Sunday, 23 November 2014

Steam in the Welsh landscape

The latest book to land on my book shelf is "Steam in the Welsh landscape" by Michael Welch.




Containing some superb photographs many in colour and many I have not seen before this book is going to prove in valuable when I come to build the next modules for my own layout "Steam on the Cambrian"                                                                                                                                        Although there is fair coverage of the Cambrian section of British Railways in steam days there is also extensive sections on the North Wales coast line right down as far as the Pembrokeshire coast    and Neyland.                                                                                                                                              
Today Wales is still famous for the "Great little Trains of Wales" but at one time every corner of the principality echoed to the sound of steam.
Royal Scots would thunder along the North Wales line with the Irish mail while Britannias would storm out of Cardiff with Paddington expresses.
In between these routes was a tangle of lines that served the Welsh Valleys and a much larger rural mountainous area.
This book covers all that and needless to say the scenery is absolutely stunning.

I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Welsh railways or just steam traction in general for that matter.
At £19;95 it's not a cheap book, but it's a hard back cover and worth every penny to me.

Cheers
Frank

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

58xx A start is made

Latest project on my workbench is this old Dapol 14xx mostly undergoing cosmetic alterations. Top feed removed, new chimney, new smoke box door casting and more to come.
The original traction tyre wheels removed and plain wheels fitted.
The finished loco will be renumbered 5801 of Penmaenpool shed the same design as a 14xx but without the auto gear fitted.








































The prototype locomotive still in GWR livery in 1958 standing in the Dollgeleau  bay platform at Barmouth