Irishrailwayman

Info. New three-pack of grey CIE Ranks 4-wheel wagons have been announced by Irish Freight Models (€120). This extends availability of this model beyond the card version available from Alphagraphix. See: http://www.irishfreightmodels.com/

Thanks Eamonn. The design is such that the scenic section can be easily stored on a shelf/bookcase and be set up for use/exhibition quickly by simply bolting on the two fiddle yards at either end. Perfect for those who "don't have enough space to own a model railway"!

Just completed wiring of trackwork for Cynwyd. Power is by DC using a Morley Controllers Vesta Zero Two double controller: one output for the main-line and the other for the Goods Yard for Manual Control. Automatic Shuttle between the two 3-way sector plate fiddle yards (with intermediate station slow/stops in both directions) is provided by way of a Heathcote Electronic's system SA1.1. This requires a separate 16v AC power unit (Gaugemaster M1 Twin Output transformer) and a DPDT switch on the main-line. Reed switch sensors are fitted between the rails and these are activated by tiny magnets fitted to the front/end of rolling stock. The sector plates are moved manually and a connector clip ensures only the appropriate line is energised. With three lines per sector plate, this will enable 5 trains to be readied for use at any one time. Additionally, four Peco electromagnetic uncouplers have been fitted around the Goods Yard to enable remote shunting of goods trains. Power is provided by the second 16v AC output of the Gaugemaster M1 Transformer. The electromagnets only work when pushing a button switch and these attract a metal attachment on the Peco ELC couplers. These will be operable from either the front or back of the layout allowing for home or exhibition sessions of playing trains. Points/turnouts will be operated by push wire again from back or front of the layout. The resulting wiring looks like spaghetti junction but has been carefully colour-coded and labelled for future reference! Next up: more wood to box off the fiddle yards for exhibition purposes (removeable for home use), ballast the track and then to fitting the buildings and scenery in place...

A busman's holiday never looked so well!

Thanks, the technique I am using here is to have mirrors at each end for continuity rather than curved ends. The idea overall is that the scenic section (4ft 6ins) is readily stored on a shelf yet can be set up quickly with the fiddle yards for operation. Similarly, the units will fit into a car for transport to exhibitions etc.

Thank you. The sequence of photos show how the model builds up from one stage to the next and provides a nice record for later when the completed presentation is ready for exhibition.

Track laid down ready to wire and fit buildings down.

Some progress with back-scene fitted and tracks for the sector plates. Mirrors will be custom cut for each end of the layout to provide visual continuity.

The N-gauge quality now available is amazing with directional lights and lighted destination boards on DEMUs, locos with lights and high quality coaches from Mk1 to Mk4s...

Looks great.I love the 47 with large logo (I have one "preserved" on Llangollen, well thats my excuse).

The weeds don't stand a chance!

A couple of shots of the bare boards for information. The main scenic section is 4 foot six inches (54cm) by 9 inches deep 23 cm (additional space provided behind back-scene for control instrumentation and power supplies brings total depth to 1 foot 30cm). The fiddle yards either end measure 28 inches (71cm) by 8 inches (20cm). These will each hold three rail lines 2 foot (61cm) to hold/despatch trains. A sector plate will allow the lines to be alternated manually.

Thanks guys. Glad you liked visiting Llangollen (and my model) - I only got interested in GWR/early BR when I began visiting there each year on holidays. We love the town, canal walks, surrounding countryside, railway and friends we now meet each year. Unfortunately, there is almost no trace of the Cynwyd station left but thankfully the restoration to Corwen is progressing well with plans for a full size GWR terminus there in time. I will keep ye posted on model progress hopefully for public exhibition in the October WMRC show.

Having completed and exhibited Ballybeg (OO Irish circuit track), Llangollen (N GWR/BR circuit track) and Shunters Yard (OO GWR Compact Layout), I decided to look out for a prototype for an end-to-end (fiddle yard-to-fiddle yard) layout allowing me to use the N gauge rolling stock on Llangollen. I have identified a single line station and simple goods yard at Cynwyd just over two miles west of Corwen (the latest section to be restored from Llangollen) which fits the bill! Cynwyd closed in late 1964 as part of the infamous cuts by Dr Beeching so it lasted well into early BR days. The goods yard as you will see from the photographs consisted of a run-around loop off the single line with two head-shunts running away from the cover of the goods shed. One head-shunt ran behind the station platform past a cattle dock. A weighing machine house was provided in the goods yard. I have selected Ratio kits which most closely resemble the prototype buildings for the model. A new book on the Ruabon to Barmouth ("Llangollen") line has been published by Martin Williams who has kindly allowed me to reproduce some of the pre-closure photos in his book. I present some of these for info below and I will post up updates on layout progress from time to time (I have already started on building kits and on the wood work). An early 1960s view of Cynwyd from the road bridge (John Roberts, Llanuwchllynn) Cynwyd station platform (Peter Fisher) Cynwyd station c1910 (Neil Parkhouse Collection) Cynwyd c1962 (Peter Fisher) Cynwyd c1912 (Mrs Gwyneth Williams Collection) Cynwyd station entrance c1912 (Martin Williams Collection)

Great collection of photos. There's enough there to write a book!

Great to have a large, warm, dry and clean attic space to build a layout! Will you be able to demount the layout for exhibition purposes?

Why not go N gauge and convert Graham Farish Mark IIs, IIIs or IVs to irish outline using vinyl overlays? See http://www.electrarailwaygraphics.co.uk/ Click on "International" then "Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland" for full range of IE vinyl overlays...

Irish Freight Models do a OO version. Perhaps if you asked them nicely they might share some of their research with you?

I stayed in this hostel in 1976 when myself, brother and two friends cycled from Dublin to Kerry and back over two weeks going from hostel to hostel. Many of the hostels such as Loo Bridge have since closed. Happy days! Looks like the property has been extensively renovated since then.

A palindrome: spells the same right to left and left to right...

My landline contains 146 142 and my e-mail contains 071...

Nice job there.

Nice job on ye olde P&T era vans.

Alphagraphix do a nice card kit of this style of engine shed...

Still, the WMRC lads have their club fleeces in the high viz Wexford colours!