Some major changes

At the exhibition I found that the fiddle yard and 'ramps' leading up to the scenic sections where very inconvenient, so I’m adjusting the layout a bit. This is the new track plan for 'Harbor Station'. I'm happy with the Boston Lodge board, and the cob. The other change is the fiddle yard in the back. I'm planning on removing the long rear board and removing the ramp from the board behind the works and replacing it with a sector plate/cassette system.



The new Station will cover both the ‘Harbour Station board and the board behind it, it will include the Harbour Station Building, Goods Shed, Small Loco Shed and maybe ‘the hole’ similar to what’s in Minffordd Yard http://www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Image:25-5-70_Minffordd_exchange_sidings.jpg

FR Coaches

At the exhibition I bought a book called 'Ffestiniog Odyssey' by Nick Welch, I was reading through it and he said that the first two FR coaches he had where Triang 00 gauge coaches, he simply butchered the sides to match the FR Bowsiders scale size and re-assembled. I might go along this line for a while, buy a few cheap 00 and N gauge coaches, butcher the 00, and place on the N gauge's frame; it’s a fairly cheap idea to get some good rolling stock! also in the post (hopefully) are some plans for the South African Railway's Type B mineral wagons that are on the WHR and FR, I will then attempt to make some out of plasticard (I’ve seen some etched stuff by Warsley Works, but my soldering skills aren’t good enough to start doing things like that!

Porthmadog Narrow Gauge Exhibition Report

The exhibition was great, there where plenty of superb layouts and locomotives being shown and sold. I've only added some details of the best (in my opinion) Layouts.
Layouts...
In my opinion three layouts where at equal first, which is Kingston Regis (009)0 by John and Jane Jacobs, Port Penrhyn (009) by Peter Midwinter and Cothele by the Hull MRS. I've included some pictures to show the quality of the layouts.
The only problem I had was a father with a 'it will go in if I slam the door hard enough' attitude that broke the three pieces of track that went from the scenic sections to the back, thus I couldn't use the back. But fortunately I found a length of n gauge track to repair one length of track. Also I bought a few things, firstly was a POLYPEN (suggested by a operator from Hull MRS) which does wonders cleaning wheels and track, also I bought two books, first 'Ffestiniog Odyssey' by Nick Welch and 'Creative Scenic Modeling By Peter Parkinson, which happens to live a few streets away from me, is a scenic guru and gave me his email :D Also a few carriages, three goods wagons and four locomotives found their way into my collection (for only £10!!!!)
Whilst operating I found a flaw in my layout, at the back there’s just too much track! So, I’m thinking of removing the fiddle yard, and replacing the two end boards with traversers or small fiddle yards. Also I found that the control board was too large (compared to others! that where as little as 3 inches by 4!!) Not sure yet... might replace that too.

Only a week to go!

The first public appearance of Traeth Mawr is now less than a week away, I’ve removed the backboard to re-install a point motor that didn't work, so whilst the backs are off they are being painted. I've ran a train from one side to the other, and the a All Components 12 AC transformer has arrived in the post for the controller and points with a package from GEM model kits with 2 ffestiniog open wagons, 2 ffestiniog slate wagon (4 wagons) 3 Lynton and Barnstable open wagons and 2 ffestiniog Vans, now all I need to do is assemble them! On the picture is a row of scatter and a few odds and ands for scenic work!!