Rodney Hall – Newport Model Railway Society

Ringing the changes

26 January 2026 / Cwm Carno

Perhaps this is the wrong end of January ring out the old and ring in the new, but changes are afoot.

Lyne Road and Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae have been packed away to allow Cwm Carno to sprout fiddle yards in readiness for the next checkpoint in the development of Cwm Carno – we need to able prove that we are running trains throughout by the end of March (this year !).

And here’s another change afoot.

Or more accurately a Rob Foot, who has achieved a January resolution by getting more modelling done at the club. He’s come equipped with his worktray and big plastic storage box, along with a Slater’s kit for a tank wagon.

Ringing the changes Read More »

Friday 23rd January

23 January 2026 / S7 Tank, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

Luke’s S7 0-4-0 for the Connoisseur stable is coming on having had pick ups fitted and running well on DC on the test track. It’s see here on Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae, but stationary as it doesn’t have a DCC chip yet.

Also on TyCc is this chicken coop, having now received a wiggly tin roof.

Friday 23rd January Read More »

Blue Monday

19 January 2026 / 777 Challenge, Cwm Carno, Mainline and City, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

Apparently Monday Jan 19th, 2026 is designated Blue Monday, so what better way to dispel the blues than building model railways.

So TAFKATYS progressed with his ScaleSeven Sir Lamiel’s 777 Quest layout mocking up the buildings and to bring a sense of scale, introducing a BR(SR) N15 30803 Sir Harry le Fise Lake to the scene.

Elsewhere Andrew prepared some wiggly tin for a building on his 00 Lyne Road layout.

Paul 🏅🏅painted the side of Cwm Carno in a uplifting shade of red.

And LBH built a chicken coop for Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae.

Blue Monday Read More »

Another Friday

16 January 2026 / 777 Challenge, Cwm Carno

TAFKATYS is processing with the planning of his S7 777 challenge layout. A bit of Templotting, with a mug to represent a wagon turntable and the length of wood to represent another track crossing on the level.

And Paul 🏅🏅 acknowledging the requirement for appropriate lubrication paints the Cwn Carno boards.

Another Friday Read More »

Running Track Night

13 January 2026 / test track, Xmas party

Tuesday 13th Jan was our delayed Christmas party. We got the test track out and ran some trains meanwhile enjoying beer, rum balls, pasties, pate, amarettto balls, sausage rolls, samosas, whisky and ginger balls, tea and cheeses.

The test track uses DCC or DC. In the first shot the 3 locos on one track are not DCC but a competition to guess how many circuits it will take for the yellow shunter to catch up with the following loco and coach. The start / finish marker is of course the beer bottle.

Running Track Night Read More »

So many challenges

12 January 2026 / 777 Challenge, Cwm Carno

Good progress being made on the Scalefour Society Jubilee Challenge with Cwm Carno gaining its halo thanks to Paul albeit with temporary supports.

Then another challenge emerges – this time in ScaleSeven – the Sir Lamiel’s 777 Quest. TAFKATYS, whose brainchild this was, has made a start on the baseboard for the as-yet unnamed layout.

Meanwhile Mr C has been plugging away at the Dingham couplers and prepared the hooks, little flappy things and the loops ready for assembly later this week.

So many challenges Read More »

Into January

10 January 2026 / Cwm Carno, Glanfa Newydd y Camlas

On Cwm Carno Paul 🏅🏅has been fitting the interfaces onto the Fiddle Yard boards that TAFKATYS built. The one on the right (the Newport end) is more or less complete, where Dowlais end still need a bit more work.

TAFKATYS has turned his eyes his Glanfa Newydd y Camlas, his new 7mm scale narrow gauge layout, and is building this rather majestic autumnal tree. The tea mug (inevitably in shot) gives some idea of scale.

Into January Read More »

Monday 8th December

8 December 2025 / Lyne Road, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

Monday was a quiet day, Andrew ballasting on Lyne Road, Fred taming a troublesome 42xx chassis and LBH tidying the electrics on Ty’n-y-Coedcae. No pics sorry.

On Friday Paul trimmed the plywood surround Cwm Carno to its rough profile. It’s starting to look more like a layout now.

And Mr Chairman furnished ABB with a makeshift store and some traffic for the Goods Shed to handle.

Meanwhile TAFKATYS upgraded our test-track. As well as a new position and clearly labelled controls, current limiting has been added to prevent the controller being damaged by short circuits.

Monday 8th December Read More »

Into December

2 December 2025 / 76xxx, GWR Open C

Wagonman kicks off this month with the tender for a BR 76xxx mogul from a MOK kit.

Being the first one in the month Tuesday was an on-line session. We re- re- re- visited the Clee Hill for further history and pictures of both the standard and narrow gauge inclines plus the aerial ropeway on the eastern side. Steve B dipped into the NRM archive for photos ranging through Doncaster, Darlington, quaysides and Horwich. LBH followed with details on Talybont following the field trip there last week and Mr C linked in with gleaned pictures of Brecon and Hereford.

The ever productive Wagonman has completed the etched brass GW open C, and moved on to the front pony truck for the 76xxx