New Rolling Stock Finally In Service On The L&TR!!

[Tigger]

Long trains haven't been a feature of the L&TR but with the 12 new wagons in service for the first time last night this 14-vehicle consist was too tempting to resist, especially as the Big Hunslet was available!  Here is 'Owen' crossing the old drover's road (AND the Nant Ffernol bridge!) on the approach to Rhyffedd Coed.  (Those who know 'Owen' well will note that at the moment the loco is fitted with the extra front coal rails and that the cab roof hatch is shut this time.  I like to ring the changes!)  The first five vehicles, three cattle vans, a sheep wagon with a delivery and a flat wagon with a new field gate for a local farmer will be dropped in the siding, leaving a train which will JUST fit in the loops!  At the rear you can see the three coal wagons on their way to the coal stage at Tawel-Llety.  There are some details left (for instance I haven't fitted builder's plates yet, I'm still repainting cattle and I'm expecting to be adjusting couplings for a few months) but this year's winter works programme is now basically finished.  Now, as the Festiniog found when they finished the big push towards Blaenau, there's all sorts of fiddly maintenance work which is overdue...

[Isle of Stoner]

Looking good, its nice to have a long train now and again. Owen looks very nice.

John W

[MickT]

An excellent photo and outstanding description David! Your reports bring that personal touch and a sense of "life" to your little empire which I have always very much enjoyed and hope to continue to do so for a long time to come!

I really must instruct my head chauffeur to contact the L&TR management to see if a visit can be arranged for a trip over the system in my personal rail mounted motor saloon sometime.

Regards Mick

[invercloy]

Nice to see a long train in service, David.  It's an interesting mix of wagons and should prove fun to operate around the layout.

Shameless plug coming up - if you want some builders plates for Owen then we might be able to get some etched that are legible: http://narrowplanet.co.uk :)  Any number etc. that you want.

[Tigger]

Many thanks folks for your kind comments.  Thanks for the offer Tom - I couldn't use the builder's plates which came with the kit because they WERE legible - and gave the correct date which is too late for the L&TR, which is set in August 1952!
Mick - I'm glad you like the descriptions - over the years the railway has indeed acquired a life and a character of its own - I'm lucky that it does go FROM somewhere TO somewhere else and operates by and large as a real railway would.
This was a shamelessly long train but in normal operation I would expect them to be shorter - no more than 8 vehicles - but as I expect the cattle vans to go no further than Rhyffedd Coed (all the cattle farmers are in the Ffernol Valley) it's quite possible that extra long trains will leave Llanmynach in the knowledge that at least the three cattle vans will be dropped off at Rhyffedd Coed.
In the meantime, I expect the remaining vehicles will naturally distribute themselves around the railway!
Yes, Mick, you'll have to have a word with your Chauffeur and I'd be delighted if you brought the inspection saloon up for a buzz!  Just don't expect the railway to run perfectly - it never does when there's visitors, especially first-timers!  Plus last night a very annoying intermittent false feed re-appeared!  I've yet to track it down!

[Tigger]

Incidentally, thanks for the compliment John - Owen is indeed a fine-looking locomotive.  there were folks at Hunslet who had a very good eye for style and proportion.  Although I think they must have been on holiday when 'Beddgelert' was designed... ;D

[berryr99]

David,

Looks really good & an interesting mix of stock.

Bob

[invercloy]

Many thanks folks for your kind comments.  Thanks for the offer Tom - I couldn't use the builder's plates which came with the kit because they WERE legible - and gave the correct date which is too late for the L&TR, which is set in August 1952!

Now you could have some that have whatever date you want ;)

[Tigger]

I'll be in touch... ;D

[tedp]

Nice train, David. There's a lot of variety behind the loco. It reminds me of the time I came home from a six-month sea voyage with a Garratt and a 10-vehicle goods train in my suitcase. It made quite a difference to train operations. Now fire up the card order system and get some operating done!  ;D

[Tigger]

Thanks Ted.  The cards are on the cards (oops! ;D).  First I have to work out what's going to go where.  For instance, the cattle vans will probably only travel between Llanmynach and Rhyffedd Coed.  The sheep wagons will go anywhere on the line and the coal wagons will usually only travel to Tawel-Llety and back (and possibly occasionally to the mines as well).  Plus of course I need to devise a way of hanging the route tags on the vehicles in such a way that they can be taken off quickly for photographs!  For the moment I just want to get some mileage done and gain a bit of service experience with the new stock.

As you might have seen in 'buildings and structures' for the moment I've turned my attention to finishing the Llanmynach works water tower (and not before time!!)

[tedp]

....  Plus of course I need to devise a way of hanging the route tags on the vehicles in such a way that they can be taken off quickly for photographs!  ....

Does this ring a bell? A tiny steel pin on top of the vehicle:
http://www.009dutch.nl/cdr/main/foto/operation/pb237254.jpg
http://www.009dutch.nl/cdr/main/pages/eoperation1.htm

[Tigger]

That's it!!  Thanks!!  Knew I'd seen something of yours somewhere!  (I'm pretty certain it's on an email you sent me last year actually!)

I was thinking of using brass hooks on the side of the vehicles and steel washers which I can pick off with a magnet.

Meanwhile I'll have another read of your system.

[Tigger]

One thing is for certain.  The L&TR has its origins in the slate traffic from hill to coast, just like the Talyllyn.  To this was added the passenger service inspired by the modern day Talyllyn.  Then, in 1984 (apparantly, according to the rolling stock record cards), I added the first fleet of 12 goods vehicles (three each of long and short vans and long and short open wagons) and these went a long way towards altering the character of the line to more of a rural common carrier.  With this second fleet of 12 new vehicles which include the six livestock wagons, this transformation will have even more impact and the line will take on a character closer to the Welshpool than to the TR or FR.  In a way this suits me very nicely as I've always liked the idea of a rural branch line!  Now.  Do I have room for a junction anywhere... ;D

[tedp]

...I was thinking of using brass hooks on the side of the vehicles and steel washers which I can pick off with a magnet....

I use tweezers. The washers are of the spring variety so they can be picked up easily.