Talyllyn Coaches

Continuing with the beginnings of the Welsh 009, one kit I've had sitting in the stash for some time is the Meridian Models 'Talyllyn Train Pack', consisting of Coach No.3, Coach No.4 & Luggage/Brake No.5. For the moment I'm only planning to put together No.4 & 5, No.3 has a main body made from brass which, whilst I'm keen to learn the skill, haven't quite got the confidence for yet. In the meantime it can be substituted with a Bachmann Skarloey red coach.

The state of play after a very relaxed day of assembly. I really want to take my time with these having waited patiently so long for the kit to come back in stock. Already it's paying off: They roll really nicely! The only major construction work on them now (Besides the roofs) is to put the partition wall in the van, but given it would be near impossible to get a brush inside the ticket office end when assembled, this is being done separately. Rather that, than look in through the window to see grey plastic shining back! You'll notice the footboards are also absent, the instructions helpfully point out it's easier to paint the chassis first, THEN add them on.

Next step: On to the paint shop for a rough undercoat.

Glyn Valley Tram

It seems to be a staple of so many 009 layouts, no doubt in part due to the tram skirts hiding any alternate chassis, but I've finally rejoined the ranks of those who have a Peco Glyn Valley Tram for their 009 layouts. This particular example having been sat as a pile of disassembled bits in a box for the past few years.

Just a few simple modifications to help it stand out from the countless others out there, mainly rods to the sandboxes/whistle and like the prototype an added sheet for the cab front (Or should that be back?) but unlike the prototype I decided to give mine round spectacles instead of square windows.

Finished out in what is becoming my standard 'Faux-Heywood' livery, it suits it quite nicely!

Station Building Completed

Ready for the Welsh 009 layout, the Abergynolwyn inspired station building. Wills slate roof pieces finish it off nicely from when it was last seen, with a solvent soaked piece of paper for the ridge tiles. Given an all over coat of tank grey, odd slates picked out in Revell dark grey, black green and greyish green & all blended together with a wash of matt black.

Gutters, downpipes and the bench come from the Peco windows and doors pack, all cut down to a suitable size. The bargeboards are cut from 20thou sheet. The shelter support is a length of 60thou square strip with a small scquare of 20thou plastic sheet as a foot.

Structurally finished, the building may receive a few more details once in situ on the layout, most probably the addition of a timetable board on one of the walls and possibly a name-board. Time will tell.

Triang-Hornby Continental Coach

 

I mentioned last week how I'd been tempted to try a 00 'light railway' style layout, and just by chance one of the items I've always been on the lookout for for such a project appeared on a second hand stall at Railex Buxton - A Triang-Hornby Continental coach.

Apparently made at some point between 1969 - 1971, these coaches seem to have only been included in cheap starter sets with a circle of track and either a clockwork or electric locomotive. I'm slightly surprised that the coach didn't last that long as it's a really nice model with a an even more surprising level of detail, but certainly my favourite part has to be the dropped down windows. It's one of those little details that makes the coach look like it's a working coach.

So what's in store for this example? The first thing will be to strip off the previous owner's paint job. It's not particularly bad by any means, but I do wish to paint the interior (Which is still bright plastic yellow) so it just makes sense to redo the entire coach. I may also add some panelling on the outside using 20x40thou plastic strip in the style of the Wisbech & Upwell four wheelers. One of the main alterations will be the balcony ends, removing the solid wall sections and replacing them with railings of some kind. I'm currently searching for 00 gauge railings, it's amazing just how many examples there are out there! Another possible alteration might be to remove the boxes from underneath, replacing them with brake gear.

All ideas to mull over, there's no rush here. One alteration that is certain though is the buffers. As can be seen in the image below, one of the buffer heads was missing. Luckily I have a selection in the spares box that look a lot like the beefier type seen in photos of the old Wisbech coaches.

There's a picture in 'K.E. Hartley & Paul Ingham's "The Sand Hutton Light Railway" of the guard stood on the end of the coach, looking very much like a bus conductor with a money pouch and ticket machine slung over their shoulder. Even though it's a narrow gauge example, that's the look I'd like to hopefully end up with for this coach.

Railex Buxton 2023

 Saturday morning saw me taking a quick trip over to Buxton for the Railex model railway exhibition. This is the second year the event has been put on and looking at the show guide, it looks set to return for the next two years. Here's hoping this continues, it's really nice having a 'big' exhibition less than half an hour away from home!

This isn't a complete guide to the show by any means, but I get so distracted watching layouts an talking to people that I forget to take photos. Case in point - This is first show in quite a while I actually remembered to pack my camera!

Raven's Ravine (009) - David Wright. Some may instantly recognise this from David's book 'Modelling Historic Buildings and Imaginary Structures' (And may also spot some additions since the books publication!) It's my first time seeing it in person and it really is impressive. It's one of those layouts that's more like a painting, you keep coming back to and spotting more little details that you hadn't noticed the first time round.

Ulvard Strand (009) - Charles Insley. Continental narrow gauge modelling.

Unfortunately I forgot to get the name of this Great Western layout, and the internet unfortunately isn't helping. But I really liked the composition of this little scene at the fiddle yard end. If anyone out there does know the identity, do feel free to correct me!

Helston (00) - Dave Howsham. Another well modelled western region layout, and once again my attention was drawn to this little siding for coal wagons near the fiddle yard. 

Midford (N) - Shepton & District Model Railway Society. A layout so large it was hard to get a 'complete' shot. Even this was only one side of it. The location should be instantly recognisable to fans of both the S&DJR and 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'. 

New Sharon (ON2) - Bob Harper. Unfortunately this was the only image I took of this layout, I was so taken by this model of an Alligator Tug, something I can't say I've personally seen modelled before (Though I'm certain there are others out there!)

Newchapel Junction (0) - Steve Wikins. The big one! Very reminiscent of the 'School of Signalling' layout preserved at York with a big terminus station leading to loop of track at one end for continuous running (Looping round one of the roof columns, nice work by the organisers there!) Sometimes, it is just nice to sit back and watch the trains go round and round, and this is a good example of that.

Coleford (009) - John Wilkes. A layout I've long seen pictures of in 'The 009 News', but like Raven's Ravine, my first time seeing it in person, and I can see why it's greatly admired. It actually took a while to get a good view, such was the popularity of this layout. Just out of shot was John's 'The Skeleton' locomotive, a fantastic model of a quirky prototype.

Tuemill Junction (N) - Simon Cullen. 

Arcadia (S) - Richard Barton. Kent & East Sussex Light Railway inspired modelling. The back-scene was particularly incredible, being hand painted on a canvas type board though I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the lady whose work it is (Note to self - bring a notebook next time!) Although they did pose a problem for the layout, Richard related how he'd had to alter the position of some of the structures in order to get the best view of the oast houses! 

I have fancied having a go at a Light Railway layout in 00, and given the example above is in the slightly larger S scale, the brain gears a turning...

Easingwold East (EM) - Alastair Oldfield. Another small branch line terminus, and again it's getting the gears turning in my brain. Should probably point out the bendy banana shape is the result of my camera, not the shape of the layout! It really is (to me) the perfect definition of a shelf layout.

As an added bonus, that afternoon saw me going over to Stafforshire. With some time to spare, I stopped off at Ellastone and took a walk down the River Dove towards Dove Leys house, childhood home, and later permanent home of Sir Arthur Heywood, minimum gauge railway builder. Following the path, eventually led to a tunnel of the long gone 'Dove Bank Railway' (1865 - 1898) noticeably incredibly similar in style to the tunnels built for the Duffield Bank Railway, tapering outwards from the ground up.

The track gauge here was 9" and wagons moved by a 'pump trolley' (Rather like a rowing machine). The line was to be relaid and extended in 15" but was never completed, though one of the later Duffield/Eaton locomotives is said to have been at Dove Leys briefly.

A small branch of the same path also leads along the front lawn and up onto the terrace surrounding Dove Leys itself. Not on the same scale as their neighbours the Talbots just down the road at Alton Towers, but still a very impressive country house in its own way. Parts of the building are instantly recognisable from family photographs in the Howard Clayton and James Waterfield books on the Heywood railways. I'll have to find the time to come again and follow the path round the front.