Modelling Welsh Railways

[Rhobat Bryn]

The Publications Working Group has been discussing the above for publishing as a book for a while now and currently it is shaping up into two distinct parts:

Completed Welsh model railway layouts (1830-1922);

Prototype track plans as ideas to inspire modellers to build Welsh layouts from this era.

If you have an idea that would fit into either category, please let us know on this forum.

[stephebm]

Models - all TVR
Aberdare - I have some photos taken at the Wigan exhibition some years ago if any help.
ditto Ynsybwl

However, I suspect you may have better ones however
General
And I imagine that Derek Mundy will have a load

And I expect that there is nothing much new in this

[Rhobat Bryn]

Many thanks for your suggestions. I already have Aberdare and Ynysybwl on the list. Are there any TVR stations which have not been modelled that you think would make a good layout?

[s.w.johnson]

We (Cardiff 4mm Group) also did Dunvant, Cardigan, Dowlais Cae Harris, Narberth and Chepstow and we have more or less finished a model of Pencader.

[Rhobat Bryn]

You have just increased my admiration for the Cardiff 4mm group tenfold.

[s.w.johnson]

Thanks Rhobat. I should also mention Tudor Watkins who has built a representative of almost every loco the N&B had plus quite a few carriages. He also has a lot Cambrian and Mid-Wales models plus an Oswestry and Newtown Brake Van. You don't see many of those around.

Sandy Croall has a model of the LNWR in South Wales based on a fictitiouc location called Penlan. I was lucky enough to be one of his operators when it was on the exhibition circuit and it won best layout virtually everywhere including RailEX.

Rod Hall has over the years produced some superb models, mostly B&M.

I'll keep on thinking as I am sure there are others.

[Rhobat Bryn]

Thanks for the suggestions John. I must admit I had only considered layouts but there's no reason why we couldn't have a chapter on locomotives as well.

Do you happen to know what the name of the Vale of Neath layout is or was that Tudor ran his models on?

[s.w.johnson]

Vale of Neath?? I presume you mean Central Wales - it's called Penlan.

There are lots of Welsh narrow gauge layouts - although most of them are fictitious and the level of traffic and operation bear little resemblamce to the prototype.

[Rhobat Bryn]

I'm sure I remember seeing a layout where Tudor ran Vale of Neath stock.

[Talerddig]

Could I possibly also mention my own 4mm scale EM gauge pre-grouping Cambrian layout 'Llawryglyn' (a fictitious twig off the Van branch. c 1912) as another completed pre-grouping Welsh layout? As previously seen in Railway Modeller, BRM and at various shows including Expo EM 2019.

Perhaps the layout descriptions etc might also mention any particular modelling ideas and tips that the builder might have e.g. conversions of readily available kits etc; that could show that the pre-grouping era isn't as hard to model as perhaps might be first thought?