Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

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RuffnutThorston
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Sunshine on the Station.

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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Some of the locos in stock.

Some work to be done to these.

Mainline Dean Goods.

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Mainline Collett Goods (2251)

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Mainline 93XX Mogul.

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Bachmann Pannier Tank (a spare lined black body on a chassis.)

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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Another "new" SH loco.

Bachmann Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2 Tank loco BR. (Not auto fitted.)

This loco would be shedded at Wrexham Hightown Depot. LMR Region. For use on local passenger trains on the Wrexham Central, Ffrwd Locks, Dengigh and Rhyl, and Wrexham Central to Crewe routes.

Re-badged from the Late Crest with Modelmasters Transfers, and a trip through the weathering paint shop...

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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by Essex2Visuvesi »

What station model is that?
Si quam primum vos operor non successio , impono

The only stupid question is the one I didn't ask

Proud member of the OAM
(Order of the Armchair Modeller
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RuffnutThorston
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Well, basically it is the Ratio "Castle Cary" kit, with a replacement roof, proper canopy supports, and a few other modifications.

(See earlier posts ...)
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

The Bachmann "Early Cab" 57XX GWR Pannier tank.

BR Crest back-dated to the better Early Crest, and some weathering. Fireman added, the Driver is away at the moment!

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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

More photos...

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Shaun Wilson
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by Shaun Wilson »

Very impressed with your attention to detail Sarah. Excellent work. :)
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Hi Shaun.

Thanks for the positive comments.

I do try to get the details more or less right. (Space is a problem! ;) )
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by Shaun Wilson »

The detailing that stuck out most to me is at the bottom of the fence on the downward slope of the station, you have the weedy grassy bit coming thru onto the platform. Looks excellent. :) I find the problem with space no matter how big the layout, is you can never have enough. :lol:
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Hi Shaun.

So you spotted the encroachment of the grass and weeds then. Obviously the maintainence of this area is suffering.

I have had to weed the gaps between paving slabs in the past, so I can sympathise with the station staffs reluctance to get it all out, especially in an area where passengers are not meant to be.

Later on, as Autumn comes in, there wil be leaves from that tree. (Autumnising the vegitation is on the To-Do List...)

I think Captain James T. Kirk, of the USS Starship Enterprise must have been a modeller.

"Space, the final frontier."! :wink:
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Here (at last?) is a rough plan and dimensions of Ffrwd Locks....

Ffrwd Locks Main Board Dimensions.(approx.)

Length 5 Feet 4 Inches (163 CM)
Width 1 Foot 2 1/4 Inches (36 CM)

Rough Plan...

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There will be some ground signals, and at least one "Trap Point" on the "Loop Line" near the 3-Way Point.

In Reality, I would think that the 3-Way Point would be two separate, but interlaced, Points.

Most of the points would require Facing Point Locks, if the "Loop" was to be used by Passenger Trains. I am not too sure if this would be allowed, as I believe Highley Loop, which also does not have a Platform, is not to be used for Passenger Trains.

There are other "Off Stage" signals, and the Goods Line to the Ironworks has an "Off Scene" Trap Point on the other side of the Aqueduct and Railway Bridges.

The "Main Line" to Moss and Wrexham is the central line from the "toe" of the 3-Way Point.

The Goods Line is the "top" line in the plan, running in front of the Signal Box.

The plan has some faults, most noticeable is the fact that the Cattle Dock and End Loading is "blocked in " by any Coal Wagons unloading
at the Coal Merchants. The Coal Siding should really be a separate siding.

The Goods Shed siding is also a bit limited.
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

Following reciept of a link to an image of the actual Ffrwd Canal from Google Maps, here is a bit of "Real" history.

It is a bit like a guided trip, but you need to move on the Google Map to follow it...

LINK TO MAP.

The Image in the link is the end nearest Gwersyllt. There was approximately 2 1/3 Miles of canal actually built.

There used to be a bridge over the canal at this point, the canal continuing behind the "camera" to a wharf on the outskirts of Gwersyllt.

Most of this is now built over, but there is a road that seems to follow the canal line in part.

In front of the "Camera", the canal continues to Sydallt, where it is at the bottom of the gardens in Tan Yr Allt, before just about disappearing under houses in Bronallt.

(If you clik the - "Zoom out of Street View", you can follow the canal "from the air" on the map.)

The WM & CQ branch climbed up from the railway at Sydallt, though it too seems to have been built over. (Railway Terrace.)

I would say that the WM & CQ Ffrwd Branch was alongside the road Bronallt.

The field boundary hedge and trees follows the canal and railway's line as it swings around the hill. The railway here cut through the canal, as the canal turned sharper than the railway.

The railway ended up on the "outside" of the canal bend.

The canal remains re-appear and curve around to go into the trees, where the railway comes on top of the canal.

A cutting and road overbridge have gone on a branch off the WM & C Q railway to Ffos Y Go colliery. The remains of the abutment walls can be found alongside the road. (At a "dog leg" in the Sydallt to Ffrwd road.)

The railway remains on top of the canal through to the site of an aqueduct by the Ffrwd Coaching Inn remains.

There are the remains of the abutments of girder bridges here, where the WM & C Q railway went over the GWR Ffrwd Ironworks branch, and the road.

A house labelled as "the Cottage" is the Level Crossing Keepers House where the GWR Branch crossed the road.

A new house is opposite. The gate is on the GWR line, and the abutments of the WM & CQ bridge over the GWR can be seen beyond.

The canal emerges from the side of the railway embankment on the other side of the bridge (aqueduct) and runs to the remains of the Yord Canal Basin. This was the end of the canal as built.

The canal would have continued, via a flight of locks, to a Reservoir at Coed Talon. This was the planned end of the canal.

The “other” end would have run to Poolmouth, outside Wrexham, where it would join the main line of the canal, running from the River Dee at Chester (opposite the present lock from the Chester Canal) climbing roughly on the line now occupied by the Railway, and continuing on via Ruabon to the Trefor end of the Pontcysllte Aqueduct.

That is the "Factual" history.....
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

A Sketch Map of the Ffrwd Area.

This is the "Real Life" history map.


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Ffrwd Ironworks and Colliery was worked from Pre 1796 until 1904.

Brynmally Colliery and Brickworks was worked from 1770 until 1935.

Ffos-Y-Go Collliery was worked from Post 1849 until 1917

Caepenty Colliery Closed C1920.

Westminster Colliery was worked from 1846 until 1925.

WMCQR Ffos-Y-Go Branch Closed and lifted by 1912.

WMCQR Ffrwd Branch Closed 1930, lifted 1935 (Except for a siding at Ffrwd Junction.)

GWR Ffrwd Branch Closed 1st January 1931.

GWR Moss Valley Railway (To Moss Crossing Halt.) Closed to Passengers 1st January 1931.

GWR Moss Valley Railway Closed to Goods 1935.



The MOSS VALLEY on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moss_Valley,_Wrexham

Some more on the Ffrwd Canal...

http://www.peter-quita.demon.co.uk/articles/Ffrwd.pdf
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Re: Ffrwd Locks. OO WR in North Wales (Wrexham) C1952-1953

Post by RuffnutThorston »

A Sketch Map of the Ffrwd Area.

This is the "Fictional" history map.


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The canal construction started in June 1796.

Ffrwd to Gwersllt Wharf Opened in 1798.

Llanfynedd Quarry Basin (and reservoir) to Ffrwd, and Gwersllt Wharf to Wrexham Town Basin Opened in 1799.

Wrexham Junction (Poolmouth) to Chester opened 1805.

Abandonment of the Wrexham to Trefor Canal Plans led to the "temporary" tramway (Opened in 1808) becoming permanent.

This was (between Ruabon and Wrexham) aquired by the North Wales Mineral Railway in 1844, and converted into part of the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway's main line. Opened 1848.

The First branch railway to Ffrwd opened July 1847. Part of the North Wales Mineral Railway. Included two cable hauled inclines.

Moss Valley Railway opened 11 may 1882.

Ffrwd Ironworks and Colliery was worked from Pre 1796 until 1990.

Brynmally Colliery and Brickworks was worked from 1770 until 1960.

Ffos-Y-Go Collliery was worked from Post 1849 until 1935.

Caepenty Colliery Closed C1920.

Westminster Colliery was worked from 1846 until 1925.

WMCQR Ffos-Y-Go Branch Closed 1935 and lifted 1940.

WMCQR Ffrwd Branch Closed 1991, lifted 2000 (Except for a siding at Ffrwd Junction.)

The GWR and LMS Joint Railway from Ffrwd to Coed Talon closed "temporarily" after a landslip at Ffrith Viaduct in 1952. This closure was quietly made permanent, Crosville Motor Services continuing to run a "replacement" Bus service. This took the busy Ffrwd Level crossing out of use.The local authorities had been campaigning for this to be replaced by a bridge. The road had become busy, and the frequent closing of the gates to road traffic during shunting, etc. were causing problems. This caused some problems for the railway, limiting the length of train that could be dealt with at Ffrwd. A lot of the Ironworks (Later known as the Steelworks.) traffic was afterwards to use the LNER Ffrwd Branch, except for the times this was closed for maintenance. (The landslip was never repaired.)

GWR Moss Valley Railway Closed to Passengers 1st January 1960.

GWR Moss Valley Railway Closed to Goods 1970.

A preservation scheme for the Moss Valley Railway failed, and the line was lifted after 1990.
Last edited by RuffnutThorston on Wed Jun 06, 2018 2:18 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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