Signaller69

Thanks Peter, looking forward to seeing how the bridge in particular is coming on! Martyn.

To confirm, the layout will be appearing at Prestatyn show this Saturday (3rd December). Hope to meet some more of you there. (See link in signature bar.)

Prestatyn Show is on tomorrow. :-)

Found a good, modelling orientated overview of coal mine types, arrangement, track layouts etc for anyone interested in such things here: http://mike.da2c.org/igg/rail/12-linind/m-coal.htm

Thanks J, The Barclay 0-4-0 is from a long unavailable "Kingdom Kits" and was a horrible kit as mentioned in posts above. "Islwyn" was scratchbuilt in plastic card around a Hornby/Electrotren "Taff Vale tank" chassis, using only photos of the prototype for reference, further info on my Workbench thread here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/112980-wilds-work-bench-rtr-mods-kits-and-scratchbuilding/page-2 Hope this helps. Martyn.

Looks spot on! Where did you purchase the figures? Had a look at Preiser HO figures stand at Gaugemaster at Warley show but they all were numbered 14xxx so I need to do some homework! Martyn.

BG's (not Mk1 GUVs) had a small Guards compartment in the centre of the coach on one side, there was no toilet but they housed the handbrake wheel, a brake release valve for the vacuum brake, desk and seat for the guard, as well as an emergency ladder and other safety equipment, notices etc iirc, and a small heater (not sure if the latter was for steam heat, or a later fitment when ETH came in). I seem to remember the Guards window was lightly frosted rather than opaque, with the Guards door droplight being a normal clear one. As built the compartment had roof periscopes allowing the guard to look along the train in each direction but presumably these got filthy, and they appear to have been removed generally by the mid 1960s. It was the Guards compartment that made the BG so useable for passenger trains.

Thats what I love about this forum, so many knowledgeable folk able to come forward with useful information! Many thanks Brian. Martyn.

Thanks Adam, very useful! :-)

Thanks, interesting information, have you a pic of your model? Seems odd that Kingdom Kits being a Scottish concern chose a one off of a NE based loco, wasn't the one that ended up at Skinningrove by any chance? (Top photo here: http://www.image-archive.org.uk/?cat=11&paged=60 )There were certainly very similar machines in Scotland and elsewhere still in existence they could have chosen to measure up, but then if they had plans for that particular loco to hand it would explain it. Regarding Islwyn and Llantanam Abbey, the latter looks bigger to me, the cab in particular but admittedly that is just an observation based on photos, rather than plans, which for the 0-6-0s seem like rocking horse do-dah.

Many thanks again, more useful photos and information, I think I may have to start a bigger and more accurate layout one day! I see what you mean about the east side headshunt formerly connecting to the "Main" line. Another useful map resource is here: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=51.7254&lon=-3.0715&layers=11&b=1 which allows overlaying on satelite photos, very good for exploring old industrial sites. Cheers, Martyn.

Wow, fantastic photos, many thanks for sharing them! I had seen a partial view of the "vans" in another photo and wondered if they had been used for transporting miners (with having end windows) but your comments indicate otherwise; feed for the pit ponies certainly makes sense. I know some old "standard" type vans were used for carrying miners (and sometimes rail enthusiasts) later, fitted with footboards. The second photo is the only one I have seen which shows in detail the wall of the workshop which was added behind the loco shed, and which sadly I don't have space for. The photos also show the state of the site prior to closure very nicely. Edit: shots of the east side of the arch are also pretty rare, did the line just end at a buffer stop or were there further sidings there? Also the last shot gives an interesting angle which, again, I'd not seen before, and shows the site to be wider than I had imagined from studying "side on" photos, wish I had seen this image when I was at the track laying stage as I could have done things slightly differently perhaps, but such is life! Fascinating stuff! :-) Martyn.

With all the talk of hiding DCC chips the third and fourth photos here from Billy's post should provide inspiration. The third in particular piqued my interest as it has solid sides with a door, in green livery/yellow ends; a local conversion to protect the occupants from the Highland weather perhaps?

So, these turned up in the post today: I was only discussing them with John from ID Backscenes (aka "Art Printers") yesterday, and bang! they arrive this morning, thats what I call service! I wanted more of a close to mid distance hilly forest feel than the current one (which currently is a mix of ID and Gaugemaster) on Crinan, so the "201 Forest Hills A & B" packs were ordered which should see quite a transformation hopefully. Can't recommend them highly enough. Link here: http://www.art-printers.com/

Added a couple of yard lights and some Preiser Photographers today. Also an unusual sight, couple of wagons off a MOD train, in for attention at the wagon repair shed (en route to Crinan, well, just because! Perhaps they need restraining chains/ropes adding. . .) Hoping I can fit the layout into our show at Prestatyn in a couple of weeks (link in signature bar). Martyn

Wonderful photo! There appears to be a small trailer too, between the Class 01 and the man bending over. That run round loop must rank as the shortest one I'm aware of! Iirc the Holyhead Breakwater only had 2 flat wagons for carrying stone blocks (looks as if 1 is trailing the 01).

Fair bit of progress in recent weeks with vegetation clearance work, and a lot of photos from 80s now up on their facebook (link in threads above). Now crowd-funding to purchase a class 08 from Crewe Electric Depot to use on the line (@ c.£20k): http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/trawsfynydd-and-blaenau-ffestiniog-railway

Hi Peter, thought this may be of interest, apologies if you are already aware of it. https://www.facebook.com/trawsblaenaurailway/ Some very good images of 80's flask and gunpowder trains on the Traws branch etc, though I realise not everyone is on Facebook. Cheers, Martyn.

Do'h! And I'm following this thread, clearly not keeping up . . . Cheers! ;-)

Just been looking at Hattons site, showing an expected price rise from £169.96 to £199.95 from tomorrow 11th Nov on the basic versions they have in stock. Edit for incorrect pence on prices!

Just catching up, nice pics above thanks for sharing, very impressed with your coal drops installation, very neat. Martyn.

Thanks for your link, your build certainly puts mine to shame, which was pretty much done using the stock parts, apart from the chimney and some Gibson buffers. My first loco kit when I was in my mid 20s, it almost put me off for life! Even with the small wheels on mine I had to space the chassis away from the body, and the cylinders away from the chassis using plasticard. Most of the lower boiler is cut away too. Power is from a DS10 type open frame motor and Perseverence motor mount with small 38:1 gears loctited in place so not easy to dismantle without removing the cylinders and destroying the bond between the gear and axle, and risking damaging the chassis in the process. It doesn't run badly in fairness but feels a little tight in places due to the minimal tolerances. As you say, not one of the great kits! When I joined Wrexham Club in 89 the club rooms were in Acrefair near Ruabon, before moving to Wrexham itself in 1990.

Couple of phone pics from today at Wrexham. As a proving run, and to advertise our Show in Prestatyn (see signature bar below) the layout was set up on a table; for future shows I will fit folding legs to give a higher viewing level, and a top facia with strip light(s), the lighting being woeful in the hall today. Fellow Club member Mike features in our striking yellow Club polo shirt!

Thanks, just back from Wrexham, show went well from my perspective, couple of locos still need work on the smooth running front though. It was at the War Memorial Hall and a Model & Hobby Show (held twice a year for past few years) rather than a straight Model Railway Exhibition, good crowd in this morning but was very quiet by 3pm. I was a member of Wrexham MRC whilst living in as a student from 1989 to 1993, yes the Club is still going and I had the pleasure of catching up with the Chairman, Colin Tudor today, although they have moved premises in the past few years I'm told. You are correct regarding the 0-4-0 chimney, it is a turned brass item, iirc it was Westward but I can't remember any more that; the awful original being consigned to the bin. The 0-6-0 chimney is a cast item from a box of bits I was given by a family friend who has since passed away, I suspect either LNWR or LMS design (4F perhaps, though I'm no expert). Sorry I can't be more specific. I will try to get a couple of photos up which may give more of a clue for the initiated. Martyn. Edit for photos.

Thanks Rich, mainly different lengths/colours of static grasses applied by hand with more puffed on after to blend it all. Martyn.