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.
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
16th November was the day chosen for, what now appears to be, our annual Open Day.
We had eight layouts on show, in various states of progress and covering a wide range of prototypes, produced both in-house and by guests.
Abergavenny Blackbrook – our P4 club layout portraying a WR branchline terminus in the early 1950s.
Abergavenny Blackbrook as shown in the March 2023 BRM photo by Phil Parker
Morgan and Ed looking after ABB
Hogwash & Baloney – Mike Edmunds’ 0 scale work-in-progress based on American short line practice.
Ripple Road – a 00 light railway terminus brought along by our friends at the Cardiff club.
Albyn operating Ripple Road and discussing it with Wizard-in-Waiting, Cory
Project Kevin – a work-in-progress shunting layout in16mm narrow gauge.
Kevin’s creator, Stephen and below in discussion with Morgan.
Melinau’r Abaty – Chris Featherstone’s 7mm narrow gauge layout based on slate workings in North Wales such as the Corris/Talyllyn.
Melinau’r Abaty, with it’s creator Chris, blue shirt, with Luke and Cory
Cwm Carno – our submission for the Scalefour Society’s Jubilee Layout Challenge, also a work-in-progress, got attention from the visiting S4 cognoscenti.
An unexpected layout, but so welcome was another work-in-progess, Neath, Vale of Neath station (later to be known as Neath Riverside) in 2mm finescale mixed gauge from Andrew Smith of PHF Models.
And unexpectedly available was Queen’s Wharf, Luke’s excellent entry for the Peco Rail200 completion, based on the well-known Talyllyn terminus at Tywyn.
The local trade was well represented by Taff Vale Models, Modelau Bryngaer Models, Connoisseur Models and PHF Models.
And we all had a chance for a good natter
And the opportunity to sample some fine home-made food.
The Cwmcarno exchange sidings fiddle yard board, with its sector plate, has been assembled and put in place, albeit with a temporary leg.
On Tuesday it was erected again with a different leg and temporary track tried in place to get the full effect.
Further into the layout the final piece of track has been laid, making the connection into the colliery. The sharp-eyed might spot a slight misalignment. Plastic sleepered flexitrack is not perfect and some extra support will have to be fitted.
The rise into the colliery is visible in the last shot along with the change from bullhead to flat bottom track at the company boundary.
TAFKATYS’s hard work with the electrics and servos has borne fruit and on 21th October the first loco movement took place on Cwmcarno with a 94xx pannier tank successfully traversing all the trackwork so far laid.
Such an event naturally prompted the club’s usual response and we broke out the cold tea. With variable reactions from the members.
Steady progress on Cwncarno and Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae but not so much in front of the camera.
Spot the difference! Wagonman has built two brake vans that are similar, but not identical. How many differences can you spot? The prize for the best entry will be Free Admission to our up-coming open day.
And TAFKATYS has been working on the servos and control system for the turnouts on Cwmcarno.
The servos and control gear are mounted on the tops of the baseboard and will be accessible via a removable side panel.
Perhaps the super moon kept few of us away, but nevertheless five of us attended.
Wagonman has completed this AA16 Toad using the WEP kit.
Fred is making good progress on Usk and here we see the prototype Dome and Safety Valve covers for fit. Both look right so they’ll now be cast in brass.