Bron Effans

  I have found been hunting for a kit that could be used to represent the coaches that are used on the Corris Railway. I wanted something that could be used to match with the new Tattoo locomotive and used with the Talyllyn outline stock. I had sold the original short bogie set to make room on the roster for these new carriages.  I was impressed by the quality of these kits and set about building them. There are some quite noticeable differences between these kits based on the Innisfail Tramway and those of the Corris Railway. My aim was to use them as a resemblance as they have a single doorway and two vestibules for passengers. I did not see the need to adapt the kits for my aims and I found the kits detailed enough to pass as older coaching stock. I put the kits together fairly quickly and primed them with Humbrol primer. The bogies for these kits are some of the best that I have built for a plastic kit. The wheels were free running and the couplers were easy to attach....

I decided that, with the lockdown taking effect, it was time to bite the bullet and begin the construction of a locomotive using the spare Graham Farish Prairie tank locomotive. I was in two minds whether to purchase a Roxey Mouldings 'Troodos' locomotive kit or a Rodney Stenning Manning Wardle locomotive kit.  I decided on the Manning Wardle over the other kit because I was not sure whether it would actually be in gauge on my line and, deep down, I have always really wanted a Manning Wardle locomotive for my railway.  The kit itself was very straightforward and only required subtle alteration to fit the chassis.  I added some additional details to the loco using brass rod to form the handrails and the steam pips that proliferate the sides of this locomotive.  I built a backhead for the boiler using plasticard and various other odds and ends to imitate the look and feel of a working cab. I must confess I did make ...

I have completed the paintwork on the new GWR Buffet car. It has turned out very well and I am pleased with how I have managed to relivery something without wrecking it.  I still need to find some suitable lettering to bestow this carriage it's proper GWR credentials. It will be added to trains during summer running as additional coaching stock of high season trains.  I am envisaging running a rake with this carriage included alongside the WHR set with the Pullman Dulas. The rolling stock rota still needs some work.

Old faithful Since commencing the construction of the layout, I have grown quite a healthy collection of locomotives for the railway. I have a grand total of 9 locomotives at the time of writing. There are 5 steam and four diesels, a healthy collection by anyone's standards. These have all been purchased on a second hand basis to try and limit costs but some of them are feeling their age and are going to require some serious maintenance this year. The Prince, one of my favourite locomotives, has developed a fault with the motor. It regularly sparks when in transit. From what I have been told, this is a symptom of a serious fault which is going to  require some heavy maintenance. I am in two minds whether to attempt the repair myself or outsource it to someone else. That decision will be made later in the year as other motive power projects are destined to arrive on my workbench.  New arrivals I took the decision in late 2019 to sell on my version of Dolgoch for ...

I was in the attic hunting for the Christmas decorations the other day when I came across this little treasure. It is an old Graham Farish Duchess chassis. I must confess I thought I had disposed of it some time ago and it has made me wonder if there is a place for it on my layout in some capacity.  The chassis on the line I have a few ideas as to bodyshells that I could buy for this chassis but no clear idea yet as to what I am going to do. I do have a Prairie chassis that I was going to use on a Troodos locomotive kit at some point. I am wondering if this chassis would fit the bill better as it has a pony truck which could come in handy on such a large tender engine. The possibilities are endless.