Yes he's back! ;D After chatting to a couple of you guys at ExpoNG on Saturday (you know who you are and many thanks for your kind words of support) I've decided that it was about time I started posting a few more photos of the L&TR in operation. Same philosophy applies; these are not specially created and posed, they are photos of the layout as it is being used. If something looks appealing, operations are paused for the time it takes to set up the camera, plug in the floodlight and take the photo - and then service resumes.
Here 'Lew' pauses during a lunchtime stopover at Llanmynach shed.
About time something started moving! ;D
Nice photo, Dave.
I agree wiv everyfing wot the Dutchman said.
Mick
Many thanks gents - I'll try to make this a regular (-ish) feature! At least until the season for the big stuff starts off again in the Spring!
Quote from: tedp on October 30, 2012, 16:10
About time something started moving! ;D
Nice photo, Dave.
I Quite agree Ted - I was contemplating sending the snails back down south to David (he knows what I mean!) ;)
Nice pic - glad to see it
Bob
Looking forward to seeing the images appear here, David :)
Seems to be no picture unless I'm being dim? (could happen)
John W
Seems like the "pictures go missing" glitch has struck quicker than ever this time - the bugs must be getting bolder!
Quote from: tebee on November 03, 2012, 20:05
Seems like the "pictures go missing" glitch has struck quicker than ever this time - the bugs must be getting bolder!
No it's not "pictures going missing". For reasons beyond my understanding. some users including myself. are unable to receive pictures posted by some users. I have never been able to see any pictures posted by Tigger ( Dave Burleigh ) but I can see John Wooden's and Ted Polet's pictures. A strange situation indeed!
Odd, I could see it earlier, but now I can't.
Quote from: invercloy on November 03, 2012, 23:11
Odd, I could see it earlier, but now I can't.
Same here, some avatars have disappeared as well.
Mick
Quote from: MickT on November 04, 2012, 11:01
Quote from: invercloy on November 03, 2012, 23:11
Odd, I could see it earlier, but now I can't.
Same here, some avatars have disappeared as well.
Mick
Yes. I've lost the picture and my avatar.
me too - I could see the pic etc earlier in the week
B.
Same here - I could see it earlier in the week, now all I can see is the text of the link and if I try to follow it I get a 404 error.
???
The above should have been a smiley, it doesn't seem to work either!
Frank
Odd, the smiley has now appeared but not the picture.
Frank
As panic appears to be setting in, I have taken the sensible logical course that comes to mind and reported this glitch to "admin" - and have received an email to confirm that the fault has now been reported to the IT techy type member who looks after all this sort of thing.
Calm down, steady in the ranks, stand fast, don't panic, The cavalry has been sent for. Do your tunic buttons up that man!
Mick
Our websmaster, JohnJ has now fixed the problem which occured because the forum was using a form of coding which the hosts had decided to stop supporting, without notification with the result that some parts of the forum ceased to work - if I have got that right........... anyway it is all sorted out now, and David's photo that started the concern is now visible! Thanks for your prompt action and efforts John.
Mick
Now I can see the pic and it was worth the wait.
Well done memsec and thanks.
John W
Well I didn't expect one photo would generate so much traffic - even if not for the reason I might have expected! Many thanks for your support folks - especially Julien for the kind if slimy thought! ;D ;D
Another photo should be along shortly.
I've been offline whilst accompanying a friend around London for the last few days; his first visit to London and my first ever visit as a tourist!! ;D
Only one thing wrong with the photo Dave, no sign of Lord Craig admiring your lovely green painted replica of Alistair :laugh:
Malcolm
Quote from: Tigger on November 06, 2012, 12:14
Another photo should be along shortly.
I've been offline whilst accompanying a friend around London for the last few days; his first visit to London and my first ever visit as a tourist!! ;D
Waiting with patience young Sir, always look forward to seeing new photos of the L&TR!
Off-topic but I did a tourist day trip to London once when kids were younger and we lived in Harrogate. Daft? Not really - early start and head off down the A1 and M11 to park the car at Epping. Got one of them red rover fingies on a family ticket quite reasonably affordable and we spent the day doing the Monopoly board! Great fun and we saw historical and interesting bits of the city that we'd never have dreamed of visiting normally.
Mick
Not sure why this is here, Mick, but since you mention it I did a similar sightseeing trip to London with our kids - we have three and I took each one separately when they reached about 10. We got a rover ticket and went round some of the places they would have seen on the TV as well as the big tourist attractions. We always seemed to end up at Hamley's toy shop though! Great fun, and it became something of a family tradition.
By the way, thanks to JohnJ for fixing the photos - all back to normal now.
Frank
Quote from: Frank on November 07, 2012, 20:11
Not sure why this is here, Mick, but since you mention it .....................Frank
Simply because Tigger (whose thread this is) had mentioned doing the touristy bit around London in his last posting. Sorry to distract, just filling in time waiting for the next photos from the L&TR (HINT David!) now that the photo linking glitch has been sorted out!
Mick
Well there's nothing like a gentle hint, is there? And that was NOTHING like a gentle hint!! ;D
So here we on a summer's day at Llanmynach. The local Crossville service has recently arrived in the form of a natty little Bedford OB (top speed 70mph but only if you're going downhill, out of cog and with the wind behind you; otherwise it's a bit of a gutless wonder - I know - on a Historical Commercial Vehicle run across the Pennines in the mid-80s we chased one the whole way whilst travelling in a crash box 1933 breakdown lorry, top speed 32mph but it could do that speed both up and down hill and on the flat). The Railway owner's MG SA sits in the yard as well. Snowdon Ranger has arrived with a down passenger and Russell I has dropped onto the head of the train and awaits her (his?) turn. Cackler is running past the shed with a train of empty slate wagons and will proceed up the line to Mynydd-yn-Bwlch on a ticket of authority and will be followed by Russell I with the token at a suitable interval. Meanwhile, Russell II simmers on shed.
Sharp-eyed persons might like to work out what's missing from this scene. There will be a prize for the first correct answer...
I claim my prize - its the water tower !
Bob
Yes it
Correct Bob - ambush me next time we meet (Beds & Bucks open day in January?) and I'll buy you a cup of tea and a sticky bun!
The story behind the water tower is that because the tank is open it always remained in the display cabinet unless the layout was being photographed, to keep dust off the water surface. These days it remains out on the layout because of the more frequent use and incidental photography, and because there were occasions (!) when I took photos having forgotten to install it first. I made a removeable cover to keep the dust off. I left it as white styrene so I'd remember to remove it. You can see what's coming can't you? I have a couple of otherwise really excellent photos but which clearly show the damn' cover in position!
Wise words Brian. I've already laid in a spare Ibertren chassis for Cackler and also for Talyllyn ready for when the time comes. There are three 'up' trains in the storage loops; they are used in rotation and only one will run during a single session so the most running any of them will do is about 35ft a week (one circuit). Hopefully it'll be a while yet!
Despite the fact that she's capable of drowning out the radio far more effectively than my coffee grinder, Cackler is beautifully balanced and one of the sweetest-running and most reliable performers on the line, and will happily run at a scale 6-8 miles per hour for the whole circuit.
Incidentally, many thanks to Graham Watling who brought Lord Craig down to Swanley to meet me! Sadly His Grace's busy touring schedule did not afford him the luxury of making the journey to Wales to experience life in Llanmynach.
Julien - many thanks for your kind thoughts but I really do think the snails should remain in their spiritual home!! ;D ;D ;D
That's certainly a busy scene, David, I don't think I've seen a shot of your layout from quite that angle before. Very nice.
Your layout is certainly an impsiration, great photos, thanks for sharing :)
Jack
Many thanks Jack. I'm presently looking for another one among my collection here at work!
Mid-afternoon at Rhyffedd Coed station sees Russell I arriving with a down passenger train as Argyll waits for a clear road. Argyll might well spend a little time shunting the siding to drop something off or pick something up. By August 1952, most of the railway's goods vehicles have been through the repair and paint shops, and now look relatively smart. The van in the siding, on the other hand has so far escaped such attentions! Probably over the winter and before it gets any worse it'll be taken out of service for an overhaul. Just don't look too closely at the angle of Argyll's headlamp! ;D That just shows that this photo wasn't specially posed! Actually all it shows is that I lapsed on my usual attention to detail before I took the photo. I was probably listening to an old edition of "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue"!!
David,
Another fine picture, thanks for sharing.
(Side issue - what camera are you using for these shots ?)
Keep them coming !
Bob
Nice photo, Dave - I particularly like that brake vehicle behind Russell, with the stylish ducket.
It's interesting to compare Russell with Argyll. The latter loco isn't much taller but quite a bit wider!
Quote from: berryr99 on November 16, 2012, 15:23
Another fine picture, thanks for sharing.
(Side issue - what camera are you using for these shots ?)
I would guess he is using a Canon Digital IXUS 750
And I echo the fine picture sentiment.
Thanks guys! As guessed, the camera I use for these shots is the little Canon IXUS 750, on 50ASA for maximum quality, 10 second timer and on a small lightweight tripod. It's ideal for these quick shots but its limitations are the autofocus which makes the focal point a little unpredictable and a lack of depth of field. If I'm doing a more serious job I'll crank up the Canon 300D SLR which gives me a manually focussed lens and a massive depth of field at f36!
Ted - Argyll was a very early (Chivers) kit-built loco and when I put her on the line I was amazed at her bulk! At the time I was more used to Egger locos and GEM kits! She was very back-heavy so the bunker rear was replaced with a piece of card and I crammed in as much lead forward of the centre drivers as possible. I'd always wanted a full brake and the one behind Russell is built from a pair of Mikes Models bogie brake ends, using the scratch-built ducket to disguise the join. Thanks for the compliment!
Seen from the hillside high above Mynydd-yn-Bwlch, 'Owain Glyndwr' has completed a shunt and sits waiting for the road to take her train back down the valley to Llanmynach.
Meanwhile, 'Russell' is arriving in the platform road from Rhyffedd Coed with the mid-morning goods for Tawel-Llety.
Once 'Owain Glyndwr' has vacated the loop and departed, 'Russell' will move her train into the loop, shunt the siding and then await the down passenger from Tawel-Llety and Moel Ffynnon before continuing on her journey.
Quote from: Tigger on November 19, 2012, 12:19
If I'm doing a more serious job I'll crank up the Canon 300D SLR which gives me a manually focussed lens and a massive depth of field at f36!
David,
I am interested in photography - got a Canon 450D - so presumably you will set a long exposure time if the lens is stopped so far down - question - at these long exposure times how do you avoid camera shake?
Do you lock the mirror up ?
Yes....I know it is off topic !
Thanks
Bob
So it's off topic! So what? It's my topic and I don't mind!! ;D
Talking specifically about the Canon SLR set-up, I ensure it's mounted in one of three ways - 1, on a good tripod; 2, directly on the baseboard; 3, on a special photographic 'bean-bag' which has the standard
Quote from: Tigger on November 19, 2012, 12:19
Thanks guys! As guessed, the camera I use for these shots is the little Canon IXUS 750, on 50ASA for maximum quality,
Hi David,
Just a quick photographic query - I thought ASA went out with glass plate film or similar! What is 50ASA in equivalent ISO setting please?
Mick
There is no difference Mick!! Most photographic boxes will give the speed as 'nn ASA/ISO'.
ASA is the older definition. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed#Current_system:_ISO
for more info.
Cheers!
Quote from: Tigger on November 09, 2012, 12:38
Incidentally, many thanks to Graham Watling who brought Lord Craig down to Swanley to meet me! Sadly His Grace's busy touring schedule did not afford him the luxury of making the journey to Wales to experience life in Llanmynach.
David
Despite his lordship being away from home I am rather busy [trying to get things done whilst he is not here to interfere!!!] and am only just catching up with recent posts on this topic. His lordship has, in the past, indicated that he would be willing to extend his tour next year to include Llanwhatsitsname as he calls every Welsh town and village. He has recently visited the Talyllyn and I understand he was quite impressed with what he saw.
Malcolm
Equerry to Lord Craig
50 ASA equals 18 ISO or 18 DIN. (Agfa CT18)
64 ASA equals 19 ISO or 19 DIN. (Kodak Ektachrome-X, Kodachrome 64, 1960s-1970s)
100 ASA equals 21 ISO or 21 DIN (Kodacolor Gold, 1980s)
400 ASA equals 27 ISO or 27 DIN (Kodak Tri-X high speed B/W film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed)
Edit - I missed David's post... The old ISO/DIN speed was a logarithmic scale. The new ISO speed is similar to ASA. :P
As to camera shake: for low level views I support the camera either directly on the scenery or on a tiny plastic tripod a few inches tall. I use a delayed exposure, but then my old Olympus E-10 doesn't have shake suppression...
Liked the night shot - very atmospheric.
Just started to rebuild my layout but I will use the process you have described to improve my photos when there are some decent scenic sections on it.
Most exhibitions are "difficult" in terms of photography so have developed a set up for the camera of:
White balance adjusted to tungsten etc as applicable
TV with speed set to no less than 1/15 sec
Focussing on spot
Exposure on centre
Exposure bracket of 1/2 stop up, 1/2 stop down and middle (i.e where the camera thinks the lens should be stopped to)
This usually gives acceptable results and then I use Photoshop to adjust the colours in the shot via Filter>average>Levels>mid point. There is no technical understanding of this last operation (I saw it on You Tube) but it seems to stop a shot being overpowered by the dominant colour in the photo.
Bob
Many thanks Ted - in spite of looking at the table yesterday I'd forgotten the relationship with the old DIN system!
One of my favourite films was Ilford FP4, the 125 ASA black & white film. Dad always swore by it and all the photos I used to take for the News in its earlier days were on FP4.
I did a lot on Tri-X although it had a tendency to go grainy. A professional photographer told me to expose it ruthlessly, then make very soft prints to get the best results. Good old darkroom days... I think I still have my equipment stashed away somewhere.
I used to work with Dad in the darkroom. I loved it; I spent many hours with him and learned a lot of his techniques. I still have all the gear stashed away; sadly it's unlikely to be used again. What I do now in Photoshop is much the same as Dad used to do in the darkroom!
My Dad had a friend who had a darkroom and we used to go and help him with developing films. I was facinated by the way a picture appeared out of nowhere.
Its interesting that even modern day technology uses "dodge" and "burn" to describe techniques.
Bob
That's what I loved about it Bob. A few test strips and once you were happy, you framed the neg in the enlarger, exposed the paper and then the picture slowly appeared by magic from a blank sheet of paper in the developer tray. you had control over when to stop the process and you always knew whether you'd overdone it by how fast it appeared. Into the rinse tray, sloosh it about a bit - and all the others in there - and then drop the oldest two or three into the fixer tray! Then there was a bucket of fresh water by the bench for the ones that had been fixed. Oh yes, I nearly forgot - the heater which could be slid along under the trays and the thermometer in the trays to ensure it all worked properly.
No it's not thread drift because we're still talking about photos! ;D Besides, it's MY thread!!! ;D
David,
I'd forgotton the details of the process, thanks for reminding me - I would have only been about 9 or 10 at the time but I do remember seeing the negatives develop before your very eyes and being told not to touch anything !- technology has taken all this away I fear.
Please keep the pics coming
Bob
As requested Bob!!
I've just finished dealing with this one and re-sizing it so here you are! (And it gets us back on subject!)
Dolgoch crosses the Sychnant viaduct on her way up to Mynydd-yn-Bwlch with a train of slate empties. Based on Dolgoch viaduct, the brickwork is by Superquick which was all I could find in 1976/77. The corner and arch stones are also Superquick, with the arch stones individually applied. Lime streak from the mortar were dry brushed using Humbrol 'unbleached linen'. I never got around to finishing it off with the handrail but nowadays that's an advantage because there wouldn't be enough chearance for 'Argyll' or the VoR locos, even if it looks unfinished. Behind this scene is a large print of the only photo of many I've taken which actually suits the situation. I took it from the small footbridge which is a little way upstream from the prototype viaduct!
The loco is based on photos of Dolgoch as she was in 1951, unpolished pipework not very straight and a cluster of valves on top of the boiler. Krystal Kleer was used for the glazing which helps to disguise the thickness of the cabsheets.
If it wasn't for the Arnold motion just visible under the loco (no I'm not picking nits!) it might be taken for a real picture, in that brilliant lighting. The detail on the stock and on the bridge is reproduced larger than life.
Very atmospheric, David.
I echo Ted's comments David, an excellent nay outstanding photograph!
The Roving Reporter sends his compliments and hopes that one of these days it may be possible for his personal transport to be able to cross the viaduct for a snapshot opportunity!
Mick
Blimey, that's a good 'un !
Falls into the category of "I wish I had taken it"
As yet another side issue...and this may be the wrong part of the forum to mention it...I wonder if one of the clinics at next year's convention could be about model railway photography and maybe where it has specifics for NG layouts ?
Bob
you're very kind, gentlemen! The advantage of a decent floodlight, eh? Apologies for the chassis I thought I mioght get away with it but Ted's eyes are too sharp! ;D ) but there you go - the loco is a pre 1980 machine!
Mr Roving Reporter Sir, now that the line is being used on a more regular basis we'll have to arrange for your personal transport to be off-loaded in the yard at Llanmynach for a tour.
Bob - it might be a thought for something in the clinic for a basic lesson on photography. There are a few of us who can show our techniques - Ted, Mick, Brian Love and me to name four. My only problem is the timing of the Convention. It's timed for the 40th anniversary of the Society's founding but I'll be in Scotland at around that time playing big (well, bigger) trains so I'm not sure if I'll make it.
Meanwhile, I've had a twiddle with the above photo. See what you think of a sepia version...
Ooooh - lovely - very 1890.... ;D
Yes, very effective in sepia.
Sorry you won't be at the 40th, but playing with trains is always a good excuse !
Bob
It appears to lack............colour
;D
David,
I am honoured that you have included my own name amongst those you have mentioned regarding their photographic prowess, but I would submit that, whilst Brian, Ted and yourself are acknowledged expert model railway photographers in studio posed settings, I am merely a humble point and shoot opportunity snapper at events and exhibitions. I have picked up a few tips during the 15 years I have been digitally snapping but it really is a case of quantity over quality from me with the laws of statistics determining that from several hundred shots there are almost always one or two good ones!
Still looking forward to a future opportunity to snap the L&TR however!!
Regards
Mick
Mick,
One of my interests is photography (but I do it badly !) and as such I am a member of a small local photography group.
What we have found over the last year is that everyone brings something to the party and "a few tips" for some people can be really helpful and change what they are doing to the good.
Just thought I'd be supportive !
Bob
So Mick, sepia isn't a colour? ;D
While my pc is trying to ruin another photo (which I've now twice tried unsuccessfully to prepare for posting) I thought I'd share this little gem which I read this morning in 'The Countryman' magazine:
"In the Bible, God made it rain for forty days and forty nights. That's a pretty good summer for Wales. That's a hosepipe ban waiting to happen." (Rhod Gilbert)
Ok, so here's the photo which my pc was trying to destroy yesterday!
A sunny afternoon at Rhyffedd Coed finds slate trains passing. Sir Theodore is passing through with a loaded train bound for Llanymach whilst Cackler, having arrived a little earlier with an empty train for the mines is content to sizzle and hiss gently, and bask in the sun until such time as the road is set. It's a warm day and all four of her spectacle glasses are wide open.
Those slate loads are almost convincing - one day I'll get around to inserting the individual slates which were sometimes wedged in to hold things tight. Long ago the Railway discovered that a brake van equalled a few slate wagons which is why there are no brake vans on these trains. However, I have yet to produce the red discs which the 'last vehicle' should have hanging on the back!
The railway's only van which hasn't yet been through the shops for repair and repaint sits in the siding. Until I took this photo I'd forgotten that I'd fitted that repair patch on the corner when I built it!
David,
Nice pic - can I ask about the source of the slate wagons - they look good
Bob
Bob, the slate wagons are the Meridian Penrhyn Railway kits.
I have a fleet of 45 on the railway. 40 of them are in 4 fixed rakes of 10 wagons each, two loaded and two empty; predictably they run round the layout in opposing directions. Of the other five, two are loaded and two are unloaded and they are used as match-wagons to run between the fixed rakes and any loco not fitted with the special coupling which I use for the slate trains. (As they both appear in the photo, I'll mention that both Cackler and Sir T are locos dedicated to the slate trains and are therefore fitted with the special couplings; and as an aside to that I'll add that Sir T always runs down the valley because the skirt fouls the platform at Rhyffedd Coed and running her through the loops neatly keeps her away from the platforms. As an aside to that aside (!!), this also means that Sir T is able to keep her chimney towards Tawel-Llety and therefore the firebox crown more effectively covered in line with all the other locos but also runs cab forwards, which was the preferred method for the Glyn Valley Tramway. It's all carefully worked out you know, these things don't happen by accident!) ;D (That's the closest I could find to a 'smug git' expression...)
Where was I?
Oh yes, the one other slate wagon is in pristine condition and is the one I built when I was comparing various slate wagons so I could sort out which would be best for the line. It usually lives in one of my showcases.
Something a little different this time! A visitor to the L&TR in the form of one of Bernard Pearce's beautiful continental articulates at Rhyffedd Coed with a down goods. Most of Bernard's locos are too big for my loading gauge but this one fitted! This was taken during a Buccabury Branch visit to the L&TR.
One of the last operating days of 2012 sees 'Argyll' running into Mynydd-yn-Bwlch with a four coach Christmas special on December 27th.
Love the sense of space on your layout. More pics please.
John W
Just to echo what John said.
How far is it from the loco to the foreground ?
Good pic
Bob
Thanks guys! The sense of space is something I always wanted to have when I designed the layout - I could have fitted in miles of track otherwise! 'The Railway in the Landscape' was something I always felt defined narrow gauge.
At Llanmynach everything is more intimate; as you would view the railway in real life, it's all that much closer and more detailed and of course as we wait for the train we have more time to notice the details. As in the prototype, as we go further out into the country details tend to fade and we take more notice of the general scenery.
From the loco to the camera is something over 3 feet.
More pics will be arriving! Watch this space!
Well it's been a while but I thought it was about time I posted another photo from the L&TR. A couple of weeks ago I turned Owain Glyndwr for operational purposes, the first time that a L&TR loco has worked nose down the valley (Owain is 33 years old!!). As I expected, it's given a whole new load of photo opportunities but even better, she just happened to be down at Llanmynach and on her way to shed when I set up the railway's Christmas tree yesterday afternoon.
So may I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
A splendid photo David and a very Happy Christmas to you as well!
I see somebody in the valley is rich enough to enjoy the luxury of a big Wolseley for transportation!
Mick