Bron Effans

After languishing under the lockdown and my fettling of carriages and other distractions I decided to turn my attention to the scenery once again. I was happy with the layout of the station and how I could run two trains at once into it with no issues being caused to the rolling stock. However, I had painted it in a cheap acrylic grey and it really was not looking the part. Scuffs were showing from when I had caught it and it was not looking as polished as I had hoped. That is to say, it did not evoke the scene that I was intending. Typical Welsh Narrow Gauge stations have large stones on the edge of the platform and a crushed stone surface. To that end I took the chisel to the plaster platform again and began the process of cutting out a trench to place the 'stones' into. I know from practice with my wall building that I needed to be careful with the sizes of the slabs and make sure that I did not make them too large. I did a test fit of each piece of mounting board ...

I have finally begun the construction of the western end of the layout in order to create a backscene to hide the fiddle yard. I had been putting this part of the layout off for some time, owing to me not being able to make my mind up on how I should disguise the portal to the yard. Originally, I envisaged a simple portal in a board which could be hidden with a simple footbridge over the cutting. I couldn't figure out a way to make this look convincing especially due to all efforts to build a footbridge resulting in wobbly and misshapen disasters. Inspiration struck me when I found a suitable portal on a well known auction site. This resin fascia looked very similar to the ones on the Moelwyn tunnel on the Ffestiniog railway and, given the reasonable price, would be perfect for the entrance/ exit on the line.  I mounted the board to the layout and attached the fascia to see how it would look with the cutting. I added some cardboard over the gaps between ...

After building the platforms out of Balsa and MDF, I was still unhappy with the finish of the platforms. I have since attempted construction with some wall filler material to create a flat surface. I created a mould using insulation tape to hold the filler and to help me give the platforms a uniform height. I think you will agree that the outcome looks pretty ok. There is only one end of the station that fouled a locomotive on a test run which will be rectified once the filler has completely set. The raised section of the platform; this will soon be sanded flat. Overall view of the station. Carriages using the newly created platform 2.   Below is an image of all of the rolling stock with a new addition to the railway, the embankment where I am going to build a small mine railway which will have an interchange with the siding at Effans Uchaf. This is a rather large divergence from my original plan but I have borrowed the idea from "Lower Peak Wharf" The layout ...

The other day, I was doing some work on the scenery and was mapping out where I am going to add details such as grass and ballast etc. I painted the areas I wanted in the colour I planned to use. I couldn't resist the chance to take some 'arty' photos for the railway's social media accounts. I must say this little change has really added to the dimension of the railway, it is starting to feel like I am making good progress with what I am creating.  'Dolgoch' arrives with the morning service train. 'Ziller' takes on water at the water tower after a punishing trip up the valley. Vale of Elan prepares to return down the valley with the VoR rake. Castell Carndochan awaits the right away to begin its trip down the valley. The Ffrwchnedd waits in the siding for the service trains to depart before it starts it's next inspection trip of the line.

The station at Effans Uchaf was initially designed to have a small siding at the western end of Platform 1.  The original siding.  However, I have accrued quite a large collection of rolling stock and would seek to show it off as much as possible. I  decided that this would be extended to act as a siding or, if necessary, a third platform for passenger services to depart from. This was completed using a length of flexitrack, my nemesis, to create a longer siding which will unofficially be known as platform 3. The newly formed siding. I just need to pin it down. I have also built some buffer stops for all three of the sidings. These have been constructed from sleepers that came with the Norfolk Heath works Station building. I was sent a very large quantity so thought it opportune to use them as buffer stops. They have been glued together and painted brown to blend in to the scenery more effectively.

  I have finally started my summer break from work. The warm weather has meant that going outside isn't perhaps the wisest choice so I have retreated to the cool of the man cave to build on Bron Effans. There has been a lot of progress this week and I am going to break it into four sections. The railway I have finally completed the track work for the layout. I have changed the plan slightly to give myself two sidings at the station. One at the extreme end of the station for rolling stock storage and another at the entrance to the station for Locomotive storage. I have yet to work on the conductivity of this section as I have found that there are a few hiccups with the first siding. I am going to try Electrical paint on the joints between all pieces of track to try and encourage efficient running.  The station and fiddle yard are now complete. I am, at some point, going to build a traverser for the fiddle yard. I just want to get the visuals of the layout sorted...

I have just placed an order for a kit that will allow me to begin building my station. I have ordered a copy of the Corris Wayside Station from Norfolk Heath. It is a laser cut kit which will fit in with the 'country station' aesthetic that I am trying to build with the railway.  Image Courtesy of Norfolk Heath 009 Facebook page. In other unrelated news, I have since sold my Liliput Zillerbahn Locomotive and the set of Langley Lynton and Barnstaple Carriages. These were a knee-jerk purchase and didn't really fit in with my railway. The money that I have made from these sales has now been redirected onto the aquisition of new track for the railway.  I am due to visit Hattons next week where I will be seeking advice on Electrofrog points and purchasing the last two track items I need for the track infrastructure. This will mean that I have a complete station with run around loop and two sidings.  I am toying with the idea of a third siding by the station...