Llwyndrissi Halt.

[Phred]

I don't know if this link would supply any ideas:
https://www.miniaturerailwayworkshop.co ... ailway-use

[Mountain]

Is actually interesting. Glad the forces on my models are not that great!

[Mountain]

A new (Secondhand) model for future conversion potential. I think I will make a tender and leave this lovely little loco as it is, to make a miniature model loco in 7mm scale which avoids damaging the vintage model loco.(Model is H0). Larger loco of a Smokey Joe size (With a larger 7mm scale cab and chimney) is added as a reference to its size.Look how short it is! I also have its origional motor as previous owner added a modern slower running motor.

[Mountain]

The larger loco in the last photograph is deceptive. I called it a "Smokey Joe" but if one picks it up and handles it one will find it is unusually different. The chassis is the same and looks the same. (Have not opened it up to check the motor). But the body which looks like a Hornby Smokey Joe/Smallbrook creation is anything but. The body (Saddle tank, cab etc) is all cast out of metal. I have never come across such a thing and it weighs the same as my modified Smallbrook Studio Clio kit with its heavy Triang chassis and was made when Smallbrook used to add lead shot type weight into the saddle tank on the loco. It weighs about the same which is HEAVY! I am impressed!

I have bought quite a few more items from a fellow narrow gauge modeller and they are interesting. One is an unfinished project of a Gnomy tramcar which has been cleverly adapted to take the major part of a Smokey Joe 0-4-0ST, to convert it into a steam tram. Other Gnomy tramcars (Some modified. Some not) are heading my way. I think that will end up as interesting coaches as the Great Mountain Goat Railroad Company happens to love buying up items of interest to convert into useable items of rolling stock. Thoughts on a suitable railworks extension along with re-laying some track in the layout to accomodate this are floating round the railway board rooms as discussions are taking place on the railways future expansion. During careful modification of track and trackbed, some scenic paint will be applied, but as the railway is currently not operating, opportunities for such plans and finding interesting stock for future use are being seized upon.

[Phred]

Mountain wrote:
discussions are taking place on the railways future expansion.

Taking into account the possible re-nationalisation of the railways and suitable compensation for the board of course!

[Mountain]

Mountain wrote:
discussions are taking place on the railways future expansion.

Taking into account the possible re-nationalisation of the railways and suitable compensation for the board of course!

Haha!

[Mountain]

I have recently come across a hand tool which is something along the lines of something I was considering making before I discovered (Via members of another site) this ready made tool.
I did not have access to Ebay or Amazon where these tools are sold so a kind lady I know ordered one for me and I am really greatful. They don't cost a lot (£12 to £15 as I write) and what these tools do is to take a piece of card or a piece of thin tin foil one uses for cooking, and puts corrigations into it so one can make ones own model versions of corrigated iron sheets.

The tool is easy to use. One simply clamls card or tin foil inbetween the serrated rollers, hold the tool closed with one hand and turn the handle using the other hand. The only two limitations to the tool are the width of the rollers which mean one can only make sheets of just below this width, and the serrations are more suitable for 7mm scale (0 gauge, 0-16.5 etc).

IMG_20240524_235055_kindlephoto-3423344.jpg (76.11 KiB) Viewed 579 times

[Phred]

Oo-ah! That does look handy!
Now to convince the wife that I really need one.

[captrees]

It looks suspiciously like something one might roll a cigarette with before that habit was disallowed.

[Mountain]

Here is a link to the company who sells them. They also sell other interesting things as well.

https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/134-corrugator-tool

I also kn ow they are on Amazon and Ebay but I am not on those sites, so I had a friend get me one which I am most greatful for.

[Mountain]

Some Peco coaches which have recently been purchased which will need partial rebuilds as they are open shells inside so my passengers will need somewhere to sit, and they will need door handles and fittings along with buffers and drop link couplings... And, of course, the well known Mountain Goat Railway livery, which when the Mountain Goat Waggon & Carriage works get to work on them they will end up looking splendid!

[Mountain]

There is a debate amongst the little people if a recently purchased bogie coach will be appropiate on the curves around Llwyndrissi Halt, so there have been suggested these two options. Wait for the line to reopen after track relair work is complete and test it, or to go ahead and rebuild it into a pair of four wheelers which we know will fit the layout.
It "Should" fit as there is already another bogie coach in the collection of coaches which did go round the curves, and there has also been another collective set of purchases rescued from an abandoned railway. A collection of dissused trams which were purchased by the other railway to eventually turn into railway coaches, which will be another interesting project to come as passenger loadings on the line increase. Two of these trams are bogie tram conversions so similar thoughts on curve suitability are being discussed.

[Mountain]

These lovely Gnomy tramcars will make great additional summer season coaches with some adaption. They can be converted into a similar style as the larger windowed Faller coach conversion which used to be larger as it was a four windowed 4 wheel 0 gauge coach which had larger proportions.
So from left to right are:-
1. Smallbrook Studio Glyn Valley Tramway coach with clestory roof.
2. Gnomy tramcar partially converted (Its pantograph being removed and it temporarily riding on a 00 gauge coach bogie).
3. A much reduced in size and modified Faller coach which looks a lot smaller than it used to be.
4. A repainted Peco coach. (Peco coaches do come ready painted in kit form and are easy to build but sadly they exclude any form of interior so are not as they are complete kits. They can be built as brake coaches or saloons and can also be extended (See green coach of the last photo or two above in this thread).

One can see that if I remove the Gnomies tramcar front and rear windows along with their surrounding supports, remove some other tramlike features, and cut out the high false floor and replace with a proper floor so I can add some seating to keep the passengers happy, this will turn them into nice happy end balcony coaches.

[Mountain]

My new (Secondhand) brass metal loco which needs further work, as needs to be modified so the chassis sits right so work has been made to do this, and a means to hold the chassis to the body. This loco is BIG as seen next to my loco number 1.

[Bufferstop]

If we worked to scale tolerances almost every curve on most layouts would qualify for a check rail. The tightest curve I've encountered on the mainline is where the North Warks line joins the GW main line at Tyseley, speed limit, flange oilers and earplugs recommended. I must look to see if Peco still make the spikes, they would be ideal for use with coffee stirrer sleepers, especially as most people have a mini-drill to put four holes in every other sleeper.

[Edit] It's just occurred to me that the Shakespeare Express always goes via Henley down and Hatton Jnc up, that means it avoids the tightest curve on the northbound track. Anyone know if 4-6-0s have ever run north via Henley and Wythall.