Another narrow gauge loco for the heading this week - it's 'DOT' an 18" gauge 0-4-0 locomotive built in the late 1800's by Beyer, Peacock. Seen here in the Talyllyn Museum at Towyn.

Interesting stat with regard to the blog - we have had over 6300 'visits' since starting the blog 3 years ago, and of those 6300, 3000 have been Russian... why, one wonders. Does Chuff have some significance? are the Russian visitors searching for something other than our little railway blog?

Anyway, if they wish to visit they are more than welcome. We convened at Pats last night. Just Colin, Pat and myself, and indulged in a couple of bottles of wine and a rather tasty pizza, enhanced with extra anchovies, olives, and other bits and bobs. Watched an ancient VHS railway movie (remember VHS? worse still, remember Betamax!)
Pat had dug up a portable 15" TV with a built in tape player from somewhere, and it turned out to be most entertaining.

We also had in-depth discussions on various aspects of railway modelling, as Colin had remotored a Smokey Joe chassis for one of the 7mm NG layouts, and he had to explain to Pat and I how to remove the motor for cleaning, etc.

Seven mill narrow gauge is our thing at the moment - 1:43 scale running on 00 scale track.

Pats layout (Maes Y Gof) has had an influx of passengers:

Together with a period coal lorry complete with scales and coalman:

In the background the smithy can be seen conducting running repairs on the milkmans horse, who threw a shoe as they came through the gate.
Meanwhile Pat and myself have gently coasted the 0-4-0 shunting loco to the end of the goods siding prior to sloping off for a well deserved tea break.

Back in Llechryd, my 7mm layout is slowly taking shape - the track is complete and operational, and the landscaping starting to have some form. It will probably be called 'Felin Y Cwm' but I have yet to build the Felin...
The mill will be going somewhere where the fergie tractor is sitting, with the stream coming down the cleft in the hillside.

The opposite end has the station and engine shed, and a yet to be built platform:

We are still working hard trying to persuade Colin that big is beautiful, but so far to no avail...

Thats it for this week people,
Hwyl fawr, goodbye, and for all those people East of Berlin, proshchay...

Shaun.

An interesting ChufferDuffers meeting last night - instead of congregating at one of our houses, we ventured into the depths of Carmarthenshire to visit Pencader, where the O gauge Club had invited us to drop in on one of their test track meetings:

Three of us went along, Colin, Pat and myself. Charles is still recuperating from his cardiac treatment, although he has been busy on the electronic front, making an operating system for the level crossing gates on 'Dyffryn y Tyllau'
Close to twenty members at Pencader, including some from the Aeron Valley club in Aberaeron. What was noticable was the fact that everybody seemed to be over sixty, and nearly all sported grey hair!
The test track evenings are for members and guests to have a chance test run their '0' guage engines on an extensive track, which they may be unable to do at home. Patrick brought along four from his collection, and all ran very well except for bit of a stutter over points.
Here he is watching the Coast Express about to go through its paces (as soon as Bill stops messing about)

I videoed the other locos running, but I'm still not able to post movies on here... Sorry!

The West Wales 0 Gauge Group held an exhibition last Saturday at Bronwydd Arms village hall, to which Pat, Colin and I took Crymmych arms and Maes y Gof.
Excellent day was had, with lots of interest in both the layouts. Mike turned up to see how we were getting on:

Whilst Colin tended to Crymmych Arms:

An overall shot of the venue, with the Pencader boys and their test track brought all the way from the village in a big transit van, and set up in the middle of Bronwydd hall:

Remember a short while back I mentioned that Pat and I had been scanned and 3D modelled? here we are on the footplate!

Both dilligently watching out for lineside obstructions...

Toodle pip,
Shaun.