tomparryharry

What floats my boat is (are) long lines of 16t minerals, interspersed with the odd 7-plank wagon. The EE type 3 hadn't yet arrived, so my collection is very limited to 56xx, panniers of several types, etc. The track is 4 main lines, with up & down main, and up & down permissive. Every signal on the main was, often or not, a 'double pegged' affair. Jobs would line up at Pontypridd Junction to 'go over' from the down branch main, to the down goods. Although partially permissive, it didn't start properly until Treforest Junction, with a clear down run to Radyr. Blocking back was the norm, and the telephone was going to find out if the next down Aberdare job was a 'good un', or was he being 'turned inside'. Margins were constantly consulted. Will it clear in time? "I've got one blowing up for the board!" A 56xx job from Tymawr comes by, with a good few of the wagons banging their heads off, as the flats on the wheels meet the brake block; the unpegged brake handle jumping up & down in time with the revolution of the wheel. Maesmawr had (ISTR) the demarcation between Radyr & Abercynon jobs, although both sheds covered the diagrams on control jobs. Playing trains? Yes, I guess so really.... Kings were seen on a regular basis, on the packs of playing cards...

For me, it's still wagons: Coal, and then some. Full downhill, empty uphill. The goodly proportion of covered wagons, with any sort of small work. Flour had its own traffic, and, hops. Pontypridd had 2 breweries in recent years, right up 'til the 1960's. Cwmavon,on the Pontypool-Blaenavon line had it's own brewery, which covered a wide area. Meat traffic was widespread. Glamorgan had several slaughterhouses within the county. Although unsavoury, the 'knacker' did horses as well. Ships anchors & chain were covered here as well. Brown Lennox turned out many long-wall face cutters for the coalfield, as well as the Admiralty. I always reckon on researching the local town history first. You'd be sometimes amazed what went on. I'd dearly love to build a layout based upon anywhere between Cardiff & Abercynon, but I know full well I couldn't do it justice, and I'd get frustrated. Sometimes, you need to be true to yourself. However! I've seen many, many layouts & dioramas that will blow your socks off. Inspiration is just around the bend. Some say I am around the bend..... Ian.

So, a king on the down 'Inter City' is a bit too much, then?

Very much a date in the diary....

"And here, in this small room, a lot of beakers were found. "made of different types of china, they lie upon a wooden, seated platter. Lots of smaller fires were lit, and in a great pile, upon the floor of the building. Judging by the burns, and beakers, we are reasonably sure that sacrificial gifts were made of a tobacco-like substance to the twin gods Aslef & Nur." ", An ancient painting of the tribal queen Samantha Fox remains upon the wall, and what appears derogatory insults towards the tribes of Tottenham, Arsenal, and the Roman tribe QPR. "Two great palaces exist in the vicinity. One, built by Alexander, and the other, made entirely of glass, or crystal, which is south of the river. Many great battles took place near the river, mostly between the rival tribes of the Hammers, and a bunch of Neanderthals called Milwall". "The inhabitants of the area took part in the practice of ritual humiliation. Although run down, the place was apparently known as Wen-ber-lee".

Well, Sunday morning, and a bit of whimsy. Just a while back, I mentioned a re-tooled Dean single, so can I add a few more? Peckett in (yet) another livery. Austerity in (yet) another livery. 61xx tank with some titivation. Some wagons in fictitious liveries. Coaches? Most probably, but I don't know enough. New? Well, how about this? I'd put money on a 6-wheel Peckett. Cheers, Ian.

Your Carriage & wagon boys are next in line.

Re-tooled, and massively upgraded... Dean Single.

The original is in the Greenwich Maritime Museum. I remember seeing it in 1966. I don't think it's on public display at the moment.

The Western always considered to be at the front of things. Although sad, I'm not surprised to see things moving forward.

Pontypridd-Talbot Green or llantrisant, via Cross Inn. Pontypridd-Beddau. S.A Bebb Pontypridd-Talbot Green via Efail Isaf (Barry Railway) ABS coaches. The garage used to be bottom of the hill in lower Church Village. There was another local operator, but his name escapes me.

Oh, at last! Someone else who doesn't call them all by J94! Well done sir! Welcome to the lofty perch of pedantry!

After a bit more cajoling, I'm pleased to say my 18" austerity is also running sweetly. I can only put it down to the loco being boxed away for 2 years. I didn't hard wire the board, although it can remain an option if need be. With a loco Like this, I suggest running the loco in an inverted state (upside down) for a little while. This will hopefully allow the oil to move through the geartrain. In it's present format, I surmised the top gears will dry out soonest. I did consider using a small dab of motorcycle chain lube; its thixotropic qualities hopefully keeping the lube on the teeth for longer periods. However, I don't know what the effects of the lube will have on the nylon-based plastic gears. More information is definitely needed before we go messing up the system. All that remains is to await the release of the MSC version of the model. Add to that, a model of Haulwen No2, a long-term resident of Mountain Ash. Finally, 'Rennes', a Longmoor resident, and ,in a previous guise, our very own Mountain Ash No8. Each has a spot allocated to my yet-to-be built locomotive shed, I'm just awaiting Dave to get his daps on.... Happy modelling, everyone! Ian.

A bus, eh? I'd guess a Western Welsh bus from Cardiff to Cowbridge, using what would become the A48. I haven't a clue, but I've an idea you will need 'the Cowbridge Railway' book. I'll try to dig it out. Cheers, Ian.

I've found Dave. He's just to the right of the lighting tower in the football match, changing a fuse. "Try it now, mate"! Happy Friday, everyone! Ian.

I like it. Just the sort of thing a little frivolity everyone needs to enjoy.

People have been asked to keep a look out for a lorry load of German Christmas cake. Police fear it may be stollen....

Well, fair play to Hattons. The last time I ordered some Peco setrack, it arrived by Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, with 2 uniformed flunkeys running alongside. The track was laid upon a silk cushion, and as the track was presented to me, the senior man dusted the portion of track, and kneeled upon the floor. Despite the excellent service, I had to send it back. I ordered Hornby..... Dai Jestive.

IIRC, some of the stone is limestone, used as a flux in steelmaking. East Moors used to have 2 trains a day from Creigiau to Cardiff. I might also need to have a look at my chemistry books....

Like others, I'm fairly sure that's Port Talbot. The iron ore terminal is about 9 miles further west. I'm not sure where you're resided, but you've got Newport, Cardiff, Penarth, Barry all within a fairly small radius from the Severn estuary, and ports like Gloucester and Swansea being a little further out. With an era, you can choose pretty much anything you like. Docks are diverse places, and although some are worked for specialised traffic, they mostly can, and will, take the business. The added bonus of course, is the rail traffic they generate. By the 1930's, a lot of docks & ports were starting to run down. Bute west Dock and Penarth were early casualties, but you can still get the feel of the place. I like the concept, and I'll follow this with interest. Ian.

A bit like Scalextric? D.E. Javu.

Research the subject first. Like you, I haven't done crowd funding, and I don't know the first thing, but I do know that you have to 'bone up' before you set forth. If your colleagues want to get together, and pay me about £10,000 every month, I faithfully promise to send you a photograph, showing you how I 'invest' your funds.... Champagne Charlie.

Wagons, lots of wagons.... Mrs Smith hasn't complained about the backlog sitting patiently, but I never know.... Audit tonight, methinks.... Ian. Actually, it's not wagons, it's a DJ Austerity which I've had on the bench for a week. "Tonight Folks, we is mostly burning my fingers with the soldering iron" Arghhh!

Liking those wagons, Dave.

You can have any locomotive you can realistically want. I purposely keep to tank locomotives. After all, it's all I saw in Wales..... You might want to increase the run-round if you're running a Big Lizzie, mind.....