The Railway in the Valley of the Mill

[gilfachphil]

Phil,

we are very civilised in our remote corner of West Wales, it's one of the joys that there are not many more people here.

Had we been 230 Trevor would have to have rented a field and a bus for the Park and Ride and then we would have had difficulty negotiating running rights!

I had to look twice to recognise myself in one of the photos.

Phil

[Peter Butler]

Many thanks to you Trevor and Dinah for hosting such a large gathering and allowing an opportunity to share your garden and railway.
A slightly delayed beginning to our round of meetings due to the Welsh weather, but the blue skies in your pictures show how kind it was to us on the day.
Some new members joined us for the first time, including one who can be seen here....



I first met Oliver and his father before this was filmed and I'm pleased to see him encouraging his own family to follow in his footsteps.

Philip, I can assure you we are all very civilised and many of us house-trained. 23 local area group members is a number to be proud of and plenty to accommodate in the average garden..... just imagine the parking issues! Anything greater would be probably be termed 'exhibition' and attended by strangers, so not the same friendly atmosphere at all.

[Trevor Thompson]

When I started to try to draw this out, reality soon set in - there just isn't enough space.

Yes, there is, you just have to dig out more of the hillside and build a bigger retaining wall!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Seriously, it looks to be coming on well and yesterday seems to have been a great success. Pity you are all so far away from civilisation or 23 could have been 230.

Yes well that had been going through my mind actually!

But I was looking forward to the end of the digging.

Trevor

[Phil.P]

That's alright Trevor...

We don't mind watching you dig some more..

Phil.P

[ge_rik]

I would like to create something with the "flavour" of Duffws, the original terminus of the Festiniog railway. ............ I am contemplating a traverser to enable locomotives to run round trains standing in three of the the four roads. Totally un-prototypical but practical for a day like yesterday when there were 23 people here.

Trevor

I suppose it depends on what era you want to set your model ......

Once-at-Corris-No.-10-has-its-the-first-use-of-the-traverser-to-enable-it-to-be-repositioned-at-the-other-end-of-the-train-formation.-2106012558.jpeg (99.66 KiB) Viewed 23867 times

Rik

[Trevor Thompson]

I hadn't seen that development.

Thanks for sharing it Rick.

Trevor

[Trevor Thompson]

I have made a bit more progress:

IMG_3917.jpg (3.48 MiB) Viewed 23823 times

That is the third step removed, and the second step trimmed back to make room for the tunnel. To do it I cut grooves parallel to the step using a 9 inch angle grinder, and then used an SDS hammer drill with a chisel blade to break the step up into handleable chunks.

IMG_3919.jpeg (4.86 MiB) Viewed 23823 times

The soil exposed by removing the step has been removed and I now have a length of concrete gravel board in place at the right height and angle to form the trackbed in the tunnel. So over the next few days I hope to be able to widen the hole, shutter and pour concrete to form the tunnel, and finally rebuild the third step.

Trevor

[Lonsdaler]

Civil engineering at its finest. There should be a grand opening ceremony when it's finished, with a suitable dignitary to cut the ribbon. Sir Peter Butler, perhaps?

[gilfachphil]

Civil engineering at its finest. There should be a grand opening ceremony when it's finished, with a suitable dignitary to cut the ribbon. Sir Peter Butler, perhaps?

Obviously wearing his top hat and tails

Phil

[Peter Butler]

Civil engineering at its finest. There should be a grand opening ceremony when it's finished, with a suitable dignitary to cut the ribbon. Sir Peter Butler, perhaps?

Obviously wearing his top hat and tails

Phil

Naturally I will try my best to participate this hugely important event if I have time in my diary, along with my other civic responsibilities.
My secretary will be in touch!

[Lonsdaler]

Oh dear, what have I started? My apologies Trevor

[Old Man Aaron]

Time well spent, nothing better.

[Trevor Thompson]

Oh dear, what have I started? My apologies Trevor

Its OK - you are forgiven!

Trevor

PS Well maybe that is a plan for a grand opening - perhaps it will be ready for our SWW 16mm group meeting here next May - you will be coming won't you Peter?

[Peter Butler]

Oh dear, what have I started? My apologies Trevor

Its OK - you are forgiven!

Trevor

PS Well maybe that is a plan for a grand opening - perhaps it will be ready for our SWW 16mm group meeting here next May - you will be coming won't you Peter?

I wouldn't miss it for the world..... as long as you address me correctly.

[SimonWood]

I wouldn't miss it for the world..... as long as you address me correctly.

Well we're guaranteed to get the front cover of the Bulletin with Lord Butler cutting the ribbon in his top hat and tails...

[Peter Butler]

I wouldn't miss it for the world..... as long as you address me correctly.

Well we're guaranteed to get the front cover of the Bulletin with Lord Butler cutting the ribbon in his top hat and tails...

I fear I was forced to pawn my top hat and tails, it has been so difficult for the 'gentry' to survive of late.

[Trevor Thompson]

Here is a link to a video which Simon took at our May group meeting:

https://peertube.tv/w/uj3nj7zbYDaqGjJnzbCQ3w


Trevor

[Old Man Aaron]

Very pleasingly idyllic.

As an aside, I don't think I've ever seen a narrow gauge circus train until now..

[LNR]

A beautifully scenic railway, love that you have control of the background being on an embankment. My pet hate is I always have a fence in the background somewhere.
Grant.

[Trevor Thompson]

Very pleasingly idyllic.

As an aside, I don't think I've ever seen a narrow gauge circus train until now..

Nor have I!

Trevor