Cwm Carno

The last of November

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Monday and Tuesday sessions following the Thornbury Show were filled with tidying up after the event and also sorting out in the clubrooms. A search for a battery charger led to the ‘electrical’ cupboard being turned out. Who knew we had at least 15 extension leads and 3 extension reels in there?

Luke has re-wheeled this BR shunter with drop-in P4 Ultrascale wheelsets. It runs very well following the pick-ups being adjusted to the new width.

And on Cwm Carno Paul ๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…is fitting the the flexibile plywood surround

Following the Open Day and moving layouts arrange for exhibitions etc., there has been a worrying spate of tidying up in the clubrooms, an example being seen here on TAFKATYS’ bench.

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Open Day coming up

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With the Open Day coming up next Sunday we continue with preparations. The exchange sidings sector plate has had a sealing coat of varnish and emery paper and graphite used to get a smooth movement through its arc. The track is stuck to the plate and the diverging sidings have their sleepers interlaced.

And on Friday Mr C continued the good work, laying the sector plate track work, so hopefully we’ll see some movement here at the Open Day

Preparations for the Open Day continue.

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Week ending 09 Nov

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This Monday preparation started for the platform on Cwm Carno. The support blocks for the platform face have been stuck in place carefully positioned using the modified track gauge. (Its been readjusted after use) The platform facing itself is ready along with the station building off-scene, and a test coach is waiting.

Tuesday evening was a zoom session. We had a little more on the Clee Hill, even more on the Cambrian from Steve B, 4-4-0s and 0-4-4s from Mr. C, and varied scenes from LBH including Lydney Harbour, some Col Stephens and lesser-known country lines.

On Friday someone sensible decided to check the platform clearances for an outside cylinder loco. The clearance is 1mm, which could be close. We don’t intend to run a 28xx normally but its a good test engine. Also the workman’s train was posed in the station to check its appearance.

At the Missenden Modellers’ weekend Mr C tackled the chassis for his S7 Taff Vale V class. Progress was made though crank pins didn’t get fitted to test the coupling rods.

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Sectorisation comes to Cwmcarno

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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.

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On the move

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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.

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Competition Time!

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Steady progress on Cwncarno and Tลท’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.

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September / October

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The week started with tidying up after the return from Stafford, storing Frecclesham and moving on to more work on Cwm Carno and Ty’n y Coedcae. Also Luke brought down Queen’s Wharf in its completed form as submitted to the PECO Rail200 Competition.

The components for the Cwm Carno exchange sidings sector plate turned up and a quick pre-assembly revealed that while a couple will need to be remade the overall structure is satisfactory.

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Just Monday and Tuesday

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We will be at the club just at the start of this week as we are away later on.

On Monday Andrew N brought along the station building for Cwm Carno, following on from the platform facing that arrived last week. This is based on a Brecon and Merthyr pattern of building. Also on Monday we tested the fascias and backscene for Frecclesham and messed up installing the backscene supports. So the uprights have now been labelled for their outer face and orientation.

Tuesday was packing up Frecclesham so the workroom and layout room were covered in boxes.

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Monday 8th September

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Monday saw five of us at the club, Andrew J working on Lyne Road scenics, Paul W on his BR Mogul and Mr C on Cwm Carno.

AlsoThe Wizard continues work on Usk and boiler and firebox are now fixed, allowing the temporary new safety valve cover and dome to be tried out in position for fit.

Meanwhile LBH did a little fettling on a new dome for B&MR 45 to replace the 3D-printed resin one.

Here is the narrower trackbed for the bridge girders on Cwm Carno. Whilst this position in the centre of the layout is scenically correct, it makes it very difficult to reach in and cut away the excess material.

Tuesday. In preparation for the Stafford Show The Wizard has weathered the P class built by TAFKATYS. Its shown posed on Frecclesham in th Bay road.

On Cwm Carno the next pointwork – the crossing in the reception sidings – has been laid in along with the headshunt. The red pin is there to locate that end in the correct position.

Wagonman has progressed with the tool van for his breakdown train.

Much of Friday’s energies went towards practicing operation on Frecclesham prior to its trip to Stafford.

But LBH did fine a few moments to apply some lettering to a S7 dead-buffered Gloucester five-plank wagon. This is what it should look like.

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