Irishrailwayman

Getting cracking on the baseboards with component wood frame formed from usual 2X1 planed wood and plyboard cut to size by local wood merchant. The plan is to utilise the same end fiddle yards as Cynwyd if that can be done. Llanuwchllyn layout totem signs were commissioned from Tracksidesigns.co.uk with similar in 2 mm for the layout from Sankey Scenics.

The Ruabon to Barmouth line in North Wales is becoming well covered by model railways based on the many stations on this route. I have completed models of Llangollen (http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/3054-Llangollen-in-N/page3) and Cynwyd (http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/5580-Cynwyd-in-N-based-on-closed-station-goods-yard-on-the-Llangollen-line-BR-GWR-etc/page5) stations both in N-gauge. Other modellers have covered Carrog (N and OO gauge), Berwyn, Bala Junction and many other locations. Having visited Llanuwchllyn station a number of times (most recently during the Bala Model Railway Exhibition in May 2017) and admired the photographs in Martin William's fine book on this railway line, I am minded to have a go at modelling the station/goods yards in N-gauge. I propose to do this as another end-to-end layout 4.5 feet by 1 foot similar to Cynwyd. In British Railway days Llanuwchllyn was a passing station with two platforms and an interesting diamond crossing leading to a small goods yard. An electronic shuttle control unit with train crossing function is planned to automate the layout for exhibition purposes. While the station has now been restored with a narrow gauge line running beside the lake towards Bala town, I propose to model the prototype as it was in BR days before closure. Thanks to Martin Williams and Peter Fisher have kindly made these historic photographs available to me which I attach below to illustrate the prototype: A BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 arrives at Llanuwchllyn station in the early 1960s: Lydham Manor and Hinton Manor bring a Ffestiniog Railway Special past the diamond crossing/goods yard in 1963: A sadly overgrown station in August 1966 some years after closure: Llanuwchllyn station in fine shape in 1963 prior to closure: A postcard view of the station c 1920: Station staff and families proudly pose for the camera c 1895. Note the wooden toy locomotive at the boy's feet right of centre:

Nostalgia is not what it used to be...

Had a great time at the Bala Exhibition in North Wales 27/28th May. Photo shows L-R my wife, myself and John Roberts (a local man who worked on the Llangollen line extensively before its closure in 1963) with the Llangollen in N-gauge model. I don't think the F sign indicates the grade achieved by the display! Some other great layouts there including a GWR OO in P4, HO/N French/German layout and a OO UK outline layout extensively computerised. Regards, Gerry

Great video and love the B121!

I have received the following information from David Jones who is organising the 2017 Bala Exhibition in North-east Wales: Rail Gala & Model Railway Exhibition Sat 27th May (10:30 to 17:00) & Sun 28th May (10:30 to 16:00) 2017; Admission Adults £4, Concessions £3 Venue: Ysgol Y Berwyn Secondary School, on the A4212, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7RU A free vintage shuttle bus will be available to/from Bala to the 9 mile narrow gauge steam railway to Llanuwchllyn. Under separate organisers there is a Festival of Transport there also (vintage vehicles etc separate entrance fee applies). So park either end of the railway, ride the steam train by the lake between each venue for a great family/enthusiasts' day out! Layouts Attending: Llangollen in N gauge (yours truly travelling from Ireland) Two Bridges "OO" Plas Edwards Shed compact "O" gauge Cwmbach "P4" Haland "OO" Trix Twin Mk4 "hO" Cobra Canyon "N" Krimhorn "OO9" Triang Big Big Train Walt's Playmobile Underhill Town "OO9" Altbahn "HO" Traders etc Abc Models John Sutton Books & Narrow gauge models Ffestiniog Railway Models/DVDs/Promotion Corris Railway Society 2nd hand models/items Maid Marian Fundraising Blackham Transfers

Perfect base for a Model Railway Club. The Donegal railway is highly modellable with 4mm and 7mm buildings available from Alphagraphix. Loads of publications with color photos of the railway also.

I believe compact/minimum-space layouts can now be referred to a "Shelfies"!

Cynwyd is now displayed on some rather fine bespoke "Inglenook" shelving from Komandor in Wexford. It also garnered the Best N Gauge (Stephen McNally Memorial) Award at the Wexford Easter Show.

Thanks everyone for the positive comments and a special thanks to all who helped manage the show, the traders, exhibitors and the many, many visitors. Next year will be bigger and better as it will be the 10th Easter Show at St Joseph's and we will be celebrating Wexford Model Railway Clubs 40th Birthday in 2018! So come join us to celebrate.

A few shots from around the show:

Looking good Robbie. Sneak preview of another diorama (not quite finished yet):

The exhibition will run from 12 noon Easter Sunday to 6 pm and Bank Holiday Monday from 11 am to 5 pm. Preparations are well underway and a great show is anticipated.

Hornby released these vans as part of an "Irish Freight" train set in the early 2000's. It came with a 0-4-0 loco with Flying Snail. a yellow coal wagon and a Burmah oil wagon along with a controller/set of tracks. I have a couple running around Ballybeg for variety even though not prototypical... Better models are available now.

Thanks Guys. Eamonn visited and took some lovely photos/videos for Facebook. A couple more:

Another view of Cynwyd.

All set for the Exhibition. Here are a few shots of Cynwyd with rolling stock. The setting is early British Rail but the odd GWR item may appear as if the station had be preserved! Note that the scenic section is only 9 inches deep in old money.

I stayed there in 1976 when the station was an An óige Youth Hostel. As schoolboys we cycled from Dublin to Kerry and back over two weeks using hostels each night. Many of the hostels have long been closed including Loo Bridge.

A serious case of size matters and modelling at 12 inches to the foot!

Further to the above, Feldorf a Continental layout in N gauge is to be presented by South Dublin MRC and Curracloe a OO gauge Irish layout is to be shown by the Model Railway Society of Ireland. An additional trader has promised to join us: GModelscene with Gabor Evenich. Aerial view over Shunters Yard station

You can put the better figures closer to the viewer with cheaper/less detailed ones towards the background. Sometimes worth picking up a varied selection e.g. for fun scenarios: dog chasing cat, people chatting in groups, nuns/religious figures, family groups, people sitting etc

Great shots. I like the oil lamps on 107 and the crew in the PW machine!

Looking forward to seeing these at the Wexford Show at Easter!

The following exhibits have been confirmed: Layouts: Joseph's Bridge OO IE/IR outline Ballygannon OO IE outline (new) MacMine Junction OO CIE/Steam outline Rathmichael OO CIE/Supertrain outline Bushville HO American outline (new) Distillery Road OO UK outline Over the Hill: A corner of Wexford OO Herbert Alexander Cambell Riverside HO American outline John Izzard Bridge Street OO UK/BR outline Diesels On-shed OO UK/BR outline Wexford OO Oulart Road OO Bramwich New N-gauge (8ft X 3ft) For Sale! Thomas OO Cynwyd N-gauge (New) Shunters Yard OO UK/GWR outline T-Trak Modules N-gauge Sandown Valley Railway O/16.5 (narrow gauge) Crescent Quarry Co Gn15/1:24 (New) Donford OO UK outline (More Model Railways TBC...) Model Railway Diorama Display & Competition Traders confirmed: Marks Models AllComponents Model Rail Baseboards Model Rail Accessories Chris Dyer UK Seán Ryan Michael Morris Brian Collins Enterprises Diecast Kevin Finlay Diecast WMRC second-hand sales/Raffle Top Choice Embroidery Bric 'a Brac stall Other Exhibits include: Diecast Farm & Steam displays, Tuskar Marine Modellers, St Joseph's Warhammer Club, 1916 GPO diorama, Military Model Tanks, Aircraft & Memorabilia, Napoleonic Battle Model Scene, Airsoft and more TBC.... A GWR Railcar waits for passengers at Shunters Yard: