three are catered for in the kit) Paul (When I have completed the spreadsheet I will be happy to share it with anyone interested)

Simon I just re-read, and printed out, your post on the pickup design I like the idea that the two sides float "together" with the one spring. My next job will be to source the two types of bushes needed - I have all the other bits to hand. Do you have a source for them or do you turn them yourself? Paul

The past three days has seen me keeping well away from the railway room and now it looks like the separation will continue for a while. I have been decorating the two stairwells (much in need of it, too) and then managed to put my lower back out. Fortunately nearly all the paint has been applied, just some skirting boards, but I am severely incapacitated, so all though of carpentry, installing more lighting, etc. has come to an end. For now. Is this what being an "ancien" is all about? Well, there are other things I can do, such as research which Mogul to model and check out Warren Shephard's kit in more detail. And then there is the 74XX to complete, never mind several Sidelines coaches. Summer has arrived in southern France with a vengeance but the railway room (and garage workshop) are well insulated and, dare I say, cool compared with the upper floors of the house. So I need to think about where best to set up the portable workbench which I used to set up on the loggia of the apartment. I probably won't do anything for a while as I am on my own for the next week. So, I can catch up on some of my friends' threads as well! Paul

Simon Sorry to be a nuisance but what or who is WT? Paul

Yes, the 47xx class was designed for overnight fitted freight, but at weekends they were used for weekend specials. Typically the class were divided between 81A, 83A and 84A. I did see one at Stafford Road resting but generally they were elusive on the London Wolverhampton line. Since Beeching we have had all sorts of inventions, such as Duchesses for Princess Coronations (or my preference, Semis). Flying Pigs and Mickey Mouses were not in my vocabulary at all. A nice looking, hard working locomotive. Too bad it never got to Penmaenpool! Paul

These rail joiners can be a pain. In Gauge O there is a lot of talk of Peco and C&L rails having the same profile and track height. The latter is true, but try pushing an SL10 fishplate on the C&L rails! Yes, it can be done but it ain't easy. To make things worse I have a spares box of rail joiners from years ago and some are American HO (Micro Engineering) which are different from the OO gauge rail joiners from Peco. As to the insulated joiners, they can be a pain, slipping under the rail when you are not looking. Fot these reasons I am somewhat not looking forward to track laying in the scenic sections to come. But at least I can practice on the hidden tracks. That 47xx looks very nice, Larry. Is it me or is "Night Owl" a post Beeching nick name? When we were young we were lucky to see one before bed time so had no need for a nick name. Paul