Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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11 May 2024​

Welsh railway spends £3m with local companies for latest project​

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The new Interpretation and Boston Lodge Project

In the last eighteen months, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) has spent over £3 Million with local contractors to help create its Interpretation and Boston Lodge Project.

The project will tell stories about the railways and preserve their past. It is being funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Ffestiniog Railway Society, and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Trust.

Twenty contractors and sub-contractors from Gwynedd and North Wales are involved in its creation, using local skills and craftsmanship that provides significant benefits to local businesses.

The main contractor is OBR from Llangefni, which is leading the work on 12 of the buildings, whilst GH James Cyf groundworks of Trawsfynydd and J Lloyd Steelwork of Corwen have been working on the small loco shed.
 
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Aerial view of the new Interpretation and Boston Lodge Project

Working alongside OBR are its subcontractors including Snowdonia Lime of Glan Conwy, JRS Mechanical and Electrical Service from Abergele, Lance Williams Roofing of Porthaethwy, North Wales liquid screed of Caernarfon, Colin Jones Rock Engineering of Porthmadog and R G Jones of Pwllheli.

Besides the building works, the project is providing a wide range of work experience and skills, development activities, and a new interpretation of the railway.

In particular, it provides the opportunity for young people to learn practical skills related to the railway's operations, including its infrastructure, works, marketing, interpretation and administration.
 
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L-R: Paul Lewin (General Manager), Edwina Bell (Project Manager), James Kindred (Project Management Trainee), staff from OBR Construction

Among the work being carried out are:
  • Completing the restoration and adding an extension to the Blacksmiths shop.
  • Repairing the Iron and Brass Foundries.
  • Demolishing the old Den and creating a new store
  • Repairing and extending the electrician's workshop and oil store to provide improved mess facilities, toilets and electrician's workshop.
  • Rebuilding the Wagon Repair Shed in the Top Yard.
  • Creating an interpretation area at the end of the Old Engine Shed.
  • Restoring the old oil store to provide visitor toilets and a new server room
  • Restoring 1&2 Boston Lodge to create new residential space and offices
  • Building a new small loco shed.
Tours of Boston Lodge are expected to start later this year, but in the meantime the railways have additional attractions for visitors, including a model railway workshop and real ale festival.

They have also launched an app that can be downloaded to visitors' phones as a personalised guide for their journey along the line.

It has been really important to reinvest this money back into the community here as we restored old buildings and built new ones, transforming the site to make it fit for the future and enable us to offer guided tours to showcase the heritage skills that keep the railway running.
We have a wealth of construction skills locally and I was determined to use them.
Dr Edwina Bell, Heritage Project Manager at FfWHR
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The Interpretation and Boston Lodge Project is all about working in partnership with the local community.
I am immensely proud of the work that has taken place with the help of the NLHF and match funding by the Ffestiniog Railway society and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust to make our busy Boston Lodge works a place where the community and visitors can step into a real working site and understand the area's pioneering spirit and give locals with a Railway family history an opportunity to see where their ancestors worked.
We now have a state of the art classroom and facilities to enable us to do that.
When you visit you will see the project has allowed us to rescue historic buildings at Boston Lodge, bringing them back into use, as well as creating some new buildings, thanks to the skills and endeavour of our contractors.
I can't wait to invite the community onto the site this year.
Paul Lewin, FfWHR General Manager
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It has been an absolute pleasure to see young faces light up during a work experience week. We get them working on real projects, and you can see the pride spread across their faces as they realise they have learned a new skill and constructed a small piece of Boston Lodge.
Dr Edwina Bell, Heritage Project Manager at FfWHR
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12 May 2024​

Investigation underway after locomotive derails at heritage railway​

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50026 Indomitable

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has begun an investigation into a derailment on the Swanage Railway yesterday, 11th May 2024.

The incident involved BR Class 50 No. 50026 Indomitable at around 18:30 and saw evening trains at the Beer and Diesel Festival cancelled.

No passengers were injured in the incident and no damage was caused to the carriages, which were being hauled by another locomotive with the Class 50 on the rear of the train.

Specialist contractors visited the railway overnight to re-rail the locomotive and inspections are underway to determine if any damage has been caused to the locomotive.

Whilst the investigation by the RAIB is completed, a revised timetable is in place today, with the BLS Charter continuing as planned.

“The Government's Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been advised of the incident and we liaised with the RAIB regarding the recovery of the diesel locomotive and the RAIB's investigation into what caused the partial derailment of the diesel locomotive.
“While the RAIB is investigating the incident – and after discussions with the RAIB – our planned train services for Sunday, 12 May, 2024, have been altered.
“There will be 11 trains operating but they will only be running on the five and a half miles of line between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden – not beyond Norden on the four miles of line to the River Frome, within sight of Wareham, as our train services were during the first two days of our annual diesel gala and beer festival.
“The return of the ‘Jurassic Crompton' rail tour from Swanage to Eastleigh and London Waterloo, via our main line connection near the River Frome, will still be taking place on the afternoon of Sunday, 12 May, 2024.
“Carrying passengers attending our diesel gala and beer festival – and operated by the Branch Line Society and the main line train operating company GB Railfreight – the rail tour arrived in Swanage on Thursday, 9 May, 2024,”
Swanage Railway Company chairman Gavin Johns
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13 May 2024​

Steam locomotive 45596 Bahamas set for Derbyshire visit​

Jubilee to spend just over a month at Peak Rail later in 2024​

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Mytholmes Viaduct, Jubilee 45596 Bahamas (14.45 Keighley - Oxenhope) March 22nd 2024

LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas is set to make a visit to Derbyshire this July and early August.

The locomotive will be visiting Peak Rail, which operates over 3.5 miles of track between Matlock Station and Rowsley South.

Whilst at the heritage railway, 45596 Bahamas will take part in both the 1940s Weekend and the Steam Gala.

Visiting between the 5th July and 11th August will also mean that the locomotive will take part in Driver Experience Courses and Pie and Pea evening trains, as well as standard services on selected dates.

45596 Bahamas visits Peak Rail thanks to its owners, The Bahamas Locomotive Society.

We are thrilled to announce that 45596 ‘Bahamas' will be visiting us from the 5th July until 11th August.
We thank our friends at the Bahamas Locomotive Society for the loan of the locomotive.
Peak Rail Spokesperson
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13 May 2024​

Steam locomotive set to visit Shrewsbury this week​

The Welsh Marches will run on the 14th May 2024​

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Steam Locomotive 34046 Braunton, Lunds North Yorkshire on May 1, 2024

34046 Braunton is set to make a visit to Shrewsbury this week as part of The Welsh Marches tour which originates in Birmingham.

On Tuesday 14th May, the tour will depart Birmingham International with a diesel loco at 06:03 and will pass through Coventry (06:13), Leamington Spa (07:01), Banbury (07:24), Oxford (08:01), Swindon (Wilts) (09:01), Chippenham (09:20), Bath Spa (09:35) and Bristol Temple Meads at 09:52, where 34046 Braunton is added to the train.

34046 Braunton will depart Bristol Temple Meads at 10:10 and will pass through Filton Abbey Wood (10:18), Severn Tunnel Junction (10:31), Abergavenny (11:08), Hereford (11:38), Craven Arms (13:10) and Shrewsbury at 13:32.

After time in Shrewsbury, the locomotive will depart at 16:00 and will return to Bristol via the same outbound route, passing through Craven Arms (16:26), Hereford (17:21), Severn Tunnel Junction (18:45) and Bristol Temple Meads at 19:22.

Here, the diesel locomotive replaces the steam and will return to Birmingham International via Bath Spa (20:19), Chippenham (20:38), Swindon (21:02), Oxford (21:57), Banbury (22:41), Leamington Spa (23:04), Coventry (23:31), and Birmingham International at 23:53.
 

13 May 2024​

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Level crossing users given safety reminder as additional services begin between Cardiff and Cheltenham​

Region & Route: Wales & Western | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders | Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail is urging level crossing users to take extra care following a timetable change that will see more trains running on the line between Cardiff and Cheltenham, as well as changes to the timings of services throughout the day.
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Network Rail level crossing manager Luke Cummings at Lydney Footpath Level Crossing, May 2024

From today, there will be a permanent increase in the number of services on the line, which runs along the Severn Estuary, with 12 additional passenger trains running on weekdays and 14 on Saturdays.

Most of these additional trains will arrive at Cheltenham, with the others terminating at Gloucester owing to clashes with freight services.

From 3 July to 18 July inclusive, services that use the Severn Tunnel will be temporarily diverted via Cheltenham/Gloucester, owing to a temporary closure of the tunnel for essential track maintenance.

With the increased services and the Severn Tunnel work, Network Rail is asking people who use any of the 47 level crossings between Cardiff and Cheltenham to take extra care.
 
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Level crossing on the line between Cardiff and Cheltenham ahead of timetable change​


Nick Millington, route director for Network Rail, Wales & Borders, said: “We’re supportive of our colleagues at Transport for Wales as they increase the number of trains running between Cardiff and Cheltenham, and we’re delighted passengers will benefit from more frequent rail services.

“However, safety remains our number one priority, which is why we’re urging level crossing users to remain cautious and vigilant, to always obey warning signals, and to stop, look and listen.”
 
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Level crossing on the line between Cardiff and Cheltenham ahead of timetable change​


Luke Cummings, level crossing manager for Network Rail, Wales & Borders, said: “We know when people use a level crossing regularly, they often assume they know when trains will pass through.

“However, the new timetable means there will be more trains running at different times throughout the day, so I urge everyone to take extra care when using level crossings, no matter how familiar they are with them.”

Passengers are advised to check before they travel.
 
Just to let you guys know that I have ceased posting on my Train and Plane threads. :umm:

This is due to a lack of interest from the region and time available to me - I have a model railway layout to build after all. :lol:

I used to post on these threads daily and it does take a bit of time and effort on my part, but I think I'm 'flogging a dead horse'.

When I get the time I may post updates on my progress with the layout.

So, possibly for the last time, here are the links.

NationStates | Dispatch | Cardiff International Airport Update

www.nationstates.net www.nationstates.net

NationStates | Dispatch | Marcus' Model Railway Journey

www.nationstates.net www.nationstates.net

Catch you later. :)

Now it's time for me to go to the Train Shed. :salute:

To the Train Shed! WHOOSH! ‍
 
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17 May 2024
1236
Update

Good progress today.

Managed to complete and tack down the outer mainline circuit and secure the radii at both ends of the storage siding site.

Trialling the Tracksetta's in 3rd and 4th radius curved track
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This is the southern end of the storage sidings site.

In the picture the left-hand point [ RH turnout] is the exit from the sidings onto the mainline - The point opposite [LH Turnout] is the access to the LH sidings from the mainline.

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19 May 2024
1236
Update

Placed an order for some more track with Derails
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ProductModelQuantity
SL-92 Peco OO Gauge Code 100 Streamline Short Radius Left Hand Insulfrog Point or Turnout (SL92)SL-922
ST-205 Peco OO gauge SETRACK isolating standard straight (ST205)ST-2052
 
23 May 2024
1236
Update

So I came across a little snag...........

I needed a short 4th radius curved track.

Unfortunately the track manufacturers don't make one.

So I had to make one myself.

I was going to make one from a small piece of Flexi Track, but that would have been tricky and fiddly, I also read somewhere that it's not advisable to use Flexi Track for short curves, it's better to use track manufactured by a model railway track supplier. Then cut it to size.

So 4th radius curves are relatively expensive so I decided to experiment.

The donor track is a 2nd radius R=431 small curve in Nickel Silver - viewed from the top
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manufactured by Lima.
 
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