Irishrailwaymodeller

Getting cracking on the baseboards with component wood frame formed from usual 2X1 planed wood and plyboard cut to size by local wood merchant. The plan is to utilise the same end fiddle yards as Cynwyd if that can be done. Llanuwchllyn layout totem signs were commissioned from Tracksidesigns.co.uk with similar in 2 mm for the layout from Sankey Scenics.

The Ruabon to Barmouth line is becoming well covered by model railways based on the many stations on this route. I have completed models of Llangollen (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/91600-llangollen-in-n/) and Cynwyd ( http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/111150-cynwyd-in-n-gauge/page-1 ) stations both in N-gauge. Other modellers have covered Carrog (N and OO gauge), Berwyn, Barmouth Junction and many other locations. Having visited Llanuwchllyn station a number of times (most recently during the Bala Model Railway Exhibition in May 2017) and admired the photographs in Martin William's fine book on this railway line, I am minded to have a go at modelling the station/goods yards in N-gauge. I propose to do this as another end-to-end layout 4.5 feet by 1 foot similar to Cynwyd. Llanuwchllyn was a passing station with two platforms and an interesting diamond crossing leading to a small goods yard. A shuttle unit with train crossing function is planned to automate the layout which will be a fiddle-yard to fiddle-yard configuration. Thanks to Martin Williams and Peter Fisher have kindly made these historic photographs available to me which I attach below: A BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 arrives at Llanuwchllyn station in the early 1960s: Lydham Manor and Hinton Manor bring a Ffestiniog Railway Special past the diamond crossing/goods yard in 1963: A sadly overgrown station in August 1966 some years after closure: Llanuwchllyn station in fine shape in 1963 prior to closure: A postcard view of the station c 1920: Station staff and families proudly pose for the camera c 1895. Note the wooden toy locomotive at the boy's feet right of centre:

Carrog in N-gauge (built by Mr Gordon Crapper) featured in March 2017 Railway Modeller (and on YouTube: ) while my N-gauge Llangollen and Cynwyd layouts are on RMWeb.

Well done Coachmann - Great to see another station on the "Llangollen" line being modelled in "OO"! Carrog has recently been modelled in N-gauge and I have completed models in N of Llangollen (shown at Bala in May) and of Cynwyd stations (search RMWeb for more). Do you plan to exhibit this layout?

Looking good - I like the headboard! Hopefully will see it at Bala next year.

That's great 9793- I will be bringing my Cynwyd in N-gauge layout next year so we will have the local lines well represented! Conversations at this years show indicated that Cynwyd is pronounced as Kin-uid. Are you posting pictures of progress with your Cwm Prysor layout on RMWeb?

A great time was had by all at the Bala Exhibition 2017. Attached photo is of my wife, self and John Roberts (a distinguished local man who worked extensively on the Llangollen line up to its closure) next to the Llangollen in N display. Thanks to Julian Birley for the photo and all at the Bala Show for the warm welcome.

You may well be right!

I have received the following information from David Jones who is organising the 2017 Bala Exhibition: Rail Gala & Model Railway Exhibition Sat 27th May (10:30 to 17:00) & Sun 28th May (10:30 to 16:00) 2017; Admission Adults £4, Concessions £3 Venue: Ysgol Y Berwyn Secondary School, on the A4212, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7RU A free vintage shuttle bus will be available to/from Bala to the 9 mile narrow gauge steam railway to Llanuwchllyn. Under separate organisers there is a Festival of Transport there also (vintage vehicles etc separate entrance fee applies). So park either end of the railway, ride the steam train by the lake between each venue for a great family/enthusiasts' day out! Layouts Attending: Llangollen in N gauge (yours truly travelling from Ireland) Two Bridges "OO" Plas Edwards Shed compact "O" gauge Cwmbach "P4" Haland "OO" Trix Twin Mk4 "hO" Cobra Canyon "N" Krimhorn "OO9" Triang Big Big Train Walt's Playmobile Underhill Town "OO9" Altbahn "HO" Traders etc Abc Models John Sutton Books & Narrow gauge models Ffestiniog Railway Models/DVDs/Promotion Corris Railway Society 2nd hand models/items Maid Marian Fundraising Blackham Transfers

Thanks John, Not long to the Bala Model Railway Exhibition on May 27/28th. I am preparing Llangollen in N for its long journey and look forward to meeting up then. Gerry

Cynwyd won the Best N-Gauge Award at the recent Wexford Easter Exhibition and now has its own bespoke "Inglenook" display shelving!

I understand that the Woolwich Moguls 2-6-0 steamers were so hard riding that their crew ended up with varicose veins!

Has the full line-up of exhibits been finalised for the 2017 Bala Model Railway Exhibition?

A couple of more shots of Cynwyd's varied rolling stock - the DMU, Autocoaches, passenger and Express Parcels units work on an automated slow/stop/wait/re-start shuttle :

Cynwyd is ready for its exhibition debut at the Wexford Model Railway Show over Easter. Here are a few shots with rolling stock based mainly in the early 1960's era of British Rail although the odd bit of GWR stock may appear as if the preservation had overshot Corwen to include Cynwyd which was the next station.

Llangollen in N is scheduled to be exhibited at the Bala Model Railway Exhibition on the 27th and 28th May 2017! Come along and say hello if you are in the area. Gerry Byrne Wexford Ireland

I put some finishing touches to Cynwyd over the Christmas:

Pete, another thought - given the sunny/Iberian aspect to your prototype, have you considered using some of the palm or other exotic tree types to accentuate the atmosphere further? Gerry

The track is ballasted, Kadee magnets fitted under the points in cut-out in the base-board (similar to cut-out for the DCC sound speaker for under the signal box) and other details are being added. Note the GWR spear-point fencing and trees/foliage used immediately in front of the back-scene to visually "join" it to the foreground seamlessly.

Thanks David, Depending on the wagon usually a No 19 or No 20. Most wagons had NEM pockets but some I glued plasticard shims to fit a Kadee coupler to the right height. Some NEMs needed to be glued to avoid too much movement sideways. Using Bostic-type glue means it can be removed later if need be without damage to the original. As noted earlier in this post string, the wheel movement needs to be damped with plasticard or foam. All in all, a bit of trial and error and lots of practice before each exhibition! Regards, Gerry

The back-scene is fitted - along with mirrors at each end - and buildings are set out to enable the track to be laid and wired up.

For info, I have a series of photos showing Shunters Yard as it was being built. First the base boards.

Hi Brian, Under each point/turn-out I have a Kadee magnet buried under the ballast. When the wagons pass over and are reversed/bumped together over the magnet, they uncouple when reversed (see video). If the wagons are then re-coupled over the magnet they form an "open" link which if then pushed along the siding allows uncoupling anywhere once the direction is reversed. If wagons are reversed together not over a magnet, then they form a "closed" link allowing them to be towed away. Towing linked wagons over a magnet without reversing means they stay linked. Probably easier to see on the video than to explain in words. Regards, Gerry

Hi Graham. It had crossed my mind to convert it into a simple roundie once in Spain. As it stands, there is no fiddle yard as it was only conceived as a test track. Also, being a through station, it would need a fiddle at each end which makes me think creating an oval would be simpler. It's only a pair of 4ft x 1ft boards, so will definitely be going in the back of the van when I drive down to Spain one way. Beyond that, I really haven't decided. Bottom line is, I'm enjoying The Plank and at 8ft x 1ft, it's not an impossible goal to finish it, so I'm quite happy for now doing a bit to it here and there. Pete, for my N-gauge "layout on a plank" Cynwyd, I developed simple fiddle yards for both ends using three-way sector plates (see below). These are easily detached and stored separately allowing the scenic part of the layout to be on display even when not in operation. I have included DC electronic automatic shuttle with slow/stop/start at the station for exhibition purposes (Heathcote Electronics) with optional manual operation (presumably this could be done for DCC?). The auto shuttle is especially useful for auto-coachs/push-pull style trains but also allows you to relax at home and watch the trains come and go by. This idea could be adapted to allow the fiddle yard "cassette" section to be removed and reversed to allow trains to always enter the scenic section "head" first. These ideas may be of interest as an alternative to the ubiquitous "roundy-roundies". Your layout looks great with an unusual urban theme. Regards, Gerry

Cynwyd gets its complement of trees made from sea foam and a variety of scatters attached with PVA glue.