clarkea1

Hi John, Yes, there are still working from GCG to Onllwyn, tripped I believe in two parts from Burrows Yard to Onllwyn. I think coal is then worked from Onllwyn to Immingham. There are also workings still running from Cwmbargoed to Port Talbot Grange Siding (for the Morfa Coke Ovens) So all hope is not lost....... yet! Alastair

Hi Robert, Nice idea - it never struck me to investigate custom wheels when I sold the kits as I always assumed they'd be cost prohibitive. Can you confirm the flange profile and if they'll be available either with an EM axle, or as "loose" wheels (I can arrange my own axles having access to machining facilities). Many thanks Alastair PS - any chance of the Workington open wagon seeing the light of day?

I've just picked up on this thread, and have shocked myself. I'm a 4mm scale, EM gauge modeller, interested in industrial railways particularly in the steel industry. So much so, that I have mastered various steel industry wagon kits, originally available under my own label (Clarke Kits) and now part of the RT Models range when I realised how little fun running a model business was. So I was shocked to find myself on the LLC website reserving a Ruston........ Guess I'll have to build a few wagons and a diorama to go with it now.......... My wife will be directed to this thread when she seeks to apportion blame Alastair

I've finally got my hands on a copy of the Modelling Heavy Industry book and can only agree with the sentiments on here - it's great. The only criticism is that the printing is awful with most photos very dark. Having seen Arthur's photos on here, I know it's not the quality of the originals. Have I got a dud copy or are they all like it? Cheers Alastair

Ruston, Couple of points to reduce the rolling resistance, having built a few in my time: 1) The bearings could be made shorter, which should cut down the rolling resistance. Maybe slightly increasing the clearance within them may also help 2) Seems obvious, but it's amazing the difference a drop of oil makes Cheers Alastair

Has anyone seen a copy of this: http://www.crowood.com/details.asp?isbn=9781785003370&t=Modelling-Heavy-Industry---A-Guide-for-Railway-Modellers Just released by Crowood. At the risk of adding 2 and 2 to make 5, I wonder if (in fact I strongly suspect) the author is our very own Arthur, fount on all knowledge steel-industry related? Cheers Alastair

Margam to Tondu on the Ogmore Vale Extension. Still open, very rarely used. Last workings that I am aware of were a day of freight diversions early this year when the mainline was closed between Margam and Bridgend for engineering work on a Sunday. Freight ran Margam to Tondu, run round at Tondu in the Garw Loop, run down the passenger line Tondu to Bridgend. The odd NR inspection train may have run since but that's about it Alastair

Actually the coal loaded at Tower that you're thinking of Brian was from Aberpergwm Drift, opposite side of the Vale of Neath from the Unity mine at Cwmgwrach (which sent what little it produced out via its own railhead which ran down to Neath and Brecon Junction. Rather than let a competitor use their railhead, the coal from Aberpergwm was forced to be railed via the Tower pad. Both mines now closed or mothballed. The coal from Tower that has just finished was actually Tower coal. Once the deep mine closed, the coal around the drift entrance was opencast mined by Tower Regeneration, a joint venture between Tower and Hargreaves services. It was this coal that has been coming out of Tower for the last few years. Hope this helps Alastair

So are traction and drivers supplied separately for NR trains? Cheers Alastair

Arthur, Newport I would imagine was the Alcan rolling mill in Rogerstone - so yes, rolled into strip. Waunarlwydd in Swansea was an Aalco plant which I believe also rolled into strip. Cheers Alastair

Arthur, I wonder if you mean a slabbing mill. I have not come across a stabbing mill before - sounds painful :-) Cheers Alastair

This thread is fascinating, but I am struggling a bit with the layout of STJ. Can anyone point me in the direction of a diagram or map showing the various yards? Cheers Alastair

Hopefully someone can solve this for me. I have just been processing a batch of photos taken at Margam Yard last summer. On a rake of MEA wagons I spotted that many of the instanter couplings were painted as show below: Does anyone know why they would be painted white and green? Seems very strange to me! Cheers Alastair

And a video of it passing Pencoed earlier in the day (apologies the quality is not great - I have had to downsize what was a 90 MB file to get my cranky internet connection to allow it to upload! https://flic.kr/p/DBGpnG

37025 passing Marshfield earlier today, working another Barry-Barry training run. Looked great! More pics in an album on my Flicker: https://flic.kr/s/aHskttV6Am

Mike, The words "Scunthorpe Bo-Bo" are music to my ears - great to hear this is coming - put me down for one! Cheers Alastair

Beast - thanks for the helpful reply, I thought I had asked a reasonable question but clearly not from the OP's resposne! Alastair

Jim, Forgive my ignorance, but was this a Colas working with a hired in 66, or a DBS working with a hired driver? Thanks Alastair

I notice from the abutments that the route from Long Dyke down to the Rod Mill looks like it is being preserved, albeit likely without track!

John, The additional trusses are to carry the services (i.e. gas, water etc) which cross the railway via the bridge, whilst the deck is removed and the new bridge built. Apparently transferring the services to the new trusses has taken some time, and had to be done before anything more visible (like removing the main spans) could be done. Plus the work is being done over a live railway, which I would imagine slows progress somewhat. Alastair

I think the site is earmarked for housing, putting it some way out of the railway's price range. Alastair

The trolley shed is there out of necessity more than anything - it needs to be adjacent to the high level line for operational reasons, and Norchard is our most suitable secure site. There are a few more photos on my Flickr page, but to be honest I rarely get the chance to take any as I am usually working when up at the railway. I did take the pic below on my last turn on Sunday - a sight many visitors won't often see If anyone is interested, as well as usual steam services tomorrow (Weds) and on Saturday and Sunday, on Friday we are running the Heritage DMU between Norchard and Parekend only (for half price)! Another chance to sample the atmosphere of the "Forest" end of the line. Cheers Alastair

I volunteer at the DFR so I hope you won't mind me adding a couple of comments. Yes, certain areas are a tip. The end of the platform at Norchard is a work in progress where the new access ramp for plant and machinery has been put in and, on the left of the line, the P-way team have built a shed for their Geismar trolley etc. I agree many areas need tidying, but in general over the past few years we have been making a concerted effort to tidy the lineside and get on top of the management of the lineside trees and bushes. Of course, clearing the lineside of scrub and overgrown bushes has exposed a lot of the junk, p-way materials etc that have been left behind many years back. We are working hard on this, but we are a very small band of volunteers - departments such as p-way can count active volunteers on their hands, and everything has to be prioritised. We are, however, slowly chipping away at it, and if any RMweb members would like to help please get in touch :-) We appreciate all the help we can get! I hope you don't mind me sharing a photo I took earlier in the year, taken near Oakenwood No 3 foot crossing (between Whitecroft and Parkend) showing one of the tidiest sections of the line! Please keep your pics of the line coming - it is lovely to see photos on hear of a line very close to my heart, and one which my wife thinks I spend far too much time at! Best Wishes Alastair

Another couple from me, taken at Pontsarn AHBC between Cardiff and Pontyclun. 60010 on a steel working to Margam - yes, to Margam even though it is loaded...... 60100 working empty tanks back to Murco Robeston. Hope these are of interest, even if they are 5 months late! Cheers Alastair

Oh balls!!!!!!!!!! Duly corrected :-)